1998 WAEC English Language Objective Questions and Answers
Compose yourself before you start answering the 1998 WAEC English Language Objective Test Questions.
Stop and look at the question again to be sure of what you have been asked to do.
Some students, maybe due to excitement, forget what the question is and start answering ‘nearest in meaning’ whereas the question is for ‘opposite in meaning’.
You must also understand that two or more words may replace the word given but the trick is to choose the word that can also make the sentence meaningful when used.
SECTION 1: In each of the following sentences, there is one word or group of words in bold and one gap.
From the list of words lettered A to E, choose the word or group of words 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.
Example
1. By nature armed robbers are ruthless, I have never seen a ………… among them.
A. humane
B. barbarous
C. ferocious
D. mean
E. decent
In the above example, you are to look for the opposite of the word “ruthless”. Ruthless means wicked, without sympathy or consideration.
This means that the words barbarous, ferocious and mean, should be eliminated because the mean the same thing as ruthless.
You are now left with humane and decent. Humane means kind and decent also means something a little bit similar to humane, but when you look at the above sentence again, you will see that decent cannot really convey the speaker’s intention when it is used to fill the gap.
Also, kind, and sympathetic, can be used as the opposite of ruthless, therefore, the correct word to fill the gap here is “humane”.
Now, Answer the Rest of the 1998 WAEC English Language Objective Test Questions Below
2. The taxi driver slowed while overtaking the lorry when the proper thing to do was for him to have ……….
A. throttled
B. dispatched
C. expedited
D. negotiated
E. accelerated
The above question and answer options properly illustrate the need to use words in context, that is, using a word that would be appropriate given the intention of the sentence.
For instance, in the above options, expedited and accelerated mean fast, which is the opposite of slow; the word we have been given.
However, the sentence is talking about a car so we cannot use expedited given the context, therefore, accelerated is the correct and meaningful word to fill in the gap.
Continue Answering the 1998 WAEC English Language Objective Test Questions and Check the Answers Immediately Below.
3. The probationary workers do not have the same rights as ………… staff.
A. approved
B. dismissed
C. postponed
D. confirmed
E. provoked
4. The journey by road …………. where the rail journey ended.
A. concluded
B. originated
C. commenced
D. established
E. meandered
5. Instead of laughing about this serious matter, you should be ………
A. whimpering
B. sober
C. bitter
D. indifferent
E. unconcerned
6. After years of hostility the two communities now live in ………
A. bondage
B. security
C. enmity
D. equanimity
E. unconcerned
7. Mrs. Apata is always moody while her husband is forever ………
A. cheerful
B. willing
C. tender
D. loving
E. petulant
8. The judge ruled that the first transaction was valid while the second was ………..
A. abnormal
B. legal
C. valueless
D. void
E. proper
9. Ebere’s ……….. contrasts with his brother’s indolence.
A. indulgence
B. laziness
C. labour
D. abstinence
E. diligence
10. Elders are expected to be ……….. where youths are green.
A. rash
B. red
C. experienced
D. callous
E. impetus
Answers to Section 1 of the 1998 WAEC English Language Objective Test Questions
1. A
2. E
3. D
4. C
5. B
6. D
7. A
8. D
9. E
10. C
SECTION 2: From the words lettered A to E, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences:
11. The officer expressed his ……… at being unfairly dismissed.
A. indignity
B. indigestion
C. indiscretion
D. indignation
E. indiscipline
12. It gives me much ……… to welcome you to the beginning of the new session.
A. relish
B. enjoyment
C. pleasure
D. current
E. popular
13. Miss Anieke is very ……… with her pupil because she loves them all.
A. prevalent
B. familiar
C. plain
D. current
E. popular
14. He added a brief ……… to his letter.
A. postscript
B. postmark
C. postmortem
D. posture
E. postdate
15. The ………. that the hospital should be upgraded was warmly welcomed.
A. design
B. purpose
C. proposal
D. undertaken
E. theorem
16. The visitors expressed appreciation for the ……… shown to them during their stay.
A. hostility
B. charity
C. enjoyment
D. generosity
E. hospitality
17. The judge …………. her to two years imprisonment.
A. pronounced
B. commended
C. tried
D. condemned
E. sentenced
18. The principal …………. the students for performing brilliantly in the examinations.
A. rebuked
B. remarked
C. condoned
D. commended
E. admonished
19. Akpan is generally ………….. as the most experienced mason in the town.
A. recommended
B. recognized
C. selected
D. fulfilled
E. informed
20. The Board of Directors is discussing how the company can be run more ……….
A. effeminately
B. effusively
C. effortlessly
D. affectionately
E. efficiently
Answers to Section 2 of the 1998 WAEC English Language Objective Test Questions
11. D
12. C
13. E
14. A
15. C
16. E
17. E
18. D
19. A
20. E
SECTION 3: After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
21. Mr. Gajere is generous to a fault with everything he has. This means that he is
A. just a little generous
B. not generous at all
C. excessively generous
D. very stingy
22. What I have told you is the gospel truth. This means that the information is
A. false
B. unconfirmed
C. partly true
D. competely true
23. Walter is the dictator’s hatchetman. This means that Walter
A. discredits or eliminates the dictator’s opponents.
B. placates those that are offended by the dictator
C. explains the dictator’s policies to the people
D. finds out the dictator’s enemies
24. Yekini scored a brilliant hat trick in the final match of the football competition. This means that he
A. scored the winning goal
B. was the best player
C. decieved the defenders before scoring the goal
D. scored three goals in the match
25. When Audu took that step, he was on the horns of a dilemma. This means that he
A. was calm and composed
B. faced a choice between two unplesant alternatives
C. had many attractive options
D. slept over the matter before he took the step
26. Mary told John to put his own house in order before correcting her. This means that John should
A. solve his own problems first
B. rearrange his house
C. repaint his house
D. not be harsh on her
27. Amuneke has decided to hang his boots. This means that he
A. is leaving his club for another
B. wants a new pair of boots
C. is about to stop playing the game
D. had been banned from playing football
28. The famous film star found dancing a pretty kettle of fish. This means that
A. he enjoyed it
B. it was an awkward experience
C. he found dancing as interesting as acting
D. dancing gave him as much pleasure as a meal of fish
29. The minister’s explanation begged the question. This means that the minister’s explanation
A. avoided the real issue
B. addressed the issue
C. was false
D. was convincing
30. The principal’s quarters are out of bounds to students. This means that the quarters are
A. outside the school boundary
B. too far for students to go there
C. not open to students
D. for binding students
Answers to Section 3
21. C
22. D
23. A
24. D
25. B
26. A
27. C
28. B
29. A
30. C
SECTION 4: From the words lettered A to E below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
31. He eventually found the missing book.
A. soon
B. lately
C. subsequently
D. frequently
E. finally
32. The evidence of the witness corroborates that of the accused.
A. negates
B. reinforces
C. opposes
D. disclaims
E. nullifies
33. The attacker advanced on his opponent in a menacing fashion.
A. threatening
B. unforgetable
C. fascinating
D. crucial
E. wonderful
34. The man retired after thirty-five years of meritorious service to the nation.
A. patriotic
B. notorious
C. commendable
D. beautiful
E. regrettable
35. The story he told was incredible.
A. indelible
B. acceptable
C. horrible
D. unbelievable
E. permissible
36. The bond of unity in this country is fragile.
A. strong
B. weak
C. ductile
D. attractive
E. laudable
37. If I have erred, I hope the error is pardonable.
A. excusable
B. Intelligble
C. reparable
D. reedemable
E. questionable
38. We were treated to a very sumptuous meal at the party.
A. meager
B. prominent
famous
D. common
E. expensive
39. Charles’ concern for Diana is affected.
A. genuine
B. serious
C. pretended
D. worrisome
E. half-hearted
40. We need an expert to decipher the code.
A. understand
B. explain
C. demystify
D. normalize
E. interpret
Answers to Section 4
31. E
32. B
33. A
34. C
35. D
36. B
37. A
38. E
39. C
40. E
SECTION 5: From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the one that best completes each of the following sentences.
41. The two warring parties met for five days to iron ……. their differences.
A. of
B. in
C. up
D. out
42. The business tycoon’s daughter was carried ….. by flattery of her suitor.
A. on
B. out
C. along
D. away
43. The measures taken were intended to bring ….. the prices of consumer goods.
A. out
B. off
C. away
D. down
44. I was still explaining my action when Tina rudely cut …..
A. on
B. off
C. away
D. in
45. The girl thought that she would get ….. with her stubborness.
A. over
B. up
C. away
D. around
46. We asked him to come with us and …..
A. he comes
B. he did
C. did he
D. he does
47. Although he greeted her …..
A. but she did not answer
B. she does not answer
C. She did not answer
D. But she was yet to answer
48. The thief died shortly after …., shot at by the police.
A. been
B. having
C. becoming
D. being
49. If you don’t withdraw the defamatory statement I shall have no alternative ….. seek redress in a court of law.
A. till I
B. until I
C. than I
D. but to
50. She said that she heard Julie …..
A. sing
B. song
C. sang
D. sung
51. It is useless ….. with a fool.
A. argue
B. arguing
C. to arguing
D. to argued
52. …………………….. committed the offence will be dealt with
A. Whichever
B. Whomever
C. Whatever
D. Whoever
53. Hardly had he completed narrating the story ….. the poor woman collapsed.
A. then
B. as
C. when
D. nevertheless
54. Four men, one of ….. wore a sunshade, entered the room.
A. which
B. whose
C. whom
D. while
55. I am sorry to bother you ….. I have something important to tell you.
A. because
B. but
C. when
D. and
56. I was not only tired …… sick.
A. but also
B. or also
C. and also
D. nevertheless
57. Idi is neither too tall …… short.
A. and too
B. nor too
C. or too
D. or very
58. There will be no trouble …… you do the assignment.
A. in case
B. because
C. as long as
D. as soon as
59. Nda won’t like it ………?
A. has he
B. would he
C. wouldn’t he
D. will he
60. She hurt herself …….?
A. does she
B. isn’t it
C. didn’t she
D. doesn’t she
61. Aliyu can change his mind, ……..?
A. can’t he
B. does he
C. will he
D. doesn’t he
62. The vehicle wasn’t servicable ……..?
A. it was
B. didn’t it
C. is it
D. was it
63. He wasn’t unanimously elected president, ……….?
A. was he
B. didn’t he
C. did he
D. doesn’t he
64. These old tables and chairs are very valuable…….
A. items of furniture
B. furnitures
C. item of furntures
D. item of furniture
65. We lost because we ….. cope with the pace of the game.
A. cannot
B. could not be able
C. could not
D. cannot be able
66. Your contribution is not ….. for you to share in the profit.
A. sufficient enough
B. enough
C. insufficient
D. enough sufficient
67. The teacher’s …….. of the word is faulty.
A. pronouncement
B. promulgation
C. prolngation
D. pronounciation
68. The sole occupant of the car was injured in the ….. accident.
A. fatal
B. ghastly
C. incredible
D. trivial
PS: You must remember to be mindful of trick questions such as no 68 above. An accident is said to be fatal only when death occurs. Since the sentence says the sole occupant of the car was injured it means that there was no one else in the car who might have died, therefore the accident was ghastly, not fatal.
69. The woman walked ……. fast that the little girl couldn’t catch up with her.
A. too
B. very
C. so
D. quite
Section 5 Answers
41. D
42. D
43. D
44. D
45. C
46. B
47. C
48. D
49. D
50. A
51. B
52. D
53. C
54. C
55. B
56. A
57. B
58. C
59. D
60. C
61. A
62. D
63. A
64. A
65. C
66. A
67. D
68. B
69. C
SECTION 6: In the following passage, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are given in columns lettered A to E. Choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
Words in English Language, and any other language for that matter, have one -1-. A word -2- has more than one meaning -3- on its usage in the -4-. Also, a particular thing or situation may be -5- using many -6- words or groups of words. Yet two words -7- ever have exactly the same meaning. Thus, although a word may have many -8-, these do not mean exactly the same thing -9-, it is important that the writer should be very -10- in his -11- of words. Students should be advised not to put -12- the first words that come to their minds. Any writer needs time to -13- the context and -14- suitable words from the very many -15- options that can be used to describe situation.
A B C D E
1. semblance likeness similarity thing peculiarity
2. even equally usually rarely never
3. relying depending particularly reflecting especially
4. context paragraph phrase content context
5. quoted ascribed invented procured described
6. divergent opposing direct different difficult
7. sometimes often hardly always occasionally
8. metaphors synonyms antonyms homonyms syllables
9. Finally Eventually Additionally Consequently Similarly
10. effective worried agitated relaxed careful
11. choice articulation description expression option
12. up down across over on
13. investigate look examine take see
14. admit extract invite adjust select
15. practicable adequate viable possible excellent
Answers to Section 6
1. C
2. C
3. B
4. A
5. E
6. D
7. C
8. B
9. D
10. E
11. A
12. B
13. C
14. E
15. D