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22 Reading Comprehension Past Questions and Answers (PDF) - Cegast Academy
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• 22 Reading Comprehension Past Questions and Answers (PDF)
reading comprehension questions and sample answers
I know you would love to have all these WAEC English comprehension passages with the
past questions and sample answers. Are you a NECO/GCE/JAMB candidate in the English
Language paper? These WAEC WASSCE English comprehension past questions and
answers will be of immense help to you.
Interested in a different Senior High School English comprehension exam? Say SSCE or
IGCSE? These WASSCE English comprehension past questions answers will be of great help
to you. Because all these high school level examinations set very similar comprehentison
test questions.
TAKE ME TO THE NEXT SET OF COMPREHENSION PASSAGES AND ANSWERS
Table of Contents
1 Free PDF Download Available
2 Recommended answers to guide you
3 Passage 1
4 Best Literature Analysis PDFs – Free
5 Questions
6 Recommended Answers for Passage 1
7 Passage 2
8 Questions
9 Recommended Answers for Passage 2
10 Passage 3
11 Questions
12 Recommended Answers for Passage 3
13 Passage 4
14 Questions
15 Recommended Answers for Passage 4
16 Passage 5
17 Questions
18 Recommended Answers for Passage 5
19 Passage 6
20 Questions
21 Recommended Answers for Passage 6
22 Passage 7
23 Questions
24 Recommended Answers for Passage 7
25 Passage 8
26 Questions
27 Recommended Answers for Passage 8
28 Passage 9
29 Questions
30 Recommended Answers for Passage 9
31 Passage 10
32 Questions
33 Recommended Answers for Passage 10
34 Passage 11
35 Questions
36 Recommended Answers for Passage 11
37 Passage 12
38 Questions
39 Recommended Answers for Passage 12
40 Passage 13
41 Questions
42 Recommended Answers for Passage 13
43 Passage 14
44 Questions
45 Recommended Answers for Passage 14
46 Passage 15
47 Questions
48 Recommended Answers for Passage 15
Free PDF Download Available
Want the PDF version of this compilation of WASSCE/WAEC English Comprehension past
questions and answers?
You’re free to download and/or print the PDF copy of this set of WAEC WASSCE English
Comprehension past questions and answers .
Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions on them.
Passage 1
Among the Akan communities of Ghana, when you sneeze, people you have never met,
complete strangers, say ‘Life to you” – Nkwa. The superstition is that the soul escapes from
the body when one sneezes. To say, ‘Life to you’ is an earnest wish for the soul to be
restored.
Examples abound to show that although we live in a technologically advanced age,
superstition is as widespread now as it has ever been. Consider the following instances of
superstition. Some people consult soothsayers or fetish priests before any undertaking. An
athlete, although he has trained intensively, credits his victory to a mere article of clothing.
A particular T-shirt first worn on the day of triumph, becomes a charm thereafter. Such a
piece of cloth is never to be washed for fear that some of the magical powers of the charm
might be washed away. A student uses a certain pen for an examination and passes well.
Thereafter, he views the pen as a ‘luck’ object.
A superstitious mind believes that certain objects, places and animals bring luck. Some
people will embark on enterprises only on certain dates and under the influence of
superstition will act against their better judgment, instincts or consciences. The case of the
chain letter, which is a letter that is sent to several persons with the request that each
sends copies to many others aptly illustrates this. The one who passes on such a letter is
promised good luck, whereas the one who breaks the chain is supposed to experience ill-
luck.
Is superstition really harmful? Some people might dismiss this question or deny the
dangers associated with superstition. Nonetheless, it can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Take for instance, the case of Mma Kema who lived in a village where she bought and sold
chicken. Her enterprise was lucrative. Believing that she could have her profit multiplied,
she once took all her money to a fetish priest who it was believed had spirits which could
do virtually anything for anybody. The priest put her money into a big envelope and asked
her to leave it beside a black pot in his shrine.
Mma Kema was asked to come back for her money after seven days. Very early on the
appointed day, she enthusiastically hurried to the shrine, oblivious of the morning dew on
the grasses along the path. The priest handed a bag to her and instructed her to bury it in
her shop for three days. She did exactly as she had been ordered. The three days looked like
a century. When she finally opened the envelope she saw plain papers in it. In a frenzy, she
rushed to the shrine to complain about her discovery only to find out that the priest had
disappeared.
Questions
a) Give two instances of superstition from the second paragraph of the passage.
b) What is the writer’s attitude towards those who believe that objects can bring luck?
c) What does the story of Mma Kema illustrate about superstition?
d) How would you describe the character of the fetish priest?
e) What was Mma Kema’s state of mind during her second visit to the shrine?
f) ….. although he has trained intensively…..
i) What is the grammatical name for this expression as it is used in the passage?
ii) What is its function in the sentence?
g) … as a ‘luck’ object.
Why is the word luck enclosed in inverted commas?
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. restored
ii. triumph
iii. enterprises
iv. harmful
v. lucrative
vi. oblivious
Questions
a. According to the writer, why was the traffic heavy?
b. …….Christians believe that Christmas has lot its piety and religious flavour.
According to the writer, what has brought about this belief?
c. Mention two unpleasant consequences of eating and drinking during the holidays.
d. ……some passengers broke the law. What law did they break?
e. What is the overall attitude of the writer to the society?
f. ……who could not buy new clothes……
i) What is the grammatical name for this construction as used in the passage?
ii) What is its function in the sentence?
g. Taxi drivers had a field day
What figure of speech is this expression?
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) opportunity ii) ingenious iii) sorry
iv) ignored v) definitely vi) ritual
Questions
a. Give two reasons for the influence which parents have on their children.
b. How does the child demonstrate the influence which his model has on him?
c. How do children see their models?
d. Mention two factors which influence a child to take up aspects of his model’s behaviour.
e. Although the child’s parents are his earliest and most important models….
i) What is the grammatical name for this expression as used in the passage?
ii) What is its grammatical function?
f. ……. a chip off the old block……
What does this expression mean?
g. List two “other social agents” which, according to the passage, which influence the child.
h. For each of the following words, give another word or phrase which means the same
and can replace it in the passage:
i) survival ii) prime iii) confirm
iv) potent v) idols vi) attributes
Passage 4
Last Sunday, I happened to be a visitor at one of the big churches in the city. I was outside
because I had arrived late, which is normal occurrence in this part of the world, and there
was a big bar across the entrance to the auditorium. While outside, I witnessed an incident
which I found moving. One of the members of the congregation who could not sit through
the service was a toddler. He was a rather special child about three years old. He was just
learning to walk.
That day he was having the time of his life, running up and down the large church premises.
The church was by a busy main road and every time he headed towards the gates he was in
danger of being crushed by a passing vehicle. Running alongside the little boy and keeping
pace with him was his father. All this while, the father was never impatient nor did he shout
at the boy to sit still.
This reminded me of another father I came across many years ago. His baby boy, Francis,
was born with cleft lip which caused a large split in his face. The defect could be repaired
but not until he was older. The parents were counseled and they took the baby home. But
their troubles were just beginning. They lived in a house with several other tenants. The
other tenants decided to make life unpleasant for the couple. Their persistent teasing and
nasty comments nearly drove them away from the house. The rumour went round that the
mother had given birth to a baby with a ‘half face’. People would gather round the house
just to laugh at the child and his parents. Some would call the mother names as she passed
by. Things became so unbearable that something had to be done.
“I decided to put him in my taxi and work with him so that his mother would be spared all
that trouble”, the father said to me, as he recounted this sad story. The child occupied
space in the car, which could have been taken up by a paying passenger. This certainly
affected his daily earnings. Many fathers of children with clefts feel too embarrassed to
allow them out of the house. Not this man. He would drive round the city with Francis in
the front seat. This must have put off many passengers, scared by the face of little Francis.
Today, Francis is a healthy eighth-year-old. After the repair of the cleft, he has become his
father’s pride and joy.
Questions
a. What incident did the writer find moving?
b. State the quality did the two fathers have in common.
c. What is the writer’s attitude to the two fathers?
d. Exactly what picture does the writer paint of Francis’s neighbours?
e. State two ways in which Francis caused financial loss to the father.
f. …… I came across many years ago.
i) What is the grammatical name for this construction as used in the passage?
ii) What is its function in the sentence?
g. …..he was having the time of his life………
i) What literary device is used in this expression?
ii) What is the meaning of this expression?
h. For each of the following words find another word or phrase which means the same
and can replace it in the passage:
i) moving ii) defect iii) persistent iv) recounted v) embarrassed
Recommended Answers for Passage 4
a) It was the spectacle of a patient father assisting his vulnerable child to have fun.
b) They both had love and patience for their disadvantaged children.
c) He admires their courage and patience for their children in their difficult moments.
d) He presents them as cruel, unfeeling neighbours.
e) i) His disfigured face scared potential passengers away from boarding the taxi.
ii) He occupied one seat which could have fetched money from one more passenger.
f. i) Adjectival clause (or zero relative clause) Note that “whom “ ( the relative pronoun
which should have introduced the clause ) has been omitted.
ii) It is qualifying the noun, “father”
g i) alliteration
ii) He was having great fun.
h i) moving – interesting
ii) defect – abnormality
iii) persistent – continuous/unrelenting
iv) recounted –narrated/told
v) embarrassed – shy/ashamed
Passage 5
Life is truly a network of interconnected and interdependent organisms. Humans are very
much a part of this web. For evidence, you need not look further than your body. Quietly at
work in your digestive tract, an army of friendly bacteria help you to stay healthy by
destroying harmful invaders and by producing essential vitamins. In return, you, the host,
provide the bacteria with food and a supportive environment.
In the insect world, ants are a model of co-operation, industry and order, often working
together to drag home objects much larger than themselves. Some ants will even assist
injured or exhausted members of the colony back to their nest.
A similar alliance occurs in the animal kingdom, especially among animals such as cattle,
deer and sheep. Part of their multi-chambered stomach hosts a veritable ecosystem of
bacteria, fungi and protozoa. These microbes break down the carbohydrate in their food
into various nutrients. Such close cooperation among dissimilar organisms is fundamental
to the development of every living system. It is called mutualism, because both organisms
benefit from each other.
An interesting example of mutualism occurs among certain birds. These birds live
dangerously. The screech owl, for instance, literally brings a live snake into its nest. The
snake is called the blind snake. Instead of harming the nestlings, the snake eats ants, flies
and other insects and their larvae. The young owls raised with a blind snake in the family
grow faster and are much more likely to survive than those raised without the company of
this living vacuum cleaner.
Another bird, called the water dikkop, does not team up with a mere snake. It builds its nest
next to that of a crocodile – a reptile that preys on birds. However, instead of becoming a
meal for the crocodile, the bird serves as sentry. Should danger approach either its nest or
the crocodile’s nest, the bird would emit warning cries. If the crocodile is away, these cries
will bring the reptile charging back to defend the nests.
Questions
a. For each of the following words underlined in the passage, find another word or phrase
which means the same and can replace it in the passage:
i) friendly ii) essential iii)exhausted
iv) alliance v) dissimilar vi) charging
b. What two benefits do humans derive from bacteria?
c. What is the writer’s attitude to ants?
d. According to the passage, what do bacteria gain from the human host?
e. In what way do the bird and the crocodile help each other?
f. What do you think the writer means when he says:
These birds live dangerously?
g. Should danger approach either its nest or the crocodile’s nest …….
i) What is the grammatical name for this expression?
ii) What is its grammatical function?
h. …. this living vacuum cleaner
What literary device is used in this expression?
Passage 6
The farmers and I made progress and fish culture continued to expand. For instance, in
one village, a group of men built a half-acre reservoir that fed ponds. The simplicity of the
project had great appeal. To get started, all you needed were water, which was free, and
three dollars to buy the stocking fish after that you were set up in perpetuity.
Then the crisis came.
“Birds are eating my fish,” Chief Lunga told me one day. It was true. A trio of kingfishers
was living in threes near Lunga’s pond and growing fat on the tilapia below. Lunga was not
alone in this. More than half the fish farmers were telling tales of kingfishers swooping
down and plunking fish from their ponds.
For an entire month, Lunga tried everything he could think of to kill the birds. He spread a
hand-made net across the top of the pond banks to tangle up the birds’ feet, but all it caught
was a large owl.
Next, he placed several home-made spring-released mouse traps around the pond. He used
fish as bait but got no result. One morning he hid himself in the tall grass and waited with
an ancient gun, but the birds did not appear.
Eventually, Lunga got an idea the simplicity of which baffled me. He made a scarecrow and
put it next to the pond. It worked. For the next few days, the birds stayed away. But, then, a
funny thing began to happen. One morning, while feeding his fish, Lunga noticed bird
droppings on the scarecrows forehead and right cheek. After a few days, the droppings
grew to cover the scarecrow’s face. The kingfishers were back! Too shrewd to be scared for
long, they now were using the scarecrow’s head as a lunching pad from which to spot and
kill fish.
“They are mocking me,” he said. “The chief of this village is being mocked by a bunch of
birds. I can’t stand it any longer”. At this stage, I made a suggestion: “If the birds keep
landing on the scarecrow’s head, why don’t you hide a trap in its hair?” he agreed. He
parted the scarecrow’s hair and placed a mouse trap on its head, lightly covering it with
straw.
After months of failing, Lunga with this device killed the three kingfishers in two days. The
birds landed with typical irreverence on the scarecrow’s head only to die as the trap did
its job.
Questions
a. 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) expand ii) baffled iii) scared
iv) mocked v) device vi) irreverence.
b. What reason does the writer give for saying that the project was easy to start?
c. What was the crisis that threatened the project?
d. They are mocking me.
What was Lunga’s mood at this stage?
e. Which of the chief’s efforts succeeded in solving this problem?
f. “Lunga was not alone in this”.
To what does “this” refer?
g. After months of failing……..
i) What is the grammatical name for this expression?
ii) What is its function in the sentence?
h. …you were set up in perpetuity
What literary device is used in the expression above?
Passage 7
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
Morality, good manners and intelligence are the key to success in any business. Moku was
endowed with great intelligence. The future held a great promise for him. At school he
was brilliant and passed his-final examination with flying colours. However, Moku was
plagued by some undesirable traits in his character: he was prone to bouts of anger and
was ill-mannered.
After school, he succeeded in setting up a publishing house which flourished because of his
hard work and the huge sums of money he sank into the enterprise. As his business
experienced a boom his products sold like hot cakes. His name became a household word.
It was at this crucial time that Moku’s ill-manners began to come to the fore. Maybe his
success got into his head and he would not take the advice of his managers nor draw on
their expertise. Even when his workers had good suggestions for improvement, he would
not listen, but treated them with disdain.
Gradually he began to sink under the weight of his own bad behaviour. He lost his
customers and his profits dwindled. Consequently his publishing business almost
collapsed. He learnt the bitter lesson that because of his wrong attitude he was filling his
mind with negative emotions, such as suspicion and hatred. He also lost the respect of his
workers because he often quarreled and fought with them.
Fortunately, Moku realized his plight and was determined to turn his life around. He joined
the Praise and Worship Sanctuary and began to turn over a new leaf. His golden opportunity
came one day, when he met two foreign businessmen who showed interest in his
publishing industry.
Impressed by his knowledge and expertise, the foreigners formed a partnership with him
and his publishing business began to grow again in leaps and bounds. People could not
believe their eyes when they saw the change that had come in Moku’s character.
Indeed, good behaviour is a potent advertisement.
Questions
(a) What showed that Moku had a bright future?
(b) Mention two factors that accounted for Moku’s initial success in business.
(c) Give two reasons why Moku’s business almost collapsed.
(d) How did Moku’s bad behaviour affect him personally?
(e) Why did the foreign businessmen decide to form a partnership with Moku?
(f) ………..a great promise.
(i) What us the grammatical name given to the expression above?
(ii) What is its function?
(g) ….in leaps and bounds.
(i) What is the figure of speech contained in the expression above?
(ii) What is its meaning?
(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) endowed,
(ii) flourished,
(iii) enterprise,
(iv) disdain,
(v) dwindled,
(vi) potent.
Passage 8
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
At long last, the great day dawned. A great school had opened its doors to fresh students to
begin the first term. Private cars of all makes, sizes and colours, passenger buses of all
brands and shapes and taxi cabs raced from all parts of the ten regions of the country to
the school. Students from well-to-do families, looking plump and confident, and their mates
from poor backgrounds, were now going to share the same facilities and do everything in
common. Now, background, origin, and other social factors that classify people had been
set aside. The important fact was that they had all come to the famous school for one
common purpose – to make full use of the special facilities and human resources there. All
the new students had been sent there by their parents and guardians to develop their
talents as best they could and blossom into useful adults. But they must be moulded by
their teachers so that they take up the roles that will be assigned to them in future.
Ackon and Asma had arrived there too. A Nissan pick-up, driven by the family driver, had
brought them there at 4.26 pm on that great day. As the fresh students had arrived with the
school prefects only, there was not much bullying.
Yet one house prefect, to relieve his boredom, unexpectedly picked on poor Ackon and
yelled at him. ‘Hei, you brat over there, come here, will you?’ Ackon hesitated. Asma nudged
and eyed him to comply, which he did reluctantly. The prefect gazed at him and said, ‘Look
at his plump cheeks and bulging stomach! Then he stared at his shoes. ‘What quality shoes!’
he remarked. ‘You must have come from a rich family. What do you say to that?’
Ackon calmly replied, ‘Sir, my family is neither rich nor poor: we’re just a hardworking and
decent people. We’re modest and have sympathy and respect for others…..’ ‘Stop, you
parrot! I haven’t asked you to lecture me about your family, you cheeky rat. On this campus
all boys are equal, rich or poor, handsome or ugly, tall or short.’ Then his humour changed
into feigned anger. ‘Now, stand on your right foot and raise your left foot or leg and make it
parallel to the floor……. Raise your left hand and touch you nose with your forefinger!’
Ackon was at first completely perplexed. Asma again whispered some instruction to him
and he obeyed. Surprisingly, Ackon did not lose his temper. In fact, he realized that he was
beginning his lessons on obedience and humility.
Questions
a. 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) brands ii) famous iii) moulded
iv) relieve v) decent vi) perplexed
b. What common purpose brought the students to the school?
c. Why did the house prefect bully Ackon?
d. How did Asma help Ackon when he was being bullied?
e. How did Ackon react to the bullying?
f. For what purpose must the teachers mould the students?
g. ……..’blossom into useful adults’
What figure of speech is used in this expression?
h. ……. ‘from well-to-do families’
i) What is the grammatical name for this expression?
ii) What is its function?
Passage 9
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
It was towards dusk one fateful Thursday. A crowd of curious onlookers had gathered in
front of Joyin Cinema. In the centre was a man dressed in black with a pink band around his
head. He held a well-decorated elephant tail and appeared to be a magician. He stood stock-
still as he gazed into the sky.
After some time, he roused himself from the reverie into which he had fallen and recited
some words. Then from nowhere, medium-sized boxes appeared on the ground. The
magician explained that the boxes actually contained foreign currency notes. Anyone who
wanted could take any of the boxes for a paltry sum of five cedis. It looked too good to be
true. Quite a number of people shied away from the magical sales but still hung around to
see what would happen next.
Azole emerged from the crowd. You could see from his mode of dressing that he belonged
to a high-class society. In my heart of hearts, I felt that a gentleman of his caliber should
have kept away from this kind of business.
All eyes were fixed on him. He appeared to be firmly resolved to purchase one of the boxes.
He stooped low and picked up one, which according to the magician, was a gold mine as it
contained priceless materials and therefore, attracted a special price. As if he had been put
under a powerful spell, Azole eagerly brought out his fat wallet and paid. A gasp of
astonishment escaped from the crowd at the sight of the fresh notes in high denomination.
He hurriedly counted the money demanded by the magician and gave it to him. The
magician then proceeded to ‘bless’ the box before Azole could open it. He struck the box
three times with his elephant tail while uttering some words in a strange language.
Then after the incantations, the magician handed the box to Azole who received it with
shaking hands. He opened it and a cry of anguish escaped his lips. On sighting the content
which turned out to be camphor, he passed out instantly. When Azole regained
consciousness and realized that he had been duped he was bent on confronting the
magician, but he was nowhere to be found. His gang had suddenly appeared from nowhere
and whisked him away. The crowd laughed wildly and dispersed with such remarks as: ‘It
serves him right,’ ‘Never trust a magician,’ ‘I knew it was a trick from the beginning.’
Questions
a. What showed that Azole was rich?
b. What is the writer’s attitude to the practice of magic?
c. Use two adjectives to describe Azole’s character.
d. Describe Azole’s mood when he regained consciousness.
e. Quote a statement which shows that the crowd had no sympathy for Azole
f. What was the real content of Azole’s box?
g. What happened to the magician?
h. The box picked up by Azole ‘was a gold mine.’
What figure of speech is contained in the underlined expression?
i. …….. ‘after the incantations’
i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression?
ii) What is its function in the sentence?
j. 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) gazed ii) paltry ii) mode
iv) priceless v) anguish vi) confronting
Passage 10
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
Sampa sat by the table, her legs stretched out and her feet out of her shoes. Once in a while,
she would unconsciously lift them up in an attempt to place them on the table- a bad habit
she had acquired in college.
Six members of the committee, including her, sat round the large table that stood right in
the middle of the conference room. The seventh member, the chairman, was busy giving a
long incomprehensible speech. He stood at the end of the room with a marker in hand,
facing the white board that was in front of him. His well-tailored black suit provided a
sharp contrast to the white blinds that covered the glass windows behind him. He spoke
with a hesitation that cast a spell on everyone. Occasionally, he stopped to wipe the beads
of sweat that dripped from his bald head onto his stern face.
Amanda, one of Sampa’s colleagues was fanning her face not only to keep cool, but also to
lessen the odour emanating from the chairs. Even though the foul smell was a familiar one
in that room, it was worse that day because the heat aggravated it. Sampa had been sitting
there for about forty-five minutes but nothing had changed.
The Chairman was still talking, and even though it was clear that he was heading nowhere,
he went on and on. Here he was, inviting contributions on an issue that was not on the
agenda.
‘‘Ladies and gentlemen, the floor is now open…..’’, he said, looking intently into
everybody’s face. “The floor is open for what?” Sampa whispered to Aba who was sitting
beside her. Aba merely shrugged and leaned back in her chair and looked up. She opened
her notepad. Maybe she could try to write something to keep her focused for a while, but
the attempt to write failed. She yawned loudly and looked round shyly to see whether
anyone was looking at her. On realizing that no one was looking her way, she moaned,
dozed and soon began to snore, but not for long. Aba nudged her into reality. She opened
her eyes to find everyone staring at her. “Do you mind sharing your dream with us,
Sampa?” the chairman asked, teasingly.
Questions
a) According to the first paragraph, what two things did Sampa do to feel comfortable?
b) Why was Amanda uncomfortable?
c) Quote from the passage two adjectives that describe the chairman’s speech.
d) Describe the physical appearance of the chairman.
e) What evidence is there in the passage to show that Sampa was bored by the chairman’s
speech?
f) …...cast a spell on everyone
i) What figure of speech is used in the expression above?
ii) What does it mean?
g) ……that was not on the agenda……
i) What is the grammatical name for this expression as it is used in the passage?
ii) What is its function?
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) unconsciously ii) sharp iii) aggravated
iv) clear v) intently
Questions
a. For each of the following words, find another word or phrase that means the same and
can replace it in the passage:
i) preceding, ii) strike iii) belongings
iv) raging v) vividly vi) illegal
b. Why did Mike stop at hitting his wife?
c. How did Akua and Mike feel after the rain?
d. When did the couple rush back to the compound?
e. Why was Mike’s house flooded?
f. Why should Mike regret the loss of their property?
g. “Pots and pans, buckets, baskets and beds …”
What literary device is used in the above?
h. “wide”
i) What part of speech is it?
ii) What is its function?
Passage 12
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
The most memorable experience of my life was an incident that occurred some thirty
years ago when I was in the fourth form in the secondary school. In those days, the speech
and prize-giving day was a great event. It was always a day when the results of the
promotion examinations were announced to the students after weeks of suspense.
The programme commenced with all the students taking their seats in the large hall, and
the members of staff, led by the Headmaster, filing in. There were also three guests, each of
them an important figure in the town. The headmaster and the dignitaries made speeches
admonishing the students to work hard in order to attain their goal. Then the prize-giving
commenced.
Soon, it was the turn of my class. For the overall best student, my name was called. This
was not unexpected, the position having become almost identified with me. Amidst
clapping, I stood up and moved toward the Headmaster whose outstretched hand held a fat
book. I was already before him when he peered through his heavy spectacles, surveyed my
figure and held back the book. There was a sudden silence. The students were amazed at
this turn of event, then he explained: “You‘ll have your prize when you pay your
outstanding fees”.
I stood there, almost petrified. Had I been warned of this disgrace, I would simply not have
stood up, let alone bothering to go forward. There I was, the sorry focus of attention. I
wished my legs would refuse their function but they did no such thing. On the other hand,
they refused to beat a retreat, at least, for those burning seconds. Then suddenly,
spontaneously, the students started clapping and hailing me. Thus, my return journey was
more loudly cheered than the outward journey.
For the prize in English Language, my name was called. Of course I sat still, but the students
hailed on. The prize was kept. For Mathematics, it was the same drama. Somehow the
students’ behavior saved the day for me.
Poorly clothed, in torn tennis shoes and being a debtor, I was the talk of the school. The
little fee I had paid that year was earned through doing menial jobs at weekends,
supplemented with donations from some school mates. Father’s financial difficulties had
been aggravated by a protracted court case. He had no alternative but to ask me to
withdraw from school and look for a job. This I had refused to do.
I had borne the cross gallantly until that day when the headmaster’s action threatened to
kill whatever courage remained in me. I ordered the tears to gush out to flood my sad face,
but the ovations forced the spring to remain dry. I had the loudest ovation that day; the
students’ response to my plight was my own prize.
Questions
a. Why were the students usually in suspense before the speech and prize-giving day?
b. Why was the announcement of the writer’s name as the winner of the best student prize
not a surprise?
c. What two proofs are there in the passage to show that the writer was liked by his school
mates?
d. Why was his father unable to pay his school fees?
e. “…..whose outstretched hand held a fat book.”
i. What is the grammatical name given to this expression?
ii. State its function.
f. “I had borne the cross gallantly”
What figure of speech is this expression?
g ) For each of the following words, find another word or phrase that means the same and
can replace it in the passage:
i) memorable
ii) amazed
iii)menial
iv)protracted
v. plight
Questions
a. 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. Dormant
ii. Talents
iii. Endure
iv. Ignored
v. Normal
b. Why did Mensah visit his uncle?
c. What was his mood after the visit?
d. How did he react to his experience at his uncle’s place?
e. What two signs from the passage show that Mensah and his mother were poor?
f. The apparent loss of hope …………….
i. What is the grammatical name for this expression?
ii. What is its function?
g. ….. to endure all difficulties, to suffer all hardships and to bear all humiliation.
What literary device is used in this expression?
h. …..a bolt from the blue……………
What is the meaning of this expression?
Passage 14
Breaking the news and asking for his mother’s consent were more difficult than Badu had
imagined. He had run out of excuses for keeping his mother in the dark. “Today,” he mused,
“I must let the cat out of the bag.
He gingerly knocked on his mother’s door. There was no response and so he concluded
that she was asleep. As he did not wish to disturb her, Badu decided to wait till morning.
But as soon as he turned to go back to his room he heard, “My son, come in. what’s the
problem?” Badu entered his mother’s room. Strangely, all the well-rehearsed speeches,
responses and apologies vanished. He could not utter a word. When Maame Pomaa realized
that her son was not ill she relaxed and waited patiently for him to talk. Badu started by
repeating the conversation they had the previous evening about the Agricultural Extension
Officer’s visit. He then described Sister Afua’s engagement ceremony which both of them
attended two months earlier. Maame Pomaa listened patiently. She dozed off and was
woken up by Badu’s chuckle. Badu got up suddenly and told his mother that he was going
back to bed. At the door, he turned, smiled and winked at his mother; she winked back.
That was their usual way of saying good-bye.
Back in his room, Badu could not sleep. His mind was in turmoil. This restlessness was
mutual. Maame Pomaa, after tossing in her bed for a while, decided to return her son’s visit.
She tapped gently on the door. Badu jumped out of bed, dashed to the door and clutched
his mother’s heads. Maame Pomaa looked at her son closely and asked him to sit down. She
sat by him and said calmly, “Badu, I know you have something very important to tell me.
Relax and bare your soul to me. Whatever it is, I’ m sure God will give us the strength to
hear it. “
Despite his mother’s encouraging words, Badu was still tongue-tied. His main worry was
how his mother would react to the news. Being the only surviving child, he had been her
only companion since his father’s death. Moreover, Maame Pomaa was not particularly
sociable. How would she spend her evenings? Who would help her with her chores? These
were some of the unanswered questions going through Badu’s mind. He gazed intently at
his mother and burst into tears. “Maame, “he sobbed, “I’ve won a scholarship to study
abroad.
Questions
a. How did Badu feel when he visited his mother in her room?
b. Mention two events which Badu talked about in his mother’s room?
c. How would you describe the relationship between Badu and his mother?
d. Why was Badu unable to tell his mother his real reasons for going to her room?
e. What was Badu’s real reason for going to his mother’s room?
f. …… their usual way of saying good – bye
i. What is the grammatical name given to this expression?
ii. What is its function in the sentence?
g. ….. bare your soul to me
What figure of speech is used in the expression above?
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. Mused,
ii. Gingerly,
iii. Concluded,
iv. Clutched,
v. Particularly,
vi. Intently
Passage 15
Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions on it.
Ama Atta used to sell cloth in a small shop in the market. Unfortunately, sales became so
low that there were days on which she did not sell even a metre of any material. How could
she and her children survive? A thought occurred to her. She must hawk her wares. Twice a
week, she told herself, she would select some pieces of cloth, fold them, tie them up and,
with a supporting pad on her head, carry them to buyers.
At the end of the first day, she made quite a good sale. Incredible but true! She sold more
than she ever did in the shop for a month. She was as merry as a lark. However, she woke
up the following morning feeling exhausted and for two days she could not leave her house.
On the third day, back to the shop she went. That day, the only people who came to her
shop were two friends. They came, not to give her money, but rather to invite her to spend.
One of their friends was celebrating a birthday and they must go “in style’, which meant
buying expensive clothes and accessories. She did not receive the news with enthusiasm.
As a cover up, she told them that she could not attend the party due to a prior engagement.
This did not go down well with her friends who left her shop without even saying good bye.
She was upset but quickly pulled herself together saying, “Life must go on. Today is the last
day I’ll go home without an income.”
She went for Charity, a young girl who always ran errands for her. She often gave her good
tips, so Charity was always at her beck and call. She got her interested in hawking cloth for
a commission. Charity eagerly embraced the idea and soon other girls and even some
women became interested. After all, hawking cloth is a respectable means of earning a
living.
In the course of time, Ama Atta had more than ten mobile retailers. She paid them well, and
they were faithfully to her; so both parties were satisfied. Of course, there were a few
instances when ‘smart’ retailers tried to run away with the sales or increase the prices of
the goods unduly. However, the eagle eyes of the others made them abandon their plots.
Her shop soon became a wholesale outlet which actually put into practice the adage,
necessity is the mother of invention.
Questions
a. State the circumstances that made Ama Attta decide to hawk her materials.
b. Why could Ama Atta not continue hawking her materials herself?
c. What was Ama Atta’s real reason for not going to the party?
d. How did Ama Atta’s friends react to her refusal to attend the party?
e. What prevented the ‘smart’ retailers from carrying out their evil intention?
f. What made the retailers stay in the hawking business?
g. ….. who came to her shop
i. What is the grammatical name given to this expression?
ii. What is its function?
h. …. at her beck and call
What figure of speech is used in the expression above?
What does it mean?
i. 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. Incredible;
ii. Enthusiasm;
iii. Upset;
iv. Embraced;
v. Unduly.
We have come to the end of the first set in my series of WASSCE English comprehension
past questions and answers. Do you want more? Click the link below.
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4. June 28, 2021 at 9:18 pm
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