WAEC Past Questions & Answers: ENGLISH LANGUAGE 2020
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In each of the following sentences, there is a word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the word 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.
1. Geraldine is very courteous but her brother, Gerald is unbelievably ……..
A. arrogant B. impolite C. snobbish D. haughty
2. Whilst Lydia became ………….in the course of the contest, Lena was confident
A. assuring B. boastful C. incensed D. jittery
3. We thought Jane was the instigator of the take-over, it turned out that she was rather the ………….
A. accomplice B. troubleshooter C. advisor D. cool-head
4. When they appeared before the disciplinary committee, Rex was unrepentant but Ray was ………..
A. sober B. Reformed C. remorseful D. quiet
5. Mama thought what I had done was smart but Dad said it was…..
A. dumb B. lame C. wicked D. rough
6. Even though Joyce was praised for what she had done, her opponents……………her.
A. admonished B. mocked C. warned D. provoked
7. Instead of being gentle with the frightened child, Tom was rather …..
A. brisk B. firm C. brash D. harsh
8. I felt very agitated yet I maintained a …….demeanour.
A. brave B. calm C. strict D. gentle
9. Adding much salt to food at table is ……to the heart not beneficial
A. hurtful B. abusive C. injurious D. offensive
10. The sound from Larry’s recorder was ……..rather than audible
A. muffled B. peaceful C. noisy D. blurred
SECTION II
From the words lettered A to D, choose the one that best completes each of the following sentences.
11. We shall overcome ……. how difficult it is.
A. no matter B. irrespective C. not looking D. despite
12. Jemima will be here ……a minute.
A. on B. by C. in D. to
13. The ambulance sped…………the hill.
A. downwards B. down C. between D upward
14. You ………. a scratch on your neck the last time we met
A. are having B. were having C. had D. have
15. He ………..they should be punished immediately.
A. is thinking B. think C. has thought D. thinks
16. ……………midnight, Tom fell asleep.
A. by B. until C. during D. on
17. Elorm and Jacob were then ………..war with each other.
A. into B. with C. at D. in
18. Though Tay had heard their cries for help, he ……..them.
A. has ignored B. ignores C. is ignoring D. ignored
19. Ali and Maria are good friends; they seldom ……………..
A. have argument B. will argue C. argue D. argued
20. Kennedy and Portia ………live in Accra
A. used to   B. use to  C. once  D. then
SECTION III
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word or expression in each sentence
21. Mother’s message was motivational; it gingered the children to work hard
A. aspirational B. sensational C. inspirational D. devotional
22. I have a hunch that the programme will not go well
A. conviction B. suspicion C. revelation D. notion
23. Desmond admonished his people not to go to war.
A. reproved B. threatened C. inspired D. warned
24. Parliamentary proceedings have been adjourned until January.
A. annulled B. scheduled C. suspended D. abolished
25. What the professor said was alien to all his students.
A. offensive B. pleasing C. unfamiliar D. fantastic
26. The unwholesome practice is anathema to decent people
A. a danger B. a curse C. a taboo D. a malady
27. When Joanita was declared winner, pandemonium broke out.
A. catastrophe B. chaos C. riots D. demonstrations
28. The subject of sanitation was accentuated at the meeting because of its importance
A. emphasized B. mentioned C. considered D. analysed
29. When the wild dog attacked the puppies, Cecil throttled it.
A. stifled B. gagged C. strangled D. caged
30. Little Simon was given a drug to suppress his hyperactivity.
A. crush B. conquer C. restrict D. control
SECTION IV
After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of all or part of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
31. Ever since Uche disgraced my niece in public, she has kept him at an arm’s length. This means that my niece
A. doesn’t want to get close to Uche
B. has broken ties with Uche
C. calls Uche frequently
D. hates everything that Uche does
32. If Seth really wants to be helped, he has to put his cards on the table. This means that Seth
A. has to write a detailed application to offices
B. has to be truthful, honest and frank
C. needs to be more sociable
D. needs to reach out to everybody
33. We consider the day our daughter first went to school a red-letter day. This means that we believe the day to be
A. of importance and therefore to be celebrated.
B. a very sad one for our daughter
C. full of danger and uncertainties
D. when she would start her scholarship
34. When the officer challenged the order, the commander hit the ceiling. This means that the commander was
A. surprised B. worried C. very angry D. embarrassed
35. News of the chief’s death spread like wildfire. This means that the news
A. made a lot of people feel uncomfortable
B. was disseminated in a haphazard manner
C. reached many people in a short time
D. produced fiery reactions from all angles
36. It looks like Selina got out of bed on the wrong side. This means that Selina
A. woke up very late
B. felt weak and unwell
C. did not sleep well
D. was in a very bad mood
37. James developed cold feet when he met the Manager to discuss his transfer. This means that James
A. suddenly felt feverish and sick
B. had second thoughts about what he wanted to do
C. became nervous and unable to talk
D. decided to change his mind
38. The priest’s death was a bolt from the blue. This means that the priest
A. died suddenly and unexpectedly
B. was killed by unknown assailants
C. died under mysterious circumstances
D. died peacefully and quietly
39. Anne is two-faced in her reactions to her friends
A. courteous
B. self-centred
C. hypocritical
D. accommodating
40. When Joe got there, he decided to strike while the iron was hot. This means that Joe
A. attacked the people he met there
B. finished all his work in good time
C. took daring decisions
D. took advantage of the situation
SECTION V
In the following passage, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, four choices are offered in columns lettered A to D. For each numbered gap, choose from the options provided for that number, the word that is most suitable to fill the gap.
Two months after moving into our new house, we hadn’t noticed any –41—on the building till one Sunday morning when water started—42—from a corner of the shower in our—43—bedroom. We assumed it was a simple –44—and therefore asked my nephew, an apprentice, to fix it for us. He did, but the—45—lasted for that day only. The next morning, water started dropping heavily from both the bedroom and adjoining room.
Frantically, I called the –46—who promptly came to our rescue. A thorough check revealed that two roofing—47—had been blown away causing water to collect on the —48–. The water had—49—gradually through the joints until that fateful Sunday when things became worse. We, therefore, had to reroof that—50—of the house.
41. A. damages
   B. blemishes
   C. challenges
    D. defects
42. A. flowing
    B. oozing
    C. falling
    D. dripping
43. A. inner
    B. guest
    C. master
    D. big
44. A. outflow
    B. leakage
    C. trickling
    D. filtering
45. A. repair
    B. sealing
    C. mending
    D. blockade
46. A. technician
    B. mason
    C. plumber
    D. worker
47. A. rafters
    B. sheets
    C. thatches
    D. beams
48. A. ceiling
    B. top
    C. chimney
    D. attic
49. A. soaked
    B. spread
    C. seeped
    D. sopped
50. A. side
   B. phase
    C. area
    D. line
Answers To Questions
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