2021 English Language WAEC SSCE (School Candidates) May/June

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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,

1. While Mr. Ade is ............, his son is a novice.
   1. Enlightened
   2. Competent
   3. Clever
   4. Experienced
2. It is better to use persuasion rather than ........... to get witnesses to court,
   1. Effort
   2. Coercion
   3. Influence
   4. Pressure
3. The animosity between Fatou and Sheku is shocking, considering the ............ they once shared.
   1. Company
   2. Friendship
   3. Peace
   4. Understanding
4. The reckless driver was admonished to be ...........
   1. Cautious
   2. Responsible
   3. Reliable
   4. Considerate
5. The old man rebuked the thug and his children ........... him for doing so.
   1. Commended
   2. Embraced
   3. Thanked
   4. Supported
6. All drivers were enjoined to obtain genuine and not .......... licences.
   1. Artificial
   2. Fraudulent
   3. Fake
   4. sub-standard
7. There was an agitation for the ........... law on libel to be re-enacted.
   1. Enforced
   2. Repealed
   3. Rejected
   4. Cancelled
8. The two political parties live today in .............. after four years of hostility.
   1. Happiness
   2. Amity
   3. Agreement
   4. Freedom
9. The champions were elated after the tournament while their opponents looked ..............
   1. Baffled
   2. Dejected
   3. Pitiful
   4. Frightened
10. That engineer was said to have used inferior rather than ............ materials in the construction of the collapsed building.
    1. Excellent
    2. Recommended
    3. Quality
    4. Exceptional

Section 2

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

11. I could not read what he wrote because his handwriting was ............. .
    1. Tiny
    2. Eligible
    3. Untidy
    4. Illegible
12. When all the items on the agenda had been discussed, the meeting was ............. .
    1. Dismissed
    2. Postponed
    3. Adjourned
    4. Dissolved
13. Occasionally, universities award .............. degrees to outstanding personalities.
    1. Ceremonial
    2. Honorary
    3. Temporary
    4. Respectable
14. His thoughtlessness is simply beyond ............. .
    1. Idea
    2. Assurance
    3. Belief
    4. Fate
15. Many doctors have ............ to western countries for better opportunities.
    1. Migrated
    2. Travelled
    3. Immigration
    4. Fled
16. The younger brother insisted that he should be a ............ to the account.
    1. Partner
    2. Signatory
    3. Guarantor
    4. Participant
17. The military was able to ........... the plan to overthrow the government.
    1. Fight
    2. Disrupt
    3. Thwart
    4. Disturb
18. She gave her poem to her teacher to ............. for the school magazine.
    1. Read
    2. Edit
    3. Correct
    4. Label
19. Freedom of movement is a ............ right of every citizen.
    1. Negotiated
    2. Fundamental
    3. Privileged
    4. Foremost
20. The governor granted the political prisoners ............. .
    1. Asylum
    2. Acquittal
    3. Amnesty
    4. Bail

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.

21. The recruits are under his tutelage. This means that he
    1. Assigns work to them.
    2. Trains them.
    3. Disciplines them at work.
    4. protects them.
22. He listened attentively to her cock- and-bull story. This means that she told
    1. a terrifying story.
    2. an interesting story.
    3. an incredible story.
    4. a lot of folktales.
23. He has left the country for good this time. This means that he A
    1. will never come back.
    2. left for better conditions.
    3. became an adventurer.
    4. will improve his credentials.
24. The bus driver smelt a rat when an unregistered vehicle trailed him for several kilometres. This means that the bus driver
    1. increases his speed.
    2. became nervous.
    3. became suspicious.
    4. alerted the passengers.
25. The newly employed workers were remunerated handsomely. This means that
    1. both old and new workers were paid.
    2. only newly employed workers were paid.
    3. the salaries of the new workers were attractive.
    4. the salaries of the new workers were paid promptly.
26. The chairman has come under fire over this project. This means that the chairman bas been
    1. severely criticised.
    2. highly praised.
    3. given the go-ahead.
    4. charged to court.
27. The ugly incidents of the Civil War are water under the bridge. This means that the incidents
    1. continue to haunt us.
    2. have been experienced again.
    3. have been forgotten.
    4. cannot be wished away.
28. My heart was in my mouth as I tried to open the envelope. This means that as I opened the envelope, I was
    1. very happy.
    2. quite eager.
    3. deeply disappointed.
    4. extremely afraid.
29. Throughout the long argument, the minister maintained his ground over the claims. This means that the minister
    1. accepted his error.
    2. refused to change his stand.
    3. said different things.
    4. did not consider every view.
30. John may be sincere, but I suspect that he has an axe to grind. This means that john has a
    1. selfish motive.
    2. different opinion.
    3. matter to attend to.
    4. solution to the problem.

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.

31. So much effluent has been poured into the stream that its water has become unsafe for drinking
    1. sewage
    2. disinfectant
    3. oil
    4. concoction
32. The students became restive after the authorities increased their tuition fees.
    1. alarmed
    2. hostile
    3. noisy
    4. agitated
33. Ali plays the guitar with great dexterity
    1. wisdom
    2. experience
    3. pride
    4. skill
34. Obi’s behaviour is questionable.
    1. disputable
    2. worrisome
    3. dubious
    4. refutable
35. The electricity supply in this community is erratic.
    1. unpredictable
    2. disorderly
    3. low
    4. temporary
36. He became really disheartened when he heard the news.
    1. defamed
    2. dishevelled
    3. depressed
    4. disturbed
37. The office has taken stringent measures to protect its facilities.
    1. suitable
    2. right
    3. strict
    4. complete
38. Adaobi was appalled by the shabby appearance of the man who brought her the message from home.
    1. shocked
    2. discouraged
    3. annoyed
    4. humiliated
39. Henry likes to be involved in shady deals.
    1. unknown
    2. undisclosed
    3. dishonest
    4. doubtful
40. A good student should be inquisitive.
    1. hardworking
    2. busy
    3. curious
    4. studious

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.

41. Life in the city is ............ expensive for most people.
    1. too much
    2. much very
    3. very much
    4. much too
42. My father made me ............ at home.
    1. stay
    2. stayed
    3. to be staying
    4. to stay
43. The fireman managed to put ........... the raging fire.
    1. off
    2. out
    3. down
    4. away
44. The long-awaited match was called ............ at the last moment.
    1. off
    2. out
    3. on
    4. up
45. Get to work! Don’t sit ......:..... doing nothing.
    1. about
    2. up
    3. on
    4. by
46. We promised to tell the truth, ..........?
    1. isn't it
    2. didn't we
    3. shouldn't we
    4. wasn't it
47. No sooner had we set off ........... it started to rain.
    1. that
    2. when
    3. than
    4. as
48. I cannot put up ............ his saucy behaviour.
    1. on
    2. with
    3. from
    4. by
49. Several ........... attended the two-day economic summit.
    1. head of state
    2. heads of states
    3. heads of state
    4. head of states
50. I won't go to the cinema with you, I .......... the movie.
    1. seeing
    2. have seen
    3. seen
    4. had seen
51. The committee has submitted its report ............ the students’ riot,
    1. on
    2. for
    3. about
    4. at
52. It’s been a rough life so far, .......... ?
    1. hasn't it
    2. hadn't it
    3. isn't it
    4. wasn't it
53. If I had known, I ............ not have come.
    1. should
    2. ought
    3. would
    4. may
54. She had to work from ...........
    1. morning till the evening
    2. morning till evening
    3. the morning till the evening
    4. morning till evening
55. He did it, but ............ the way I had expected.
    1. as
    2. quite
    3. hardly
    4. so
56. After stalking its prey for a while, the lion ........... for the kill.
    1. closed in
    2. closed up
    3. closed on
    4. closed down
57. Mary and Jane are always quarrelling with ..............
    1. each other
    2. themselves
    3. another
    4. either
58. They have been informed of his departure, ............. ?
    1. haven't they
    2. hadn't they
    3. wasn't it
    4. isn't it
59. Although some students may be innocent, ........... are guilty of this offence.
    1. much
    2. great deal
    3. most
    4. a good deal
60. She prefers singing ............ dancing.
    1. besides
    2. aside
    3. than
    4. to
61. Is that the lady ............ you planned to visit?
    1. which
    2. who
    3. whose
    4. whom
62. The children ............ in the pool after school.
    1. swam
    2. swum
    3. swimming
    4. swim
63. In spite of all their shortcomings, we cannot ............ admire them.
    1. only
    2. but
    3. also
    4. still
64. The choice to go to the university is entirely ......... .
    1. yours
    2. you
    3. yours
    4. your's
65. The African extended family system gives security to .......... members.
    1. his
    2. her
    3. its
    4. their
66. We all look forward to meeting the ................ .
    1. beautiful, young, Nigerian musician
    2. young, Nigerian, beautiful musician
    3. Nigerian, young, beautiful musician
    4. Nigerian, beautiful, young musician
67. One of my ............ is a lecturer in the university
    1. sister
    2. sister's
    3. sisters
    4. sisters
68. Regina pleaded with her son to ............ the habit of smoking.
    1. come out
    2. come over
    3. come off
    4. come from
69. Their proposal looks ............. than ours.
    1. more workable a little bit
    2. a little bit more workable
    3. more a little bit workable
    4. workable a little bit more
70. You will be none ............ for it if you take the examinations in November.
    1. the worst
    2. worst
    3. worse
    4. the worse

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.

Money serves as a ......71...... of exchange in the modern world. This is perhaps the most Important ....... 72 ...... of money. People who have money can use it to buy goods and .......73...... Without it, trade will be carried out on the basis of ......... 74 ......... where goods or services are exchanged as was the practice in the years gone by. This mode of trading has a number of disadvantages, as people will have to match their ......... 75 ........ with those of other people. For example, if a hunter wants to trade his ........ 76 ...... for yam, he must find a ....... 77 ...... who needs what he is trading. Another difficulty is determining the ......78...... of each item needed in exchange. Therefore, this mode of trading is no longer commonly practised.

Nowadays, people pay money for goods and services rendered both locally and internationally.

International trade boosts the ........ 79 ...... of a nation. The .......... 80 ........ frequently used in international trade is the US Dollar.

	A	B	C	D
71	value	medium	type	form
72	aspect	duty	function	feature
73	handiwork	services	skill	businesses
74	barter	dealings	negotiation	exchange
75	needs	intentions	wishes	desires
76	kill	animal	livestock	prey
77	grower	labourer	farmer	customer
78	portion	value	quantity	amount
79	economy	savings	finances	transaction
80	cash	money	currency	notes

English Language 2 - Theory

Section A - Essay Writing

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.

1. Write a letter to your friend in another school telling him or her the valuable lessons you learnt during a recent excursion.
2. Several articles have been published on the alarming rate of indiscipline among the youth of your country. Write your contribution.
3. Cases of malaria have been on the in- crease in recent times in your country. Write a letter to the Minister of Health . discussing your observation and suggesting at least three ways of curbing the disease.
4. You have just been awarded a scholarship by a local company. Write a speech you would deliver at the presentation ceremony stating the benefits of the scholarship
5. Write a story which ends with the statement: Better late than never

Section B - Comprehension

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

As I sat down to relax after a hard day's work as a radio broadcaster, my attention was immediately arrested by what I saw on the television. There was my old classmate, Funke Jacobs, introduced as Mrs. Funke Ajayi. Evidently, she must have married since we parted some fifteen years earlier. She looked as smart as she did when we were both secondary school students, though age and childbearing had taken their toll.

As I watched and listened, I realized that Funke was still her old self. I recalled how several years ago when we were directed by the English Language master to write an essay on “The Profession of My Dream”, each of us opted for and defended our choices as future teachers, doctors, engineers, accountants and the like. I chose to be a newscaster and that was what I eventually became. Funke alone decided on a totally different direction. She opted to be a farmer. Shocked by her choice, the teacher summoned her to the front of the class to read her essay. Ever confident and charming, she did. As we listened, most of us laughed, believing that she must be joking. After her presentation, the teacher agreed adding that it must be just an academic exercise. But Funke insisted she was as serious as any of us in our choices.

I thought of her academic brilliance, she was among the very best in most schools’ subjects. She was from a well to-do family, so her parents should have no problem seeing her through tertiary education to Acquire one of the ‘noble’ professions. She had good looks the type you would associate, with an office chief executive, not with the farm. So, why farming? But farming was her choice, and into farming she went. What I did not know, which the interviewer brought to light, was that she indeed studied Agriculture in the university, had three children and secured the support of a bank that loaned her some money which she had since returned.

Now, she has become a successful famer, successful enough to have won the award of the most accomplished farmer of the year in the country. As the interviewer reveals, Funke is into crop farming, animal rearing and fruit cultivation. She is also into planting and processing of rice. Her plantations cover more than five hundred hectares, which are worked with several machines like planters, harrowers, harvesters and insecticide sprayers.

Here I am, struggling to keep my ageing car alive, while Farmer Funke has become an employer of three hundred hands. I am no longer laughing.

6. Question 6
   1. What was the common link between Funke and the writer?
   2. Why did the writer think that Funke would not go into farming?
   3. Why did the writer put ‘noble’ in in- verted commas?
   4. What two factors helped Funke’s success?
   5. How successful was Funke in her chosen profession?
   6. What does the last sentence suggest about the writer?
   7. ...... as Serious as any of us in our choices. What figure of speech is used in the expression above?
   8. .....that she indeed studied Agriculture in the university,... (i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage. (ii) What is it's function?
   9. 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: (i) relax; (ii) shocked (iii) confident; (iv) refunded (v) reveals (vi) struggling

Section C - Summary

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

[Summary passage]

7. Question 7
   1. Sub-question 1
   2. Sub-question 1

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.

1. dark
   1. stern
   2. firm
   3. sharp
   4. ward
2. tough
   1. cough
   2. born
   3. boat
   4. done
3. chief
   1. dead
   2. feast
   3. fine
   4. chin
4. put
   1. worn
   2. could
   3. fun
   4. pan
5. king
   1. kit
   2. rind
   3. key
   4. bean
6. tan
   1. ten
   2. in
   3. wan
   4. gas
7. debt
   1. said
   2. doubt
   3. gain
   4. eke
8. soar
   1. pot
   2. foal
   3. catch
   4. caught
9. dye
   1. deal
   2. dent
   3. tide
   4. day
10. date
    1. west
    2. height
    3. says
    4. heinous
11. berth
    1. hurt
    2. hunt
    3. breath
    4. berry
12. Sure
    1. Sower
    2. fewer
    3. grew
    4. floor
13. clothes
    1. clue
    2. bother
    3. claw
    4. both
14. rear
    1. realm
    2. mere
    3. read
    4. mare
15. shoe
    1. prune
    2. great
    3. bush
    4. shone

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.

16. frame
    1. praise
    2. flame
    3. pram
    4. phrase
17. love
    1. few
    2. view
    3. plough
    4. cough
18. through
    1. breathe
    2. both
    3. drew
    4. tram
19. scene
    1. theme
    2. keen
    3. psyche
    4. prize
20. change
    1. nature
    2. nation
    3. champagne
    4. chameleon
21. pleasure
    1. pressure
    2. pleasing
    3. natural
    4. occasion
22. gender
    1. guilty
    2. good
    3. glitter
    4. joyful
23. ton
    1. knock
    2. hymn
    3. pink
    4. sing
24. weather
    1. length
    2. brother
    3. think
    4. breath
25. facts
    1. face
    2. lots
    3. fast
    4. loathes
26. sheep
    1. sign
    2. same
    3. wash
    4. sin
27. young
    1. jump
    2. jog
    3. yen
    4. junior
28. laughed
    1. read
    2. bed
    3. sachet
    4. right
29. tusk
    1. box
    2. boats
    3. task
    4. talks
30. fill
    1. alms
    2. calf
    3. blank
    4. could

Section 3

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

31. Question 31
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
32. Question 32
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
33. Question 33
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
34. Question 34
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
35. Question 35
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4

Section 4

From the words lettered A to D, choose the one that has the correct stress.

36. Question 36
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
37. Question 37
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
38. Question 38
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
39. Question 39
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
40. Question 40
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4

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.

41. 1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
42. 1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
43. 1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
44. 1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
45. 1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4

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.

46. Question 46
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
47. Question 47
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
48. Question 48
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
49. Question 49
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
50. Question 50
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4

Section 7

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

51. Question 51
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
52. Question 52
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
53. Question 53
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
54. Question 54
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
55. Question 55
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
56. Question 56
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
57. Question 57
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
58. Question 58
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
59. Question 59
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
60. Question 60
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4