2015 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. The officer was expecting to be ........ by his boss, but he was censured.
   1. questioned
   2. praised
   3. decorated
   4. guided
2. The honour that was conferred on the general has been ...........
   1. withdrawn
   2. confirmed
   3. rejected  
   4. destroyed
3. . The modest young man was rewarded while his .... brother was punished.
   1. intelligent
   2. handsome
   3. conceited
   4. wicked
4. . Young people are known for their which contrasts with the composure of adults.
   1. ability
   2. instability
   3. activity
   4. credibility
5. 5. It is a fact that pride is a less admirable quality than .....
   1. humility
   2. honesty
   3. affection
   4. tenderness
6. . It is obvious that many people prefer affluence to .....
   1. scarcity
   2. thrift
   3. waste
   4. poverty
7. While some workers felt that the terms were amicable; others thought that they were .....
   1. strange
   2. disagreeable
   3. bad
   4. hostile
8. 8. Now that the people of this community are living in comfort. I don't think they will want to go back to their days of.......
   1. disappointment
   2. hardship
   3. strife
   4. starvation
9. False witnesses castigate rather than .... the accused.
   1. expose
   2. appease
   3. punish
   4. exonerate
10. 10. Some teachers dissuade students from studying Mathematics, but others ...... them.
    1. Motivate
    2. lure
    3. instruct
    4. reward

Section 2

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

11. 11. After assuring the authorities that he would not escape, the prisoner was re- leased on....
    1. suspension
    2. record
    3. parole
    4. probation
12. A judge is required to ..... justice fairly.
    1. defer
    2. dispense
    3. define
    4. dispel
13. The disease was ..... by the doctors as pneumonia
    1. diagnosed
    2. prescribed
    3. construed
    4. decided
14. The court granted an .... against the eviction of the tenant
    1. adjournment
    2. injunction
    3. indictment
    4. adjudication
15. He was given a certificate of .... in English
    1. efficacy
    2. efficiency
    3. proficiency
    4. sufficiency
16. 16. The .... years of a child's life mould his character
    1. restrained
    2. constructive
    3. conflicting
    4. formative
17. He bore his troubles with .....
    1. leniency
    2. preference
    3. discretion
    4. patience
18. Public money should be used only for .... purposes.
    1. legitimate
    2. discreet
    3. legal
    4. executive
19. The truth of the evidence is .....
    1. irreversible
    2. irrefutable
    3. irreparable
    4. irrefutable
20. As a millionaire, he lives in .....
    1. prudence
    2. affluence
    3. frugality
    4. abundance

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. One hearing the news, he flew off the handle. This means that he
    1. changed his decision
    2. ran away
    3. felt very disappointed
    4. became very angry
22. John's money was barely enough to keep the wolf from the door. This means that
    1. John killed a wolf
    2. the money was just sufficient
    3. the situation was desperate
    4. John spent money lavishly
23. 3. He was given the boot by the chairman. This means that he was
    1. offered a pair of boots
    2. promoted
    3. sacked
    4. sent to buy boots
24. 4. Since he left home, he has been trying to find his feet. This means that he
    1. had been suffering a lot
    2. lost his pair of shoes
    3. has forgotten about his relatives
    4. has been trying to get used to his new situation
25. He finds it difficult to put up with her behaviour. This means that he finds it difficult to
    1. tolerate her behaviour
    2. understand her behaviour
    3. determine her behaviour
    4. consider her behaviour
26. 28. The government troops extended the olive branch to the rebels. This means that the government troops
    1. had reached a critical stage
    2. killed a lot of rebels
    3. were ready for peace
    4. defended their territory bravely
27. 27. At the last minute, he had cold feet. This means that
    1. suddenly fell ill
    2. became nervous
    3. lost his imagination
    4. rejected the offer
28. 28. He was advised to pull himself together. This means that he was advised to
    1. keep his plans secret
    2. change his mind
    3. control himself
    4. keep the matter to himself
29. 29. He was sad to learn that his friend had gone round the bend. This means that his friend had
    1. gone overseas
    2. gone mad
    3. lost his job
    4. been very ill
30. 30. The young man quickly paid his debt to save his face. This means that the young man
    1. wanted to avoid disgrace
    2. did not want to be slapped
    3. wanted to preserve his looks
    4. did not want to be a debtor

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. Modou is endowed with great potential
    1. enlightened
    2. provided
    3. gifted
    4. inspired
32. Collaboration is essential to the success of the team
    1. desired
    2. indispensable
    3. effective
    4. appropriate
33. I really wish to assure you that we now have a reliable leader.
    1. dependable
    2. realistic
    3. sensible
    4. resolute
34. This is a chance of a lifetime
    1. an advantage
    2. a privilege
    3. an opportunity
    4. a possibility
35. Children often behave badly out of ignorance.
    1. illiteracy
    2. inexperience
    3. unfamiliarity
    4. simplicity
36. 36. She lived a virtuous life.
    1. Modest
    2. brave
    3. normal
    4. righteous
37. Olu insisted on his freedom to choose his career
    1. wish
    2. independence
    3. ability
    4. right
38. Hindering justice may earn you a fine.
    1. impeding
    2. retarding
    3. stopping
    4. delaying
39. The professor's explanation of the point was very lucid.
    1. long
    2. clear
    3. prompt
    4. complicated
40. The luminous hands of the clock attracted the baby.
    1. bright
    2. colourful
    3. glaring
    4. beautiful

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. That utterance is quite unlike you, please, come ..... it!
    1. through
    2. of
    3. off
    4. against
42. If I..... enough money, I would buy a car.
    1. had
    2. have had
    3. had had
    4. have
43. 4He should take ..... the appointment next week.
    1. in
    2. up
    3. on
    4. to
44. In trying to escape, the thief ran ..... the police
    1. upon
    2. by
    3. into
    4. through
45. I have always counted ...... his friendship.
    1. in
    2. to
    3. with
    4. on
46. The caller was told to..... the line.
    1. hold off
    2. hold up
    3. hold on
    4. hold
47. The coach .... him to have scored a goal.
    1. was expecting
    2. expected
    3. has expected
    4. had expected
48. After eating all the mangoes, he shouldn't complain of stomach ache .......?
    1. Isn't it
    2. would he
    3. should he
    4. should it
49. 49. Mary did her best... failed to reach the pass mark.
    1. but
    2. however
    3. so
    4. and
50. The authorities have shown no signs of giving ...... to their demands.
    1. off
    2. away
    3. over
    4. in
51. We must hurry now for there is not... time left.
    1. some
    2. much
    3. plenty
    4. any
52. Those properties are...sale.
    1. up for
    2. up on
    3. out for
    4. down on
53. I have always preferred unripe plantain yam.
    1. to
    2. than
    3. from
    4. for
54. Give it to Aminata, it is
    1. her
    2. their
    3. yours
    4. hers
55. Please, don't speak evil.... the dead.
    1. to
    2. off
    3. on
    4. for
56. My brother was about...his house when I arrived
    1. to leaving
    2. to have left
    3. to leave
    4. to be leaving
57. Neither Jack nor Jill...there yesterday.
    1. are
    2. were
    3. is
    4. was
58. I have ... completed the task
    1. more and less
    2. more or less
    3. more than less
    4. more but less
59. After two hours of continuous work, the group broke ... lunch.
    1. with
    2. from
    3. for
    4. to
60. He finally hit...the idea of travelling abroad
    1. out
    2. at
    3. on
    4. up
61. The standard of education has gone .......
    1. out
    2. down
    3. off
    4. by
62. The council appointed a .... committee to look into the matter.
    1. five-men
    2. five-men's
    3. five-man
    4. five-man's
63. After the quarrel, he made it...to his friend.
    1. in
    2. Out
    3. on
    4. up
64. The task is...for us to undertake.
    1. much too difficult
    2. too much difficult
    3. more too difficult
    4. quite too difficult
65. I will always stand...him
    1. by
    2. with
    3. to
    4. for
66. We arrived just...time for the grand opening.
    1. by
    2. about
    3. before
    4. in
67. Bakary can lift this heavy log...?
    1. isn't it
    2. can't he
    3. does he
    4. doesn't he
68. The President's speech...yesterday at 8.00 p.m.
    1. is broadcast
    2. is being broadcast
    3. has been broadcast
    4. was broadcast
69. It is such a bad place...I will never dream of going there again.
    1. thus
    2. therefore
    3. that
    4. then
70. We will leave .... you are ready.
    1. as when
    2. whenever
    3. as ever
    4. soon as

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.

The life of a professional sportsman is always hectic. Consider his typical day. As soon as he wakes up in the morning, he jumps out of bed hurriedly and wears his -71 -. Promptly, he goes out to -72- for an hour or so, covering a few miles. However, on some other days, he might choose to practice with the skipping -73- at home. Having completed whichever one it is, he goes in for a shower and dresses for the day’s training -74-. This phase varies according to his specialty. If he is a boxer, he goes into the -75- to deal with the punching bag and later with a sparring partner, usually under the watchful -76- of his coach. If he is a sprinter, he engages in continuous practice, -77- his performance with a stopwatch. If he is in football, netball, volley ball, or lawn tennis, he can best practice with others while the coach watches, calling attention to specific skills and -78- not well mastered. In most cases, training lasts virtually the better part of a day, and often ends in discussions where certain technicalities are ironed out.

Now, when medals are -79-, most people who just watch actions on the television hardly realize what it takes to become a star. When all the -80- are considered and the high risks taken into account, one would realize that a star is worth the millions he earns.

	A	B	C	D
71	jump suit	tracksuit	swimsuit	shell suit
72	Trot	Skip	Jog	jump
73	cord	rope	string	twine
74	practice	sessions	regime	rehersal
75	stadium	sports club	sports centre	gymnasium
76	supervision	custody	command	charge
77	calculating	gauging	timing	assessing
78	techniques	systems	methods	procedures
79	achieved	secured	won	lifted
80	struggles	pains	hurts	rigours

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 giving him/her three reasons why your school has been excelling in academic work.
2. Write an article suitable for publication in a national newspaper on the topic: The importance of national sports festivals.
3. The School Hero is an award meant for the student considered to have exhibited exemplary leadership qualities. As the Senior Prefect, write a letter to the Head of your school, giving three reasons why your nominee should be given the award.
4. You are the main speaker in a debate on the topic: Students in rural schools have more advantages than those in the urban centres. Write your arguments for or against the motion.
5. Write a story ending with the statement: We apologised to each other and reconciled.

Section B - Comprehension

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

The mansion by the roadside in my village reminds me of a similar sight in the state capital, three decades ago. Standing conspicuously by the highway in the heart of the city, the mansion posed a bold challenge to road users. It belonged to Chief Koko who was regarded as untouchable in his community. Nobody dared step on his toes. Motorists had learnt to steer clear of it. It was generally assumed that moving close to it could cost one one's life.

Then came a governor who decided to widen all the major roads in the capital city. He stressed that this would involve the demolition of buildings that fell within twenty metres from the centre of the road. However, although the governor also stressed that compensations would be paid, Chief Koko was not impressed. He made it clear that nothing should tamper with his mansion, warning that whoever defied him risked dire consequences.

Not long after the Governor's official proclamation, newspaper reporters had a field day speculating on the unprecedented confrontation with Chief. With time, news filtered out that he asserted that whoever dared him would certainly end up where others like them had gone. The message was clear - defiance meant death! So, re- porters were pleading for a new route to circumvent the mansion. However, the governor made it clear that there would be no retreat.

Before long, work started on the project. One of the first casualties was a post office that was just some metres within the specified distance. It was cut into two. Soon, the frontage of a school nearby also followed. But, it was assumed that things would be different with the mansion whose owner tolerated no effrontery. Day by day, the project moved closer to the mansion, with the heavy machine levelling one structure after another. Then, when it was clear that the mansion was next in line, the driver of the bulldozer requested to go on leave. This got to the governor who ordered the driver to first do his duty. He sent emissaries to the governor to spare his life since his children were still very young. The following morning, people got a shocker! The governor himself showed up at the site and asked for the key to the bulldozer, ready to assume the role of the driver. The driver, surveying the possible consequence, fearfully climbed up and pleaded that the governor should please care for his children after his demise. The governor announced that if anything was to happen, he, not the driver, would be the target.

So, the driver got to work and the mansion collapsed like a pack of cards. Press photographers went to town with their cameras, hoping to capture Chief Koko in action. But nothing unusual happened, and soon the whole structure became a rubble.

The aftermath? Everybody thought either or both men would soon belong to the great beyond. But this much I know that governor is still around, and so is the driver.

6. Question 6
   1. What opinion did people have of Chief Koko?
   2. What does the expression unprecedented confrontation tell us about the governor?
   3. Why was it necessary to demolish buildings?
   4. When the driver said that his children were still very young, what did he imply?
   5. People got a shocker. Why was the governor's action a shocker?
   6. What did people expect Chief Koko to do after the demolition of his mansion?
   7. Not long after the governor’s official proclamation... i What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage? ii What is its function?
   8. Quote a simile used in the sixth paragraph of the passage.
   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) assumed (ii) retreat (iii) specified (iv) showed up (v)collapsed

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

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

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. /i/
    1. weak
    2. symbol
    3. people
    4. heal
52. /ʌ/
    1. Option 1
    2. Option 2
    3. Option 3
    4. Option 4
53. /æ/
    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