All 80 questions from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) English Language 2023 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
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The posh cars were sandwiched between two ______ ones.
"Posh" means elegant/stylish; "modest" (simple, unpretentious) is most nearly opposite and fits the gap.
A trivial issue often becomes ______ when it is not properly handled.
"Trivial" means unimportant; "serious" (significant/important) is most nearly opposite and fits the sentence.
The rockstar's stellar performance contrasted sharply with the ______ showing of the amateur group.
"Stellar" means excellent; "woeful" (poor/pitiful) is most nearly opposite and fits the contrast.
Tolu was sanctioned for late coming but his friend was ______.
"Sanctioned" means punished; "pardoned" (forgiven) is most nearly opposite.
While other teachers' support for the action was ______, Victor was dogged.
"Dogged" means persistent/determined; "wavering" (uncertain, indecisive) is most nearly opposite and fits the contrast.
Some people are good at terminating other people's projects but are not capable of ______ theirs.
"Terminating" means ending; "initiating" (starting) is most nearly opposite.
The precarious terraces of the stadium have been transformed into a ______ walkway.
"Precarious" means unstable/unsafe; "secure" is most nearly opposite and fits the sentence.
If one thing irritates you, it might ______ another.
"Irritates" means annoys; "delight" (please) is most nearly opposite.
Jane was loud as a teenager but ______ as an adult.
"Loud" here implies outspoken; "reserved" (quiet, restrained) is most nearly opposite and fits the context of her behaviour changing with maturity.
Do not always reprimand your children; it is good to ______ them at times.
"Reprimand" means scold; "compliment" (praise) is most nearly opposite.
The aggrieved customers staged a fierce ______ on the street.
Dissatisfied customers publicly demonstrating their grievance would stage a "protest".
The accused was brought before the jury for a court ______.
A formal session where a case is presented before a judge or jury is a "hearing".
From his ______, one can tell that he is an athlete.
"Physique" (physical build) best indicates that someone is an athlete.
The death of that journalist is still ______ in mystery.
"Shrouded in mystery" is the standard collocation meaning covered/hidden in uncertainty.
The defendant was charged with ______ because he caused his neighbour's death.
Killing another person (a neighbour) is "homicide".
Seeing a young crop ______ from the soil is a rare experience.
A plant emerging from soil is said to "sprout".
Lawyers are still making efforts to interpret the new ______.
A newly enacted law is a "statute", which lawyers interpret.
The cargo was intercepted on sea by ______.
Those who seize cargo/ships at sea are "pirates".
The doctors ______ Bola's grandmother after the heart attack.
To revive someone whose breathing/heart has stopped is to "resuscitate" them.
Because the couple cannot agree on many things, their relationship is now ______.
A relationship suffering from difficulty and tension due to disagreement is "strained".
"Revealing that information will cut the ground from under my feet." This means that it will
The idiom "cut the ground from under someone's feet" means to undermine or ruin their plans/position.
"Mother always tells me to keep my nose clean." This means that she tells me to
"Keep your nose clean" is an idiom meaning to stay out of trouble or avoid wrongdoing.
"This action effectively puts the mockers on the project." This means that the project will
"Put the mockers on something" means to stop it from happening/prevent it from being executed.
"You can see clearly that we are surpassed in numerical strength." This means that we are
"Surpassed in numerical strength" means outnumbered - i.e. fewer in number than the other party.
"One of the athletes was disqualified because she jumped the gun." This means that she started
"Jump the gun" means to start an action before the proper time - i.e. too soon.
"Be careful of what you say; there are no flies on the boss." This means that the boss is
"There are no flies on someone" is an idiom meaning that person is sharp, smart, and not easily fooled.
"The students cocked their ears at the principal's speech." This means that they listened with
"Cock one's ears" means to listen attentively / with rapt attention.
"Your daughter will do very well in school. She has a good head on her shoulders." This means that she
"A good head on one's shoulders" is an idiom meaning someone is sensible and makes good decisions.
"The accountant has been under a cloud since the fraud scandal." This means that the accountant is
"Under a cloud" means under suspicion or in disgrace due to some wrongdoing.
"Immediately the truth was revealed, Ngozi flew into a rage." This means that Ngozi
"Flew into a rage" means suddenly became very angry.
Parents encourage their children to exercise financial prudence.
"Prudence" means carefulness/caution, especially in managing finances.
Awa deceived Ahmed into handing over all his savings.
"Deceived" means to mislead or trick someone, which is closest in meaning to "fooled".
It turned out that the plaintiff's claim was false.
A "claim" that turns out to be false is best described as an "allegation" - an assertion made without proof.
The aggrieved faction held a clandestine meeting.
"Clandestine" means secret, done in a hidden manner.
Morgan Pharmacy is the sole distributor of the antiviral drug.
"Sole" means the only one - "only" is nearest in meaning.
Police officers holding batons impounded the banker's car.
"Impounded" means officially seized/taken into custody.
The English teacher is always cheerful.
"Cheerful" (happy, in good spirits) is nearest in meaning to "gleeful".
The Chairman is of the opinion that laying off workers is pernicious to the growth of the company.
"Pernicious" means harmful or damaging.
It was she that commanded me to leave the room.
"Commanded" means gave a direct order, which is nearest in meaning to "ordered".
The valedictorian was admired for her perseverance while at school.
"Perseverance" (persistence in achieving a goal) is nearest in meaning to "tenacity".
The fisherman said he sighted a ______ of fish in the river.
A group of fish swimming together is called a "shoal".
The principal corrected no one else but ______.
As the object of the sentence, the objective pronoun "me" is correct after "but" (meaning "except").
The thug was ______ murder.
The correct collocation for a formal accusation of a crime is "charged with".
Asokoro office ______ is located in Ibadan.
"Headquarters" is the correct singular/plural-invariant noun form used here.
John should be through with his work ______?
The question tag must agree with the modal "should" and subject "John" (he), giving "shouldn't he".
This is the man ______ I said told me the interesting story.
"Whom" is used as the object of "said" referring to the man in this relative clause structure.
The accused forgot ______ the police said.
"What" refers to the content/thing the police said, correctly completing the sentence.
The officer ______ is my brother.
The correct preposition to describe someone wearing a uniform is "in uniform".
The footballers have been practicing ______ this morning.
Standard English word order places the adverb "hard" before the prepositional phrase "in the stadium" and then the time phrase "all morning".
Professor John is the leader of the ______ committee to review the new book.
"Fifty-man" is a compound adjective (hyphenated, singular form) describing the size of the committee.
James appears ______ wiser than his friends.
"Much" is an adverb of degree that correctly modifies the comparative adjective "wiser".
That world famous athlete is guilty, ______ way you look at it.
"Whichever way" correctly completes the phrase meaning "no matter which way".
We were all afraid when the alarm ______.
An alarm activating/sounding is expressed as the alarm "going off".
The material used for sewing my dress is ______ to yours.
"Superior" is already comparative in meaning and should not be modified by "more", "most" or "very"; it is correctly followed by "to".
The Chairman wasn't privy ______ that information.
The correct collocation is "privy to" (allowed to know something private).
We were lucky our driver didn't die in the accident, ______?
The question tag must match the tense and subject of the statement ("were"/"we"), giving "weren't we".
The ______ were decorated with flowers.
"Girls' shoes" correctly shows plural possession (shoes belonging to more than one girl).
Before the lecturer entered the hall, ______ the board.
The past perfect "had cleaned" correctly shows an action completed before another past action (the lecturer entering).
______ the hours of nine and ten, the surgeons completed the operation.
"Between" correctly indicates a time period bounded by two points (nine and ten).
Mother bought ______ at the fair.
The correct English adjective order is opinion (expensive), colour (red), origin (Japanese): "an expensive red Japanese car".
The duty of Our teacher is to give instructions; ______ is to obey.
"Ours" is the correct possessive pronoun (no apostrophe) referring to "our duty".
The teacher has ______ with the principal.
"Fallen out with someone" means to have a disagreement or quarrel with them.
A meeting was called ______ the instance of the Chairman.
The correct collocation is "on the instance of", meaning at the request/suggestion of someone.
Business is poor these days ______ workers are on strike.
"Because" correctly introduces the reason (workers on strike) for the poor business.
The test seemed ______ simple that we thought we would all pass.
"So...that" is the correct correlative construction expressing result.
Tayo: I think I can now solve the problem. Essien: ______.
"So do I" expresses agreement with a statement made using "think", a full/lexical verb, using the auxiliary "do".
The ______ scientist has discovered a cure for cancer.
Correct adjective order is opinion (brilliant), age (young), origin (Nigerian): "brilliant young Nigerian".
The couple ______ their first child when I entered college.
The past perfect "hadn't had" correctly shows an action that occurred before another past action (entering college).
The fire fighters worked hard to ______ the inferno.
"Put out" means to extinguish a fire.
Those novels are interesting. I wonder if you can get me ______.
"Many others such" correctly refers to additional novels similar in kind to those already mentioned.
Jim had his first -71- in professional boxing when he was seventeen and that match has remained indelible in his memory.
A "bout" is the standard term for an individual boxing match/contest.
Before the match, he had gone for a weigh-in along with other boxers. On the D-day, he came into the -72- amidst loud cheers from the spectators.
A boxing match takes place in a "ring".
...after he had been called by the -73-.
Boxers are introduced/called into the ring by the "announcer".
He was wearing customised trunks and -74- to prevent damage to his hands.
"Boxing gloves" are padded gloves worn to protect a boxer's hands.
Jim and his -75- moved round throwing punches at each other.
The other boxer competing against Jim in the match is his "opponent".
Jim threw a right -76-, left himself open and got cut by a strong counter punch.
A "hook" is a semi-circular boxing punch aimed at the opponent's head or body.
After this attack from his rival, Jim raised his arms and held his -77- in front of his face to protect himself.
Boxers protect their face using their clenched "fists"/guard.
...from the punches as they came, -78- the punches.
"Dodging" refers to the defensive technique of avoiding an opponent's punches by moving out of the way.
During the second -79-, Jim delivered a sucker punch which got his opponent in the ribs, leading to loss of consciousness.
A boxing match is divided into timed periods called "rounds".
Consequently, Jim won the game by -80-.
Winning after making the opponent unable to continue (loss of consciousness) is winning by "knockout".
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