Practice waec model questions vol1 literature_in_english 2017 Past Questions

Question 1 View Details

When the village elders gathered under the ancient baobab, Kofi argued that the new school would bring progress, while Mama Adjoa warned that the children would lose the stories of their ancestors. Identify the central theme of this passage.

Correct A. Conflict between tradition and modernity

B. Clash of generations and technology

C. Contrast between past and future

D. Harmony between tradition and modernity

Correct Answer: A

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Question 2 View Details

Consider the following stanza: "Silent rivers whisper secrets of the night, Stars stitch silver threads upon the sky, Hope rises like a phoenix from ash, Dreams dissolve when dawn draws near." Which poetic device is employed in line 3 and what is its effect?

Correct A. Simile; it emphasizes the resilience and rebirth of hope by comparing it to a phoenix, suggesting renewal after destruction.

B. Metaphor; it emphasizes the resilience and rebirth of hope by comparing it to a phoenix, suggesting renewal after destruction.

C. Alliteration; it emphasizes the resilience and rebirth of hope by comparing it to a phoenix, suggesting renewal after destruction.

D. Personification; it emphasizes the resilience and rebirth of hope by comparing it to a phoenix, suggesting renewal after destruction.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 3 View Details

Read the passage: "The market awoke with the clamor of vendors shouting, the scent of fresh spices mingling with the heat of the sun, while bright red chilies glistened like rubies on the stalls." Which sense imagery is most dominant in the passage and why?

A. Tactile imagery; the heat of the sun provides the strongest sensory impression, surpassing visual and auditory cues.

B. Auditory imagery; the clamor of vendors shouting dominates the passage, making sound the most prominent sense.

Correct C. Visual imagery; the vivid description of the bright red chilies glistening like rubies creates the strongest picture, outweighing the auditory and olfactory details.

D. Olfactory imagery; the scent of fresh spices is the primary sensory detail, outweighing visual and auditory elements.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 4 View Details

In the cramped, dimly lit attic of the old colonial house, rain pattered against the cracked windows as Aisha stared at the faded photograph of her grandmother. How does this setting influence Aisha's decision to leave the house?

A. The nostalgic attic reminds Aisha of her family's heritage, encouraging her to stay and preserve the memories.

B. The bright, airy attic provides comfort, leading Aisha to feel safe and remain in the house.

C. The quiet, modern attic isolates Aisha, causing indecision but not directly prompting her to leave.

Correct D. The oppressive, decaying attic mirrors Aisha's sense of confinement, urging her to escape and thus influencing her decision to leave the house.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 5 View Details

In a play, the character Olamide steps forward alone, speaking his thoughts aloud while the stage lights dim, and the stage directions note "Olamide pauses, listening to his own heartbeat." Identify the dramatic technique used and explain its purpose in the scene.

Correct A. Soliloquy; it reveals Olamide's inner conflict directly to the audience, building tension and deepening the character's portrayal.

B. Monologue; it allows Olamide to speak his thoughts aloud but is directed to other characters, not solely the audience.

C. Aside; it lets Olamide whisper his feelings to the audience while other characters remain unaware.

D. Narration; it provides a descriptive overview of Olamide's inner state through a narrator's voice.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 6 View Details

Read the following excerpt from a short story: "The moon hung low, a silver sickle, over the desolate fields, casting a cold gleam that seemed to slice the night itself." (a) Identify the figure of speech employed in the phrase "silver sickle". (b) In one concise sentence, state how this figure of speech contributes to the overall mood of the passage.

Correct A. metaphor; it intensifies the bleak, eerie mood by likening the moon to a cutting tool.

B. simile; it creates a gentle, soothing mood by comparing the moon to a delicate blade.

C. personification; it adds a hopeful tone by giving the moon human-like intentions.

D. hyperbole; it exaggerates the moon's size to evoke awe rather than dread.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 7 View Details

In the novella "The Last Ember", Aisha discovers that the fire she has been guarding is actually a controlled burn set by the village elders to prevent a larger forest fire. At the climax she must decide whether to extinguish the fire immediately, risking the spread, or let it continue for an hour as instructed. What is the most likely consequence of Aisha choosing to let the fire continue for the prescribed hour?

A. The fire will create a smoke barrier that traps heat, leading to a buildup of dangerous gases in the village.

Correct B. The fire will consume the dry underbrush as planned, preventing a catastrophic forest fire later.

C. The fire will spread uncontrollably, igniting the surrounding forest and causing a massive wildfire.

D. The fire will die out prematurely, leaving the dry underbrush untouched and increasing the risk of a later blaze.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 8 View Details

Consider the stanza: "The river sings a lullaby, / Its waters whisper soft and shy, / Beneath the moon's pale silver eye, / Night's curtain drapes the sky." What is the rhyme scheme of the stanza?

A. AAAA

B. AABB

Correct C. ABAB

D. ABBA

Correct Answer: C

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Question 9 View Details

Read the paragraph: "He walked the streets of Lagos with a sigh, the honking horns a discordant chorus to his weary thoughts. The neon signs flickered like restless fireflies, offering no comfort to his tired eyes." Based on the language used, what is the narrator's attitude toward the city?

A. indifferent

Correct B. cynical

C. nostalgic

D. optimistic

Correct Answer: B

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Question 10 View Details

In the following dialogue, the audience knows more than the characters: Miriam: "I can't believe you think the king will forgive us after what we've done." Tunde: "He already has, you just haven't heard the proclamation yet." Which character is employing dramatic irony in this exchange?

A. the narrator

B. Miriam

Correct C. Tunde

D. the king

Correct Answer: C

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Question 11 View Details

In the sentence "Obi, the chief's son, was a sagacious youth, always pondering the affairs of the village before speaking," what does the word "sagacious" most closely mean?

A. impulsive

B. cunning

Correct C. wise

D. naïve

Correct Answer: C

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Question 12 View Details

The line "The night wrapped the village in a blanket of silence" contains which figure of speech, and what is its effect?

A. metaphor; it suggests the night is a physical object covering the village

Correct B. personification; it creates a vivid image that emphasises the total stillness of the village

C. simile; it compares the night to a blanket to highlight calmness

D. hyperbole; it exaggerates the silence to stress the eerie atmosphere

Correct Answer: B

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Question 13 View Details

Excerpt A: "Okonkwo's heart swelled with pride as he lifted the heavy axe." Excerpt B: "Later, as the drums of war faded, a deep sorrow settled over him." Describe the shift in tone between the two excerpts and explain what causes this change.

A. The tone moves from calm/reflective in Excerpt A to chaotic/noisy in Excerpt B; the change is caused by the introduction of a new character.

Correct B. The tone changes from triumphant/confident in Excerpt A to mournful/somber in Excerpt B; the change is caused by the aftermath of the battle, which turns initial pride into sorrow.

C. The tone transitions from fearful/dreadful in Excerpt A to joyful/celebratory in Excerpt B; the change is caused by the arrival of a festival.

D. The tone shifts from angry/aggressive in Excerpt A to hopeful/optimistic in Excerpt B; the change is caused by the narrator's sudden realization of victory.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 14 View Details

Identify the literary device used in the sentence "He ran like the wind."

Correct A. simile

B. hyperbole

C. personification

D. metaphor

Correct Answer: A

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Question 15 View Details

Read the passage: "The river moved sluggishly, its surface mottled with dark patches as the clouds gathered. A cold wind whispered through the reeds, and the distant call of a lone night bird echoed, making the night feel heavy and forlorn." State the predominant mood of the passage and support your answer with two pieces of textual evidence.

A. The mood is eerie; evidence: "dark patches" and "the night feel heavy".

Correct B. The mood is melancholy (sad); evidence: "The river moved sluggishly, its surface mottled with dark patches" and "making the night feel heavy and forlorn".

C. The mood is tranquil; evidence: "A cold wind whispered through the reeds" and "the distant call of a lone night bird echoed".

D. The mood is hopeful; evidence: "the river moved" and "the clouds gathered".

Correct Answer: B

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Question 16 View Details

Identify the literary device used in the line: "The night wrapped the village in a black blanket."

A. hyperbole

Correct B. metaphor

C. simile

D. personification

Correct Answer: B

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Question 17 View Details

Excerpt: "The rain hammered the deserted Lagos street at midnight; the streetlights flickered, and a lone train's whistle echoed in the distance." Which element of setting—time, place, weather, or social environment—most directly creates the protagonist's feeling of isolation?

A. place

B. weather

Correct C. time

D. social environment

Correct Answer: C

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Question 18 View Details

Stanza: "The river sings a silver song, its currents whisper secrets old, beneath the moon's pale eye, shadows dance in trembling light." Which poetic device most contributes to the poem's melancholic tone?

A. alliteration

B. metaphor

C. imagery

Correct D. personification

Correct Answer: D

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Question 19 View Details

Stanza 1: "Fields once green now scarred with fire, children's laughter silenced by the roar of guns." Stanza 2: "When the smoke clears, the earth sighs, yearning for peace that never came." What is the central theme of the poem?

A. The resilience of humanity

B. The triumph of nature

Correct C. The futility of war

D. The beauty of love

Correct Answer: C

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Question 20 View Details

Excerpt: "From the hill I watched the battle unfold, the clamor of steel echoing below. Suddenly the narration shifts: 'We surged forward, hearts pounding, blood hot on our swords.'" What narrative technique is employed in this shift, and what is its primary effect?

Correct A. Shift in point of view from third‑person to first‑person; it creates immediacy and personal involvement

B. Maintaining third‑person omniscient perspective; it offers comprehensive insight into all characters

C. Shift in tense from past to present; it creates a sense of timelessness and detachment

D. Use of flashback narrative; it provides background information and context

Correct Answer: A

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Question 21 View Details

In the excerpt from Chinua Achebe's *Things Fall Apart*, "Okonkwo's hut burned down, and the smoke rose like a black cloud over the village," the fire is a recurring image. Considering the cultural context and the narrative development, what does the fire most plausibly symbolize in the novel?

A. the triumph of colonial influence over the village

B. the spiritual purification and renewal of the community

C. the personal downfall of Okonkwo as an individual tragedy

Correct D. the collapse of traditional Igbo society

Correct Answer: D

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Question 22 View Details

In Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's *The River Between*, the narration changes from third‑person omniscient to first‑person in Chapter 7. What is the principal effect of this narrative shift on the reader's perception of the protagonist?

A. It shifts focus to external political commentary, reducing emotional engagement

Correct B. It creates intimacy, allowing the reader to experience the protagonist's inner conflict directly

C. It introduces an unreliable narrator, causing confusion about events

D. It emphasizes cultural distance, making the protagonist seem more alien

Correct Answer: B

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Question 23 View Details

Both John Munonye's poem "The Child Who Was Shot" and Christopher Okigbo's poem "The Man Who Was Not There" employ parallelism in their opening stanzas. What stylistic purpose does this parallelism serve in the two poems?

Correct A. to highlight the contrast between societal expectations and individual reality

B. to emphasize the similarity between societal expectations and individual reality

C. to create a rhythmic pattern without contributing to the poem's meaning

D. to showcase the poet's personal biography rather than thematic concerns

Correct Answer: A

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Question 24 View Details

In Chinua Achebe's *A Man of the People*, a flashback recounts the protagonist's childhood experience of being rewarded for cheating in a school competition. Which narrative technique is employed here, and how does it develop the theme of corruption?

A. flashforward; it predicts the protagonist's later downfall without referencing earlier actions

B. foreshadowing; it hints at future political turmoil rather than illustrating early moral compromise

Correct C. flashback; it shows early moral compromise that leads to later corruption

D. flashback; it provides background information that does not relate to the theme of corruption

Correct Answer: C

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Question 25 View Details

The motif of the river appears in three poems studied for WAEC: (i) "The River" by Wole Soyinka, (ii) "River of Life" by Niyi Osundare, and (iii) "The River's Song" by Chimamanda Adichie. Considering the different contexts in which the river is presented, what does the river symbolise across all three poems?

Correct A. the flow of time and inevitable change

B. the continuity of cultural heritage and tradition

C. the journey of personal growth and self-discovery

D. the power of nature and human resilience

Correct Answer: A

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