English Language 2022 WAEC Past Questions
WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (WASSCE)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE – PAPER 2 (ESSAY, COMPREHENSION AND SUMMARY)
MAY/JUNE 2022
SECTION A: ESSAY WRITING
Answer only one question from this section.
Your answer should not be less than 450 words.
- Write a letter to your friend in another school telling him or her about your future career and how it will be beneficial to your country.
- The National Scholarship Secretariat is organizing an essay competition on the topic: “The Menace of Fake Drugs in the Society.” Write your entry.
- As a former senior prefect, write a letter to the principal of your school on the occasion of its 60th school anniversary celebration, congratulating him and offering three suggestions for the improvement of the school.
- A new principal has just been posted to your school. As the senior prefect, write a welcome address on behalf of the students, pointing out three areas of need in the school.
- Write a story which illustrates the saying: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
SECTION B: COMPREHENSION
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
Alani was the seventh child of his family. When he was growing up, there was scarcely enough to go round. His mother was a petty trader while his father worked as a clerk in one of the ministries. But Alani was an intelligent child and performed brilliantly at school. This endeared him to his teachers. He represented the school at all competitions and won many laurels. While he was in Basic Six, he won a scholarship to study at any school of his choice to university level. The future was indeed bright for him. However, having to constantly struggle with his siblings for the little sustenance provided by their parents turned him into an aggressive child.
After graduation, Alani got a job with a reputable accounting firm. He travelled far and wide and was trained extensively. He rose through the ranks and became one of the top executives. After a while, he decided to establish his own firm. His firm flourished because of his hard work, dedication and the huge amount of money and time he invested in the venture. After just a few years, the firm became a household name.
However, things took a bad turn. Alani’s success went to his head. He became pompous. He would get angry at the slightest provocation. He refused to take the advice of his employees, considering them all beneath him. Even when his workers had good suggestions for improvement, he would not listen. Often times, he would treat even his clients shabbily. He began to lose clients one by one and his profits dwindled. His firm was on the rocks and he started to blame his employees for the downturn in his business. He became suspicious of every move made and action taken by his workers. Soon, Alani became a bitter man. He lost the respect of his workers because he often quarreled with them. However, Alani’s secretary, who was his pioneer staff, did not give up on him. She tried to talk to him and refused to resign when other members of staff were putting in their letters. When five of his workers resigned on the same day, that decided it! He realized that he just had to turn his life around. He went for counseling and began to turn over a new leaf. It was during one of the counseling sessions that he met a business mogul. They got talking and the man was impressed with Alani’s knowledge and expertise. They formed a partnership and Alani’s business began to grow again. Alani had learnt a useful lesson: those who are endowed with success should nurture it with humility.
Questions
(a) What endeared Alani to his teachers?
(b) Mention two factors that accounted for Alani’s success in business.
(c) Why did Alani’s business almost collapse?
(d) What was ironical in Alani’s blaming his employees for the downturn in his business?
(e) What incident made Alani have a rethink?
(f) “… on the rocks.” What is the meaning of this expression?
(g) “… who was his pioneer staff.”
(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) laurels
(ii) sustenance
(iii) reputable
(iv) venture
(v) pompous
(vi) dwindled
SECTION C: SUMMARY
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
Armed robbery is one of the most condemnable crimes in contemporary society. People have been maimed or killed for their money or belongings in the past, but never has robbery with violence been experienced on such a large scale as observed recently. Armed robbery is typically motivated by the desire to obtain money and valuables. However, some armed robbers engage in the crime with the intention of boosting their status. Whatever the motivation, the act is inhumane and can result in injury and sometimes the death of the victims.
It is rather unfortunate that in almost all modern societies there are always groups of unemployed young people. Some are unemployable because they have little or no education and lack skills. What is even worse, these young people are often unprepared for and unwilling to do any manual work to earn an honest living. They tend to blame society for their plight and retaliate by indulging in acts of crime and lawlessness. They grab money and valuable properties of their victims to enable them to survive in a society which seems to ignore them. To reduce the instances of armed robbery, parents should do their best to nurture their children in the right way because charity begins at home. They should instill good values in them and should not hesitate to correct them early in life when they bring home something that does not belong to them.
The rich, on the other hand, who are mostly the target of armed robbers, provide another cause. Some show off their wealth ostentatiously, live flamboyantly, go about in flashy and sophisticated cars, hop from one exotic island to another on holidays, and brag about all their escapades on social media much to the annoyance and envy of the unemployed youth. To bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots, the government should provide the basic necessities for its citizens. Social services should be made available to those without jobs. The provision of such amenities to cater for the entire populace would help to improve the living conditions of the unemployed and underemployed. The adequate provision of infrastructure would ensure that every individual has access to the basic comforts of life.
The breakdown of traditional systems, resulting in the loss of moral and spiritual values, has made wealth the only thing of value in the eyes of the youth. The ostentatious display of ill-gotten wealth is applauded and the society hardly questions its source. Many young people therefore engage in all manner of nefarious activities including armed robbery to make money in order to enjoy the delights and comforts of modern life and above all, be celebrated by their society. Law enforcement authorities can further reduce the spate of armed robberies by monitoring places known for high incidence of the crime. Constant and intrusive patrols of crime-prone areas can deter potential offenders.
Questions
- In three sentences, one for each, summarize the factors that make some youths go into armed robbery.
- In three sentences, one for each, summarize how armed robbery can be reduced.
WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (WASSCE)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE – PAPER 1 (OBJECTIVE TEST)
MAY/JUNE 2022
SECTION 1
In each of the following sentences, there is one 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.
- Obi’s family is known for their audacity, so one is surprised at his ______.
(a) cowardice (b) irritability (c) moodiness (d) insolence - Bayo is careless in his ways while Tayo is ______.
(a) lovable (b) meticulous (c) difficult (d) reserved - In this country, the law against armed robbery is stringent whereas that against smoking in public places is ______.
(a) accurate (b) complex (c) lax (d) easy - The purpose of education is to facilitate progress, not to ______ it.
(a) prevent (b) impede (c) stampede (d) restrain - These days, many people concentrate on temporal things to the detriment of the ______.
(a) tangible (b) durable (c) unchanging (d) spiritual - While your parents are ______, mine are liberal in their views.
(a) strict (b) intimidating (c) conservative (d) discerning - The judge expected direct answers but the accused was ______.
(a) clever (b) classic (c) refined (d) evasive - Kofi is generous, whereas his wife is ______.
(a) sparing (b) stingy (c) unkind (d) harsh - His manners are uncouth, while his wife’s are ______.
(a) clever (b) classic (c) refined (d) purified - The peak of Mount Everest is about six miles from its ______.
(a) base (b) depth (c) source (d) root
SECTION 2
- The recent floods in some countries have ______ many lives.
(a) claimed
(b) drowned
(c) injured
(d) destroyed - He does not smoke, so the gift of an ashtray will not be quite ______.
(a) admirable
(b) applicable
(c) appropriate
(d) attractive - The reviewer did an excellent job at the ______ of the book.
(a) launch
(b) premiere
(c) session
(d) briefing - The governor filed an ______ against the ruling of the tribunal.
(a) injunction
(b) objection
(c) application
(d) appeal - At the terminus, all passengers on the train will have to ______.
(a) alight
(b) disembark
(c) descend
(d) dismount - Reading the ______ of the famous king, one would see that he had many things to hide.
(a) memoirs
(b) chronicles
(c) life
(d) monument - The smaller boys had always drawn back in fear when the bully raised a fist, but this time they did not ______.
(a) advance
(b) agree
(c) retaliate
(d) recoil - The old man prayed for the ______ of his sins before he died.
(a) omission
(b) commission
(c) remission
(d) permission - Inflation has caused the cost of goods to ______.
(a) escalate
(b) ascend
(c) intensify
(d) progress - The economy of the country has remained ______ despite the crisis.
(a) strong
(b) realistic
(c) tough
(d) firm
SECTION 3
After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for each sentence.
- The principal raised eyebrows at the student’s explanation.
This means that the principal ______.
(a) was unhappy about the explanation
(b) rejected the explanation
(c) considered the explanation
(d) was surprised by the explanation - Mary made a clean breast of everything.
This means that Mary ______.
(a) won everyone over
(b) told the whole truth
(c) did everything efficiently
(d) changed the way things were done - Had it not rained, I would have visited you.
This means that ______.
(a) I visited you even though it rained
(b) it did not rain and so I visited you
(c) it rained so I did not visit you
(d) because it did not rain I visited you - I hadn’t finished talking to Halima when she snapped my head off.
This means that she ______.
(a) gave me a sharp slap
(b) rudely interrupted me
(c) hissed at me
(d) ordered me to stop talking - Franca’s behaviour towards Edward leaves much to be desired.
This means that Franca’s behaviour was ______.
(a) unsatisfactory
(b) kind and considerate
(c) sharp and thorough
(d) unexpected - The teacher truly had his heart in the right place.
This means that he was ______.
(a) kind and considerate
(b) sharp and thorough
(c) simple and modest
(d) focused and direct - Only teachers could afford a car.
This means that ______.
(a) teachers could afford a car and nothing else
(b) teachers and nobody else could afford a car
(c) teachers and others could afford a car
(d) few teachers could afford a car - The night watchman was given the marching orders because of his negligence.
This means that he was ______.
(a) promoted
(b) dismissed
(c) counselled
(d) suspended - My friend is as dull as ditchwater.
This means that my friend is ______.
(a) dark in complexion
(b) extremely boring
(c) not intelligent
(d) not a troublemaker - The director sees Tim as the joker in the pack.
This means that the director considers Tim to be ______.
(a) unpredictable
(b) humourous
(c) nonchalant
(d) unimportant
SECTION 4
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 president of the student union said it was strategic to boycott classes to press home their demands.
(a) acceptable
(b) ethical
(c) practical
(d) tactical - The proscription of the political parties was one of the steps taken by the military.
(a) launching
(b) expulsion
(c) banning
(d) removal - Farmers sometimes go through the frustrating experience of having to watch their produce rot.
(a) disheartening
(b) dismaying
(c) annoying
(d) frightening - The acrobatic displays left the spectators stunned.
(a) amused
(b) enticed
(c) astonished
(d) elated - Binetou looked quite resplendent in that red dress.
(a) expensive
(b) stunning
(c) respectable
(d) conspicuous - It is foolish to depend entirely on mundane things.
(a) imported
(b) material
(c) attractive
(d) expensive - Only a pragmatic approach will solve this problem.
(a) constant
(b) careful
(c) practical
(d) drastic - The governor rebutted all the allegations against him.
(a) rejected
(b) removed
(c) revoked
(d) refuted - He was jailed for failing to obey the court injunction.
(a) law
(b) order
(c) fine
(d) proceedings - The World Bank made funds available to the government for poverty alleviation.
(a) reduction
(b) removal
(c) termination
(d) elimination
SECTION 5
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 two players protested against the weekly ______.
(a) fitness twice-weekly practice
(b) practice fitness twice-
(c) twice-weekly practice fitness
(d) twice-weekly fitness practice - If ______ what actually happened, I would have punished him.
(a) had heard
(b) have had
(c) had had
(d) have heard - She was certainly going to the cinema, ______?
(a) isn’t she
(b) isn’t it
(c) wasn’t it
(d) wasn’t she - Their house is by the side of the road.
(a) father-in-law’s
(b) father’s-in-law
(c) fathers’-in-law
(d) father-in-laws - He ______ his ideas very clearly at meetings.
(a) puts out
(b) puts across
(c) puts away
(d) puts in - Remember to return it to Ruth, ______ hers.
(a) is
(b) it’s
(c) it
(d) its - I want to know your religious ______.
(a) believe
(b) believing
(c) beliefs
(d) believes - The student did the assignment, but not ______ the way I had expected.
(a) just
(b) quite
(c) hardly
(d) as - Bola invited Joe and ______ to the show.
(a) I
(b) myself
(c) me
(d) himself - Highlights ______ the events will be televised today.
(a) of
(b) for
(c) in
(d) on - When the fire alarm went off, we all ______ the door.
(a) made at
(b) made to
(c) made after
(d) made for - Jane has stopped smoking, ______?
(a) hasn’t she
(b) didn’t she
(c) isn’t it
(d) hadn’t she - Graduates find it difficult to secure ______ nowadays.
(a) an employment
(b) employment
(c) employments
(d) few employments - I’ll try to convince him as ______ as I can.
(a) best
(b) best as
(c) the best
(d) well as - ______ were classmates in the university.
(a) His sister and I
(b) Me and his sister
(c) I and his sister
(d) His sister and me - Their shop stocks ______ variety of goods.
(a) any
(b) every
(c) an
(d) each - It’s a miracle that the child didn’t die after the illness, ______?
(a) did she
(b) isn’t it
(c) didn’t she
(d) wasn’t it - It is always good to live ______ one’s means.
(a) within
(b) under
(c) with
(d) through - How I wish she ______ the books before Tunde arrived.
(a) sees
(b) had seen
(c) has seen
(d) saw - He is certainly the ______ man in this party.
(a) most offended
(b) more offended
(c) very offended
(d) much offended - To ______ did you speak?
(a) whose
(b) whom
(c) who
(d) which - In all probability, the strike will be called off today.
(a) Through
(b) In
(c) By
(d) At - He ______ his master in every way.
(a) takes after
(b) takes over
(c) takes up
(d) takes on - He ran ______ that the defenders couldn’t catch up with him.
(a) very fast
(b) much faster
(c) so faster
(d) so fast
- (a) should (b) can (c) could (d) will
- I told them I would come back as soon as I ______.
(a) started eating (b) start eating (c) had started eating (d) start to eat - The reason he gave ______ was most unconvincing.
(a) which he had no money (b) since he had no money (c) that he had no money (d) for he had no money - Sometimes minor incidents in our lives stand out because we cherish ______.
(a) it (b) many (c) none (d) them - An act of cleanliness is to dispose ______ useless items.
(a) away (b) of (c) with (d) off - Two of his ______ left for Europe.
(a) friends (b) friend’s (c) friends’ (d) friend
PASSAGE FOR QUESTIONS 71–80
In the following passage, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. Choose the word that is most suitable to fill the numbered gaps in the passage.
Within the last quarter of the twentieth century, medical experts have been laying emphasis on —71— rather than —72— measures. Through primary health care programmes, people have been taught about these. When an individual —73— a disease, he has to see a doctor for —74—. At times, the doctor finds it difficult to —75— the disease during the initial examination of the patient because many diseases have similar —76—. When this happens, the patient is either asked to go to the —77— for one test or the other or he would have —78— taken to help the doctor find out what is happening internally. It is after all these, and sometimes more, that the doctor can —79— some drugs for the individual and perhaps give him some —80—. To save yourself and everyone else from this headache, it is advisable to pay heed to public health programmes.
No. | A | B | C | D |
71. | effective | protective | defensive | preventive |
72. | curative | healing | corrective | anaesthetic |
73. | acquires | contracts | contacts | develops |
74. | consultation | interaction | discussion | instruction |
75. | explain | discover | diagnose | detect |
76. | signs | indications | morbe | symptoms |
77. | pharmacy | infirmary | laboratory | ward |
78. | an image | a photograph | a film | an x-ray |
79. | prescribe | write | select | dictate |
80. | concoction | syringe | additives | injections |
ENGLISH LANGUAGE – PAPER 3 (TEST OF ORALS)
MAY/JUNE 2022
SECTION 1 – Vowel Sounds
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.
Example: seat
(a) sit (b) cite (c) set (d) key
The correct answer is D, because only key contains the same vowel sound as the one underlined in seat.
Now answer the questions that follow:
- lynch
(a) flee (b) dye (c) you (d) lick - said
(a) paid (b) maid (c) many (d) ham - dance
(a) dunce (b) aunt (c) friend (d) mace - core
(a) pole (b) cot (c) loud (d) saw - nook
(a) noon (b) poor (c) good (d) food - doubt
(a) nought (b) round (c) rough (d) drove - knob
(a) rot (b) bought (c) tonne (d) alert - alert
(a) pearl (b) percent (c) heart (d) check - hut
(a) quay (b) lettuce (c) kick (d) beauty - beauty
(a) good (b) courier (c) put (d) few - White
(a) pair (b) hit (c) bye (d) writ
- Here
(a) chair (b) weird (c) care (d) pair
- Soul
(a) how (b) plough (c) boat (d) buoy
- Boot
(a) louse (b) bull (c) cook (d) ruse
- Fall
(a) power (b) dole (c) down (d) pull
SECTION 2 – Consonant Sounds
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.
Example: vice
(a) cat (b) dress (c) show (d) chalk
The correct answer is B, because only dress has the same consonant sound as the one underlined in vice.
Now answer the questions that follow:
- order
(a) another (b) made (c) wedge (d) flunked - joy
(a) ahoy (b) huge (c) you (d) bagged - chunk
(a) choir (b) chemise (c) matches (d) show - pressure
(a) sour (b) beige (c) wash (d) measure - easy
(a) loss (b) phase (c) curse (d) last - method
(a) brother (b) bath (c) though (d) breathe - reverse
(a) aisle (b) debris (c) cast (d) boys - gang
(a) gene (b) gist (c) tag (d) merge - supper
(a) psychic (b) elephant (c) trip (d) psalm - beige
(a) gag (b) genre (c) gem (d) tough - long
(a) plunge (b) chunk (c) binge (d) dawn - bask
(a) slacks (b) basque (c) lacks (d) axed - then
(a) month (b) three (c) thunder (d) thus - split
(a) sprint (b) spilt (c) splendour (d) spill - black
(a) knead (b) know (c) scene (d) echo
SECTION 3 – Rhymes
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that rhymes with the given word.
Example: obtain
(a) detain (b) detail (c) claim (d) relay
Correct answer: A
Now answer the following:
- hatch
(a) stash (b) match (c) chain (d) chat - roam
(a) come (b) done (c) home (d) from - callow
(a) colour (b) brow (c) allow (d) shallow - fasted
(a) instead (b) lasted (c) harvest (d) practised - lose
(a) shoes (b) loose (c) dose (d) mouse
SECTION 4 – Word Stress
In each of the following questions, the main/primary stress is indicated by capital letters. From the words lettered A to D, choose the one that has the correct stress.
Example: democratic
(a) DE-mo-cra-tic (b) de-MO-cra-tic (c) de-mo-CRA-tic (d) de-mo-cra-TIC
✅ Correct answer: C
Now answer the following:
- Institution
(a) IN-sti-tu-tion (b) in-STI-tu-tion (c) in-sti-TU-tion (d) in-sti-tu-TION - Spectacular
(a) SPEC-tac-u-lar (b) spec-TAC-u-lar (c) spec-tac-U-lar (d) spec-tac-u-LAR - Parochial
(a) PA-ro-chi-al (b) pa-RO-chi-al (c) pa-ro-CHI-al (d) pa-ro-chi-AL - Curriculum
(a) CUR-ric-u-lum (b) cur-RIC-u-lum (c) cur-ric-U-lum (d) cur-ric-u-LUM - Affidavit
(a) AFF-i-da-vit (b) aff-l-da-vit (c) aff-i-DA-vit (d) aff-i-da-VIT
SECTION 5 – Stress Pattern
In each of the following options, all the words except one have the same stress pattern. Identify the one with the different stress pattern.
- (a) public (b) concern (c) centre (d) people
- (a) standard (b) beauty (c) statement (d) regain
- (a) discomfort (b) aggressive (c) quality (d) depended
- (a) confess (b) festive (c) justice (d) haughty
- (a) foster (b) manner (c) cadet (d) guardian
SECTION 6 – Emphatic Stress
In each of the following sentences, the word that receives the emphatic stress is written in capital letters. From the questions lettered A to D, choose the one to which the given sentence is the appropriate answer.
- HE is the press photographer.
(a) Is she the press photographer?
(b) Was he the press photographer?
(c) Is he the museum photographer?
(d) Is he the press editor? - His cousin is usually HOSPITABLE to strangers.
(a) Is his mother usually hospitable to strangers?
(b) Is his cousin usually hostile to strangers?
(c) Is his cousin seldom hospitable to strangers?
(d) Is his cousin usually hospitable to foes? - The FRENCH village is located in Badagry.
(a) Is the German village located in Badagry?
(b) Is the French embassy located in Badagry?
(c) Is the French village located in Ikoyi?
(d) Was the French village located in Badagry? - John’s father was PROMOTED yesterday.
(a) Was Peter’s father promoted yesterday?
(b) Was John’s mother promoted yesterday?
(c) Was John’s father sacked yesterday?
(d) Was John’s father promoted last year? - The principal punished the students for being DISHONEST.
(a) Did the teacher punish the students for being dishonest?
(b) Did the principal praise the students for being dishonest?
(c) Did the principal punish the students for being sincere?
(d) Did the principal punish the teachers for being dishonest?
SECTION 7 – Phonetic Symbols
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol.
- /a:/ (a) pat (b) angry (c) lark (d) prank
- /ɒ/ (a) sport (b) coat (c) could (d) flood
- /au/ (a) fraught (b) plough (c) fracas (d) bat
- /w/ (a) wrought (b) wire (c) awe (d) know
- /ʃ/ (a) shock (b) botched (c) machine (d) chagrin
- /k/ (a) champagne (b) knife (c) knit (d) chorus
- /ie/ (a) pair (b) lure (c) lower (d) peer
- /ð/ (a) thought (b) den (c) their (d) thank
- /z/ (a) insist (b) persist (c) consist (d) resist
- /l/ (a) key (b) brief (c) guilt (d) seize