WASSCE English 2014 June – Lexis & Structure

In each of the following sentences, there is a word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the word 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. Breathing polluted air is harmful not..........

A. safe
B. Good
C. helpful
D. preferable

2. Hard work can lift one from poverty to..........

A. opulence
B. happiness
C. satisfaction
D. pleasure

3. His violent behaviour has given way to a.......... disposition.

A. cold
B. calm
C. safe
D. polite

4. Kwadwo was hated by his mates but now he is.......... by them.

A. praised
B. welcomed
C. admired
D. tolerated

6. Would you commend or.......... me for such behaviour?

A. cuddle
B. insult
C. shun
D. blame

7. Do the affluent in society always despise the..........?

A. lowly
B. sick
C. poor
D. weak

8. They said that they lived in a squalid environment but surprisingly we found it

A. convenient
B. attractive
C. accommodating
D. suitable

9. Anaba received a prize of great value, but Amerley’s was worth a.......... sum.

A. trivial
B. gaudy
C. minor
D. paltry

10. The southern parts experienced drought but in the north it rained..........

A. ceaselessly
B. well
C. often
D. violently


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

11. The robbers were.......... while breaking into the house.

A. disturbed
B. apprehended
C. threatened
D. harassed

12. Please be patient, the nurse will see you

A. presently
B. sooner
C. at present
D. soonest

13. The birds can.......... from a great height straight into water.

A. descend
B. glide
C. dive
D. leap

14. Mosquitoes.......... in a dirty environment.

A. grow
B. breed
C. engender
D. fester

15.......... for Atsu’s bravery, Ali would have drowned.

A. Being
B. Thanks
C. So
D. But

16. While it is virtuous to be friendly, you need to be careful not to pry.......... other people’s affairs.

A. into
B. in
C. on
D. upon

17. It is necessary to get accustomed.......... studying hard.

A. with
B. to
C. over
D. for

18. The labourers confirmed that I.......... them their overtime allowance.

A. would pay
B. will pay
C. had paid
D. was paid

19. Either the children or the father.......... the hedge.

A. trims
B. trim
C. were trimming
D. have trimmed

20. The hunter, together with his children, .......... meat by the roadside.

A. sell
B. sells
C. selling
D. are selling


Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word or expression in each sentence.

21. As a result of Faridah's illness, she became emaciated.

A. pale
B. light
C. nervous
D. thin

22. The criminal's name was expunged from the voter's list.

A. expelled
B. eradicated
C. removed
D. annulled

23. To what do you ascribe the poor health condition in some villages?

A. refer
B. allege
C. attribute
D. allude

24. The mechanism of a wristwatch is complicated.

A. compounded
B. complex
C. confusing
D. difficult

25. He arrived early in order to be acclimatized to the new environment.

A. used to
B. sure of
C. aware of
D. known to

26. During the Christmas holidays, Ghanaians are in their most hospitable.

A. peaceful
B. excited
C. joyous
D. generous

27. Dishonesty is pervasive in the world.

A. usual
B. practiced
B. perceived
D. widespread

28. Hunters set traps deliberately to catch antelopes.

A. consistently
B. purposely
C. permanently
D. cunningly

29. To settle his debt, Mr. Iddisu relinquished possession of his car to the company.

A. abandoned
B. rejected
C. surrendered
D. vacated

30. If you provide the workers with some kind of incentive, they will work hard.

A. allurement
B. inducement
C. profit
D. machinery


After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of all or part of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation you consider most appropriate for each sentence.

31. I ran into my schoolmate when I was in town. This means that

A. my schoolmate and I met by accident
B. my schoolmate and I nearly crashed into each other
C. I hurried to catch up with my schoolmate
D. I saw my schoolmate in town

32. She addressed the rank-and-file members of the union. This means that she spoke to

A. ordinary members
B. recognized members
C. members who had been promoted
D. members who had no file

33. This house is always spick-and-span. This means that the house is

A. nice
B. new
C. clean
D. planned

34. The headmaster was determined to nip the students' bad behaviour in the bud. This means that he decided to

A. check the bad behaviour later
B. acknowledge the bad behaviour there and then
C. stop the bad behaviour in time
D. appeal to the conscience of the students

35. I took the story with a grain of salt. This means that I

A. listened attentively to the story
B. did not read the story
C. criticised the story
D. doubted the story

36. The plea of the accused fell on deaf ears. This means that the plea was

A. finally granted
B. totally ignored
C. not believed
D. addressed to the wrong quarters

37. I take great exception to your remarks. This means

A. I accept your remarks with exception
B. object strongly to your remarks
C. doubt your remarks
D. enjoy listening to your remarks

38. One pays through the nose to secure accommodation in the city. This means that accommodation in the city is

A. hard to get
B. not a problem
C. a necessity
D. very expensive

39. Bintu raised her eyebrows when she heard the news. This means that she

A. became sad
B. opened her eyes wide
C. was surprised
D. had to adjust her spectacles

40. The captain instructed the soldiers to stay put until he gave them further orders. This means that the soldiers were to

A. remain where they were
B. stay together in a group
C. put all things in order
D. move further away


In the following passage, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Four options are offered, lettered A to D. Choose the word that is most suitable to fill the gap in the passage.

41. There are many common..........

A. diseases
B. complaints
C. vices
D. disturbances

42. among women which often go undetected. One major reason is faulty..........

A. analysis
B. diagnosis
C. examination
D. investigation

43. which may bring about some..........

A. complexities
B. difficulties
C. complications
D. hardships

44. and delay in..........

A. treatment
B. control
C. suppression
D. medication

45. Sometimes, the.......... come on gradually and therefore, make it hard to detect the problem early.

A. signs
B. conditions
C. indications
D. symptoms

46. Another factor is the type of..........

A. medical
B. intensive
C. routine
D. medicinal

47. care woman receive. Most women receive..........

A. primary
B. first
C. elementary
D. basic

48. care from..........

A. consultants
B. experts
C. masters
D. specialists

49. rather from general.......... who are more likely to find these body disorders.

A. doctors
B. professionals
C. practitioners
D. officers

50. The group at highest.......... are women over 50 years of age.

A. danger
B. risk
C. threat
D. menace

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