Waec English language Past Questions and Answers

Question 311:

• 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.

Question 312:

• WAEC 1991

Instruction. Choose the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence.
The measures that were introduced to accelerate the process of national development have in actual fact ...it

A. Accentuated
B. Retarded
C. Promoted
D. Neutralized
E. Revoked

Question 313:

• WAEC 1991

Instruction. Choose the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence.
The measures that were introduced to accelerate the process of national development have in actual fact ...it

A. Accentuated
B. Retarded
C. Promoted
D. Neutralized
E. Revoked

Question 314:

• WAEC 1991

Instruction. Choose the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence.
I thought that the comments made by the secretary were quite innocuous but the chairman considered them.....

A. Polite
B. Inappropriate
C. Antagonistic
D. Unnecessary
E. Harmful

Question 315:

• WAEC 1991

Instruction. Choose the word most suitable for the sentence.
The .....of the few rich in our society contrasts with the poverty of the masses.

A. Arrogance
B. Authority
C. Influence
D. Affluence
E. Monopoly