Waec English language 1990 Past Questions and Answers

Question 106:

• WAEC 1990

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'.
(a) From the passage. what type of ruler was Hitler during his life?
(b) (i) How did Hitler die? (ii) Why?
(c) What was the last thing Hitler did before his death?
(d) At the time of his death, how was Germany performing in the war?
(e) What two options did Hitler give for disposing of his possessions?
(f) 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.
(g) '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?

Question 107:

• WAEC 1990

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 uncom-pleted 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.
(a) Why were the neighbours concerned about the robbery in the house of the Umorus?
(b) Identify the two types of sympathizers mentioned in the passage.
(c) (i) Were the Police careful enough in their search? (ii) Why do you think so?
(d) What finally happened to the robbers?
(e) '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?
(f) 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.