1990 English Language WAEC SSCE (School Candidates) May/June

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English Language 1 - Objective Questions

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.

You have been invited by a youth organization to speak on 'Indiscipline among youths'. Write your speech.
Write a letter to the newly-elected chairman of your local government council congratulating him on his election and stating the priority needs of the people of your community.
You have just spent your holiday in another part of the country with a friend. Narrate your experience to other friends describing what you found interesting about the customs, food, dress and way of life of your hosts.
A friend of yours has been absent from the school for about a month due to illness. Write a letter to the friend describing some interesting things that have happened in the school during the period and expressing your wish for a quick recovery.
Write an article, for publication in a national newspaper, on the dangers of drug abuse among youths.
As the Senior Prefect in your school, write out the speech you would give on the occasion of your school's end-of-year ceremony. Mention some of the problems you faced and give suggestions on how they could be solved.

Section B - Comprehension

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

Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions which follow.

Though Hitler is dead, many mysteries about him remain unravelled, especially the mystery of how he was able to rise to supreme power. The source of his strength, the nature of his ultimate beliefs, and the workings of his fatal weaknesses, all these would be debated for many years to come. No final assessment could be made at the time, nor can we reasonably expect to reach a final assessment in our generation. Hitler's verdict on himself was given in the testament he drew up the day before his suicide. It is an astonishing and revealing document. Having sacrificed millions of Germans to his own glory, he claimed that all his actions had proceeded out of love and loyalty to his people. With perfect detachment and single-mindedness, he claimed that he had shown the German people the way which destiny had pointed out to them, and it was not his fault that they had proved unworthy of the task. He urged the Germans to continue the struggle.
While he was dictating these words, the Russians had encircled Berlin and the Chancellery was being bombarded by Russian guns at close range. Hitler wrote that he chose to die by his own hand rather than submit to cowardly abdication or capitulation. But the most revealing paragraph of his testament referred to his possessions, which he bequeathed to the party, or if the party was no longer in existence to the state. 'Should the state too be destroyed, no further decision on my part is necessary'.
1. From the passage, what type of ruler was Hitler during his life?
2. (i) How did Hitler die? (ii) Why?
3. What was the last thing Hitler did before his death?
4. At the time of his death, how was Germany performing in the war?
5. What two options did Hitler give for disposing of his possessions?
6. For each of the following words, find another word or phrase that means the same and which can replace it in the passage: (i) mystery; (ii) verdict; (iii) astonishing; (iv) detachment; (v) submit; (vi) bequeathed.
7. While he was dictating these words (i) What is the grammatical term used to describe the above expression, as used in the passage? (ii) What is the function of the expression in the sentence?
Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions on it.

When neighbours learnt that the Umorus' household had been raided by robbers, they were genuinely downcast because the easy-going Umorus minded their own business and had contributed immensely to the development of the area. Visitors early that morning were shocked at the way the doors were vandalized before the robbers forced their way into the living-room to make away with the radio, the television, the wall clock, and the video cassette recorder.
As some sympathizers discussed the perfection with which modern robbers strike nowadays, a few of them drove to the police station and soon arrived with detectives. Quickly, statements were obtained from the couple and a few neighbours, all in an attempt to pin down suspects. From these statements, it was learnt that the bushes and uncompleted houses nearby had not been searched. The officer ordered his men to comb the bushes and the unfinished structures. While this lasted, he stood over the culvert near one of the buildings.
Thoroughly, from room to room, from tree to tree, the searchers toiled. But it was a fruitless exercise. The help rendered by neighbours did not yield clues. At last, the police boss concluded that the robbers were beyond their reach, and so called off their chase. He blew his whistle and ordered his men into the jeep. Reassuring Mr. Umoru that the search would continue, he instructed the driver to move.
All the while, in the culvert, their booty by their side, the two robbers snored on. Had a stray dog not given them away, later in the afternoon, they would have escaped with their booty.
1. Why were the neighbours concerned about the robbery in the house of the Umorus?
2. Identify the two types of sympathizers mentioned in the passage.
3. (i) Were the Police careful enough in their search? (ii) Why do you think so?
4. What finally happened to the robbers?
5. 'Had a stray dog not given them away' (i) What is the grammatical term used to describe the above expression, as used in the passage? (ii) What is its function?
6. Give one word that could replace each of the following as used in the passage: (i) immensely; (ii) vandalized; (iii) pin down; (iv) comb; (v) structures; (vi) chase.

Section C - Summary

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

Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions on it.

A study conducted in Nigeria recently recognized three varieties of spoken English. Speakers of the first variety exhibit characteristics of a very long and difficult process of 'internal interpretation' from the mother-tongue into English. Thinking and expression do not go closely together. A listener would notice this from the way the speaker pauses before expressing himself, apparently deciding which words to use and how to arrange them. Thus, thinking is exclusively through the medium of the mother-tongue and English is thus a poor shadow of the original thoughts of the speakers. Utterances heard invariably have to be translated silently into the mother-tongue to be maximally meaningful, and then responses are translated from the mother-tongue into English. Consequently, the long, indirect routes make statements slow, halting and jerky.
The second variety speakers exhibit features described above but to a much lesser degree. Internal translations from the mother-tongue to English still take place during the speaker's expression of opinions and complex concepts but the process now takes a shorter span of time. With ordinary words or simple ideas, internal interpretations need not intervene between the points at which the thought is conceived and the time it is given verbal expression. Discussions are quicker and smoother though these might not always be entirely free from minor halting gaps.
With the third variety speakers, thought is almost entirely in English and translation is not needed. The speaker has a wealth of linguistic weapons to choose from to express the minute distinctions between similar concepts - and these come quickly and easily. Thus for instance, whereas speakers of the lower varieties have only the word 'rain', the speaker of variety III recognizes distinctions between 'shower', down-pour', 'drizzle', 'mist', 'deluge', etc., and uses each in the appropriate context. Also, his mastery of the sounds and features of the English Language equips him to express the utterances accurately and automatically without having to pause and think of the correct version of a sound since he masters the various distinctions in the pronunciation of each vowel and each consonant.
We need to recognize, however, that most Nigerian learners of English 'graduate' from one variety to another, from the lowest stratum of variety I to the highest stratum of that variety, and then to variety II, and so on until they achieve variety III. Length of periods of education, exposure to standard English and a personal conscious effort play major roles in deciding what variety a particular speaker uses.
Finally, we must recognize that most speakers of the higher varieties are still capable of reverting to the lower ones, if they choose. Thus we can find even a Nigerian professor of phonology switching to the lowest stratum of variety I if he feels so inclined when discussing with a house-servant or a porter.
1. In three sentences, one for each, summarize the distinctive characteristics of the speakers of the three varieties of English described in the passage.
2. In two sentences, one for each, describe the conditions under which a person can: (i) move from lower varieties to the upper ones; (ii) switch from a higher variety to a lower one.

English Language 2 - Theory

Section 1

In each of the following sentences, there is one underlined word and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to E, 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.

The young engineer is good at terminating other people's projects but has not been capable of .... any of his own.
1. integrating
2. finishing
3. completing
4. initiating
5. organizing
The manager who expected to be given respect was treated with .......
1. dignity
2. scorn
3. shame
4. cruelty
5. disbelief
Those who had invitation cards were admitted to the party while those who had none were .....
1. barred
2. repelled
3. expelled
4. compelled
5. restricted
No many theories will not help us; we need to be .....
1. bookish
2. hypothetical
3. antithetical
4. shroud
5. practical
Nobody expects him to show ........ for his children but he certainly bestows too much affection on them.
1. love
2. concern
3. intimacy
4. devotion
5. hatred
The challenger was crude and inexperienced in contrast to the champion who was .......
1. great
2. exposed
3. celebrated
4. refined
5. strong
What should have been a source of motivation for him proved a terrible source of .......
1. failure
2. harm
3. discouragement
4. uncertainty
5. disturbance
Ade is very conservative in his political ideas whereas Bala expresses ....... views always.
1. radical
2. heretical
3. conventional
4. fanatical
5. impractical
The government has been spending more money on preventive rather than on ....... medicine.
1. modern
2. protective
3. diagnostic
4. traditional
5. curative

Section 2

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

The fisherman threw a stone into the river and this caused a .......
1. sparkly
2. sparkle
3. splash
4. spring
5. storm
The play was so interesting that the ....... clapped for quite a long time at the end.
1. Spectators
2. watchers
3. congregation
4. people
5. audience
The building .... because of weak structural foundation
1. tumbled
2. succumbed
3. somersaulted
4. collapsed
5. caved
The magazine was ....... by the government for an offensive publication
1. prescribed
2. proscribed
3. suspended
4. condemned
5. persecuted
Many people reacted to the brutal murder of the popular journalist with strong .......
1. indignation
2. demonstration
3. mobilization
4. condemnation
5. accusation
The governor frowned at the ....... which slowed down the implementation of policy decisions.
1. bureaucracy
2. autocracy
3. opposition
4. convention
5. insecurity
The Doctor ....... the illness as yellow fever, not malaria.
1. prescribed
2. examined
3. discovered
4. announced
5. diagnosed
Since the writer did not indicate his name, the editor decided not to publish such ....... article
1. a discourteous
2. an anonymous
3. a scandalous
4. a libellous
5. a cowardly

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.

Mrs Alabi was not around when her case was called and none of her colleagues was willing to hold brief for her. This means that
1. her colleagues were afraid
2. she was not trusted
3. her colleagues did not want to represent her
4. she had quarrelled with her colleagues
Telling lies has become second nature to Kunle. This means that Kunle
1. rarely tells lies
2. always tells lies
3. tells lies only on second thoughts
4. learnt to tell lies from childhood
For us to accomplish the task successfully, all hands must be on deck. This means that everybody
1. should push with his hands
2. will have to travel by sea
3. must cooperate
4. should take a test before continuing the task
The wedding was attended by the cream of the society. This means that the wedding was attended by
1. everybody in the society
2. only those who were invited
3. very important people
4. only the educated people
I want you to keep an eye on that child. This means that I want you to
1. discipline the child
2. keep the child busy all the time
3. punish the child if he misbehaves
4. watch the child all the time
It appears Sade's success at the last examination has gone to her head. This means that Sade is
1. conceited
2. too happy
3. crazy
4. impudent
Little Sheila is always as lively as a kitten. This means that Sheila is always
1. wearing bright dresses
2. very realistic in what she does
3. moving quickly like a kitten
4. gay and cheerful
This masquerade appears once in a blue moon. This means that the masquerade appears
1. on very rare occasions
2. when the moon is blue
3. whenever a special request is made
4. once a month
Okon is quite hardworking but his problem is that he has too many irons in the fire. This means that Okon
1. is a blacksmith
2. takes on more problems than he can cope with
3. is very good at solving problems
4. is a very successful businessman

Section 4

From the words lettered A to E 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.

It takes a great deal of stamina to run the marathon race.
1. courage
2. determination
3. energy
4. intelligence
5. cleverness
But for the principal actor the play would have been dull.
1. important
2. head
3. master
4. famous
5. main
An open car has no protection against the elements.
1. weather
2. emergency
3. molecule
4. atoms
5. atmosphere
He was reluctant to grant my request.
1. disposed
2. delighted
3. reticent
4. unwilling
5. agreeable
The detective was perplexed when the clues in the murder case pointed to at least a dozen different suspects.
1. surprised
2. confused
3. excited
4. discouraged
5. disappointed
The Military Governor called for a concerted effort in solving the problems of the state.
1. a dramatic
2. an agitated
3. a joint
4. a directed
5. an unfailing
My financial situation is so precarious that very soon I may be insolvent.
1. borrowing
2. stealing
3. soluble
4. dependent
5. bankrupt
The chairman is of the opinion that accepting the proposal would be inimical to the objectives of the association.
1. harmful
2. relevant
3. irrelevant
4. indispensable
5. helpful
The famous politician was noted for his pragmatic approach to issues of national interest
1. idealistic
2. romantic
3. compromising
4. practical
5. inconsistent
Kunle is very pessimistic about our chance of success.
1. sad
2. despondent
3. unconvinced
4. worried
5. concerned

Section 5

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

If Kunle hadn't been transferred to Kano his wife would not have resigned her teaching job. This means that
1. Kunle was not transferred yet his wife resigned her job
2. Kunle was transferred and his wife thought of resigning her job
3. Kunle was transferred and so his wife had to resign her job
4. Kunle's wife resigned though her husband wasn't transferred
I'll call at your house this evening if it doesn't rain. This means that I
1. will visit you this evening if it rains
2. will only phone you if it rains this evening
3. will sleep in your house this evening if it rains
4. may not visit you this evening if it rains
Though Ibrahim was provoked, he ought to have controlled himself. This means that Ibrahim
1. should have exercised some restraint
2. was the aggressor
3. took the provocation with calmness
4. was found guilty of committing the offence
The members of staff told the principal that they took exception to his comments. This means that the members of staff
1. approved of the principal's comments
2. objected to the principal's comments
3. wanted to be exempted from the principal's comments
4. warned the principal about his comments
Okon is too quiet for my liking. This means that Okon
1. is liked because he is very quite
2. likes people who are quite
3. is not liked because of his extreme quietness
4. behaves in a very queer and suspicious manner
The teacher said all but one of the sixty candidates scored below a credit grade. This means that
1. all the candidates scored below a credit grade
2. only one of the candidates scored a credit grade
3. only one of the candidates scored below a credit grade
4. all the candidates scored a credit grade

Section 6

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

He was charged with complicity ...... the abortive coup.
1. in
2. for
3. about
4. on
He was convicted ...... stealing some bags of cocoa.
1. with
2. in
3. of
4. for
Mary said she was acting ...... the instructions of the principal.
1. by
2. on
3. for
4. through
...... normal circumstances, it is rare to get all registered voters to vote.
1. On
2. By
3. In
4. Under
Lekan has been trying hard to live ...... to his parents' expectations.
1. over
2. on
3. through
4. up
The Minister's daughter boasted she would have her way, and she really ......
1. had
2. has
3. have
4. did
As at yesterday, only nomination papers in respect of three candidates ......
1. have been filed
2. are being filed
3. had been filed
4. has been filed
They embraced passionately as if they ...... seen each other for years.
1. had
2. had not
3. have
4. have not
You are not sure where you placed the book ......?
1. isn't it
2. weren't you
3. are you
4. didn't you
We arrived when the hall ...... arranged, so we stood outside.
1. has been
2. is being
3. was being
4. had been
She doesn't know you like your food hot, ......?
1. does she
2. shouldn't she
3. didn't she
4. wasn't it
It's certain we shall travel by train, ......?
1. shan't we
2. Shall we
3. don't we
4. isn't it
...... of what he said made no sense.
1. Much
2. Majority
3. Plenty
4. Many
That is not your book: it is ......
1. Johns
2. John's
3. Johns' own
4. for John's
Nana Sawara is a queen and demands to be treated ......
1. like that
2. like so
3. as such
4. that much
It is pretty difficult to choose ...... those three boys.
1. between
2. over
3. against
4. among
...... of the five boys was able to show me the way to the zoo.
1. None
2. Neither
3. Any
4. Some
We will leave ...... you are ready.
1. as
2. whenever
3. while
4. until
This ...... be David's handwriting; I know his handwriting well enough.
1. may
2. will
3. ought
4. can't
The book is not in this locker and it is not in that cupboard ......
1. neither
2. again
3. either
4. even
...... things she had in the room were thrown out.
1. So few
2. The few
3. All few
4. Very few
The party had hardly started ...... the lights went off.
1. than
2. then
3. as
4. when
There are five boys ......
1. of which two were beaten
2. whom two were beaten
3. two of whom were beaten
4. of whom two of them were beaten
This is the man ...... told me the story
1. whom I said
2. who I said
3. I said that He
4. Who I said he
I feel you are none ...... for experiencing that shock.
1. the worse
2. worse
3. the worst
4. worst
Many students find Mathematics ...... than English.
1. difficult
2. too difficult
3. very difficult
4. more difficult
Tunde is the ...... qualified for that job.
1. more
2. most
3. more than
4. many more
It is such a bad place ...... I will never dream of going there another time.
1. therefore
2. thus
3. that
4. then
He has not been seen by his parents ...... seven days.
1. since
2. for
3. getting to
4. far last
He has not been seen by his parents ...... last month.
1. since
2. for
3. getting to
4. since over
Please, let me ...... you in your car to the Railway Station.
1. go with
2. move with
3. follow
4. ride
The ...... came here last week.
1. handsome tall young man
2. young tall handsome man
3. tall handsome young man
4. young handsome tall man
The activities marking the golden jubilee celebrations of the club were ...... with a party
1. rounded off
2. rounded over
3. rounded through
4. rounded up

Section 6

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

PASSAGE A

For the working woman, the task of looking after the home and -76- up the children is not easy. Although the house may have overy modem -77- there is still much -78- to keep her -79- cooking, cleaning, mending, washing and ironing. If she is lucky to have a -80- help, her task is made somehow easier.
The working woman spends much of her income on beauty care. She buys a lot of -81- and visits -82- regularly. Most women are so occupied with the daily -83- that they need these things to -84-themselves up.
Thus the responsibilities of a -85- are quite demanding and she could be so busy as to have little time for -86- engagements.

	A	B	C	D	E
76	taking	pulling	getting	pushing	bringing
77	convenience	necessity	assistance	convention	auxiliary
78	thing	engagement	work	labour	employment
79	tied	busy	alert	ready	serious
80	willing	fraternal	matrimonial	residential	domestic
81	decorations	condiments	ornaments	cosmetics	trinkets
82	saloon	shop	store	salon	studio
83	events	chores	needs	requirements	demands
84	smile	encourage	cheer	laugh	relax
85	housemaid	housemistress	householder	housekeeper	housewife
86	social	official	personal	civilized	entertaining

PASSAGE B

For fixed fees, insurance companies will help a firm insure against -87- and provide some -88-. Most firms will seek -89- against fire, fraud and other -90- happenings for which they pay annual -91- to the insurance companies. The payments will vary according to the -92- to be -93- some of these happenings may be -94- sustained during work or -95- business debts.

A -96- number is given to the insured for proper -97-. If you have just bought a new car, it is advisable to undertake a -98- policy than a -99-, for more risk are covered in the former than in the -100-

	A	B	C	D	E
87	events	accidents	flunctuations	occurences	emergencies
88	money	bonus	gifts	discounts	compensation
89	protection	provision	prevention	advice	aid
90	costly	unpleasant	unforeseeable	unknown	sudden
91	fees	sums	accounts	charges	premiums
92	dangers	claims	subjects	risks	items
93	agreed	entered	included	undertaken	covered
94	damage	loss	harm	injury	grievance
95	overdrawn	unsecured	illegal	overdue	careless
96	policy	significant	particular	typical	contract
97	recognition	entry	identification	accounting	auditing
98	comprehensive	conditional	total	compact	correct
99	second hand	winning party	second party	third party	subsidiary
100	later	previous	first	other	latter