English Language 2010

2010 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. The handsome profit from her fish business made Mrs. Uba stop complaining about her husband’s ………. Salary. A. ugly B. meagre C. modest D. lowly 

2. Chief Osa prefers fame in the village to ………. In the city  A. neglect B. ignorance C. poverty D. obscurity 

3. The media houses should employ both the novice and the ………. Journalists. A. apprentice B. probationer C. newcomer D.veteran 

4. While the Registrar considers the matter insignificant, his deputy sees it as ………. A. minute B. crucial C. compulsory D. marvelous 

5. It pays to be firm rather than ………. In a case like this A. flexible B. frank C. irresponsible D. careless 

6. Usually, Joseph is articulate in his speech, but today he sounds ………. A. clear B. turgid C. timid D. incoherent 

7. The man’s first wife is loyal, while the second is ………. A. unfaithful B. unkind C. selfish D. hostile 

8. Rather convict him, the impartial judge ………. Him A. blamed B. dismissed C. upheld D. acquitted 

9. Instead of reconciling her parents, Roxanne worked hard at ………. Them A. dividing B. destroying C. separating D. isolating 

10. We thought that Uncle Sam’s health had improved but it had rather ………. A. persisted B. deteriorated C. deepened D. decreased 

SECTION 2 

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

11. One very important aspect of human relationship is ………. Trust A. communal B. individual C. mutual D. personal 

12. The two tasks were performed ………. And we were able to finish early. A. alternatively B. simultaneously C. consecutively D. separately 

13. The committee is charged with finding a ………. Solution to the crisis. A. lengthy B. current C. lasting D. strong 

14. We are worried by the ………. that exist between the two factions of the party. A. distraction B. commotion C. confusion D. rivalry 

15. Our teacher was not speaking ………. When he said that the bursar was under a cloud A. literally B. simply C. frankly D. directly 

16. The signature on the document lacked ……….; so, it was rejected A. clarity B. authentically C. formality D. simplicity 

17. Everyone could tell that Binta was happy from the ………. On her face A. picture B. appearance C. expression D. sight 

18. His last novel ………. By his visit to the prisons A. inspired B. generated C. conceived D. revealed 

19. As a result of the power cut, production at the paint factory came to a ………. A. hold-up B. blockade C. stand still D. suspense 

20. Several ………. Were passed at the meeting A. memoranda B. decisions C. resolution D. actions 

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. James and Henry were at daggers drawn when I knew them. This means that they A. were always angry with each other B. always wore daggers C. were good at drawing daggers D. were fighting everybody 

22. My book has become dog-eared through use. This means that A. the corners of the pages of my book are crumpled B. my book is designed like dog’s ears C. my book is torn D. my book is indispensable 

23. Musa does not believe that there is poverty in Africa; he is a dyed-in-the-wool capitalist. This means that A. a kind capitalist B. a thoughtful capitalist C. an old capitalist D. an unbending capitalist 

24. Whenever my cousin comes to realize that I am telling the truth, she will eat humble pie. This means that my cousin will A. respect me B. hate herself C. apologize D. be ashamed 

25. I had dinner with Tony and Nick and they talked shop the whole time. This means that they talked A. about buying things from the shop B. about their job C. all the time D. about taking me to the shop 

26. His decision to reconcile with his former agent paid off. This means that the reconciliation A. yielded positive results B. cost him a lot of money C. was unsuccessful D. caused him some trouble 

27. The beauty of Bimpe’s garden shows that she has green fingers. This means that Bimpe A. always paints her fingers green B. is good at growing plants C. turns everything she touches to green D. likes keeping green object 

28. I would have visited you but for my father’s ill health. This means that my A. father’s ill health would have made me to visit you B. father’s ill health prevented me from visiting you C. father threatened to fall ill if I visited you D father did not fall ill, so I couldn’t visit you 

29. Her husband’s death has forced her to tighten her belt. This means that she has A. become more economical B. adjusted her belt C. become very aggressive D. become very greedy 

30. Some candidates take examinations in their stride. This means that they A. prepare hard for them B. do not worry about them C. find them insurmountable D. are familiar with them 

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. The provocation had an instantaneous effect on him A. a lasting B. an immediate C. a terrifying D. a momentous 

32. I woke up feeling rather queer A. fine B. strange C. strong D. tired 

33. If he declines the offer, it will be better for him A. ignores B. denies C. snubs D. rejects 

34. Our club encourages benevolence A. affluence B. sincerity C. charity D. association 

35. Such utterances are inimical to the peaceful co-existence of the two communities A. unhelpful B. unimportant C. harmful D. useless 

36. The chairman observed that Andrew was the most qualified candidate for the job A. suitable B. accommodating C. responsible D. interesting 

37. What do you intend to do with these inanimate objects? A. lively B. fascinating C. precious D. lifeless 

38. Everybody noticed that the chairman’s excuse was lame A. verbose B. precise C. unsatisfactory D. unconditional 

39. The president appointed  staunch supporters of his policies as advisers A. trusted B. critical C. affluent D. strong 

40. The little boy gave his candid opinion of the incident A. quick B. brief C. frank D. hurried 

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. Why are you always jealous ………. Other people? A. of B. at C. about D. with 

42. It is sad that the rich ………. Pity the poor A. doesn’t B. don’t C. do D. did 

43. The motorcycle nearly hit Jane and ………. A. me B. at C. under D. mine 

44. I found my friends sitting ………. The beach A. in B. at C. under D. on 

45. It is about time you ………. To bed A. go B. have gone C. went D. should go 

46. We shall not ………. WASSCE next May A. sit in B. sit at C. sit D. sit to 

47. One of his close friends ………. A soldier A. is B. are C. have been D. were 

48. Does Omar ………. In the city? A. lives B. lived C. live D. living 

49. The meeting of the ………. Will come later today A. lives B. lived C. live D. living 

50. His father has a ………. A. round wooden beautiful table B. wooden round beautiful table C. beautiful wooden round table D. beautiful round wooden table 

51. The teachers don’t teach us, ……….? A. do they B. don’t they C. didn’t they D. isn’t it 

52. We are no ………. Friends A. more B. longer C. again D. always 

53. Can you tell us how the accident came ……….? A. up B. by C. out D. about 

54. She wondered if the water was not ………. Hot for drinking A. very B. too C. so D. much 

55. The robbers were subjected ………. A thorough beating by the irate mob  A. to  B. by C. with D. for 

56. The cook should have ………. The pepper and the tomatoes together A. ground B. grind C. grinds D. grounded 

57. My friend would not believe me if I ……….them this story A. tell B. told C. an telling D. will tell 

58. Even before his burial, Okoye’s family members were already planning how to share his wealth ………. Themselves. A. between B. with C. among D. to 

59. The principal advised all the student to be of help to ………. A. one other B. themselves C. the other D. one another 

60. Mr. Ackon needed ………. Help to succeed in the business A. a little B. a few C. little D. few 

61. Susan has been urging me to join the ………. A. Girl Guides B. Girls Guide C. Girls Guides D. Girl Guide 

62. Three kilometers ……….quite a long distance A. are B. have been C. is D. were 

63. Is they had known us, they ………. A. will not treat us like that B. would not treat us like that C. will not have treated us like that D. would not have treated us like that 

64. The teacher made us ………. Five poems each A. recite B. recited C. recites D. reciting 

65. Each one of the ten chosen contestants ………. Lunch with the patron A. has had B. have had C. are having D. have 

66. The teacher needs ………. To write the note on the chalkboard A. chalks B. a chalk C. some chalk D. many chalks 

67. Madam Adike turned ………. 13 bags of maize at the first harvest A. on B. out C. up D. in 

68. The teacher as well as his students, ………. Working very hard A. is B. have been C. are D. were 

69. My mother remarked that it was high time we ………. Preparing the supper A. were starting B. had started C. started D. should start 

70. All we need ………. Dedicated teacher A. are B. was C. is D. were 

71. Though Yusuf is a much younger lawyer, you cannot compare his eloquence ………. His master’s A. by B. with C. from D. for 

72. The student wondered why the sun constantly rises ………. The east A. in B. by C. from D. within 

73. Mrs. Kofi is angry ………. Her daughter’s lack of interested in her business A. at B. with C. for D. by 

74. Until I heard him myself, I ………. Imagined that he said that. A. did not B. could not have C. should not have D. will not have 

75. No sooner had the war started ………. The soldiers deserted A. that B. when C. as D. than 

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. 

PASSAGE A 

The prefectural system is one of the most -76- ways of involving students directly in the -77- of the school. In the system, the students are -78- certain -79- connected with the day- to-day life of the school: for instance, the organization and co-ordination of all sorts  of -80- activities, such as games, societies, clubs or dealing with some minor case of -81-, taking responsibilities for students’ welfare, -82- of learning after school hours, arranging advisory services for junior students and checking -83-. Properly -84-, the prefectoral system helps to -85- the work of administrator and set a good -86- for the school. The operation of the system and exact -87- performed by prefect differ from institution to institution: the important thing is to adapt the system in such a way as to make it a useful -88- of the day-to-day administration of your -89- 

ABCD 

76. Routineeffectiveseriousnecessary 

77. Movementrulingconstructionadministration 

78. Delegatedpromisedallowedslated 

79. Workjobsdutieschoices 

80. Socialacademicextracurricularspecial 

81. Associationindisciplinerelationshipbehavior 

82. Supervisionassignmentadministrationplanning 

83. Evaluationattendancediligencestudies 

84. Operatedruledmanipulatedevolved 

85. Limitduplicateddecreaseminimize 

86. Feelingsigntonedesign 

87. Recordscoursesdeedsfunctions 

88. Implementfeaturetooldevice 

89. Unionvillagecommunitygroup 

PASSAGE B 

Mrs. Agu decided to -90- her friend. She picked up her -91- and -92- her friends -93-. There was no response. However, after a few trials she discovered from the -94- that she was not in -95- and so, the -96- could not go -97-. That was surprising because she had bought some -98- cards the previous day and did not -99- and call. However, she could not remember -100- them into her phone. 

ABCD 

90. Connectringstirwake 

91. Cardmobilelineset 

92. Receiveddialedinsertedscrolled 

93. Handsetdialedinsertedscrolled 

94. Operatorreceivercallersubscriber 

95. Creditmoneyaccountfund 

96. Tonephonesoundcall 

97. Oninthroughout 

98. Applicationrechargecallingdialing 

99. Maketryreceiveregister 

100. Billingfixingloadingapplying