Grade 12 results are out. Where to check yours

Past papers

English entrance exam, 2017 E.C. (2025)

Real questions from the Grade 12 university entrance exam in English, as students sat it in 2017 E.C. Every question comes with the correct answer and a worked explanation.

Start practicing freeQuestion paper

  • Both streams

    Who sits it

  • 2017 E.C. (2025)

    Exam year

  • 114 questions with answers

    In this set

Try questions from this paper

Answer each question yourself before opening the answer. The explanations point to the exact textbook section, so you know which page to reread when you miss one.

Question 1

not / morning / she / go / work / today

  1. A.She not go work today morning.
  2. B.Today, she does not go to work in the morning.
  3. C.She does not go to work today morning.
  4. D.She not work today go morning.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B Today, she does not go to work in the morning.

Why

The words have to build one correct English sentence. A negative statement in the present simple needs the auxiliary 'does' before 'not', and the verb 'go' needs the preposition 'to' before 'work', which only option B has. Option C is tempting because it starts well with 'She does not go to work', but it ends with 'today morning', and English does not say that. We say 'this morning' or 'in the morning', as option B does.

Question 3

She/ interested/ that/ was/ in/ proposal/ said/ she/ the.

  1. A.She was interested in that proposal said the she.
  2. B.She said she was interested in that the proposal.
  3. C.She said that she was proposal the interested in.
  4. D.She said that she was interested in the proposal.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D She said that she was interested in the proposal.

Why

A reported statement follows this order: subject, reporting verb, 'that', then the reported clause. So we get 'She said' plus 'that she was interested in the proposal', which is option D. Option B is close because it opens with 'She said she was interested in', but it finishes with 'that the proposal', leaving 'that' hanging with no clause of its own.

Question 4

Arrange sentences: 1. They give us much information about history. 2. He wrote about the everyday life of the common people. 3. Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, dramas, tragedies and comedies. 4. His plays help us to understand people. 5. For example: Hamlet, King Lear....

  1. A.1,5,2,4,3
  2. B.3,5,2,4,1
  3. C.2,1,4,5,3
  4. D.3,2,4,1,5
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B 3,5,2,4,1

Why

Sentence 3 has to open because it names the topic, the 37 plays Shakespeare wrote. Sentence 5 then gives examples of those plays, sentence 2 says what he wrote about, sentence 4 says the plays help us understand people, and sentence 1 closes with 'They give us much information about history', where 'They' points back to the plays. That is the order in option B. Option A is tempting because it also uses 5 early, but it starts with sentence 1, and 'They' at the very beginning has no noun to refer back to.

Question 5

Arrange sentences: 1. Diseases can also be caused by a lack of hygiene. 2. Other diseases that are caused by insects are yellow fever, bilharzias .... Etc. 3. For example, malaria is caused by a certain type of mosquito. 4. Many diseases are caused by insects.

  1. A.4,3,2,1
  2. B.4,1,3,2
  3. C.4,2,1,3
  4. D.1,4,2,3
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A 4,3,2,1

Why

Sentence 4 is the general claim that many diseases are caused by insects, so it opens. Sentence 3 gives the example with 'For example, malaria', sentence 2 adds more insect diseases, and sentence 1 uses 'also' to move to a different cause, poor hygiene, so it must come last. That is 4, 3, 2, 1, which is option A. Option B puts sentence 1 second, but 'also' cannot come before the first cause has been explained.

Question 6

Arrange sentences: 1. Early humans imitated these natural bridge by chopping down tall trees and placing charm across water. 2. It was built of many logs tied together with ropes. 3. The first bridges were simply trees that had channel fallen across stream. 4. The first genuine bridge was laid across the Euphrates river at Babylon about 700BC. 5. The bridge over the Euphrates River lasted for decades.

  1. A.5,4,1,2,3
  2. B.4,1,3,5,2
  3. C.5,3,1,4,2
  4. D.3,1,5,2,4
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D 3,1,5,2,4

Why

The paragraph starts with the earliest bridges, so sentence 3 comes first, and sentence 1 follows it because 'these natural bridges' points straight back to the fallen trees. Only option D opens with that pair, so it is the answer. Options A and C start with sentence 5, which talks about how long the Euphrates bridge lasted, and a paragraph cannot end a story before it has told it.

Question 7

Farming has evolved dramatically over the past century, thanks to advancements in technology. From the development of better machinery to the use of computer systems, modern technology has greatly increased efficiency in agriculture. Tractors, combine harvesters, and planting machines have all improved the speed and accuracy of planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops. As a result, farmers can now produce more food with less labor and fewer resources. Another area where technology has made a huge impact is in the management of crops and livestock. With the use of drones, sensors, and satellite imaging, farmers can now monitor crop health, soil conditions, and livestock well-being from a distance. This has allowed for more precise farming, where farmers can apply fertilizers, pesticides, and water only where needed, reducing waste and environmental harm. Genetic engineering and biotechnology have also played a major role in transforming agriculture. By modifying the genetic makeup of plants and animals, scientists have created crops that are more resistant to pests, diseases, and extreme weather conditions. Additionally, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been designed to grow faster and with higher yields, ensuring food security in the face of a growing global population. However, the integration of technology in farming has not come without challenges. While technology can increase productivity, it often requires a significant initial investment, which may be difficult for small farmers to afford. Additionally, there are concerns about the long-term environmental impact of technologies such as GMOs and the potential loss of biodiversity. As farming continues to modernize, it will be important for farmers, governments, and scientists to work together to address these challenges while ensuring sustainable food production. What role has technology played in farming over the past century?

  1. A.Reduced food production
  2. B.Increased efficiency and productivity
  3. C.Made farming less dependent on machinery
  4. D.Slowed down the farming process
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B Increased efficiency and productivity

Why

Paragraph 1 says that modern technology 'has greatly increased efficiency in agriculture' and that farmers can now produce more food with less labour and fewer resources. That is increased efficiency and productivity, which is option B. Option C is tempting because machinery is mentioned, but the passage says the opposite of what C claims: better machinery is one of the advances that made farming more productive, not less dependent on machines.

Download the whole paper as a PDF

All 114 questions in this set as a printed paper, and the answer key with 114 worked explanations as a second file. Print them or read them with no data.

Free, and it needs no account.

Question paperAnswer key and explanations

Sit the full paper, timed and scored

A free Temari account gives you the whole English paper, and every other year, as timed mock exams with instant scoring. It works on any phone, even over a weak connection.

Start practicing free

English papers from other years

2018 E.C. (2026)2016 E.C. (2024)2015 E.C. (2023)2014 E.C. (2022)2013 E.C. (2021)2005 E.C. (2013)

Revise English before you sit this paper

The Grade 12 English short notes hold 13 cards. Each one gives the rule, what its symbols stand for and the mistake that costs marks, chapter by chapter from the national textbook.

Open the English notes
Are these the real 2017 E.C. English entrance exam questions?

Yes. They come from the national university entrance exam in English that students sat in 2017 E.C. (2025). Our set holds 114 of its questions, each with its answer and an explanation that points back to the textbook.

How do I practice the full paper?

Create a free account with a phone number. The full paper runs as a timed mock exam with instant scoring, and the AI tutor upgrade at 199 ETB per month can walk you through anything you miss.

Can I download the English 2017 E.C. paper as a PDF?

Yes, and it is free. The question paper is one file and the answer key with its worked explanations is another, so you can attempt the paper first. Print them, or keep them on your phone for revision when there is no data.

Sign inCreate your account