WAEC SSCE - English Language - 2000

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

You should take what he tells you with a pinch of salt. This means that you should

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate interpretation for the sentence "You should take what he tells you with a pinch of salt" is to "doubt what he says." The phrase "take it with a pinch of salt" is an idiom that means to view something with skepticism or to doubt its veracity. In other words, the sentence is telling you not to believe everything that the person is saying without some level of doubt or skepticism. Option A, "reject everything he says because he is a liar," is not necessarily the correct interpretation since the sentence does not explicitly state that the person is a liar. Option B, "pay close attention to him," is not the most appropriate interpretation because the sentence is actually suggesting the opposite, which is to doubt what the person is saying. Option D, "question him closely," is also not the most appropriate interpretation because the sentence is not explicitly telling you to question the person, but rather to doubt what they say.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Because it had been raining heavily all morning...........people turned out to welcome the august visitor,

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the sentence is "few." The sentence implies that not many people turned out to welcome the august visitor because it had been raining heavily all morning. "Few" means not many, so it fits the context of the sentence.

In each of the following sentences, there is one word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A - 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 sentences.
"Hello Musa" is a ...........opening for a friendly letter, but it is inappropriate for a formal letter

Maelezo ya Majibu

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Luck..........the robbers on that fateful day

Maelezo ya Majibu

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.
The visit of the patron of the club......the morale of the players

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the sentence is "boosted". This is because the phrase "boosted morale" is commonly used to describe the positive impact of someone or something on the level of confidence, enthusiasm, and determination of a group of people. In this case, the patron of the club is being referred to as having visited and the effect of the visit on the players' morale is being described. Therefore, "boosted" which means to increase or improve something, is the most suitable option.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the gap in question number 90 is "check." The sentence is saying that the increase in the world's population needs to be put in check to avoid the looming consequence of population explosion. In this context, the word "check" means to limit, control or regulate something.

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

You should take what he tells you with a pinch of salt. This means that you should

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate interpretation of the sentence "You should take what he tells you with a pinch of salt" is that you should doubt what he says. This means that you should not completely believe or trust what he says without careful consideration, as he may not be completely truthful or accurate in his statements. Using a "pinch of salt" implies a level of skepticism or caution in accepting the information given.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
We received........that the workers would soon go on strike

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is "information" (Option A). This is because "information" is an uncountable noun, and it does not require a plural form. Therefore, the correct sentence should be "We received information that the workers would soon go on strike."

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Neither Obi nor Jumoke..........present at the meeting

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option to complete the sentence is "was." The sentence is talking about two people, Obi and Jumoke, who did not attend a meeting. The subject of the sentence is "neither," which is a singular word, so we need to use a singular verb to match. The correct sentence is: "Neither Obi nor Jumoke was present at the meeting." Option B, "were," is a plural verb form, which does not match the singular subject "neither." Option C, "have been," is a present perfect verb form, which is not appropriate for this sentence because the sentence is referring to a past event. Option D, "are," is a present tense verb form, which is not appropriate for this sentence because the sentence is referring to a past event.

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
The incessant chatter of the pupils irritated the teacher

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word "incessant" means "never stopping, especially in an annoying or unpleasant way". In this sentence, the teacher was irritated by the continuous and unceasing chatter of the pupils. Therefore, the option that best describes the meaning of "incessant" is "unceasing".

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
The new teacher urged the lazy students to turn over a new leaf. This means that the teacher urged the students to

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate interpretation for the sentence "The new teacher urged the lazy students to turn over a new leaf" is to improve their behavior. The phrase "turn over a new leaf" is an idiomatic expression that means to start behaving in a better way, to make a fresh start, or to change one's ways for the better. Therefore, the teacher is encouraging the students to stop being lazy and to start working harder and more responsibly.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
A student at the back of the class complained that he.......the teacher

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the sentence is "could not hear." The student's complaint suggests that they were having difficulty hearing the teacher, which means that they "could not hear" the teacher.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to fill the gap in question numbered 93 is "branches" because the context indicates that the person walked into a physical location of the bank to obtain the necessary form, and "branches" is the term commonly used for the physical locations of banks. The other options, such as "offices" or "premises" could also be used in this context, but "branches" is the most appropriate and commonly used term.

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
When the Choir Master introduced Jane as a brilliant singer, everyone knew that he was speaking with his tongue in his cheek. This means that he

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate interpretation of the sentence "When the Choir Master introduced Jane as a brilliant singer, everyone knew that he was speaking with his tongue in his cheek" is that the Choir Master did not intend to be taken seriously. This means that the Choir Master was not serious when he introduced Jane as a brilliant singer. He was most likely being sarcastic or ironic and did not mean what he said literally. The phrase "speaking with his tongue in his cheek" is an idiom that means someone is not being sincere or is joking. Therefore, the people present understood that the Choir Master was not being genuine in his introduction of Jane.

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
The children were warned not to be unduly inquisitive

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word "inquisitive" in this context means "curious," so the word that is nearest in meaning is option D: "curious."

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
.........were sent to the library by the English teacher

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is "Udoh and I." This is because in English, when referring to oneself and another person, it is appropriate to put the other person first and then oneself. Also, the subject pronoun "I" is used instead of the object pronoun "me" when it is the subject of the sentence.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
He dabbles..........politics from time to time

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the sentence is "in". The word "dabble" means to take part in something in a casual or superficial way. In this context, the speaker is referring to the fact that the person mentioned is involved in politics but not seriously or fully committed. Therefore, the most suitable preposition to use in this sentence is "in".

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The man asked me ......

Maelezo ya Majibu

In each of the following sentences, there is one word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A - 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 sentences.
The children expected to be praised for putting out the fire, but they were..........for taking such a risk.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to "praised" is "rebuked" (option A). If someone is praised, they are being complimented or commended. On the other hand, if someone is rebuked, they are being scolded or criticized. Therefore, in the given sentence, the word "rebuked" is the appropriate word to fill the gap as it gives an opposite meaning to the underlined word "praised".

In each of the following sentences, there is one word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A - 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 sentences.
A child got stuck trying to squeeze through an iron fence, but some adults managed to .........him.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to "extricate" is "trap". However, "trap" does not fit the sentence because it does not correctly fill the gap. The correct word to fill the gap is "extricate" which means to free or release from a constraint or difficulty. Therefore, the answer is option D, "extricate". The adults managed to extricate the child from the iron fence.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Mother could not prepare the dish because there was....oil available

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the sentence is "little". "Little" in this context means "not much" or "insufficient". Therefore, the sentence means that mother could not prepare the dish because there was not enough oil available.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
You're not too tired to continue.........?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the sentence is "are you". The sentence is asking for confirmation or agreement from the person being addressed. The phrase "are you" is a common way to seek confirmation or agreement in English.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the gap in question number 91 is "explosion". The context of the passage suggests that the human population is increasing very rapidly, and this needs to be addressed to avoid the looming consequence of population explosion. "Population explosion" refers to a sudden and rapid increase in the population of a particular species, in this case, humans. This rapid increase can lead to various problems such as depletion of resources, environmental degradation, and social issues. Therefore, the most appropriate word to complete the sentence is "explosion".

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option for the gap in question 81 is "failure". The sentence mentions that a single year of crop failure could lead to famine and death. The word "failure" here means that the crops did not grow or produce a yield as expected, leading to a lack of food and potential starvation. Option A, "collapse", does not accurately describe the situation as it implies a sudden and catastrophic event, which may not be the case here. Option B, "withdrawal", is not appropriate as it does not fit the context of the sentence. Option C, "disease", is incorrect as it is not related to the growth of crops.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The missing word in the passage is in the sentence "Once, he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-". The best option to fill the gap is "loan" (option C). This is because the sentence talks about the brother wanting to obtain something from the bank, which suggests that he needed to borrow money. The other options (credit, debit, balance) do not fit the context of the sentence as well as "loan" does.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The factory workers refused to take the matter of their sacked colleagues lying...........

Maelezo ya Majibu

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
The dissidents held several clandestine meetings before the attack

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word "clandestine" means secret, concealed, or covert. Therefore, the option that is nearest in meaning to "clandestine" is "secret" (option A).

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
The bride was praised by her mother-in-law for her impeccable behaviour

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word "impeccable" refers to someone or something that is faultless or perfect. Therefore, the option that best conveys a similar meaning to "impeccable" is D, "faultless".

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
At the end of the year, grandmother ..........with us for seven years

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
The accused vehemently denied the charges against him

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word "vehemently" means to do something with intense emotion, passion or force. Out of the options provided, the word that is nearest in meaning to "vehemently" is "strongly." The accused is denying the charges with great force and intensity, which is similar in meaning to doing so vehemently. Therefore, the correct option is D, "strongly."

In each of the following sentences, there is one word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A - 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 sentences.

We blamed Obi for breaking the door, but when Ade confessed that he did it, Obi was...........

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word "blamed" implies that Obi was held responsible for breaking the door. Therefore, the opposite of "blamed" would be "exonerated," which means to be declared not guilty or free from blame. In the context of the sentence, when Ade confessed to breaking the door, Obi was exonerated or cleared of any wrongdoing.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The careless manager has caused his bank to .....millions of naira

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option to complete the sentence is "lose". Explanation: The sentence talks about an action that has already happened in the past, and the consequences of that action. The word "has caused" indicates that the manager has done something that resulted in a negative outcome. The phrase "to lose millions of naira" means that the bank has suffered a financial loss, which is the result of the manager's carelessness. Out of the four options provided, only "lose" is the correct form of the verb to indicate the past tense, which agrees with the sentence structure. Therefore, the correct sentence is: "The careless manager has caused his bank to lose millions of naira."

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
One of the robbers who snatched the car........been arrested by the police.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is "has". The sentence is in the present perfect tense, which indicates that an action was completed in the past and has a connection to the present. The subject "one of the robbers" is singular, so we need a singular verb form. The word "has" is the present perfect form of the verb "have," and it agrees with the subject "one of the robbers." Therefore, the correct sentence is: "One of the robbers who snatched the car has been arrested by the police."

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Both questions are alternatives; you answer......one.......the other.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct answer is "either, or." The sentence suggests that the person has to choose between two options, and the word "either" is used to indicate that one option or the other can be chosen. The word "or" is used to separate the two options. Therefore, the correct answer is "either, or." The other options do not fit the sentence structure or meaning.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The missing word in question numbered 92 above is a verb that describes what the speaker's elder brother did when he decided to have a current account with United Bank for Africa. From the given options, "open" is the best word to complete the gap because it means to begin or start a business relationship with a bank or other financial institution by creating a new account.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
After a while, we noticed that the unconscious accident victim was coming.........

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word that best completes the sentence is "around". In this context, "coming around" means the accident victim is regaining consciousness. When someone is unconscious, they are not aware of their surroundings or able to respond to stimuli. However, as the person begins to regain consciousness, they become more aware of their surroundings and may start to respond to stimuli. Therefore, the most appropriate word to complete the sentence is "around".

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
The foreman believed that with the augmented workforce, the construction job would take one more month to complete

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word "augmented" in the sentence means increased or added to. Therefore, the word that is nearest in meaning to "augmented" is "enlarged".

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The government has set up a ....panel to investigate that fire incident

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to complete the sentence is "five-man" panel. "Five-man" means a group of five men, so in this context, it means that the government has set up a panel comprising five men to investigate the fire incident.

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.
Until now Etim has always started the fights, but this time Adamu is clearly the ..........

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option to complete the sentence is "aggressor." The sentence is contrasting the behavior of two people in a fight. The word "Etin" has always started the fights before, but this time, "Adamu" is clearly the aggressor. The term "aggressor" means someone who starts a conflict or is the first to attack. It fits the context of the sentence because it contrasts with Etin's usual behavior of starting fights. Therefore, the correct sentence is: "Until now Etim has always started the fights, but this time Adamu is clearly the aggressor." Option A, "oppressor," means someone who uses power and control to harm or mistreat others, which does not fit the context of the sentence. Option B, "fighter," is a general term that could refer to either person, but it does not convey the meaning of one person being the first to start the fight. Option D, "underdog," means the person or team that is expected to lose in a conflict or competition. It also does not fit the context of the sentence.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The missing word in the passage is related to how fast the human race needed to reproduce to keep in existence under primitive conditions. The best option from A to D is "pace". "Pace" refers to the rate at which something happens or develops, and it is commonly used to describe the speed at which people or animals move or do something. Therefore, the phrase "at a high pace" means that humans needed to reproduce quickly to maintain their population levels.

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.
The boys were about to trade blows, but I managed to hold one of them back while my friend..............the other

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the sentence is "restrained". "Restrained" means to prevent someone from doing something, usually by using physical strength. In the sentence, the speaker was able to hold one of the boys back, while the speaker's friend was able to prevent the other boy from fighting by restraining him. The other options, "subdued", "coaxed", and "captured", do not accurately reflect the action of preventing someone from fighting.

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
Despite the measures taken by the government, the economy of the country is still in the doldrums. This means that

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate interpretation for the sentence "Despite the measures taken by the government, the economy of the country is still in the doldrums" is that the economy is not making any progress, despite the efforts made by the government to improve it. "In the doldrums" means in a state of stagnation or depression, and the use of the word "still" indicates that the situation has not improved despite the government's efforts.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The hunter, with his dogs,.........going into the forest

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the gap is "forms" as it is the most suitable word to describe the necessary paperwork needed to open a current account.

In each of the following sentences, there is one word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A - 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 sentences.
They had to ........the old buildings to construct the five-star hotel.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most nearly opposite word to "demolish" is "preserve" or "keep." Since we are looking for a word that can correctly fill the gap, "preserve" or "keep" cannot be used because they do not fit the context of the sentence. Therefore, the best option would be "remove" as it means to take away or get rid of something, which is the action required to make space for the new hotel building.

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
The restaurant owner offered Olu a drink on the house. This means that

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate interpretation of the sentence "The restaurant owner offered Olu a drink on the house" is that the drink was free of charge. The phrase "on the house" is an idiom that means something is being provided free of charge, usually by the owner of the establishment. In this context, the restaurant owner offered Olu a drink without charging him for it. Therefore, Olu did not have to pay for the drink he was served in the restaurant.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Seun accepted the conditions we gave him........for my liking

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is "much too quickly". "Much" is used to modify the adverb "quickly", indicating that Seun accepted the conditions in a manner that was excessive or overly fast.

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.
But for the timely.........of the police, there would have been a riot

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word that best completes the sentence is "intervention." This is because "intervention" refers to the act of intervening, or taking action to prevent a problem from becoming worse. In this case, the timely intervention of the police means that they took action to prevent a riot from happening. The other options, "interference," "intrusion," and "interruption," do not fit the context of the sentence as they refer to different actions that may not necessarily be related to preventing a riot.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Hardly had the journey started..........the car engine developed a fault

Maelezo ya Majibu

The sentence describes an event that occurred in quick succession. The best word to use here would be "when". "When" is used to indicate that one event happens immediately after another event. For example, "When I got home, I realized I had left my phone at work." Therefore, the correct option is B, "when".

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The Students Week was rounded...with a dance

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option that best completes the sentence is "off". To "round off" something means to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion or complete it in a particular way. Therefore, "The Students Week was rounded off with a dance" means that the dance was the concluding event of the Students Week.

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.
The hilltop was a hundred meters above sea level and from that......the whole town could be seen beautifully laid out

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word that best completes the sentence is "altitude." Altitude refers to the height above sea level, which is what is being described in the sentence. The other options, magnitude, latitude, and longitude, do not refer to height or elevation.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Ebiere turned...........all the advances made by the men

Maelezo ya Majibu

The option that best completes the sentence is "down". To turn someone down means to reject or refuse their offer, request or advances. Therefore, Ebiere refused or rejected all the advances made by the men.

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
Although Aliyu was acquitted by the court for want of evidence, the police still kept a tab on him. This means that they

Maelezo ya Majibu

The interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence "Although Aliyu was acquitted by the court for want of evidence, the police still kept a tab on him. This means that they?" is "kept him under close observation." This means that even though Aliyu was acquitted by the court due to lack of evidence, the police still monitored his activities to ensure that he did not engage in any criminal activities.

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
Ogene was not the least cowed by the bully's threats

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word that is nearest in meaning to "cowed" is "intimidated". This means that despite the bully's threats, Ogene was not scared or frightened into submission.

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
The professor's explanation of that point was quite lucid

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word "lucid" is "clear." The word "lucid" means easily understood, clear, or bright. The sentence is saying that the professor's explanation of a particular point was easy to understand, so the best option to complete the sentence is: "The professor's explanation of that point was quite clear." Option A, "lengthy," means taking a long time or being excessively long, which does not fit the context of the sentence. Option B, "complicated," means consisting of many interconnecting parts or being difficult to understand, which is the opposite of what the sentence is trying to convey. Option D, "surprising," means causing astonishment or unexpectedness, which does not fit the context of the sentence.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The sick man.........in bed for three months.

Maelezo ya Majibu

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The teachers............politics when I entered the staff room

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to complete the sentence is "were discussing". This is because the sentence is in the past tense, and "were discussing" is the correct past continuous tense form of "discussing".

In each of the following sentences, there is one word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A - 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 sentences.
Parking on this street is ........on weekdays, but permitted at weekends.

Maelezo ya Majibu

In each of the following sentences, there is one word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A - 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 sentences.
If we can commence the meeting on time, we should be able to ............by 4.00 p.m.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The underlined word in the sentence is 'commence', which means to begin or start something. To find the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to 'commence', we should look for a word that means to end or finish something. The word that correctly fills the gap in the sentence is 'adjourn', which means to end a meeting or session. Therefore, the answer is option D, 'adjourn'.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
''It is high time you....crying'' the woman told her daughter gently

Maelezo ya Majibu

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Ogugua has always.........me as a good mannered child.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct answer is "struck". Explanation: The sentence is in the present perfect tense. "Struck" is the past participle of "strike", and it is used in the present perfect tense to indicate an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has just been completed. Therefore, the sentence means that Ogugua has always left the speaker with the impression that he is a well-mannered child.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the gap in question number 89 is "birth-rate". The sentence before the gap talks about the fall in the birth rate, so it makes sense that the missing word relates to birth. Birth rate refers to the number of births in a population over a specific period of time, so it is the best option to complete the sentence in a logical and grammatically correct way.

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
The Principal warned the final-year students about the consequences of procrastination

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word "procrastination" refers to the act of delaying or postponing something. The word closest in meaning to "procrastination" is "delay." Therefore, the answer is option B.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The quarrel between the two men soon resulted....a fight

Maelezo ya Majibu

The option that best completes the sentence is "in". The word "resulted" indicates that something happened as a consequence of the quarrel. The phrase "resulted in" is commonly used to show that one event led to another. Therefore, the correct answer is "resulted in a fight", meaning that the quarrel eventually led to a physical altercation.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The day that Musa's uncle died was the.....day of his life

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct answer is "saddest." This is because "sad" is a one-syllable adjective, and when forming the superlative degree of one-syllable adjectives, the suffix "-est" is added to the end of the adjective. Adding "more" or "most" is not necessary and is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, "saddest" is the correct word to use to describe the day of Musa's uncle's death as the most sorrowful day of his life.

In each of the following sentences, there is one word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A - 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 sentences.
They ended the discussion on amicable terms though they were........to each other at the beginning.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The sentence talks about ending a discussion on good terms despite being a certain way towards each other at the beginning. The word that is opposite in meaning to "hostile" would be "friendly" or "amicable," which fits well with the context of the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer is "hostile."

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to fill the gap in the sentence above is "honoured". This means that the bank did not accept his cheque because his signature was irregular or did not match their records. It implies that the cheque was not processed and the payment was not made to the intended recipient.

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
The newly acquired air-bus plane is a white elephant. This means that the plane is

Maelezo ya Majibu

The sentence "The newly acquired air-bus plane is a white elephant" means that the plane is very costly but worthless. A white elephant is a term used to describe an expensive possession that is more of a burden than a benefit. In this case, it means that the air-bus plane is very expensive to acquire, maintain and operate but it's not worth it as it doesn't bring any significant value or benefit.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
He never seemed to get it right..........

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is "however hard he tried." This sentence structure is an example of inversion, where the adverb "however" is placed before the adjective "hard" to modify the verb "tried." The correct form of the sentence should be "He never seemed to get it right, however hard he tried," meaning that despite his efforts, he was not able to do it correctly.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Ada is .....to do that kind of thing

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is: "intelligent to much". The sentence means that Ada is smart enough to do that kind of thing. The correct phrase to express this idea is "intelligent to (do something)" or "smart enough to (do something)". The options A and B are incorrect because "too" should come before "much" and not after "intelligent". The option C is correct because "much too" can also be used to mean "too much". The option D is incorrect because "to much" is an incorrect construction.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The man advised his children not to give.....to the temptations of the city

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option to complete the sentence is "in." When we say that someone "gives in" to temptation, it means that they yield or succumb to it. In this context, the man is advising his children not to succumb to the temptations of the city, so the correct choice is "in." Option A, "off," is not the correct answer, as it does not convey the idea of yielding or succumbing to something. Option B, "up," is also not suitable in this context, as it does not convey the meaning of giving in or yielding. Option D, "out," is also not the right choice, as it does not make sense in this context. Therefore, option C, "in," is the best answer because it conveys the idea of giving in to something, which is what the man is warning his children against.

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
When it came to the question of an increase in allowances, the striking workers spoke with one voice. This means that the workers

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct interpretation for the sentence "When it came to the question of an increase in allowances, the striking workers spoke with one voice" is: the workers were unanimous in their position. This means that all the striking workers shared the same opinion and spoke with a unified voice on the issue of increasing their allowances.

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
With his cogent argument in favour of the proposal he was able to check further opposition

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word 'cogent' refers to an argument that is convincing and persuasive. Therefore, the word that is nearest in meaning to 'cogent' is option C, which means something that is convincing.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to fill the gap in question 77 is "development." This is because the sentence is discussing a recent change that has happened in agriculture, medicine, and industry that has made life easier than it was before. The word "development" is commonly used to describe progress or advancements in various fields, which fits the context of the sentence. The other options, such as "growths," "adventures," and "experiments," do not fit the context and meaning of the sentence as well as "development" does.

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.
We are waiting to hear the weather.......for tomorrow

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to complete the sentence is "forecast." A forecast is a prediction or estimate of future events, such as the weather forecast for the next day. The other options, such as broadcast, declaration, and report, do not specifically refer to predicting future weather conditions.

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.
I refused to ...........my statement because it was true

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word that best completes the sentence is "retract." To retract a statement means to withdraw it or take it back. In this context, the speaker refused to take back or withdraw their statement because it was true.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
.......home, his dead uncle's burial had already taken place

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word that best completes the gap in question numbered 86 above is "reproduce." This is because the sentence talks about the human race needing to (verb) at a high (noun) just to keep in existence. The verb that correctly completes the sentence is "reproduce," meaning to produce offspring. So, the correct option is the one that means to produce offspring at a high rate to keep the human race in existence. Option B, "replenish," may seem like a possible answer, but it means to fill something that is empty, which does not fit the context of the sentence.

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.
The class prefect's ............of the quarrel is different from yours

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word that best completes the sentence is "account". The sentence is asking about the class prefect's understanding or description of the quarrel, and "account" is the word that best fits in this context. A statement, outline, or summary could also be used in some cases, but "account" is the most appropriate choice for this particular sentence.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

Option A, "development," best completes the gap in question 77. The previous sentence talks about the recent changes in agriculture, medicine, and industry which implies that there has been progress in those areas. Therefore, the word that is most suitable to fill the gap would be a synonym of progress or improvement, and "development" fits that description. The other options - "growths," "adventures," and "experiments" - are not relevant to the context of the passage and do not fit the intended meaning.

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
You should take what he tells you with a pinch of salt. This means that you should

Maelezo ya Majibu

The interpretation that is most appropriate for the sentence "You should take what he tells you with a pinch of salt" is to doubt what he says. The phrase "take with a pinch of salt" means to be cautious about believing something or to be skeptical of its truthfulness. In other words, it is suggesting that what he is telling you may not be entirely accurate, and you should question or doubt its validity. Therefore, the correct interpretation of the sentence is that you should doubt what he says.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the context of the passage, the best option to fill the gap at number 80 is "methods." This is because the sentence is discussing how it was difficult to make a living from agriculture without modern farming methods. The word "methods" refers to the techniques and procedures used in farming, which have been developed over time to improve crop yields and make farming more efficient. The other options, such as "procedures," "steps," and "ways," do not convey the same meaning in this context and are not as appropriate.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
With his reading glasses on, he cloud see the words...............

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is "much more clearly". This is because "clearly" is the adverb modifying the verb "see" which means the adverb needs to be in the correct form which is "clearly". The adverb "much" modifies "clearly" to indicate the degree or extent of clarity. The comparative form of "clear" is "clearer", so "much more clearer" is incorrect grammar.

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

I will tell you the secret if you promise not to .......it

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word that best completes the sentence is "divulge." This is because the sentence is expressing a condition that must be met before the speaker will reveal the secret. "Divulge" means to reveal or make known something that is meant to be kept secret, so the speaker is asking the listener not to reveal the secret if it is told to them. The other options, "show," "scatter," and "relay," do not convey the idea of keeping a secret and are not appropriate in the context of the sentence.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to fill the gap numbered 79 is "the soil." The context of the sentence suggests that the missing word refers to something related to farming, and the options provided are "ground," "soil," "world," and "earth." Option A, "ground," is not the best choice as it is a general term and does not specifically refer to the farming context. Option C, "world," and option D, "earth," are also not suitable because they are too broad and do not specifically refer to the farming context. Option B, "soil," is the best answer because it is the most appropriate term to use in the context of farming. The soil is where crops are planted and grown, so it makes sense that this would be the word used to fill the gap. Therefore, the correct option is B, "soil."

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
Amina always flies off at a tangent when a serious matter is discussed. This means that Amina

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate interpretation for the sentence "Amina always flies off at a tangent when a serious matter is discussed" is that Amina keeps digressing. This means that Amina goes off on tangents or talks about things unrelated to the serious matter being discussed, making it difficult to stay on topic.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best option to fill the gap numbered 88 is "birth" frequency. The sentence talks about a sharp fall in the rate relative to the birth rate, indicating that the population is increasing rapidly. Therefore, the most appropriate option is "birth" which refers to the number of babies being born.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Those who owe the company were urged to .......their debts

Maelezo ya Majibu

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
When the accountant made those remarks he knew that he was putting his job on the line. This means that the accountant was

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate interpretation of the sentence "When the accountant made those remarks he knew that he was putting his job on the line" is that the accountant was risking losing his job. This means that the accountant said something or made some remarks that could lead to negative consequences for his job, such as being fired or reprimanded. The phrase "putting his job on the line" implies that the accountant's actions or words could jeopardize his employment status.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The two girls have not been speaking.............since their quarrel

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option is "to each other." This is because the sentence talks about two girls who are not speaking, and the correct way to express that is to say they are not speaking to each other, meaning that they are not communicating with each other.

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
Unfortunately, his plans to go abroad fell.........

Maelezo ya Majibu

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
He would rather resign...part in such a dishonest deal

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is "than take". The sentence is in the format of a parallel comparison, expressing a preference for one action over another. The phrase "rather than" is used to introduce the preferred option. The verb in the preferred option should be in the base form (infinitive) without "to". Therefore, the most suitable option is "than take".

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
The little boy could not move the heavy stone........he tried.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct answer is: however hard. The sentence indicates that the little boy couldn't move the heavy stone, even though he tried. The phrase "however hard" fits well in this context, as it indicates the boy's effort despite the difficulty of the task.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

Based on the context of the passage, the best option to fill the gap in question 100 is "collateral." This is because the passage is discussing opening a bank account and obtaining a loan, which often requires collateral to be put up as security for the loan. Collateral refers to assets or property that a borrower pledges to a lender to secure a loan. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.
If found guilty, a person may appeal to a higher court in the hope that it will......the verdict

Maelezo ya Majibu

The best word that completes the sentence is "reverse". This is because "reverse" means to overturn or nullify a decision, which is what an appellant hopes will happen when they appeal to a higher court. The other options are not as suitable in the context of appealing a verdict.

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below each passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
For thousands of years, man lived in a very primitive way. Before the recent -77- in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult. It was hard to -78- a living from -79- without modern farming -80-, and a single year of crop -81- could mean famine and therefore death illnesses as -82- and as -83- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger appendicitis was always -84- before the days of modern -85- Even childbirth was a hazardous process. Under these conditions, the human race needed to -86- at a high -87- just to keep in existence.
However, with a sharp fall in the -88- rate relative to the -89- the world's population is now increasing very rapidly. This increase needs to be put in -90-to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.
When my elder brother decided to -92- a current account with United Bank for Africa, he walked into one of its -93- and obtained the necessary -94- which he completed and returned to the -95-. He was then given paying in -96-. Soon, he started issuing -97- to people with whom he transacted business. Whenever his signature was irregular, his cheque was not -98- Once. he wanted to obtain a -99- and the bank insisted on -100-

Maelezo ya Majibu

The missing word is describing the danger of appendicitis before modern medicine. The word "fatal" best completes the sentence, indicating that appendicitis was often deadly in the past. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Write a letter to the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency in your country complaining about the environmental pollution of your area and requesting that urgent action be taken to improve the situation.

Maelezo ya Majibu

None

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

      It seemed that Joe had just about had it with his wife of three years. He no longer thought her attractive interesting: he considered her a poor housekeeper who was overweight, someone he no longer wanted to live with. j Or was so _upset that he finally decided on divorce. But before he served her the papers, he made an appointment with% psychologist for the specific purpose of finding out how to make life as difficult as possible for his wife.

      The psychologist listened to Joe's story and then gave his advice: "Well. Joe, I think I've got the perfect solution for you From tonight when you get home, I want you to start treating your wife as if she were a goddess. That's right, a goddess, I want you to change your attitude towards her completely. Start doing everything in your power to please her. Listen intently to her when she talks about her problems. Help around the house; take her out to dinner on weekends. I want you to pretend that she's a goddess. Then after two months of this wonderful  behaviour, just pack your bags and leave her. That should get to her.

      Joe thought it was a tremendous idea. That night he started treating his wife as if she were a goddess. He couldn't wait to do things for her. He brought her breakfast in bed and had flowers delivered to her for no apparent reason. They read books to each other at night and Joe listened to her as never before. It was incredible what Joe was doing for his wife. He kept it up for the two full months. After the allotted time, the psychologist gave Joe a call at home. "Joe," he asked. "How's it going? Did you file for divorce? Are you a happy bachelor once again?" "Divorce?" asked Joe in surprise. "You must be kidding! I'm married to a goddess. I've never been happier in my life. I'd never leave my wife in a million years.  In fact, I'm discovering new, wonderful things about her every single day. Divorce? Not on your life!" The psychologist hung up wearing a knowing smile.

(a) Why did Joe consult the psychologist?

(b) What did Joe think he would achieve by following the psychologists advice?

(c) What is ironical about Joe's answer to the psychologist's question towards the end of the passage'

(d) From this episode, what do you think had really been wrong with Joe's marriage?

(e) "... it was a tremendous idea'. ((i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage?

(ii) What is its function in the sentence?

(f) "I'd never leave my wife in a million years" What figure of speech is contained in the sentence above?

(g) Why do you think the psychologist wore a knowing smile?

(h) For each of the following words. find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as used in the passage. (i) attractive. (ii) upset; (iii) solution (iv) wonderful; (v) apparent; (vi) allotted.

Maelezo ya Majibu

None

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

      Are you scared of speaking before a large audience or even making a few suggestions in public? This need not be. You can make effective speeches in public. Here are a few pointers. Perhaps the most important step is to be sure of what you are going to say. This sounds obvious enough, but it is amazing how many people get up to speak when, in fact, they have very little to say. After one inconsequential point, they discover they have run out of steam. So to ensure you can speak well, the more conversant you are with them the more confident you will be.

      How do you present your speech? Certainly before you begin, you will be a little uneasy. Even the most experienced speaker feels the same way before beginning his speech. This is not bad; in fact, it is a good tonic for a successful speech. To overcome this, do not rush headlong into the task. Rather, it pays to breathe in and out, heavily, deeply calmly. Then begin the speech, slowly, calmly. carefully, with a clear, confident voice. This is when you are. going through the introduction. "The Chairman, Honourable Guests of Honour. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen... By the time you finish this and go through the usual ritual of stating that it gives you "great pleasure to stand before this august gathering to discuss a few points....," you would have reached a point of emotional equilibrium. You should now be sufficiently calm to go on with the speech.

      Somewhere at the beginning, and at strategic points in your speech. you should introduce flavour into what you are saying. You would not want to serve tea without sugar after all. So, you should inject some humorous remarks once in a while. But this calls for skill. To start with, you cannot introduce humour indiscriminately, otherwise you might sound like a jester. Experienced speakers most often introduce humour early in their speeches, presumably to ease the tension in the hall. But these jokes must be brief. purposeful and closely related to the point.

      Many speakers are scared by the countenances of the listeners. Not all their looks are friendly. However, there are bound to be a few friendly ones, and it is advisable to pick them out, look at them from time to time, and ignore the hostile ones. Looking at the friendly faces keeps you at ease.

      You are advised to write out your speech in full after which you should read it several times before the day. You could 't get a willing listener to criticize your delivery. Do this several times until you can almost recite it. Notice that we are not advising you to memorize it, because you could forget vital areas due to anxiety. Writing out and practising the speech would make you much familiar with the content, indeed with every word.

      Speech making is an art. While it is true that some are gifted in speech making. it is more correct that any one who doesn't suffer from speech handicaps can learn to deliver effective speeches. And you can become a master in this art.

(a) In one sentence state the intention of the writer

(b) In five sentences, one for each summarize the five steps for making a good speech and the reason for each step.

Maelezo ya Majibu

None

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

      I vividly remember that Thursday morning, some twenty-two years ago. when I was operated upon to have an abnormality corrected. For months. the doctors had combated the ailment with drugs of various kinds many of which sent me on long excursions into slumberland, Yet the ailment had seemed to defy all medical entreaties. Then a few days later, two senior surgeons called on me to discuss their decision They made it clear that only a surgical operation held any hope, otherwise the downward trend was sure to continue until the inevitable Quiet end. So. they sought my consent which I promptly gave, stating that at my age I was old enough to accept any eventuality.

      For days, I was gradually prepared for the great event. I took various drugs to build me up physically, and I was encouraged to eat well. Besides, a clergyman came regularly to talk to and pray for me He assured me that I would sail through the operation safely as God, the greatest of surgeons, would join the medical team Gradually I steeled myself to face the exercise.

      Then the day came. My wife came very early into the ward, looking as if she bore the burdens of all the world. I told her to be a good girl and cheer up. But all my jokes fell flat. So. when a senior nursing sister came and told my wife to go and buy one of the drugs needed, I was somehow relieved. Moments later, my eldest son came, and I told him to brace up for any eventuality. I said I was proud of his achievements as a young engineer, and of his immediate younger brother as a pharmacist. So, if the end should come, they should both rise to the occasion and steer their other brother and sister to good careers. I had not quite concluded when the stretcher was wheeled in and I was helped on to it.

      As the journey to the theatre commenced, with my son by my side, I held his hand firmly and smiled. This was the only way I could reassure him that all was going to be well. The stretcher moved on. Then, suddenly, 1 saw my wife hurrying er catch up with us. As she came along, I told the ward attendants to show down so that she could catch up with us. I took her hand and put it in my son's. Apparently, this gesture disturbed rather than strengthened her. She burst into tears. Belt= could say anything else, to mother and son, the theatre doors were flung open; and the stretcher was wheeled in.

(a) What did the surgeons seek from the patient?

(b) In what two ways was the man prepared for the operation.

(c) What do the man's words to his eldest son suggest about his state of mind?

(d) (i) What message did the man intend to convey to his wife by putting her hand in his son's.

(ii) What was his wife's reaction?

(e) "Before I could say anything else.... '

(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage?

(ii) What is its function in the sentence).

(f) ....the inevitable quiet end".

(i) What figure of speech is used in the expression above?

(ii) What does it mean?

(g) How do you know that the patient survived the operation?

(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) combated; (ii) entreaties; (iii) eventually; (iv) steeled; (v) steer; (vi) gesture.

Maelezo ya Majibu

None

Write a story ending with the word: "Indeed, it was a blessing in disguise".         

Maelezo ya Majibu

None

You are a speaker in an inter-school debate on the topic: "It is better to attend a school near your home than one outside your neighborhood". Write your speech for or against the proposition.

Maelezo ya Majibu

None

Write an article for publication in your school magazine on the topic: "Why I should like to be... " Choose an occupation or career and give at least three reasons why it appeals to you.

Maelezo ya Majibu

None

A nagging problem in your family has so far defied all solutions. Write a letter to an uncle of yours stating what the problem is and giving reasons why he should intervene.

Maelezo ya Majibu

None