EducationWAEC Past Questions and Answers

WAEC Past Questions & Answers: ENGLISH LANGUAGE 2018

Welcome to our WAEC past question and answer series. In this post, we will be sharing ‘recent’ past questions and their answers for various subjects. Stay tuned enjoy while learning.




1. In the following sentence, there is an 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.

Binetou’s inquisitiveness is in sharp contrast with her sister’s




A indifference


B noisiness


C calmness


D dullness




2. In the following sentence, there is an 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.

Though at first it appeared an insignificant idea, it turned out to be quite _________




A outstanding


B successful


C remarkable


D interesting




3. In the following sentence, there is an 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.

After grasping the fundamental aspects of his job, Kwesi had to cope with more ________ procedures.




A advanced


B academic


C subsidiary


D secondary



4. In the following sentence, there is an 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.

The youth prefer discussing contemporary issues to ______ ones.




A archaic


B uninteresting


C stale


D political




5. In the following sentence, there is an 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.

As erroneous as it might sound, the Headmaster’s assumption was quite _______




A wise


B correct


C precise


D faulty





6. In the following sentence, there is an 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.

Halima likes to dwell on trivial, rather than _______ matters.




A strong


B popular


C weighty


D heavy




7. In the following sentence, there is an 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.

We all know that Bola is insolent whereas Ade is ________




A cowardly


B respectful


C humble


D modest




8. In the following sentence, there is an 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.

A few days after Musa’s _______, his sister longed for his departure.




A coming


B entrance


C arrival


D welcome





9. In the following sentence, there is an 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.

Algebra seems complicated, but with practice it becomes ________




A solved


B simple


C accessible


D achievable




10. In the following sentence, there is an 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.

Mrs. Agide is unassuming whereas her twin sister is ________




A cheerful


B boastful


C loud


D rude




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

At Christmas, employees of the Sugar Factory receive huge ________




A benefits


B dividends


C bonuses


D salaries




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

The exposed milk in the container has turned _______




A sour


B putrid


C mouldy


D stale




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

Not all activists champion ________ causes.




A worthy


B real


C concrete


D favourable




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

The Mayor gave a glowing ________ at the funeral of the city’s only curator.




A citation


B statement


C tribute


D commendation




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

At the end of the _______. the National Anthem is played on our radio station.




A programming


B production


C transition


D transmission




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

The defence counsel was unable to convince the ______ of John’s innocence.




A plaintiff


B witness


C panel


D jury




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

Unfortunately, corruption is the _______ of most African countries.




A venom


B bane


C disaster


D backbone




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

The _______ results proved that the patient had hepatitis.




A investigation


B diagnosis


C probe


D test





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

The new book has beautiful _______ which make it attractive.




A illustrations


B demonstrations


C illuminations


D compositions




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

Their marriage was finally _____ after years of hostility.




A cancelled


B annulled
C broken
D separated




After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence.

21. Can you imagine Oka behaving as if he has all the knowledge in the world? This means that Oka.


A does not really know anything


B knows so much more than we think


C is admired by everybody


D respects other people




22. After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence.

Akin is too full of himself. This means that Akin




A Talks too much


B eats too much


C is too proud


D is quite annoying




23. After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence.

She slogged her guts out for the examinations. This means that she




A failed the examination despite working hard for it


B passed the examination despite not working hard for it


C used unfair means to face the examination


D really worked very hard for the examination




24. After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence.

I admire Modou: very few people can stomach all of Adaeze’s insults. This means that Modou




A tolerated Adaeze’s insults


B was a weakling


C had no answer to Adaeze’s insults


D did the right thing by remaining silent




25. After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence.

After months of battling with stroke, he is now a shadow of his former self. This means that he




A is now frail


B is vulnerable


C is hopeless


D has almost recovered




26. After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence.

Kura, you can’t be too careful when dealing with Wang. This means that Kura.




A has no reason to be suspicious of Wang


B can fully rely on Wang


C has to be very careful in his relationship with Wang


D may feel free in the company of Wang




27. After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence.

Don’t tell me another cock and bull story. This means that the speaker does not want to.




A be further baffled


B hear the same old story


C hear another drab story


D be further deceived




28. After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence.

Had he confessed much earlier, she would have trusted him. This means that he




A had confessed earlier on, but he wasn’t trusted


B had confessed much earlier on and he was trusted


C hadn’t confessed much earlier on and he was trusted


D hadn’t confessed earlier on, and wasn’t trusted




29. After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence.

Kola: You really worked hard to win the case.

Didia: You don’t know the half of it. This means that.




A it wasn’t as difficult as Kola had thought


B Kola’s statement wasn’t actually correct


C it was even more difficult than Kola could imagine


D Winning the case didn’t mean much to Kola




30. After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence.

Femi is too clever by half. This means that Femi




A displays his cleverness in an annoying way


B is not as clever as he thinks


C pleases everyone he meets


D hides how clever he really is




31. 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.

He was such a brilliant footballer!




A an inspired


B an intelligent


C a dazzling


D skilful




32. 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.

The Politician is a fluent speaker.




A an eloquent

B a superficial


C an insightful


D a persuasive




33. 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.

Everyone has the urge to succeed in life.




A compulsion


B desire


C need


D courage




34. 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.

When he heard the gunshot, he ran into a thick forest.




A tight


B deep


C dense


D close




35. 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.

That was a timely intervention.




A suitable


B accurate


C prompt


D major




36. 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.

David is not only hardworking but also scrupulous.




A painstaking


B ambitious


C pleasant


D daring




37. 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.

We really have to be careful because the situation is rather tricky.




A deceitful


B trivial


C unexpected


D difficult




38. 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.

I think that his essay is impeccable.




A erroneous


B correct


C satisfactory


D faultless





39. 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.

There has been a marked change in her study habit.




A significant


B real


C full


D complete




40. 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.

He was directed to write the letter.





A advised


B instructed


C persuaded


D forced




41. 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.

Every one of the students _______ to be excited about the excursion.




A was seeming


B is seeming


C seem


D seems




42. 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.

We should assist the poor ________ ?




A shall we


B A. we shouldn’t


C B. isn’t it


D C. shouldn’t we




43. 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.

Either he or you ______ to clean up the mess.




A has


B have


C were


D was




44. 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.

If Musa had woken up earlier, he ______ breakfast.




A would not have missed


B ought not to miss.


C shall have missed


D may have missed




45. 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.

He would rather appeal the decision _______ defeat.




A instead of accepting


B than accepting


C than accepts


D than accept




46. 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.

The student complained that he ______ the teacher.




A was not hearing


B could not hear


C does not hear


D is not hearing




47. 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.

My brother ______ in Lagos for the past ten years.




A is living


B A. has been living

C B. lived


D C. will lived




48. 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.

I am totally disappointed _______ such poor grades.




A from


B with


C for


D on





49. 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.

He is a doctor but he dabbles _______ politics now and then.




A in


B through


C on


D into




50. 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.

_______ arrived before the manager.




A Neither he nor I


B Neither me nor him


C Either I nor him


D Neither me nor him


 

Answers To Questions

  1. A
  2. C
  3. A
  4. A
  5. B
  6. D
  7. B
  8. C
  9. B
  10. B
  11. C
  12. A
  13. A
  14. C
  15. D
  16. D
  17. B
  18. B
  19. A
  20. C
  21. A
  22. C
  23. D
  24. A
  25. A
  26. C
  27. D
  28. D
  29. C
  30. A
  31. D
  32. A
  33. B
  34. C
  35. C
  36. A
  37. D
  38. D
  39. A
  40. B
  41. D
  42. C
  43. B
  44. A
  45. D
  46. B
  47. A
  48. B
  49. A
  50. A

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