English Language 2009

2009 SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION S3022 June W.A.S.S.C.E ENGLISH LANGUAGE 2 1hour OBJECTIVE TEST 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. 

1. It was a very harmonious meeting, without one ………. Note A. divergent B. adverse C. discordant D. strident 

2. The man accused of premeditated murder but he pleaded that it was A. determined B. accidental C. planned D. contived 

3. We nearly lost the trend of his argument because of its complexity but the ………. Of his language was our saving grace. A. simplicity B. correctness C. openness D. naivety 

4. Uche achieved ultimate success after overcoming many ………. Difficulties. A. grave B. challenging C. first D. initial 

5. I should know what to do in normal circumstances but this is a very ………. Situation. A. different B. unlikely C. unusual D. improbable 

6. Bola is quite extravagant whereas his wife is ………. A. considerate B. ordinary C. wasteful D. thrifty 

7. This is quite surprising, you cannot differentiate between the authentic and the ………. Receipt. A. false B. fake C. wrong D. illegal 

8. Many people objected to the demolition of the toll gates whose ………. Cost millions of dollars. A. construction B. formation C. maintenance D. design 

9. To some people, that custom is repugnant but to other it is ………. A. captivating B. delightful C. popular D. acceptable 

10. While the armed robber remained unruffled after he had been arrested, his wife became ………. A. defiant B. rude C. agitated D. energetic 

SECTION 2 

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

11. Many people were seriously injured in the ………. Accident, fortunately, nobody died A. ghastly B. fatal C. reckless D. dangerous 

12. The editor decided not to publish the ………. Article since the writer did not indicate his name. A. unmarked B. unlabelled C. anonymous D. stamped 

13. Dende did not fulfill the requirement for admission and so was ………. From taking the entrance examination A. removed B. disqualified C. convicted D. implicated 

14. The murder suspect denied the grave allegation against him but the evidence so far has ………. Him A. corroborated B. impeached C. convicted D. implicated 

15. It was quite ………. To have invested in that new business A. prosperous B. sufficient C. profitable D. successful 

16. The president granted the condemned prisoner a ………. A. reprieve B. remission C. bail D. chance 

17. It was difficult for the doctors to ………. The patient’s ailment A. discover B. decide C. divine D. diagnose 

18. They wished her ………. Of the season A. compliments B. compliment C. complement D. complements 

19. Chief Koko never allows his name to be published on connection with his philanthropic activities because he ………. Publicity A. lacks B. cherishes C. detests D. understands 

20. A befitting ………. Was paid to memory of the departed renowned professor, playwright and dramatist. A. tribute B. reward C. contribution D. praise  

SECTION 3 

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretations that you consider most appropriate for each sentence. 

21. The accused was caught red-handed by the police. This means that the accused was A. made to wear red gloves B. thought to be in danger C. found in the very act D. found covered with blood 

22. The greatest problem of the is that he can see no further than his nose. This means that the leader A. lacks foresight B. has bad sight C. is easily deceived D. has no self-confidence 

23. He left the country to avoid loss of face. This means that he left the country to A. make his fortune somewhere else B. seek revenge C. seek refuge D. avoid being publicly humiliated 

24. John was not really angry with Janet but seems to have the matter very much to heart. This means that  A. does not like him B. is very upset about the matter C. has taken the matter very lightly D. has had a serious talk with him 

25. His driving made my hair stand on end. This means that his driving was A. delightful B. frightening C. interesting D. exciting 

26. When the riot broke out in the school, only the principal kept his head. This means that only the principal A. was not injured B. held his head high C. remained calm D. hid himself 

27. Grace failed Mathematics last year but she has promised to turn over a new leaf this year. This means that this year Grace will. A. be more vigilant B. work harder C. cling to her book D. examine both sides of a leaf 

28. The woman supported her husband through thick and thin. This means that she supported her husband. A. in both good and bad health B. when he was fat and when he got thin C. whether he was behaving well or badly D. in both good and bad circumstances 

29. Jumia thinks she’s always right but I’m determined to catch her out. This means that I am determined to  A. arrest her B. confront her C. prove that she can make a mistake D. make her agree that I am right 

30. The preacher advised those who lost their property in the fire disaster not to lose hope as every cloud has a silver lining. This means that A. there is a good side to all misfortunes B. when there is life there is hope C. to lose is a common occurrence D. everybody must encounter misfortunes in life 

SECTION 4 

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word or group of word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence. 

31. I concede that I am wrong on this point A. admit B. pledge C. declare D. conclude 

32. Within a short time, what was meant to be a peaceful demonstration escalated into a riot A. rose B. elevated C. expanded D. developed 

33. The students were incensed to hear that their school fees had been substantially increased. A. enraged B. disappointed C. displeased D. frightened 

34. The flood that swept away the whole village was a catastrophic event. A. an unfortunate B. a disastrous C. a devilish D. an infuriating 

35. The box contains the most valuable of all possessions. A. beautiful B. costly C. useful D. admirable 

36. The decision I have taken is irrevocable. A. inapplicable B. unacceptable C. irreversible D. irregular 

37. I am delighted to speak before this august assembly A. monthly B. popular C. crowded D. honourable 

38. The chairman ended the meeting of the Cooperative Society with a fitting speech A. a short B. an improved C. an appropriate D. a brief 

39. The class is unusually disorderly today. A. unruly B. lawless C. unrestrained D. aggressive 

40. The report given by the boy is substantially correct and we have to decide what to do about it. A. completely B. largely C. probably D. understandably 

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. 

41. The new economic policy took ………. Last year. A. out B. off C. of D. up 

42. I’ll look out ………. You at the stadium. A. for B. at C. to D. on 

43. The men were reported ………. The money fraudulently A. to take B. to have taken C. to having taken D. to be taking 

44. The boy’s father made him ………. The medicine against his will. A. swallow B. to swallow C. swallowed D. to have swallowed 

45. The bridge was blown ………. By enemy soldiers. A. out B. off C. through D. up 

46. Chukwuma explained that he ………. Home early yesterday to be able to catch the early bus. A. has to leave B. has left C. had to leave D. was leaving 

47. ………. He comes, tell him I have left. A. Should B. Should in case C. In case D. Whether 

48. Many a player ………. To score a goal so as to be highly honoured. A. is wanting B. wants C. want D. have wanted 

49. You ………. To know that you cannot succeed without hard work. A. are supposed B. supposed C. suppose D. are suppose 

50. By the time I left the police station, the suspect ………. A. was been questioned B. was been question C. was being questioned D. was being question 

51. Mary has two dresses, one is dirty ………. Is wet. A. either B. another C. each D. the order 

52. That house across the road is ………. Isn’t it A. their B. theirs C. their’s D. theirs’ 

53. Mr. Bello with his wife and children, ………. To the United States A. are travelling B. have travelled C. is travelling D. had travel 

54. The students refused to appear before the ………. Panel set up to investigate the cause of the riot. A. ten-men B. ten-man C. ten-man’s D. ten-men’s 

55. The hardened criminal was convicted ………. The charged. A. of B. on C. for D. over 

56. I enjoyed ………. My grandson to school everyday. A. to drive B. to driving C. driving D. drive 

57. It seems that the children are not paying attention, ……….? A. aren’t they B. doesn’t day C. isn’t it D. don’t they 

58. We knew  you were not averse to ………. New friends. A. meeting B. meet C. having met D. have met 

59. We should have a special programme for ………. In this country. A. the disableds B. disabled C. the disables D. the disabled\ 

60. Neither those girls nor that boy ………. To blame for the error. A. are B. were C. is D. have 

61. The pepper has been ………. By my sister A. ground B. grind C. grounded D. grinding 

62. Mr. Jato is a regular visitor of ………. A. our own B. our’s C. ours’ D. ours 

63. I got into the room and discovered that there wasn’t ………. There A. no one B. someone C. anyone D. none 

64. It is too abstract ………. Concept for them to understand A. of a B. as C. for a D. a 

65. Emmanuel is a man ………. Great courage. A. about B. of C. by D. for 

66. The lady enjoyed the dance ………. The fact that she had a fever A. knowing B. in spite C. even D. despite 

67. The children are all very enthusiastic ………. The forth coming festival. A. for B. about C. on D. with 

68. Hardly had the family settled down for Mummy’s special dinner ………. The lights went off. A. and B. than C. so D. when 

69. The African extended family system gives security to ………. Members. A. his B. her C. its D. their 

70. The philanthropist has donated a ………. Machine to the village school. A. modern duplicating large B. large modern duplicating C. large duplicating modern D. modern large duplicating 

71. Perhaps what Akin told us, ………. True after all. A. may not be B. should not be C. must not be D. shall not be 

72. The nurse inoculated ………. Pupil in the class. A. all B. every C. many D. those 

73. Well, I’ve only got ………. Naira note, but you can have twenty naira. A. small B. few C. a few D. little 

74. Sule has been trying hard to live ………. To his parents’ expectation A. up B. over C. on D. in 

SECTION 6 

In the following passages, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four choices are offered in columns lettered A to D. Choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gaps in the passages. 

The main -75- of malaria are regular -76- of high -77-. The -78- is caused by -79-, which are carried by the -80- anopheles mosquito. The mosquito is infected when it bites a man who is already carrying malaria parasites in his -81-; if the mosquito bites another person after about two weeks, the disease is immediately -82- to him. After about ten days, the man experiences general weakness -83-, fever and sweating. In order to prevent malaria, mosquito must be -84- , and their -85- grounds must be completely destroyed, patients must be treated promptly and people who travel to regions of malaria should take prophylactic -86- to prevent -87 

ABCD 

75. Weaknessessignalssymptomssigns 

76. Gripsattacksproblemsdisturbances 

77. Pressuretensionmoodfever 

78. Diseasediscomfortplagueupset 

79. Germswormsparasitesflies 

80. Malefemalematureordinary 

81. Bodybrain blood eye 

82. Turnedtransmitteddirectedsupplied 

83. Headachesheartachedislocationspasms 

84. Removedweakenedcrushedeliminated 

85. Breathinglivingbreedinggrowing 

86. Actioncheckstreatmentdirective 

87. Affectioninfectionrelapsestress 

PASSAGE B 

Fishing is one of the overlooked sports in this part of the world. It really requires very little and inexpensive -88-, while you enjoy the sport, you will getting food for your efforts as -89- is highly nutritious. A fisherman can use a simple pole and -90- which are not expensive or a rod and reel, to fish. The standard fishing method is to put a -91- or -92- on a hook. The fish will see this and nibble at it. When the fish tries to eat it, the -93- catches it in the throat. it is also good to use -94- for fishing equipment. These indicate when a fish is nibbling at the bait. This method is more reliable than to watch for -95- on the water surface. Fishermen who fish on a small -96- do so from the river -97- and some row in boats to the middle of the river. Large-scale fishing needs the use of fishing -98- which go to sea and -99- are used to -100- big fishes. A lot of hazards are faced by fishermen in sea. 

ABCD 

88. Equipmentmachineryimplementsapparatus 

89. Salmonfishmackerelsardine 

90. Ropewirecordthread 

91. Gnatbaitworm fly 

92. Fishmeatchaflure 

93. Needlehook pinline 

94. Floatsmatsraftsplanks 

95. Wavesbubblesfoamssigns 

96. Levelsizescalebase 

97. Embarkmentbankcanoesboats 

98. Shipstrawlerscanoesboats 

99. Cratesbasketnetscages 

100. Catchgetkillattract