WAEC English Language 2003 Past Questions

Practice each question, then open it to see the full details.

Question 6

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.

      Among the giraffes, zebra! and gazelles that roam the vast African savanna, perhaps remarkable creature is the Ostrich. Standing about 2.5 metres tall and weighing up to 155 kilograms, the ostrich is the largest bird in existence. No one can fail to be awed and fascinated by the bird's great height, powerful legs and beautiful fluffy feathers. 
      Like the camel, the ostrich is tolerant of high temperatures and thrives in desert country. It also has long luxuriant eyelashes which protect its large eyes from the dust of the bushveld. Its legs are long and sinewy and its feet are strong creeps or crawls. It also dines on insects, snakes, rodents, roots and most vegetation. Because of its great size it cannot fly. However, its muscular legs are powerful enough to make it one of the fastest creatures on earth. Running across desert country, it can attain speeds of up to 65 kilometres an hour! This extraordinary swiftness and its long-distance stamina enable it to outrun many of the fastest four-legged predators with ease. 
    The eggs of the ostrich are the largest in the world and can weigh up to 1.5 kilograms each. Prized for its size and delicious taste, each egg is the equivalent of 25 hens' eggs. The shell is hard and glossy and has a glazed porcelain-like finish. The empty shell is sometimes used as a container by bushmen for storing water. 
      In the 14th century, ostrich feathers became highly valued by fashion conscious Europeans, Yet hunting the ostrich was not easy, since the birth has very keen eyesight and swiftly flees from danger. Consequently, the ostrich was in no danger of extinction at that time.
      But in the 19th century, armed with modern weapons, hunters slaughtered ostriches by the millions, and today the noble ostrich has become an endangered species. 
(a) Give three reasons why the ostrich egg is considered valuable. 
(b) How does the ostrich survive attack by predators ?
(c) What common characteristic of birds does the ostrich lack? 
(d) Why did the Europeans value ostrich feathers? 
(e) The eggs of the ostrich...."  (i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression? (ii) What is its function as it used in the sentence? 
(f) What is the writer's attitude to the ostrich? 
(g) For each of the following words, find another word or phrase that means the same and can replace it as it is used in the passage: (i) vast; (ii) remarkable; (iii) fascinated: (iv) thrives; (v) outrun; (vi) extinction  

Theory
Question 7

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.


      Chief Ibezim and the District Officer were good friends Ibezim z was the chief Priest of Ani, the earth goddess in Ndiuzo, and although the District Officer was stationed in far-away, Unueke and the Chief Priest by his calling should not travel out of Ndiuzo, their friendship remained as solid as a rock. 
      They became friends after Ibezim had testified before the Distrit Officer in the land dispute between Ndiuzo and umueke. He was the only man to testify against his own people in that dispute, and had struck the District Officer as an honest man who was telling the truth.
      This was what earned Ibezim the admiration and friendship of the District Officer. Consequently, the District Officer advised him to send his son to the new school and the new religion that held out so much promise of positive change in the future. And when the system of indirect rule necessitated the appointment of a warrant chief at Ndiuzo, the District Officer also promptly thought of his honest friend as the most suitable candidate. 
      On the other hand, lbesim s testimony in the land dispute earned him the wrath of many of his own people. They not only held him responsible for their loss of the disputed land but also resented his friendship with the District Officer and his patronage of the new education and religion which were threatening to erode the old ways of the land. So, when the District Officer wanted Chief lbezim at Umueke. and he sought to confer with his people on what to do, his detractors quickly turned their backs on him and left him alone in his dilemma. Some even secretly hoped that he was going to be arrested and detained.
      After a long period of hesitation Ibezim finally decided to break with tradition and go to Umueke. The times were changing and he was sure the earth goddess would understand and condone his going away from the village. 
      When he came back,  those who had wished him the worst got the shock of their lives. They now had a new Warrant Chief to rule over them! 
(a) What had earned Chief Ibezim the District Officer's friendship? 
(b) State two ways in which lbezim benefited from his friendship with the District Officer. 
(c) Give two reasons why the villagers were unhappy with Chief lbezim. 
(d) State the dilemma in which Chief Ibezim found himself 
(e) "....Ibezim finally decided to break with tradition. What tradition is meant here?
(f) "When he came back. (I) What grammatical name is given to this expression? (ii) What is its function as it is used in the sentence? 
(g) ....as solid as a rock" What figure of speech is contained in this expression? 
(h)For each of the following words, find another word or phrase that means the same and can replace it as it is used in the passage (i) calling: (ii) consequently;

(iii) promptly; (iv) wrath; (iv) detractors; (vi) condone. 

Theory
Question 8

Read the following passage carefully and answer the question on it. 


      The dramatic increase in life expectancy globally towards the end of the twentieth century has renewed interest among scientists and laymen alike in the subject of longevity and he ageing process. This lengthening of life has been one of the greatest achievements of humanity. It was in recognition of this fact that the United Nations formally designated 1999 as the "International Year of Older Persons". Demographers tell a surprising story: octogenarians and older people, instead of the young, now form the fastest growing population group on earth. 

      What then are the factors that determine man's health and the length of his life? Recent studies have identified so„ of these. It is known that the sounder your habits the longer your life may last. Nutritionists have told us that we W what we eat, that is to say, that what we eat influences the state of our health. Instead of over-eating, one should e,e a balanced diet including fruit and plenty of vegetables. Moderate physical exercise on a regular basis is of immense benefit. The family doctor should be consulted on how much exercise and what type are most appropriate for each individual. studies have shown that simple exercises in and around the home help the elderly to regain strength and vitality. 
      The adage "use it or lose it" applies not only to the muscles but also to the mind. Mental exercise keeps the brains "telephone lines" alive whereas mental decline or serenity starts the moment a person retires and decides to take things easy in the erroneous belief that doesn't have to keep up with the world any more. Many retired civil servants fall into this bad habit. They can change this unhealthy habit by being actively engaged in reading, travel, education, clubs, professional associations. It is believed that such activities not only lift the spirit but also "rewire"the brain. 
      In addition to these is the environment. In many developing countries the environment poses grave dangers to health, often resulting in preventable deaths.  Access to clean safe water is severely limited. There are huge mountains of refuse breeding vermin, cockroaches and disease causing germs in both rural and urban areas. All this contribute, to the low life expectancy in these countries. Better sanitation, safer water for all and a reduction of vermin in the home will improve man's environment bolster his health and extend his life-span. 
      The next factor is the state of medical care available in our countries. In the developed countries, advances in medical science have dramatically improved health and delivery. Unfortunately, the reverse has been the case in the poor countries of Africa and Asia. For example, in the USA, only one woman in 12,500 dies from pregnancy-related causes whereas one in 21 dies in Africa from the same causes! That speaks volumes about the deplorable state medical services. 
      Finally, man has made a breakthrough in controlling his genetic make-up. A decade or so ago, he had no control whatsoever over his genetic engineering. Now, he can re-design his genetic constitution to ensure better health and longer life.

(a) In six sentences, one for each, state the factors that improve man's health and life-span.
 

Theory