Waec English language 2008 Past Questions and Answers

Question 101:

• WAEC 2008

You are a chief speaker in a debate on the topic: The Television has done more harm than good. Write your speech for or against the topic.

Question 102:

• WAEC 2008

Write a story to illustrate the saying: The ealry birds catches the worm.

Question 103:

• WAEC 2008

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
I have great sympathy for the common fear that is suffered by young people when examinations are looming ahead. Sometimes it is the actual examination they fear but equally likely to excite fear are the expectations of the parents who are keen on their offspring results in failures which could be avoided. achieving good results. Pressure in these circumstances only leads to more fear and often results in failure which could be avoided.
My very last examination was an oral and I knew that everything depended on the kind of impression I made on the government representative who I expected, had difficult questions for me. This, though, was not the only reason for my apprehension. As a youth, I was often teased because I was small in stature. I was obsessed with it. I was very self-conscious, therefore, about meeting this important man. Fortunately, the previous day 1 had learned another lesson from nature, one which was to help me in my face-to-face encounter with the examiner.
I had been staying with my aunt and uncle in order to do some last-minute preparations. I went through my books that afternoon, sitting outside in the sunshine until about three o'clock, when the weather took a turn for the worse. The sky looked menacing and, as the clouds gathered in the distance, I heard the rumble of thunder. The lovely sunny afternoon was changing to a dark and dismal evening. Several times I broke my concentration to look at a very beautiful water lily in the pond. As I quickly gathered up my books, I remembered the lily and went over to see it for the last time that day. I was just in time to see the flower close its petals as the rumble of the distant thunder grew louder. I didn't mind getting wet as I realized that the rain could do nothing to damage the delicate, inner beauty of the lily.
This simple act of nature restored my confidence and I realized that I too could muster courage to face the examiner. I could, in fact, protect the inner me from the outside world. My new-found philosophy worked! Of the eight people who sat for the examination that day, only two succeeded and the government representative congratulated me on being the youngest candidate ever to have passed.
I was lucky for I had learnt to control my obsession with my stature.
(a) According to the writer, what two things excite fear in young people going for examinations?
(b) Give two reasons for the writer's apprehension before the examination.
(c) Why was the writer almost obsessed with his small stature?
(d) How did the observation of the lily affect the writer?
(e) What proof is there in the passage that the writer actually passed the exam?
(f) The sky looked menacing ..... What figure of speech is contained in this expression?
(g) .... because I was small in stature.
(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) what is its function?
(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) excite; (ii) offspring; (iii) apprehension; (iv) dismal; (v) delicate; (vi) muster.

Question 104:

• WAEC 2008

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
Work can be an essential part of children's education and a means of transmitting vital skills from parent to off-spring. In some countries, children are often involved in workshops and small-scale services, and gradually become full-fledged workers later in life. In other countries, teenagers work a few hours a week to earn pocket money. Such work is beneficial as it enhances a child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development without interfering with his schooling, recreation and rest.
Child labour, on the other hand, is about children who work long hours for low wages. often under conditions harmful to their health. This type of work is destructive and exploitative. Child labour takes different forms. By and large, most child workers are in domestic service. Domestic service need not be hazardous, but it often is. Children in domestic service are poorly paid or not paid at all. Their masters set the terms and conditions of their work entirely to their whim. They are deprived of affection, schooling, play and social activity. They are also vulnerable to physical abuse.
Poverty is the most powerful force driving children into hazardous labour. For poor families, the small contribution of a child's income at home can make the difference between hunger and survival. The parents of child workers are often unemployed or underemployed. They are desperate for a secure income. In developing countries, for example, class-rooms do not have seats, half of the students have no textbooks, and half of the classrooms have no blackboards. It is not surprising that many children who attend such schools abandon schooling for work.
Child labour is aggravated by a modern society that is preoccupied with the demand for low-priced products. Few people seem to care that these may have been produced by millions of anonymous, exploited children. The effects of child labour on the psychological, emotional and intellectual growth of the victims are grave. Such children are deprived of affection. Beatings, insults and punishment by being deprived of food are very common. Ultimately, most child labourers are condemned to lifelong poverty, misery, sickness and illiteracy.
(a) Identify two types of work that are beneficial to children.
(b) According to the passage, what is child labour?
(c) Give two causes of child labour.
(d) In one word, describe the effect of child labour on the child
(e) According to the passage, why do children drop out of school?
(f) .... who work long hours for low wages? (I) What is the grammatical named given to this expression as it is used in the passage? (ii) What is its functions?
(g) .... most child labourers are condemned to lifelong poverty What is the meaning of this expression?
(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) transmitting, (ii) enhances; (iii) vulnerable; (iv) preoccupied; (v) anonymous; (vi) grave.