2007 English Language WAEC SSCE (School Candidates) May/June

This page is currently under construction. Please check back later for updates.
If you can help improve this page, please contribute!

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 had a quarrel with your best friend and have not been on speaking terms ever since. Now that you are about to leave secondary school, write to your friend giving at least three reasons why you should become friends again
Write an article for publication in your school magazine on the problems of indiscipline in schools.
Write a letter to the Chairman of your school's board of Governors on the need for a library in your school, requesting him to build and equip one for the school.
You are the chief speaker in a debate on the topic: It is the home and not the school that contributes more to moral laxity among students. Write your argument for or against the topic
Write a story to illustrate the Saying: Strike while the iron is hot.

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. Mr Cissey pulled on his trousers very hurriedly and dragged himself to the verandah. He was bent on getting to his office before his workers. The previous day, he had reprimanded his staff for regularly coming to work late, and threatened to give the sack to any of them who would repeat the offence. Today, he must get to work in time not only to serve as a role model but also to show that he really meant what he had said. He managed to squeeze himself behind the wheel of his car which was at least two sizes too small to accommodate his paunch. He inserted the ignition key and turned it but the car would not start, the engine just grumbled. On the second attempt, it coughed and finally roared to life on the third. It moved grudgingly to the gate and stopped. Cissey immediately realised that he would be caught in a traffic jam. It was evident that he would arrive at his workplace late. For about two hours, Cissey just sat, glued to his seat fuming. Hard as he tried to control his temper, the misbehavior of other drivers once prompted him to bawl at them. Then suddenly, after the interminable wait, the street cleared and Cissey sped off. It was almost three hours after leaving home that he got to his workplace. The staff were already there and when he entered the building he found his secretary and the clerical staff apparently immersed in their assignments, with an air of dutifulness. One look at their boss warned them that hey had better keep quiet to save their skin. But as soon as he closed the door to his office he heard soft voices mumbling words he could not understand. Worst of all, he heard subdued laughter from his secretary. Cissey immediately shot out of the chair ready to vent his spleen on these underlings but suddenly plopped back into his seat. On second thoughts, he changed his mind. How could he castigate them for what they had not caused?
1. why was Mr Cissey in a hurry to get to his office?
2. What two indications are there in the passage that Mr Cissey was a huge man?
3. How did Mr Cissey express his anger while caught in the traffic?
4. Why did Mr Cissey become angry with his staff?
5. What was the attitude of the staff towards their boss?
6. .... what entered the building ... (i) what grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage? (ii) What is its function?
7. How could he castigate them for what they had not caused? What literary device is used in the expression above?
8. What is meant by the expression vent his spleen in the last paragraph? (i) For each of the following words, find another word or phrase whicn means the same and which can replace if as it is used in the passage: (i) reprimanded (ii) evident (iii) prompted (iv) interminable (v) immersed (vi) subdued.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it Whenever l ask myself the question why l have not left this county for good. many answers rush to my mind. each striving to be recognized as being the most convincing, I am reminded of the popular slogan that this country belongs to us, for which reason every one of us must join hands in trying to salvage it. I try to dismiss the argument by reasoning that it is foolhardy attempting to lend a helping hand where one's services are apparently not required. Then l am reminded that it l leave the country in a hurry just because of our political instability and economic hardship, my commitments to my nuclear family and extended family at home wil suffer. I reply by saying that as soon as l get settled abroad, I would arrange for my famiiy to Join me. Other financial problems at home would be taken care of by my regular remittances. Would l then never think of going back home in future? Not until the situation in the country improved considerably, I would answer. And who do l expect to carry on with the task of national rehabilitation when the likes of me are all out of the country? Those who messed up the country in the first place, I would argue. And so on. This self-examination bas been going on for the last ten years or so: meanwhile, I am yet to leave the country. When I wonder how many people think as I do. I realize that we must be very few. Indeed, not many have the slightest opportunity of absconding from the country; they do not have the place to run to, nor do they have the means of escape. Even among the elite who consider this possibility, the uncertainty of a future outside their fatherland intimidates them. And so we all end up staying and grumbling.
1. Why would the writer like to leave his country?
2. Why does the writer believe that he should not join in salvaging his country?
3. What would make the writer return to his country?
4. Who does the writer suggest should carry on the task of national rehabilitation?
5. Give two reasons why it has not been easy for him and others to leave the country
6. …many answers rush to my mind. What figure of speech is used in this expression.
7. … the uncertainty of a future outside their fatherland …(i) What grammatical name is given, to this expression as it is used in the passage? (ii) What is its function?
8. For each of the following words or phrase, find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in the passage: (i) for good; (ii) slogan; (iii) foolhardy; (iv) commitments; (v) absconding.

Section C - Summary

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

Have you always thought that insects are nothing more than a nuisance? Would you like the world to be free of these annoying pests? Do you spray them, swat them, or step on them at every opportunity? Before declaring war on every bug that crosses your path, why not try to learn something about their world? After all, with a population that outnumbers humans by about 200 million to one, you can be sure that insects are here to stay! A brief look at just a few of these amazing creatures might well convince you that insects deserve your respect. Consider flying insects for example: Mosquitoes can fly upside down. Some can even fly through the rain without getting wet - yes, actually dodging the raindrops! Some tropical wasps and bees buzz around at speeds of up to 72 kilometres per hour. One monarch butterfly of North America logged 3,010 kilometres on its migration flight. Hover flies can beat their wings more than a thousand times per second -much faster than humming-birds and dragon flies can fly backwards. Clearly then, insects are such accomplished fliers, unmatched by any other winged creature.

The eyes of many insects serve as a compass. Bees and wasps, for instance, can detect the plane of polarised light. This enables them to locate the sun's position in the sky -even when it is hidden by clouds. Thanks to this ability, these insects can forage far from their nests and still navigate their way home unerringly.

In the insect world. sounds and aromas are often used to find a mate - no small achievement when prospective mates are few and far between. Female emperor moths find a suitor by emiting a scent that is so potent that a male can home in on its source from nearly 11 kilometres away. Crickets, grasshoppers, and cicadas prefer to make themselves heard. Even we humans can hear the amorous cicada as it converts its whole body into a sounding board. A large group of courting cicadas can create a noise louder than that of a drilling machine!

Insects plays a vital role in our daily life, about 30 percent of the foods, we eat results from pollination by them. But pollination is only one of their useful functions. Insects keep the earth clean by means of an efficient recycling system, as they reprocess dead plant and animals. Scientists have observed that without insects the earth will be inundated with dead plant and animal matter. Insects also enrich the soil by liberating nutrients that make things grow. They are sorely missed when their work is not done. Consider what happened in Australia, which has become home to millions of cattle. Herds scattered dung everywhere. Besides being unsightly, the dung provided a breeding site for the bush fly a plague to both humans and cattle. So dung beetles were imported from Europe and Africa, and the problem was solved.

Admittedly, some insects eat crops and carry disease. But only about one percent of the world's insects considered as pests, and many of these cause damage because of the way man himself altered the environment. Even with their drawbacks, insects are an integral part of the natural world on which we depend. Scientists have pointed that while insects can survive without us, we cannot survive without them.

Question 8

In three sentences, one for each, summarise the characteristics of insects discussed in the passage.
In three sentences, one for each, summarise the important functions of insects discussed in the passage.

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 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.

At first, we found life in the town very exciting but soon it became rather ...............
1. tiring
2. disturbing
3. burdensome
4. boring
By working hard, Benjamin outshone his elder brother instead of being ............
1. overshadowed
2. defeated
3. demoted
4. submerged
When we were busy discussing weighty matters, James introduced a ............ trivial
1. issue
2. light
3. meaningless
4. common
The delegates found it better to resort to consultation rather than ............
1. conflict
2. confrontation
3. reconcilation
4. consent
This house which was sealed off years ago has now been ..............
1. reopened
2. rebuilt
3. re-roofed
4. restored
The government has decided that, from next year military service will no longer be compulsory: it will be ..............
1. free
2. optional
3. open
4. conditional
Co-operating with teachers promotes learning, it does not help to be ............
1. destructive
2. confrontational
3. defensive
4. irrational
Only two months after the honour was conferred on the Minister, his dishonesty made the Head of State ...............it.
1. recall
2. reverse
3. revoke
4. reclaim
Despite all my attempts to refute the charges against me, my sister tried to .......... them
1. doler
2. prove
3. investigate
4. maintain
The government's efforts to improve the economy of the country rather ............ it
1. destroyed
2. spoilt
3. complicated
4. worsened

Section 2

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

I really like working in that office; I found the .............. very friendly
1. condition
2. atmosphere
3. air
4. situation
Our teacher's main aim was to .............. us with his good work
1. impress
2. influence
3. instruct
4. improve
Problems in the city have multiplied with the ................ of people from the rural areas
1. entrance
2. influx
3. intrusion
4. admission
It was so hot in the house that the boys rushed to the beach to enjoy the ...............
1. breath
2. wind
3. breeze
4. air
The thief ran so fast that my attempt to get him was in ..............
1. failure
2. waste
3. futile
4. vain
The hungry refugees had to queue for their ..............
1. allowances
2. needs
3. supplies
4. parcels
This land is very dry; we have to ........... the plants.
1. wet
2. sprinkle
3. shower
4. water
It is not right for you to insult your parents; you will just ............... trouble for yourself
1. invite
2. increase
3. create
4. produce
The meeting of the warring factions ended on a ................. note
1. cautious
2. prosperous
3. conciliatory
4. definite
We cannot tell which of the historian's............. is true
1. narrations
2. versions
3. comments
4. suggestions

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.

Now that Michael has become rich, Nancy has begun to make much of him. This means that Nancy
1. now values Michael
2. Now gets a lot of money from Michael
3. only recently married Michael
4. no longer wants to leave Michael
We wanted to arrive early so we decided to leave at 10 o'clock at the latest. This means that we
1. must leave at 10 o'clock exactly
2. should not leave later than 10 o'clock
3. should not leave before 10 o'clock
4. must leave about 10 o'clock
My brother's drunkenness often got on my nerves. This means that my brother's drunkenness
1. disgraced him
2. made him ill
3. made me angry
4. offended me
The government has decided to freeze students grants. This means that the government intends to
1. reduce grants meant for students
2. resume paying grants to students
3. make students repays the grants
4. stop paying grants to students
The first time Paul met Ngozi, her beauty caught his eye. This means that
1. Ngozi admired Paul
2. Paul recognized Ngozi
3. Ngozi attracted Paul
4. Paul surprised Ngozi
Mr. Juma kept his class on their toes so that they might not fail the examination. This means that Mr Juma made his pupils
1. work very hard to pass
2. keep standing in class
3. prepare for the examination
4. eager to take examinations
The President did everything he could not to lose face with Parliament. This means that the President tried to
1. retain his government's popularity
2. continue looking very attractive
3. win the respect of the people
4. gain more seats in the next elections
Drought, for the first time, brought the poor farmers face-to-face with famine. This means that the farmers had never
1. expected to meet hungry people
2. thought the season would be dry
3. prepared for famine
4. experienced hunger in their lives
You can be sure that Sule will hold his own in this dispute. This means that Sule will
1. claim victory in the case
2. insist that he owns the property
3. maintain that his opinion is right
4. prove that he won the argument
The captain must have been really ill to ask the coach not to include him in the team. This means that the
1. captain demanded not to be excluded by the coach
2. coach would not have dropped the captain
3. coach had decided to exclude the captain
4. captain requested to be dropped from the team

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.

It was callous of you to have turned down the poor man's request
1. heartless
2. stupid
3. rude
4. skilful
After a long walk, the travellers suddenly saw light blazing ahead
1. burning
2. shining
3. glowing
4. beaming
John said nothing during the meeting, he just sat there turning
1. thinking
2. lonely
3. mumbling
4. angry
The employees hated him because he often abused his authority
1. insulted
2. misdirected
3. misapplied
4. exaggerated
The minister abridged his speech since he had to leave early
1. shortened
2. hurried
3. abandoned
4. stopped
For rescuing the boy, the policewoman was promoted for her gallantry
1. generosity
2. bravery
3. risk
4. duty
Nora's goal was to become a doctor
1. intention
2. vision
3. ambition
4. mission
Our staff was very proud when the school clinched all the prizes
1. took
2. won
3. possessed
4. cornered
Mamie complains that her husband often relegates her to the position of a housemaid
1. compares
2. relates
3. forces
4. reduces
There is no vacancy so the company no longer recruits staff
1. position
2. opening
3. room
4. place

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.

The police are committed ...........safety of citizens.
1. ensure
2. have ensured
3. ensuring
4. to be ensuring
No sooner had the thief seen the policemen ....... he escaped.
1. then
2. when
3. that
4. than
Our teacher kept us kneeling.......the whole period.
1. since
2. for
3. in
4. from
I know you now, I ......... that you could be trusted.
1. am thinking
2. think
3. had thought
4. have been thinking
The chief, together, with his elders, ............... welcomed to the durbar
1. was
2. is
3. were
4. are
Our car broke down so we had to go............ foot.
1. by
2. with
3. on
4. through
Funke's mother prefers Jane ......... Ama
1. for
2. than
3. from
4. to
You haven't shown any interest ........... providing for yourself
1. towards
2. for
3. in
4. at
All workers are expected to be answerable ............. their bosses.
1. for
2. to
3. through
4. towards
The hall was virtually empty; we had expected one hundred people at the very .............
1. lowes
2. most
3. least
4. highest
We did not have enough room so daddy turned the garage .......... an additional bedroom
1. into
2. as
3. for
4. to
I was looking forward to ........... from you.
1. hear
2. be bearing
3. have heard
4. hearing
Most governments sink large sums of money ............. developing the countries
1. for
2. into
3. by
4. in
It was on Wednesday that we met in Accra.............. ?
1. wasn't
2. didn't we
3. haven't we
4. isn't it
We have waited for too long; its high time we ..........
1. have left
2. leave
3. left
4. had left
I don't believe Banjul is far from here; its must be ten kilometres, .............
1. more and less
2. more or less
3. more than less
4. less or more
You should not blame me; it is no fault of ............
1. me
2. I
3. my
4. mine
Our mother asked whether we .......... our meal
1. will be having
2. will have
3. have had
4. had had
The coffee is still bitter; you have not added ........... sugar
1. plenty
2. some
3. enough
4. much
You haven't seen them for a long time ............?
1. have you
2. did you
3. had you
4. isn't it
................. taxes is a civic responsibility
1. to be paying
2. to have paid
3. having paid
4. paying
John and James are good friends; they are very fond of ..................
1. themselves
2. each other
3. one and another
4. them
No wonder Pabi is now in the national team, he .............. very well since his youth
1. is playing
2. played
3. has been playing
4. had played
You may hate Mathematics but you must sick ................. it if you intend to study Physics.
1. by
2. to
3. at
4. on
I never knew I could be so fast .............. I entered the competition
1. if
2. unless
3. while
4. until
The students are complaining ................ management's high handedness
1. for
2. on
3. about
4. after
My aunt said that she would not buy me ............. of those two books for school.
1. neither
2. either
3. all
4. each
I am quite sure that I did not see ............ in the classroom last night.
1. nothing
2. anyone
3. none
4. no one
I pointed to an object in the sky, but they .......... it.
1. can't see
2. weren't seeing
3. aren't seeing
4. couldn't see
................ average, 1000 vehicles cross this bridge daily
1. in
2. on
3. by
4. with
A dictator often lives ............... fear of assasination
1. in
2. to
3. with
4. for
Jumai lives in a small street .............. Muritala Muhammed Way
1. in
2. off
3. from
4. on
I impressed ...........him the necessity of his going overseas.
1. with
2. upon
3. towards
4. to

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.

PASSAGE A

*question text

	A	B	C	D
74	tune up	tune out	dial out	tune in
75	entertainment	bulletin	announcement	event
76	items	programmes	plans	schemes
77	crowd	spectators	public	assembly
78	microphone	megaphone	telephone	amplifier
79	send out	despatch	put out	send in
80	answers	inquiries	queries	requests
81	colours	loud-speakers	wave-bands	metres
82	aerial	ear-phone	indicator	element
83	pick off	pick up	collect	turn out
84	voices	stations	operators	systems
85	transferred	sent	transmitted	spread
86	caught	percieved	glimpsed	watched

PASSAGE B

Sally and Jake had to share the same house because of .....87....difficulties. After some time, they found themselves...88...and fell in love. They then decided to...89....to cement their relationship. Sally...90...her boyfriend to her parents, who approved of their getting…91..., Jake in turn took his...92...to his parents. They too gave their blessings to the relationship and the...93... day was fixed. Both families then set about preparing for the great day. There was a large attendance and the...94...priest advised the....95....to remain…96..…to each other all their lives and never...97... A grand...98...was held during which friends and relatives showered...99... on them. The newly-wed then left on their ,,,,100....

	A	B	C
87	accomodation	residence	house
88	comparable	adorable	compatible
89	cooperate	unite	join
90	introduced	disclosed	revealed
91	connected	engaged	admitted
92	companion	financee	partner
93	unification	blessing	marriage
94	presiding	praying	officiating
95	lovers	friends	couple
96	withdrawn	close	loving
97	collapse	divide	divorce
98	celebration	reception	party
99	gifts	prizes	valuables
100	holiday	retreat	leave

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. An example is given below. Example: seat A. sit B. cite C. set D. key. The correct answer is D because only key contains the same vowel sound as the one underlined in seat.

park
1. thank
2. heart
3. fact
4. mass
cause
1. work
2. cork
3. mock
4. double
bat
1. plant
2. pass
3. rank
4. taste
bull
1. shook
2. root
3. crude
4. bulk
bread
1. please
2. head
3. bead
4. great
ooze
1. ruse
2. blood
3. good
4. took
lick
1. police
2. women
3. machine
4. seek
hum
1. fond
2. don
3. onion
4. romp
curse
1. luck
2. brought
3. courteous
4. fault
away
1. doctor
2. angry
3. addlet
4. banking
wear
1. bait
2. pair
3. dear
4. near
faith
1. weight
2. piety
3. said
4. guide
deer
1. dare
2. merely
3. hair
4. fairly
gatt
1. mount
2. board
3. hoard
4. whole
fowl
1. sow
2. tow
3. now
4. know

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.

strange
1. vague
2. mirage
3. logic
4. legume
who
1. vehicle
2. khaki
3. rhyme
4. hammer
hang
1. cringe
2. strange
3. mango
4. plunge
leisure
1. sure
2. ledger
3. treasure
4. judge
zoom
1. recess
2. consume
3. dispense
4. perspire
thunder
1. smooth
2. throb
3. writhe
4. breathe
perch
1. chemistry
2. sachet
3. character
4. chimney
heap
1. receipt
2. people
3. cupboard
4. coup
king
1. cool
2. cell
3. knife
4. knew
should
1. mission
2. mishap
3. dishearten
4. occasion
tongue
1. begged
2. seat
3. bustle
4. soften
gas
1. arise
2. consent
3. resign
4. resort
lamb
1. mild
2. could
3. talk
4. calm
mugs
1. examine
2. excellent
3. except
4. exceed
grasp
1. spiritual
2. supply
3. grips
4. mumps

Section 3

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

accurst
1. least
2. worst
3. cost
4. bust
number
1. tumbler
2. sombre
3. slumber
4. plumber
plenty
1. beauty
2. twenty
3. scientist
4. entity
ground
1. behind
2. contend
3. profound
4. grind
honey
1. funny
2. tourney
3. journey
4. puny

Section 4

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

arbitrary
1. AR-bi-tra-ry
2. ar-BI-tra-ry
3. ar-bi-TRA-ry
4. ar-bi-tra-RY
ambivalent
1. AM-bi-va-lent
2. am-BI-va-lent
3. am-bi-VA-lent
4. am-bi-va-LENT
palatable
1. PAL-a-ta-ble
2. pal-A-ta-ble
3. pal-a-TA-ble
4. pal-a-ta-BLE
initiative
1. I-ni-tia-tive
2. i-NI-tia-tive
3. i-ni-TIA-tive
4. i-ni-tia-TIVE
constitution
1. CON-sti-tu-tion
2. con-STI-tu-tion
3. con-sti-TU-tion
4. con-sti-tu-TION

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.

Question 41
1. elite
2. schedule
3. canoe
4. abuse
Question 42
1. advice
2. absence
3. concise
4. submit
Question 43
1. respite
2. review
3. despite
4. deplore
Question 44
1. quantity
2. component
3. religion
4. disaster
Question 45
1. benefit
2. registrar
3. sacrifice
4. comfortable

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.

Nigeria is the largest PRODUCER of petroleum in Africa
1. ls Ghana the largest producer of petroleum in Africa?
2. ls Nigeria the largest importer of petroleum in Africa?
3. ls Nigeria the largest producer of petroleum in the world?
4. Is Nigeria the largest products of cocoa in Africa?
Ngozi passed the Cambridge examination at the THRID attempt
1. Did Chimezie pass the Cambridge examination at the third attempt?
2. Did Ngozi fail the Cambridge examination at the third attempt?
3. Did Ngozi pass the UME at the third attempt?
4. Did Ngozi pass the Cambridge examination at the third attempt?
OUR school is the best in Mathematics in Nigeria?
1. Is our school the best in English in Nigeria?
2. Is on school the best in Mathematics in Africa?
3. Is our school the worst in Mathematics in Nigeria?
4. Is their school the best in Mathematics in Nigeria?
Father praised Chike for winning the BEST-STUDENT award
1. Did Auntie praise Chike for winning the best student award?
2. Did father blame Chike for losing the best-student award?
3. Did father praise Chidi for winning the best-student award?
4. Did father praise Chike for winning the runners-up award?
The visiting team won the GOLD cup in the cricket competition.
1. Did the national team win the gold cup in the cricket competition?
2. Did the visiting team win the silver cup in the cricket competition?
3. Did the visiting team win the gold cup in the football competition?
4. Did the visiting team lose the gold cup in the cricket competition?

Section 7

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

/ e /
1. pays
2. says
3. weight
4. heinous
/ i: /
1. sit
2. people
3. hymn
4. jeopardy
/ ae /
1. mad
2. pass
3. class
4. dance
/ u: /
1. douse
2. route
3. rough
4. dough
/ /
1. lock
2. nught
3. drought
4. watch
/ tf /
1. chest
2. equation
3. chauffeur
4. moustache
/ a /
1. ethics
2. gather
3. athlete
4. both
/ r /
1. harm
2. rhyme
3. bark
4. pure
/ n /
1. thank
2. fang
3. fringe
4. hunger
/ s /
1. cause
2. goes
3. second
4. island