Waec English language 2000 Past Questions and Answers

Question 106:

• WAEC 2000

Write a story ending with the word: "Indeed, it was a blessing in disguise".

Question 107:

• WAEC 2000

You are a speaker in an inter-school debate on the topic: "It is better to attend a school near your home than one outside your neighborhood". Write your speech for or against the proposition.

Question 108:

• WAEC 2000

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
It seemed that Joe had just about had it with his wife of three years. He no longer thought her attractive interesting: he considered her a poor housekeeper who was overweight, someone he no longer wanted to live with. j Or was so _upset that he finally decided on divorce. But before he served her the papers, he made an appointment with% psychologist for the specific purpose of finding out how to make life as difficult as possible for his wife.
The psychologist listened to Joe's story and then gave his advice: "Well. Joe, I think I've got the perfect solution for you From tonight when you get home, I want you to start treating your wife as if she were a goddess. That's right, a goddess, I want you to change your attitude towards her completely. Start doing everything in your power to please her. Listen intently to her when she talks about her problems. Help around the house; take her out to dinner on weekends. I want you to pretend that she's a goddess. Then after two months of this wonderful behaviour, just pack your bags and leave her. That should get to her.
Joe thought it was a tremendous idea. That night he started treating his wife as if she were a goddess. He couldn't wait to do things for her. He brought her breakfast in bed and had flowers delivered to her for no apparent reason. They read books to each other at night and Joe listened to her as never before. It was incredible what Joe was doing for his wife. He kept it up for the two full months. After the allotted time, the psychologist gave Joe a call at home. "Joe," he asked. "How's it going? Did you file for divorce? Are you a happy bachelor once again?" "Divorce?" asked Joe in surprise. "You must be kidding! I'm married to a goddess. I've never been happier in my life. I'd never leave my wife in a million years. In fact, I'm discovering new, wonderful things about her every single day. Divorce? Not on your life!" The psychologist hung up wearing a knowing smile.
(a) Why did Joe consult the psychologist?
(b) What did Joe think he would achieve by following the psychologists advice?
(c) What is ironical about Joe's answer to the psychologist's question towards the end of the passage'
(d) From this episode, what do you think had really been wrong with Joe's marriage?
(e) "... it was a tremendous idea'. ((i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function in the sentence?
(f) "I'd never leave my wife in a million years" What figure of speech is contained in the sentence above?
(g) Why do you think the psychologist wore a knowing smile?
(h) For each of the following words. find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as used in the passage. (i) attractive. (ii) upset; (iii) solution (iv) wonderful; (v) apparent; (vi) allotted.

Question 109:

• WAEC 2000

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
I vividly remember that Thursday morning, some twenty-two years ago. when I was operated upon to have an abnormality corrected. For months. the doctors had combated the ailment with drugs of various kinds many of which sent me on long excursions into slumberland, Yet the ailment had seemed to defy all medical entreaties. Then a few days later, two senior surgeons called on me to discuss their decision They made it clear that only a surgical operation held any hope, otherwise the downward trend was sure to continue until the inevitable Quiet end. So. they sought my consent which I promptly gave, stating that at my age I was old enough to accept any eventuality.
For days, I was gradually prepared for the great event. I took various drugs to build me up physically, and I was encouraged to eat well. Besides, a clergyman came regularly to talk to and pray for me He assured me that I would sail through the operation safely as God, the greatest of surgeons, would join the medical team Gradually I steeled myself to face the exercise.
Then the day came. My wife came very early into the ward, looking as if she bore the burdens of all the world. I told her to be a good girl and cheer up. But all my jokes fell flat. So. when a senior nursing sister came and told my wife to go and buy one of the drugs needed, I was somehow relieved. Moments later, my eldest son came, and I told him to brace up for any eventuality. I said I was proud of his achievements as a young engineer, and of his immediate younger brother as a pharmacist. So, if the end should come, they should both rise to the occasion and steer their other brother and sister to good careers. I had not quite concluded when the stretcher was wheeled in and I was helped on to it.
As the journey to the theatre commenced, with my son by my side, I held his hand firmly and smiled. This was the only way I could reassure him that all was going to be well. The stretcher moved on. Then, suddenly, 1 saw my wife hurrying er catch up with us. As she came along, I told the ward attendants to show down so that she could catch up with us. I took her hand and put it in my son's. Apparently, this gesture disturbed rather than strengthened her. She burst into tears. Belt= could say anything else, to mother and son, the theatre doors were flung open; and the stretcher was wheeled in.
(a) What did the surgeons seek from the patient?
(b) In what two ways was the man prepared for the operation.

(c) What do the man's words to his eldest son suggest about his state of mind?
(d) (i) What message did the man intend to convey to his wife by putting her hand in his son's.
(ii) What was his wife's reaction?
(e) "Before I could say anything else.... '
(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function in the sentence).
(f) ....the inevitable quiet end".
(i) What figure of speech is used in the expression above?
(ii) What does it mean?
(g) How do you know that the patient survived the operation?
(h) 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) combated; (ii) entreaties; (iii) eventually; (iv) steeled; (v) steer; (vi) gesture.