Question

SECTION B — COMPREHENSION
6. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it.
[Passage about Alani, a seventh child who grew up to become a successful accounting professional, but eventually became pompous, treated his workers shabbily, and lost his business until counselling helped him turn a new leaf.]
(a) What endeared Alani to his teacher?
(b) Mention two factors that accounted for Alani's success in business.
(c) Why did Alani's business almost collapse?
(d) What was ironical in Alani's blaming his employees for the downturn in his business?
(e) What incident made Alani have a rethink?
(f) 'on the rocks' - What is the meaning of this expression?
(g) 'who was his pioneer staff' - (i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage? (ii) What is its function?
(h) For each of the following words, find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in the passage: (i) laurels; (ii) sustenance; (iii) reputable; (iv) venture; (v) pompous; (vi) dwindled.

Accepted Answer

(a) His academic brilliance endeared him to his teachers.

(b) Two factors that accounted for Alani's success in business: (i) Hard work. (ii) Dedication (also acceptable: the huge amount of money and time he invested).

(c) Alani's business almost collapsed because he became pompous and treated everyone shabbily.

(d) It was ironical because he himself, and not his employees/workers, was actually responsible for the downturn in his business.

(e) The resignation of five of his workers on the same day made him have a rethink.

(f) 'On the rocks' means to be in difficulty/in trouble/on the verge of collapse/in severe crisis.

(g)(i) 'who was his pioneer staff' is an adjectival clause/relative clause.
(ii) It modifies/qualifies the noun phrase 'Alani's secretary'.

(h)(i) laurels — medals, prizes, awards, honours.
(ii) sustenance — food, provisions.
(iii) reputable — respectable, respected, prestigious, reputed.
(iv) venture — enterprise, business, establishment.
(v) pompous — arrogant, proud, haughty, full of himself, conceited.
(vi) dwindled — reduced, diminished, shrank, declined.

WAEC English Language 2022 Theory — Question 6

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