English Language 2011

2011 SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION 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 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. There isn’t enough rice, so it’s important is permitted whereas the importation of cement is ………. A. suspected B. licensed C. unaccepted D. prohibited 

2. The cast consisted of many famous actors and a few ………. Ones. A. humble B. infamous C. unknown D. unpopular 

3. My grandfather, rather than being ………., was often quite prejudiced in his opinions. A. subjective B. discriminating C. impartial D. strict 

4. Both sides are very hopeful about the outcome of the peace talks, but observers are still very ………. A. realistic B. emphatic C. explicit D. pessimistic 

5. The clever lawyer exposed the fact that they were obscure in the case, making the judge see beyond the ………. A. open B. obvious C. illustrated D. reflected 

6. It took me the whole day to summarize the lecturer’s copious notes having been used to ………. A. scanty B. illegible C. inaccurate D. coherent 

7. The principal of that school was demoted for his incompetence while several others were commended for their ………. A. punctuality B. honesty C. efficiency D. sincerity 

8. The official who disclosed the information he was supposed to ………. Was sacked A. cover B. protect C. conceal D. allow 

9. The prosecutor argued his case vehemently but the defence lawyer responded ………. A. constantly B. feebly C. roughly D. hurriedly 

10. While we expected it to be gradual, the process of transition to civilian rule came to an ………. End. A. abrupt B. anticipated C. unhappy D. unpleasant 

SECTION 2 

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

11. Alfred is afraid of his wife who has a very ………. Size. A. eminent B. momentous C. prominent D. intimidating 

12. The government has imposed an ………. On the importation of used vehicles. A. order B. edict C. embargo D. act 

13. The corps has been taken to the ………. A. dispensary B. mortuary C. theatre D. ward 

14. In spite of vicissitudes of life, she never ………. From her plan. A. evaded B. detracted C. deviated D. detoured 

15. When the solicitor told Awa to wait outside, she considered it ………. To her dignity. A. a drawback B. an affront C. a strain D. a withdrawal 

16. The meeting cannot start because we have not formed a ………. A. quota B. crowd C. quorum D. chorus 

17. The ………. Of the asylum sang a song for the president. A. inmate B. occupants C. residents D. tenants 

18. His appointment was ………. Because of irregularities in his credentials. A. annulled B. terminated C. suspended D. dismissed 

19. The seminar was held under the ………. Of the government A. jurisdiction B. termination C. agreement D. auspices 

20. The new car is very attractive but I doubt its ………. A. style B. complexity C. durability D. longevity 

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. Had it been possible to leave the country then, I would have done so. This means that A. I have not left the country and nothing will make me leave B. I wanted to leave the country and I did C. I will definitely leave the country one day D. I would have liked to leave the country but I wasn’t able to. 

22. The proprietor and his accountant have had a running battle over the last financial report. This means that they have had A. an argument which developed into a fight B. a series of arguments on the report C. to work hard to complete the report D. difficulties understanding the report 

23. Unless you don’t want to become a teacher, there’s no reason for not accepting the sponsorship. This means that you should A. not refuse sponsorship if you want to become a teacher B. refuse sponsorship if you want to become a teacher C. not refuse sponsorship if you don’t want to become a teacher D. refuse the sponsorship whether you want to be a teacher or not. 

24. His chances of passing are very slim. This means that he A. will pass B. will not pass C. may not pass D. ought to pass 

25. We would never have followed his advice if we had known his reputation. This means that we A. knew what people said about him so we refused to obey him B. trusted him but did not need any advice C. followed his advice because we didn’t know him D. trusted him but did not take his advice 

26.  All the handsome men left her cold. This means that A. she needed to wear warm clothes B. the men took no notice of her C. she was not impressed by them D. she felt sad and lonely 

27. Sulayman can’t help shouting at the members of his team. This means that he A. cannot help them without shouting at them B. can’t help them and can’t stop shouting C. can’t control his emotions and keeps shouting D. helps them by cheering them 

28. Out of the blue came his letter inviting me to stay with him. This means that the letter came A. by air B. in a blue envelope C. came unexpectedly D. by sea 

29. Femi spends precious time building castles in the air. This means that Femi A. wants to build castles B. thinks of impracticable things C. is a designer of castles D. has made a lot of money. 

30. Considering his huge salary, the Director ought to have built a house by now. This means that the Director A. is not satisfied with his salary B. has not built a house yet C. earns a lot but his house is still not ready D. does not have enough money to build a house 

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. Nowadays, children are given much more latitude than before. A. advice B. freedom C. luxury D. variety 

32. My neighbor lives a humdrum life. A. busy B. careless C. monotonous D. humble 

33. The Manager described the new accountant as a man of impeccable character. A. serious B. dangerous C. faultless D. rigid 

34. The teacher sent the boys out of the class for his impertinence A. timidity B. indifference C. rudeness D. cheating 

35. This book is the abridged version of the original A. edited B. detailed C. shortened D. revised 

36. After the riot, the streets were blocked with charred vehicles. A. destroyed B. vandalized C. broken D. burnt 

37. The thief’s jail term are to run concurrently A. consecutively B. alternatively C. immediately D. simultaneously 

38. The rapper’s popularity is beginning to wane. A. disappear B. change C. disperse D. decline 

39. The doctor told his patient about all the things that could impair his health A. attack B. terminate C. damage D. reduce 

40. The fat old woman looked comical in those trousers A. shabby B. ridiculous C. strange D. awkward 

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. When I arrived, I noticed he ………. The kitchen. A. had swept B. has swept C. is sweeping D. will sweep 

42. He was dismissed because he ………. The cheque. A. must not issue B. ought not to issue C. should not have issued D. will have issue 

43. Is there ……….  Chalk in the classrooms? A. a B. any C. many D. plenty 

44. The last election resulted ………. A disaster for the socialist party. A. in B. to C. into D. through 

45. The family ………. Dinner when we knocked at the door. A. is having B. was having C. had D. has had 

46. All ………. The president said was reported in the dailies. A. what B. which C. that D. those 

47. Which of the two questions is ……….? A. most difficult B. the much difficult C. the most difficult D. more difficult 

48. If it rains, the exhibition will be cancelled, ……….? A. wouldn’t it B. isn’t it C. won’t it D. can’t it 

49. The rent is too high; ………., the house is not in a suitable location. A. therefore B. besides C. nevertheless D. inasmuch as 

50. It’s about time your brother ………. Some attention to his English. A. pays B. is paying C. paid D. had paid 

51. The ………. Toys have all been stolen A. children B. childrens C. childrens’ D. children’s 

52. Olu passed his examination ………. He was a determined student. A. although B. because C. unless D. when 

53. Your friend and mentor, ………. His speech. A. has finished B. is to  finishing C. have finished D. was finished 

54. ………. Of you does this money belong to? A. Whom B. Whose C. Who D. Which 

55. One of the window panes ………. Yesterday A. were breaking B. was broken C. is to be broken D. have broken 

56. No child ………. Have drawn that picture. A. can B. will C. could D. may 

57. The referee contemplated ………. The players off the pitch. A. to send B. to sending C. sending D. to be sending 

58. The old woman passed ………. When she heard of the robbery. A. out B. by C. off D. although 

59. The first lady wore a ………. Ring to the reception. A. very expensive, gold glittering B. gold, very expensive glittering C. very expensive, glittering, gold D. gold, very glittering expensive  

60. The new road was completed on schedule ………. The difficulties involved A. although B. despite C. besides D. however 

61. ………. Of his evidence made no sense. A. Many B. Few C. Much D. More 

62. The celebrations were rounded ………. With a firework display. A. up B. out C. off D. down 

63. The members of the association were advised to cooperate with ………. A. one another B. each other C. themselves D. one to the other 

64. The robe is ………. Long for the short minister. A. rather B. much C. very D. quite 

65. The professors said that Ade was ………. A. a great student of potential B. a student of great potential C. a great potential student D. of potential a great student  

66. His father saw ………. That Andrew got all the answer wrong. A. in a glance B. by a glance C. with a glance D. at a glance 

67. My friends asked me if I would like to go to Las Palmas for a holiday and I said I ………. A. will B. could C. would D. like 

68. Ali dropped the pot accidentally and it ………. A. was breaking B. broke C. breaks D. had broken 

69. Every man, woman and child ………. Asked  to contribute. A. were B. are C. was D. have 

70. That sack is ………. Heavy for us to lift A. very B. so C. too D. quite 

71. If the school had been destroyed, we ………. Home. A. would go B. would have had to go C. would have to D. would be going 

72. The plane took off ………. A. since five minutes B. five minutes ago C. in the past five minutes D. by five minutes  

73. By Christmas, I ………. For one year. A. shall have been working B. was working C. shall work D. have worked 

74. As they ………. The thieves broke into the house. A. had slept B. are sleeping C. have been sleeping D. were sleeping 

75. All the children were inoculated ………. Polio. A. from B. by C. against D. for 

76. This plan is an alternative ………. The last one. A. from B. to C. on D. against 

77. ……….  Ali did not win the elections, he has continued to award scholarships to the less priviledged. A. Nevertheless B. However C. Although D. Despite 

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 

This year, the annual school -78- was to a workshop in a nearby village. Although it was well before midday, the blacksmith was already sweating from the -79- from the small -80-. He had an assistant who was energetically pumping the -81- that was fanning the charcoal into bright red -82-. There was no difference between the red hot coal and the metal. With large -83- the smith lifted the hot iron from the fire and placed it on the -84-. Quickly, picking up a -85-, he began to beat it into the shape he wanted. As he did this, -86- flew from the hot iron in all directions. After he had achieved the shape he wanted, he threw it into a wooden -87- filled with water, where other blackened objects lay. 

ABCD 

78. Traveljourneyfestivalexcursion 

79. Heatfirewarmthenergy 

80. Generatorovenfurnaceincinerator 

81. Valvesbellowsblowersbags 

82. Ashesfaggotsemberslights 

83. Pincerstongsscissorshooks 

84. Boardtableanvilslate 

85. Rodhammerclubstone 

86. Fragmentschipsrayssparks 

87. Bowltroughjugspot 

PASSAGE B 

Man’s destruction of his -88- began to show a very long time ago as vast areas of forests were cleared for use as farmland. Recently, however, serious attempts have been made to control the -89- to land and protect the -90- of plants and animals from dying out. National -91- and -92- reserves were established. 

Man’s effort to care for species that are endangered sometimes results in overpopulation because the -93- which would naturally keep animal population in -94- are absent. As a result of over-grazing, hundreds may die of -95-. Another r problem is -96-; their presence in large numbers can -97- the animal and disturb their very habitat that is being preserved. Children need to learn about these things. Perhaps cultivating -98- in schools or keeping -99- at home will kindle their desire to preserve life. It is irresponsible to live in a -100- where one cares only about oneself. 

ABCD 

88. Areahabitatspacelocation 

89. Damagemenacehazardrot 

90. Typeskindsspeciesgroups 

91. Pitchessitesfieldsparks 

92. Recreationalgamecattlehunting 

93. Preydestroyersvictimspredators 

94. Linechecksizecontrol 

95. Thirststarvationmalnutritiondisease 

96. Viewersguesttouristsonlooker 

97. Provokedestroyangerexcite 

98. Plantsgardensgrainsforest 

99. Petsbirdsparrotsswans 

100. Situationworldstateplace 

2011 PAPER 2 SOLUTIONS 

1. D2. C3. C4. D5. B6. A7. C8. C9. B10. A 

11. D12.C13.B14. C15.B16. C17. A18. B19. D20. C 

21. D22. B23. A24. C25. C26. D27. C28. C29. B30. C 

31. B32. C33. C34. C35. C36. D37. D38. D39. C40. B 

41. A42. C43. B44. A45. B46. C47. D48. C49. B50. C 

51. C52. B53. A54. D55. B56. C57. C58. A59. C60. B 

61. C62. C63. A64. A65. B66. D67. C68. B69. C70. C 

71. B72. B73. A74. D75. C76. B77. C78. D79. A80. C 

81. A82. C83. A84. C85. B86. D87. A88. B89. A90. C 

91. D92. B93. D94. B95. C96. C97. B98. B99. A100. B 

2011 PAPER 1 ESSAY SECTION A 

1. Your are about to leave secondary school and friend of yours who is attending school in another town has written to enquire about what to do after leaving school. Write a reply to him, explain your plans. 

2. Write an article suitable for publication in your school magazine on the effect of drug abuse. 

3. Write a letter to the Minister of Education in your country on the poor state of schools in your area and its effect on the performance of students. 

4. Your house master has just been promoted to head another school. As the house prefect, write a speech you would deliver during the send-off party organized for him. 

5. Write a story to illustrate the saying: A stitch in time saves nine.