2014 English Language WAEC SSCE (School Candidates) May/June

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Today, we're excited to share the WAEC English 2014 May/June paper. This is WikiQuestions.org, your ultimate destination for free past exam papers. Our goal is to help you excel in your studies by offering accurate and reliable resources. We are committed to providing students with access to a comprehensive collection of past papers to support their exam preparation.

Disclaimer

At WikiQuestions.org, we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the exam papers we provide. However, neither WikiQuestions.org, its parent organization, nor any of the volunteer contributors can be held liable for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the content. Users are encouraged to verify the information with official sources. We are in no way affiliated with the examining body; the questions have been contributed and maintained by various volunteers.

English Language 1 - Objective Questions

Section 1

In each of the following sentences, there is one underlined word and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence.

Many parents wrongly assume that their children are ignorant whereas they are .......
1. enthusiast
2. hardworking
3. brilliant
4. knowledgeable
Industrious workers should be promoted and ... ones should be dismissed.
1. indolent
2. dishonest
3. inactive
4. sluggish
While some people ... jollof rice, others enjoy it.
1. rebuff
2. abhor
3. ignore
4. condemn
The haughty, and not the ..., are usually unpopular
1. friendly
2. carefree
3. timid
4. humble
Rather than heed the advice, the children ... it.
1. defied
2. countered
3. ignored
4. spurned
Dishonest traders sell fake products instead of ...... ones.
1. costly
2. durable
3. genuine
4. perfect
The judge expected direct answers but the accused was ...
1. illusive
2. secretive
3. delusive
4. evasive
Parents should persuade children to do chores, not ... them.
1. implore
2. coerce
3. enjoin
4. cajole
Rather than accept the blame, the manager .... the accusation.
1. criticized
2. refused
3. addressed
4. denied
It is often easier to start a riot than to ...... it.
1. complete
2. suppress
3. quench
4. quell

Section 2

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.

The policy will .... havoc on the economy of the nation.
1. wreak
2. promote
3. produce
4. wreck
The librarian has not entered the new books in the ...
1. list
2. directory
3. catalogue
4. roster
The judge ... the case.
1. cancelled
2. dismissed
3. rejected
4. withdraw
Mosquito parasites have become .... to quinine.
1. resistant
2. immune
3. opposed
4. defiant
The unionists ... the meeting with the management.
1. rejected
2. hindered
3. boycotted
4. banned
The company failed to pay up the loan because it had become ...
1. corrupt
2. bankrupt
3. inefficient
4. unreliable
The newly elected chairman has been ... into office.
1. sworn
2. installed
3. admitted
4. inaugurated
The doctor declared that the sick child needed a blood ...
1. transformation
2. transfer
3. transmission
4. transfusion
Many slaves were ...... in the 19th century.
1. released
2. empowered
3. emancipated
4. relieved
The proprietor has promised to ...... the dilapidated classroom blocks.
1. erect
2. renovate
3. patch
4. fabricate

Section 3

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for each sentence.

We heard that Bada has served time. The means that Bada has
1. always been punctual
2. been the timekeeper
3. been to prison
4. been a faithful servant
Mary and I have never seen eye to eye on politics. This means that we have never
1. agreed on politics
2. engaged in politics
3. discussed politics
4. benefited from politics.
Helen has always been a wet blanket. This means that Helen
1. always gets wet.
2. betrays her friends.
3. interacts freely with other people.
4. stops others from enjoying themselves.
The new policy has come, under fire. This means that the policy is
1. generating controversy
2. being criticized
3. being scrutinized
4. causing a riot
Please, don’t jet them get under your skin. This means that you should not let them
1. infect you.
2. defeat you.
3. bully you.
4. annoy you.
We were surprised to learn that Tom had been let off the hook. This means that Tom had
1. not been punished.
2. one fishing alone.
3. been sent away.
4. not-been dismissed
He is at the crossroads of his life. This means that it is time for him to
1. make a very important decision
2. retrace his steps
3. make peace with everyone
4. take his studies seriously
We did understand her better by and by. This means we shall know her better
1. without her knowing it.
2. much later.
3. before long.
4. by spending time with her.
The student’s story did not ring true. This means that the student’s story was
1. not audible
2. not believable
3. full of suspense
4. quite thrilling
Mathematics is a closed book to me. This means that I
1. do not have to study Mathematics.
2. do not understand Mathematics.
3. have never passed Mathematics.
4. cannot avoid studying Mathematics.

Section 4

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence.

I think children are more robust than adults.
1. healthy and strong
2. pleasant and cheerful
3. vital and dependable
4. plump and curvy
The new law was meant to mitigate the people’s suffering.
1. restrain
2. moderate
3. stop
4. alleviate
The Judge is incorruptible
1. consistent
2. honest
3. responsible
4. out- spoken
Whatever my boss decides is irrevocable.
1. final
2. true
3. necessary
4. enforced
The printer took a cursory look at the document.
1. quick
2. long
3. puzzled
4. careful
This morning, Audu arrived at the school looking disheveled.
1. worried
2. terrified
3. untidy
4. confused
Corporal punishment is meant, to be a deterrent to indiscipline.
1. remedy
2. measure
3. discouragement
4. prevention
The new bank is thriving.
1. evolving
2. attractive
3. flourishing
4. supportive
It is not safe to engage in clandestine deals
1. secret
2. exclusive
3. unimportant
4. doubtful
Bola vehemently denied stealing the money.
1. strongly
2. fearlessly
3. openly
4. strictly

Section 5

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.

It’s been smooth so far, ...... ?
1. hadn’t it
2. wasn’t it
3. isn’t it
4. hasn’t it
The test seemed ... simple that we thought we would all pass.
1. too
2. very
3. so
4. much
Good citizens are expected to abide ... the stipulated laws.
1. with
2. in
3. to
4. by
in the olden days, peoples gave cowries ...... food.
1. on exchange for
2. in exchange of
3. in exchange for
4. on exchange with
The man tried to cash in .... the boy’s ignorance.
1. by
2. at
3. on
4. with
Adamu studied very hard .... passing the examination.
1. with a view to
2. with the view of
3. with a view of
4. with the view to
No sooner had the judge read the verdict ... pandemonium broke out.
1. than
2. when
3. and
4. then
I could not distinguish the original ... the fake.
1. from
2. to
3. by
4. with
When I came home, my mother asked me if I ...
1. ate
2. was eating
3. have eaten
4. had eaten
Uncle Richard invited Naza and ...... to his house.
1. me
2. I
3. myself
4. she
My sister prides herself ... her cooking.
1. on
2. for
3. over
4. in
I suppose it’s high time we ... attention to our studies.
1. pay
2. are paying
3. paid
4. should pay
We were expecting them in the evening but they arrived ... dawn.
1. on
2. at
3. in
4. for
Children often try to live up ... their parents’ expectations.
1. in
2. by
3. to
4. on
He ... be fat, but he is still smart.
1. may
2. could
3. can
4. might
The students had no choice ... to do as they had been commanded
1. even
2. but
3. rather
4. only
The dog was run ... by a careless driver.
1. under
2. upon
3. across
4. over
When will the strike be ......?
1. called off
2. called back
3. called out
4. called over
I received an award ... my outstanding performance in the debate.
1. for
2. through
3. in
4. over
The earlier we leave ... for us.
1. the best
2. the much better
3. the better
4. it is better
I just couldn’t ...... what he was saying.
1. make do B. C.
2. make out
3. make up
4. make by
The men were charged ...... murder.
1. of
2. for
3. with
4. on
It is I who .... to blame for the lapses.
1. was
2. am
3. is
4. are
We had to look ... the word in the dictionary.
1. with
2. on
3. at
4. up
Each of the winners....to receive five thousand dollars.
1. are
2. is
3. have
4. were
Everyone was happy when the two friends made .... after their disagreement.
1. off
2. do
3. away
4. up
It is rude to cut ... when people are talking.
1. in
2. through
3. off
4. from
I ... a song when I got my letter of promotion.
1. broke into
2. broke out
3. broke for
4. broke in
Our tour of the tower came to an end all ... soon.
1. much
2. rather
3. too
4. more
The ...:.. of the various dailies attended the conference.
1. Editors-in-Chiefs
2. Editors’-in-Chief
3. Editors-in-Chief
4. Editor’s-in-Chief

Section 6

In the following passage, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. Choose the word that is most suitable to fill the numbered gaps in the passage.

Let us discuss briefly one of the common means of modern transportation - the motor car. The car is a vehicle on four wheels. It is powered by -71- that runs on petrol, although there are a few that run on diesel or gas. Most cars can attain speeds of more than 120 kilometers an hour, though you don’t have to move your car that fast, especially if you are -72- on minor -73-.

A car is manned by a driver who sits in front, beside a passenger and up to three persons can sit at the rear. To determine where the car turns, the driver turns the steering -74- to the left or the right. To move the car forward, the driver engages the -75- and presses the -76 -which some people also call the throttle. The harder you press this, the faster the car moves. In manually operated cars, to change the -77- of acceleration, you have to change the gear by first pressing the -78- and then shifting the gear -79- from the first to the second, then to the third and then the fourth. All these require a lot of -86- and practice. To stop the car or reduce its speed, you have to apply the brakes.

	A	B	C	D
71	a device	an appliance	a machine	an engine
72	cruising	speeding	driving	racing
73	tracks	channels	roads	paths
74	bar	wheel	gear	rod
75	gear	shaft	knob	button
76	carburettor	generator	aerator	accelerator
77	pace	flow	speed	rate
78	throttle	clutch	brake	axle
79	switch	box	handle	lever
80	training	thinking	coaching	tuition

English Language 2 - Theory

Section A - Essay Writing

Answer one question only from this section. All questions carry equal marks. Your answer should not be less than 450 words. You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

A friend of yours who has been living in Europe for some years has written to invite you to join him. Write a reply to his letter giving, at least, three reasons why you would rather remain in your country.
Write an article suitable for publication in your school magazine on the need to inculcate good moral value in the youth.
Write a letter to the Minister of Education in your country discussing, at least, three ways by which the quality of education could be improved.
You are the main speaker in a debate on the topic: Technology has made the world a better place. Write your arguments for or against the motion.
Write a story to illustrate the saying: The devil makes work for idle hands.

Section B - Comprehension

You are advised to spend about 30 minutes on this section.

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.The case of Dr. David Akide drives home the point that nobody should be written off as a failure as long as he has not died. As far as I can recall, he was one of the weakest in class throughout our primary. school career. Right from the second grade, he was the butt of most of our jokes. Indeed, whenever the teacher referred a question to him, most of us waited eagerly to have a good laugh. But we all admired him for two things. For one thing, he was the only one who never wrote with the right hand as he was a complete southpaw. Then, he endured all the jokes cheerfully and indeed referred to himself as “Mr. Why Hurry.” Forever sociable, he was a friend to everybody who came close enough. Not surprising, we left him behind in the primary school as he could not get admitted to any of the secondary schools to which he took an admission examination. That was why, from the time I entered the secondary school, I lost contact with him. Nor did any of my mates whom I closely associated with ever mention meeting him anywhere. As far as most of us were concerned, David had faded away into obscurity. I imagined that he must have ended up in one of the low-grade vocations since he was at least good in handicraft. Then, a few months ago, thirty-eight years after I last saw him in the primary school, while I was watching a 9 O'clock television network programme, I saw David being interviewed by a team of reporters. He was introduced as a specialist surgeon who has made his mark in heart surgery in the nation’s leading teaching hospital. The questions were on his recent feat in his successful correction of abnormality in the heart of a patient who had been written off by most other specialists. The patient fully recovered and was now back in his vocation as a mechanic. I was amazed. I was pleasantly surprised. From the interview, it became clear that he had experienced a surge in intellectual prowess late in his secondary career and zoomed into and through the university as a medical student. Thereafter, it had been one major achievement after another for him in his chosen field.
1. What evidence is there that the writer is not a young person?
2. For what two things was David Akide admired by others in the primary school?
3. Why could he not move into a secondary school then along with the others?
4. What did the writer assume had been the fate of David after leaving the primary school?
5. What is established by the fact that David Akide was being interviewed by a panel of reporters on the nation’s network programme?
6. Why was the writer amazed?
7. "... while I was watching a 9 o'clock television network programme"
8. What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
9. What is its function?
10. “... zoomed into and through the university”
11. What figure of speech is used in this expression?
12. What does it mean?
13. For each of the following words, find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in the passage:
14. cheerfully
15. sociable
16. imagined
17. vocation
18. achievement

Section C - Summary

You are advised to spend about 40 minutes on this section.

Have you ever considered the vast differences between the conventional desktop telephone and the modern handset telephone? The desktop telephone has one distinct function: that of making and receiving calls. Apart from that, perhaps the other use is aesthetic adding some beauty to the furniture pieces in the room. The conventional telephone set was a status symbol, as only the rich and highly privileged could afford it.

To obtain it, one had to fill many forms and have three well known citizens to attest to one’s sterling qualities as a highly responsible member of the society. Then, after paying several fees, one had to wait for several months before the telecommunications department officials would come to install the wires, in order to get one’s set connected to the national grid, After that, the applicant might count himself among the privileged ones in the community. But he must not heave a sigh of relief yet: his problem may just be beginning. The inclement weather may remind him that his use of the facility is at its mercy. A rainstorm or even a strong wind can destroy some of the wire-bearing poles, thus cutting him off from other telephone users. Besides, a vehicular accident may knock down a pole or several of them. It is not even uncommon for termites to render wooden poles useless. Finally, there are the problems of the communications department officials who are noted for bringing bills late, and cutting off wires for failure to pay up promptly. Most often, the bills bears little resemblance to actual consumption. Thus, the telephone is not always there at one’s service.

Like the conventional desktop telephone set, the handset has the primary function of making and receiving calls. Beyond; are vast differences between them. To begin with, the small handset is not much of a status symbol now. it is very easy to carry about and it can be used everywhere by all and sundry. The telephone service providers have flooded the market with lines at very low prices, such that most users can boast of two or more lines. Gone are the days when one had to apply for a set and wait for months. Today, all that it takes is to purchase the handset, which could be very cheap or very costly depending on one’s preferences and purse. Once it is purchased, its user could have access to dozens of functions. Apart from making and receiving calls, one could send text messages and receive as responses within minutes. The set could be used to take pictures which could be as clear as any taken with professional camera. One could also connect to the Internet to read newspapers and send mails. Besides, the set could be used to store songs; it could also be used as a radio receiver. One could use the handset to programme schedules of activities. The reliable timepiece on it could be used as a watch. Young ones play games on their handsets and store pictures of loved ones on them.

However, with all these advantages, the handset has one obvious shortcoming: it can easily be lost or stolen. This is where the conventional desktop telephone is not vulnerable.

Read the passage above carefully and answer the questions on it.
1. In three sentences, one for each, summarize the problems associated with owning the desktop telephone.
2. In three sentences, one for each, summarize the advantages which the handset telephone has over the desktop telephone.

English Language 3 - Test of Orals

Section 1

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

mitten
1. firm
2. knowledge
3. vice
4. marine
mood
1. took
2. look
3. moon
4. mode
says
1. end
2. bay
3. rain
4. fern
caprice
1. bed
2. matrix
3. concern
4. cape
purse
1. currant
2. leisure
3. first
4. sure
man
1. part
2. hand
3. market
4. charade
month
1. mug
2. font
3. cost
4. moth
bull
1. hoof
2. crude
3. soup
4. stood
feel
1. beat
2. buffet
3. head
4. seer
open
1. chaos
2. coin
3. boar
4. phone
drought
1. drown
2. draft
3. should
4. tough
fear
1. bear
2. swear
3. spare
4. beer
part
1. cat
2. shout
3. cane
4. aunt
buy
1. supper
2. bang
3. coy
4. tie
pawn
1. word
2. call
3. won
4. sown

Section 2

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

banked
1. led
2. filed
3. taken
4. ludo
zoology
1. give
2. sag
3. beg
4. vigil
thump
1. think
2. there
3. breathe
4. them
casualty
1. lace
2. steal
3. vision
4. lesson
calyx
1. blinks
2. eclipse
3. example
4. desk
sing
1. bog
2. nagged
3. zonked
4. game
paper
1. physical
2. psychic
3. lap
4. psalm
was
1. rowdy
2. bow
3. quiet
4. wrench
choose
1. chimera
2. chic
3. soldier
4. batch
best
1. comb
2. lamp
3. labour
4. plumber
disease
1. decease
2. case
3. seats
4. zeal
heavy
1. honour
2. heir
3. beehive
4. when
did
1. handsome
2. marked
3. banked
4. land
river
1. bar
2. dairy
3. car
4. bare
man
1. sing
2. bring
3. manager
4. finger

Section 3

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that rhymes with the given word.

battle
1. bitter
2. latter
3. kettle
4. raffle
great
1. heat
2. freight
3. boast
4. greet
leech
1. fetch
2. witch
3. bleach
4. lease
Written
1. bitten
2. brighter
3. rotting
4. writing
coffee
1. curfew
2. muffle
3. feeder
4. toffee

Section 4

In each of the following questions, the main / primary stress is indicated by writing the syllable on which it occurs, in capital letters. From the words lettered A to D, choose the one that has the correct stress.

conglomerate
1. CON-glo-me-rate
2. Con-GLO-me-rate
3. con-glo-ME-rate:
4. con-glo-me-RATE
defensible
1. DE-fen-si-ble
2. de-FEN-si-ble
3. de-fen-SI-ble
4. de-fen-si-BLE
superstitious
1. SU-per-sti-tious
2. Su-PER-sti-tious
3. su-per-STI-tious
4. su-per-sti-TIOUS
bilateral
1. Bl-la-te-ral
2. bi-LA-te-ral
3. bi-la-TE-ral
4. bi-la-te-RAL
generally
1. GE-ne-ra-lly
2. ge-NE-ra-lly
3. ge-ne-RA-lly
4. ge-ne-ra-LLY

Section 5

In the following options lettered A to D, all the words except one have the same stress pattern. Identify the one with the different stress pattern and shade your answer in the usual way.

1. gobble
2. failure
3. goodness
4. elope
1. ceiling
2. yoghurt
3. vanquish
4. career
1. lexical
2. interview
3. cardigan
4. catharsis
1. colonel
2. routine
3. connive
4. balloon
1. voracious
2. congenial
3. intestate
4. elevate

Section 6

In each of the following sentences, the word that receives the emphatic stress is written in capital letters. From the questions lettered A to D, choose the one to which the given sentence is the appropriate answer.

The Nigerian FOOTBALL team has many foreign players.
1. Does the South African football team have many foreign player
2. Does the Nigerian volleyball team have many foreign players?
3. Does the Nigerian football team have few foreign players?
4. Does the Nigerian football team have many foreign coaches?
John must PAY for the broken-glass, immediately
1. Must Jane pay for the broken glass immediately?
2. Must John repair the broken glass immediately?
3. Must John pay for the broke plank immediately?
4. Must John pay for the broken glass tomorrow?
The workers agreed to forgo their DECEMBER salaries.
1. Did the worker agree to forge their December bonus?
2. Did the workers refuse to forgo their December salaries?
3. Did. the workers agree to claim their December salaries?
4. Did the workers agree to forgo their March salaries?
The landlord refused to eject the TENANT
1. did the caretaker refuse to eject the tenant?
2. Did the landlord agree to eject the tenant?
3. Did the landlord refuse to accept the tenant?
4. Did the landlord refuse to eject the guest?
The Principal REBUKED the teachers for lateness.
1. Did the governor rebuke the teachers for lateness?
2. Did the principal commend the teachers for lateness?
3. Did the principal rebuke the students for lateness?
4. Did the principal rebuke the teachers for negligence?

Section 7

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol.

/æ/
1. yacht
2. yowl
3. claw
4. band
/ʌ/
1. bush
2. tough
3. cop
4. loot
/ɔ/
1. caught
2. jump
3. dwarf
4. problem
/u:/
1. plumber
2. pull
3. suit
4. hunger
/i:/
1. fit
2. seal
3. sailing
4. career
/uð/
1. low
2. sugar
3. causal
4. fire
/k/
1. axe
2. cease
3. knew
4. knob
/s/
1. cash
2. church
3. slash
4. bees
/z/
1. lice
2. exist
3. leave
4. measure
/tʃ/
1. leaf
2. peach
3. chic
4. cede