2001 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.

Write a letter to your father, who has been on a long course abroad, telling him how the family has been fairing in his absence.
Write an article suitable for publication in a cultural magazine on the advantages and disadvantages or the extended family system.
The last nation-wide strike by secondary school teachers affected your school adversely. Write a letter to the Minister of Education suggesting at least three ways of preventing future strike actions.
You are a speaker in a debate on the topic."Civilian rule is better than military rule." Write your contribution for or against the motion.
Write a story, real or imagined, which illustrates the saving: "Make hay while the sun shines”.

Section B - Comprehension

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

Bitrus, a middle-aged man, was speeding along the hot tarmac one afternoon, oblivious of the countryside. By his side, reading a magazine, was his first born, a twenty-year old university computer science student. On the man’s mind was the contract he was pursuing in the capital city. It was worth several million dollars. Although he had handled bigger contracts before, Bitrus was preoccupied with this new challenge, his mind far away from the road before him. His son too was buried in the magaine he was reading. So, neither saw the goat crossing the road early enough. Like an automation, Bitrus jammed the brakes. In a flash, there was a skid and a somersault. The villagers worked for almost an hour on the wreckage of the huge Mercedes before rescuing the two.

There, in the casualty ward, the duo lay on the stretchers. Bitrus was soon in a fairly stable condition, but anybody would know that the son needed prompt specialist medical attention. The doctor was sent for, a surgeon who regularly handled such cases. Soon enough, the doctor came. The nurses heaved a sigh of relief. But then⋯ ”Oh no, I can't handle this case. He's my son!” Everyone was shocked. One of the nurses pleaded. "But doctor, you must do something, otherwise,⋯” “No, he's my son. I'll have to transfer this case." And so tearfully more agitated than anybody around, the doctor hurried away to call a colleague.

Here was Bitrus, with multiple injuries, but not in danger. In the adjourning room was his son, still comatose. How then could a doctor come in and say "This is my son"? Wasn't Bitrus the father after all? Most people would reason that the doctor was truly the secret biological father. Others, reasoning hard, would conclude that the doctor was Bitrus's father and thus was right in describing his grandson as his son. But for how long would people continue to think that all doctors must be male? Couldn't the doctor have simply been Mrs Bitrus?

Question 6
1. (i) What was the remote cause of the accident? (ii) What was the immediate cause?
2. What does the passage suggest about the doctors’ attitude to the cases they handle?
3. Describe the conditions of Mr. Bitrus and his son at the hospital.
4. What assumption about doctors does the passage illustrate?
5. "His son too was buried in the magazine he was reading." (i) What type of figurative expression is this? (ii) What does it mean?
6. "… that the doctor was truly the secret biological father.” (i) What grammatical name is given to this expression? (ii) What is its function as it is used in the sentence?
7. For each of the following, find a word or phrase that means the same and can replace it as it is used in the passage: (i) oblivious; (ii) prompt; (iii) regularly; (iv) pleaded; (v) agitated; (vi) adjourning.
Question 7
1. Sub-question 1
2. Sub-question 1
3. Sub-question 1
4. Sub-question 1
5. Sub-question 1
6. Sub-question 1
7. Sub-question 1
8. Sub-question 1

Section C - Summary

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

Poverty! Can anyone who has not really been poor know what poverty is? I really doubt it. How can anyone who enjoys three square meal a day explain what poverty mean? Indeed, can someone who has two full meals a day claim to know poverty? Perhaps, one begins to grasp the real meaning of poverty when one struggles really hard to have one miserable meal in twenty-four hours. Poverty and hunger are cousins, the former always dragging along the latter wherever he chooses to go.

If you are wearing a suit, or a complete traditional attire, and you look naturally rotund in your apparel, you cannot what poverty entails. Nor can you have a true feel of poverty if you have some good shirts and pairs of trousers, never mind that all these are casual wear. Indeed, if you can change from one dress into another, and these are all you can boast of, you are not really poor. A person begins to have a feel of what poverty means when, apart from the tattered clothes on his body, he doesn’t have any other, not even a calico sheet to keep away the cold at night.

Let us face it, how can anyone who has never slept outside, in the open, appreciate the full, harsh import of homelessness? Yet that is what real, naked poverty, is. He who can lay claim to a house, however humble, cannot claim to be poor. Indeed, if he can afford to rent a flat, or a room in a town or city, without the landlord having cause to eject him, he can not honesty claim to be poor. The really poor man has no roof over his head, and this is wny you find him under a bridge, in a tent or simply in the vast open air.

But that is hardly all. The poor man faces the world as a hopeless underdog. In every bargain, every discussion, every event involving him and others, the poor man is constantly reminded of his failure in life. Nobody listens attentively when he makes a point, nobody accepts that his opinion merits consideration. So, in most cases, he learns to accept that he has neither wisdom nor opinion

The pauper's lot naturally rubs off on his child who is subject not only to hunger of the body but also of the mind. The pauper lacks the resources to send his child to school. And even in communities where education is free, the pauper's child still faces an uphill task because the hunger of the body impedes the proper nourishment of the mind. Denied access to modern communications media, the poor child has very little opportunity to understand the concepts taught him. His mind is a rocky soil on which the teacher's seeds cannot easily germinate. Thus embattled at home and then at school, the pauper's child soon has very little option but to drop out of the school.

That is still not all. Weakened by hunger, embattled by cold and exposed to the elements, feeding on poor water and poor food, the pauper is an easy target for diseases. This is precisely why the poorest countries have the shortest life expectancies while the longest life expectancies are recorded among the richest countries. Poverty is really a disease that shortens life!

Question 8

In six sentences, one for each summarize the problems of the poor man.

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.

The leader of the delegation was commended for the manner in which he handled the matter, while their hosts were ⋯⋯⋯⋯
1. Applauded
2. Praised
3. Criticized
4. Sanctioned
Musa is very frugal whereas his friend Audu is ⋯⋯⋯⋯
1. Miserly
2. Thrifty
3. Precocious
4. Extravagant
Taiwo’s flamboyance and Kehinde’s ⋯⋯⋯⋯ often keep people wondering if they are really twins.
1. Modesty
2. Arrogance
3. Timidity
4. Pretension
People enjoy stories with ⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯ settings rather than those with far-fetched backgrounds.
1. Practical
2. Realistic
3. Artificial
4. Undefined
We were asked to reach a compromise and not to start another ⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
1. Accusation
2. Concession
3. Controversy
4. Issue
He was promoted for his efficiency, while his colleague was demoted for ⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
1. Ability
2. Lateness
3. Incompetence
4. Capability
Okon's business is flourishing while his father's is ⋯⋯⋯⋯
1. Declining
2. Progressing
3. Withering
4. Vanishing
You should be ⋯⋯⋯⋯ so as not to be caught unawares.
1. Serious
2. Sober
3. Ready
4. Alert
The manager who was sacked last month has been ⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
1. Retired
2. Reinstated
3. Suspended
4. Promoted
The school authorities expected the contributions to be ⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯ rather than compulsory.
1. Willful
2. Voluntary
3. Deliberate
4. Outright

Section 2

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

The ⋯⋯⋯⋯ programme against childhood diseases has ended.
1. Injection
2. Vaccination
3. Immunization
4. Harmonization
The accused stated ⋯⋯⋯⋯ that he was innocent of the crime.
1. Unequivocally
2. Feebly
3. Ashamedly
4. Excitedly
The doctor's⋯⋯⋯⋯ was that the patient was suffering from cancer.
1. Prediction
2. Verdict
3. Diagnosis
4. Analysis
I was advised to open a⋯⋯⋯⋯ account with the bank if l wanted to pay in cheque.
1. Savings
2. Deposit
3. Loans
4. Current
The pastor addressed his ⋯⋯⋯⋯in a sonorous voice.
1. Audience
2. Masses
3. Spectators
4. Congregation
Many African leaders try to cling ⋯⋯⋯⋯ to power.
1. Tenaciously
2. Judiciously
3. Economically
4. Socially
The Civilian head of state was ⋯⋯⋯⋯ in a military d’etat.
1. Discharged
2. Ousted
3. Empowered
4. Enthroned
After much debate on the controversial issue, the meeting was ⋯⋯⋯ till the next morning.
1. Postponed
2. Proscribed
3. Adjourned
4. Delayed
The company distributed gifts to its staff as an⋯⋯⋯⋯ to hard work.
1. Incentive
2. Inception
3. Interest
4. Induction

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.

Bukola has an infectious smile. This means that Bukola
1. spreads infection when she smiles.
2. has sores in her teeth
3. makes others smile when she smiles.
4. becomes infected when she smiles.
It is cold comfort to tell a hungry man that starvation improves health. This means that telling a hungry man this is
1. frightening.
2. consoling.
3. unhelpful.
4. hypocritical.
Nonso's father gave him a free hand to run the family business. This means that his father
1. assisted him freely.
2. allowed him to make his own decisions.
3. made him sole owner of the business.
4. allowed him freedom of movement in the premises.
Audu was certainly born with a silver spoon in his mouth. This means that
1. he was born into a rich family.
2. his parents gave him a silver spoon when he was born.
3. He was born at the age of miracle.
4. his parents could not help him.
You must be speaking with your tongue in your cheeks. This means that you
1. must be very serious.
2. must be thinking of something else.
3. have food in your mouth.
4. don’t mean what you are saying.
The manager hit the roof when he was presented with a huge estimate for the new project. This means that the manager
1. became very suspicious.
2. threw an object at the roof.
3. became vey angry.
4. ordered the project to be stated at once.
Her reproaches cut him to the quick. This means the
1. was made to act quickly.
2. was wounded.
3. was deeply hurt.
4. began to speak angrily.
The girl went scot-free even though she started the fight. This means that the girl was
1. punished.
2. unpunished.
3. expelled from the school.
4. free to move about.
The secretary’s vote of thanks did not ring true. This means that the vote of thanks was
1. full of praise
2. not audible
3. not sincere.
4. well delivered.
Mary Onyali won the race by a hair's breadth. This means that Mary won
1. convincingly.
2. narrowly.
3. comfortably.
4. luckily.

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.

The criminal was incarcerated.
1. Arrested
2. Pardoned
3. Imprisoned
4. Cautioned
Question 31
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 32
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 33
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 34
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 35
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 36
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 37
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 38
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4

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.

Question 39
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 40
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 41
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 42
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 43
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 44
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 45
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 46
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 47
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 48
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 49
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 50
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 51
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 52
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 53
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 54
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 55
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 56
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 57
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 58
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 59
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 60
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 61
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 62
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 63
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 64
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 65
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 66
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 67
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 68
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 69
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 70
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 71
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 72
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 73
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 74
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 75
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4

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
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89

PASSAGE B

*question text

	A	B	C	D
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100

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.

Question 1
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 2
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 3
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 4
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 5
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 6
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 7
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 8
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 9
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 10
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 11
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 12
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 13
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 14
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 15
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4

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.

Question 16
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 17
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 18
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 19
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 20
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 21
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 22
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 23
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 24
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 25
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 26
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 27
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 28
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 29
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4
Question 30
1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4

Section 3

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

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

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

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

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

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