WAEC Sample Comprehension Questions and Answers (Part 3)

Today, you’ll have a real harvest of sample comprehension questions and answers for your studies in readiness for the WAEC English Language paper. This post is Part 3 of a whole series of multiple English Language comprehension passages and answers just for your benefit.

So, whether you’re a student, candidate, teacher or even a parent looking for revision materials on WASSCE/NECO/GCE/JAMB English reading comprehension, all I must tell you is you’ve finally arrived.

Go ahead and check out the sample answers for dozens of sample comprehension questions and answers in this series.

For more of your sample comprehension questions and answers, jus click TAKE ME TO PART ONE or LET ME HAVE PART TWO.

Without further ado, let’s get down to comprehension passage 20 in the series.

Passage 20

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

Last year, a section of the judiciary held a press conference in the Appeals Court building. The aim was to explain the Court’s decision to increase sentences and fines imposed on drivers guilty of various motor traffic offences.

Before that conference, there had been a public outcry against the spate of accidents on our highways and their effects on citizens. Many people felt that the sharp rise in the number of accidents could be blamed on drivers who must be punished severely for ‘slaughtering’ passengers and pedestrians. Not even the numerous attempts by the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Police Service and other agencies could stop the carnage.

For, while some drivers drove at great speed, engaging their vehicles in senseless overtaking, even on hills and in curves, others drove under the influence of alcohol. Thus, while many innocent passengers and pedestrians lost their lives in avoidable accidents, countless others suffered permanent injury. Such accident victims had to depend on their immediate family and others for sustenance. Family members who depended on them for survival faced severe hardship.

All this explains why the judiciary, therefore, responded positively and quickly to the public outcry. Subsequently, heavy fines and long prison sentences were imposed on recalcitrant drivers found guilty of road traffic offences to deter others.

However, much to the disappointment of the general public, the punishment has now been relaxed. The reckless drivers seem to have been given the green light to continue causing havoc on the highways with impunity. This must certainly stop. Drivers should be made to understand that reckless driving is an offence, just as armed robbery is, and they must not be spared. They must be made to face the music and be subjected to the full rigours of the law. That way, travelling will be pleasant and passengers will feel safe.

Questions

a) Why was the press conference held?
b) State two effects of accidents
c) How did the public react to the spate of accidents?
d) What did the judiciary do to stop accidents?
e) State two causes of accidents.
f) …. who must be punished severely …
i. What is the grammatical name for this expression?
ii. What is its function?
g) For each of the following words underlined in the passage, find another word or phrase that means the same and can replace it in the passage:
i. spate, ii. carnage, iii. sustenance,
iv. severe, v. havoc

Recommended Answers for Passage 20

a) It was meant to explain the decision of the courts to increase sentences and fines for traffic offences.
b) i) They cause unnecessary deaths. ii) They cause permanent injuries.
c) The public expressed outrage.
d) It increased sentences imposed on offending drivers.
e) i) speeding and senseless overtaking ii) driving under the influence of alcohol
f) i) adjectival clause ii) it qualifies the noun, “drivers”
g) i)spate – prevalence/high incidence/ high number
ii) carnage – slaughter/killings
iii) sustenance – survival/livelihood
iv) severe – unbearable/untold/ serious
v) havoc – trouble

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Passage 21

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

Ghana has become the toast of the world in recent times because of her conscious effort to promote peace and stability in development. The country has been referred to as an oasis of peace in a sub-region where most countries are struggling to reconstruct their economies out of the ashes of war.

However, all is not well, in spite of the global recognition of Ghana as a country which values civil liberties and the rule of law. There are still pockets of conflict deep-rooted in political differences and chieftaincy disputes. These conflicts have retarded development in the country.

Unfortunately, some of our communities are notorious for recurring conflicts while our security agencies look on helplessly. Very often, our leaders bemoan the tragedy brought about by these conflicts, some of which are caused by powerful persons in society.

Recently, we were alarmed at the frequent resort to mob justice by people who lacked confidence in the criminal justice system. They felt the security forces were incapable of dealing with crime. Those who take this path only create a lawless state and help put the powerful and well-connected above the law. As a result, the impression is created that it does not pay to be law-abiding.

The outcome of this unfortunate situation is the breakdown of law and order. Though anarchy has not yet set in, the common spectacle of indiscipline at workplaces, on the streets and in the homes is worrying. This frequent breakdown of law and order in various communities can be checked if the perpetrators of crime are brought to book. The good news is that the government has promised to deal drastically with anybody who breaks the law. It is our hope that this pledge will be translated into action as quickly as possible

Questions

a) What is the source of the relative peace in Ghana?
b) What are the causes of the slow pace of development in Ghana?
c) How do people react to their loss of trust in the criminal justice system?
d) What is the writer’s attitude to those who flout the law?
e) How can the citizens’ confidence in the criminal justice system be restored?
f) … an oasis of peace …
What figure of speech is used in this expression?
g) … brought about by these conflicts
i. What is the grammatical name for the above expression?
ii. State its function
h) For each of the following words underlined in the passage, find another word or phrase that means the same and can replace it in the passage:
i. global, ii. recurring, iii. bemoan,
iv. anarchy, v. drastically vi. pledge.

Recommended Answers for Question 21

a) It is a result of the country’s conscious effort to promote peace and stability in development.
b) Political conflicts and chieftaincy disputes.
c) They resort to mob justice.
d) He is highly critical of their behaviour.
e) Those who break the law must be quickly brought to book.
f) metaphor
g) i. Adjectival Clause
ii. It is qualifying the noun, “tragedy”.
h)
i) global – worldwide
ii) recurring – incessant/repeated/ never-ending
iii) bemoan – lament
iv) anarchy – lawlessness/breakdown of law and order
v) drastically – severely/mercilessly
vi) pledge – promise

Passage 22

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

The development of a child’s reading skills starts in the home. Children love to read when they see it not as a chore but as an activity that provides joy and fun. They sometimes get bored when we do not enrich reading to make it appealing. Children are passionate about the games they play and devote a lot of time and attention to them. We must therefore find ways of making the games beneficial to them. Engaging children in games that involve reading is one of the best ways of getting them interested in reading.

Word games are among the best activities that make children read. Playing scrabble, for instance, helps to develop the creative powers of children. They are able to make quick and good decisions and their spelling and reading abilities are enhanced. Organizing scrabble competitions in schools and homes make children eager to learn more words through reading.

Travelling also provides an opportunity for children to read. Making children read about interesting places they are about to visit keeps them informed on where they are travelling to. Before children make a trip to a tourist site, they should be encouraged to read books that will not only excite them about the trip but also develop their interest in reading.

We can also teach children rhymes. This will help them in their language acquisition process and encourage them to listen carefully. Reciting rhymes to children helps them to enjoy the repetition of sounds. A rhyme like “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper” makes children happy. When parents read to their children, it instils the culture of reading in them. In other words, it encourages them to develop a keen interest in reading. In fact, children take pleasure in doing things which they know their parents are interested in.

The Other 2011 Comprehension Passage and Answers – Once at a pub, I observed with trepidation…

Children sometimes do not love to read because their reading books are not attractive to them, children like to read books with pictures that explain what they are reading. They also love books that have colourful pages with bold prints. When such books are made available to children, they find reading interesting.

If children are guided to choose the right books to read, they will realize that reading is not a chore but a rewarding activity that provides joy and fun.

Questions

a) Why do children sometimes dislike reading?
b) What type of books do children love to read?
c) State two things which parents can do to encourage their children to read.
d) What two effects do rhymes have on children?
e) What two other skills, apart from reading, can be acquired by playing word games?
f) ‘… an opportunity for children to read …’
i. What is the grammatical name for this expression as used in the passage?
ii. What is its function?
g) ‘…Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper …’
What literary device is used in this expression?
h) For each of the following words find another word or phrase which means the same as the word and can replace it in the passage:
i. chore, ii. appealing iii. passionate,
iv. creative v. excite vi. rewarding

Recommended Answers for Passage 22

a) This happens when reading is not made interesting.
b) They love to read attractive books with pictures, bold prints and colourful pages.
c) i) They can engage in games that involve reading.
i) Parents can teach children rhymes.
(OR: Parents can read to their children.)
ii) They can also let children read about places they are about to visit.
d) Rhymes develop both children’s language acquisition skills and listening skills.
e) i) creative skills ii) quick decision making
f) i) noun phrase ii) object of the verb, “ provides”
g) alliteration
h) i) chore – duty/difficult task
ii) appealing – interesting/ attractive
iii) passionate – excited
iv) creative – imaginative
v) excite – motivate/interest
vi) rewarding – beneficial

Passage 23

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

The two friends, Kosoko and Zotolo, relaxed comfortably in the minibus apparently free from all worldly cares. Their cherished dream of visiting home was becoming a reality. They planned to lavish expensive gifts on their loved ones in order to put smiles on their faces.

The road passed through a thick forest and was devoid of all traffic. The two friends, alarmed at the reckless manner in which the driver was speeding, huddled together. They requested to get off the bus at the next village, but the driver turned a deaf ear to them. Rather, the vehicle shot through the town at top speed.

At that moment Kosoko and Zotolo realized that they were in trouble. They talked to each other in whispers, anxious and uncertain about their fate. They attempted to open the door and jump out of the moving vehicle, but found, to their shock and dismay, that it was securely locked.

At about midnight, the driver stopped at a junction which was believed to be a haven for hardened criminals. The two friends were ordered to alight and surrender their mobile phones, money and other valuables. A warning shot was fired to enforce compliance and suddenly, a gang appeared from nowhere.

The leader of the gang, a mountain of a man, said fiercely that if Kosoko and Zotolo played any tricks, they would have themselves to blame. They obeyed without the least hesitation, but the ruffians still rained insults and blows on them.

Suddenly, they saw a car moving towards them at lightning speed. It screeched to a halt hurriedly entered the bus and sped off with the mysterious vehicle in hot pursuit. Kosoko and Zotolo, badly shaken by this terrible experience, painfully picked themselves up from the ground and ran towards their village. A blessed thought entered their minds that they should pass through the Osapa forest. This worked because soon after, the attackers drove back in a futile search for them.

The two friends arrived home at dawn empty-handed but safe and sound and narrated their ordeal to their relatives. It was learnt later that the tyres of the robbers’ vehicle got burst and they had to abandon the booty intact.

Questions

a) What did the two friends plan to do to make their relatives happy?
b) What was the belief about the junction at which the driver stopped?
c) What was the mood of the two friends at the beginning of the journey?
d) Why did the two friends want to jump out of the vehicle?
e) What was the role of the ‘mysterious vehicle’?
f) A blessed thought………
(i) What is the grammatical name given to the expression above?
(ii) What is its function?
(g) ‘…….a mountain of a man’
(i) What is the figure of speech contained in the expression above?
(ii) What is its meaning?
(h) For each of the following words underlined in the passage, give another word or phrase which means the same and can replace it in the passage;
(i) cherished,
(ii) haven,
(iii) ruffians,
(iv) lightning,
(v) futile,
(vi) intact.

Recommended Answers for Passage 23

a) They planned to give their relatives a lot of gifts.
b) It was believed to be a hiding place for criminals
c) They were excited/ they were in a happy, contented mood.
d )Because the driver was driving recklessly.
e) It made it possible for the two friends to escape.
f) i) noun phrase ii) It is the subject of the verb, “entered”
g) i) hyperbole ii) a very huge man
h) i) cherished – treasured
ii) haven – hiding place/home/den
(iii) ruffians – hoodlums/hooligans/thugs
(iv) lightning – top
(v) futile – unsuccessful
(vi) intact – untouched

Congratulations on coming this far. Remember what I told you at the beginning? What you’ve been reading is just one set from my series of WAEC sample comprehension questions and answers. A click on the link below will take you to more of the WASSCE English comprehension passages and answers.

SAMPLE COMPREHENSION PASSAGES, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS -PART ONE

See passage 24 and a lot more …

Simply click the next page link below to view additional English comprehension passages for your WAEC/NECO/JAMB revision.