Practice waec model questions vol1 literature_in_english 2023 Past Questions

Question 1 View Details

Read the following passage: "The market awoke with a chorus of clanging copper pots, the air thick with the perfume of roasted plantains, and the sun spilling gold like melted butter over the stalls." Identify the line that employs synesthetic imagery, explain the effect of this imagery on the reader, and state how it contributes to the overall mood of the passage.

A. The line "the sun spilling gold like melted butter over the stalls" uses synesthetic imagery; it makes the light taste sweet, deepening sensory immersion and contributing to a calm, serene mood.

Correct B. The line "the air thick with the perfume of roasted plantains" uses synesthetic imagery; it makes the scent feel tangible, deepening sensory immersion and contributing to a vibrant, bustling mood.

C. The line "the air thick with the perfume of roasted plantains" uses metaphorical imagery; it creates a distant, nostalgic mood without affecting sensory immersion.

D. The line "the market awoke with a chorus of clanging copper pots" uses synesthetic imagery; it makes the sound feel visual, enhancing the auditory focus and contributing to a chaotic, noisy mood.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 2 View Details

Consider the excerpt below: "The cracked mud walls of the compound were still damp from the recent rains; a wooden radio crackled with news of the 1966 coup; children chased fireflies as night fell." Based on the clues in the passage, (a) determine the most probable historical period and geographical region depicted, and (b) explain how this setting influences the protagonist's decision to hide the secret letter he has just received.

A. The passage depicts a rural Nigerian village in the early 1970s, after the 1966 coup; the celebratory, festive atmosphere leads the protagonist to display the secret letter publicly.

B. The passage depicts a rural Ghanaian village in the early 1970s, after the 1966 coup; the peaceful, community‑focused environment encourages the protagonist to share the secret letter with neighbors.

C. The passage depicts an urban Lagos setting in the late 1980s, after the return to civilian rule; the relaxed atmosphere allows the protagonist to openly read the secret letter without fear.

Correct D. The passage depicts a rural Nigerian village in the early 1970s, after the 1966 coup; the tense, surveillance‑heavy atmosphere forces the protagonist to hide the secret letter to protect himself from possible political repercussions.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 3 View Details

In the sentence "She whispered, ‘The night is a blanket, soft and endless,'" which literary device is being used?

A. Personification

B. Simile

Correct C. Metaphor

D. Hyperbole

Correct Answer: C

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Question 4 View Details

Read the two excerpts taken from the same author: Excerpt A: "She stood at the edge of the cliff, the wind tugging at her hair, her thoughts spiralling like the gulls above, each breath a hesitant promise that never quite reached the horizon." Excerpt B: "He slammed the door, grabbed his coat, ran. No words. No looks. Just the thud of his boots on the wet pavement." For Excerpt A, identify the predominant rhetorical strategy, and explain how this strategy shapes the reader's perception of the protagonist's inner turmoil.

A. Excerpt A uses an anacoluthic construction (a sudden break in grammatical sequence). This abrupt shift emphasizes the protagonist's decisive actions rather than her hesitant inner turmoil.

B. Excerpt A employs a simple sentence structure, presenting the main clause early. This straightforward form reduces tension and does not reflect the protagonist's inner conflict.

Correct C. Excerpt A uses a periodic sentence (delayed main clause). This structure builds suspense and mirrors the protagonist's tangled, hesitant thoughts, causing the reader to experience her inner turmoil as a lingering, unresolved tension.

D. Excerpt A relies on a compound-complex sentence (multiple independent clauses). The alternating clauses create a balanced rhythm that clarifies rather than complicates the protagonist's thoughts.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 5 View Details

Story X tells of a boy who steals water from a distant well to keep his sister alive during a drought. Story Y follows a girl who lies to the village elders to protect her brother from being conscripted. Identify the common underlying theme of the two stories and provide one piece of textual evidence from each story that supports this theme.

Correct A. The common theme is sacrifice for family. Evidence - Story X: "I would cross the scorching desert, even if the gods cursed my name, for my sister's breath depends on the water."; Story Y: "My silence is the shield that keeps my brother from the soldiers' swords."

B. The common theme is personal ambition. Evidence - Story X: "I sought the hidden spring to become the village's hero, no matter the cost to my sister."; Story Y: "I plotted to use my brother's conscription as a stepping stone to power."

C. The common theme is loyalty to the community. Evidence - Story X: "I would share the water with all the thirsty villagers, even if it means my sister may die."; Story Y: "I told the elders the truth so the village could decide together about my brother."

D. The common theme is revenge. Evidence - Story X: "I will drown the well's keeper if he refuses to give me water for my sister."; Story Y: "I will spread lies to make the elders regret conscripting my brother."

Correct Answer: A

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Question 6 View Details

Read the following excerpt and decide which literary genre it best represents. "When the old farmer planted the seed, the tiny sprout grew into a towering tree overnight, and the village elders declared it a sign from the ancestors. The tree whispered warnings to those who came near, and anyone who ignored the warning fell ill."

A. legend

B. folktale

C. fable

Correct D. myth

Correct Answer: D

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Question 7 View Details

A three‑act play is structured as follows: - Act I has 2 scenes: Scene 1 introduces the protagonist and the central conflict; Scene 2 shows the first failed attempt to resolve the conflict. - Act II has 3 scenes: Scene 1 presents a love confession; Scene 2 reveals that the antagonist is actually the protagonist's brother; Scene 3 shows the protagonist's plan to confront the antagonist. - Act III has 2 scenes: Scene 1 depicts the final confrontation; Scene 2 shows the aftermath and the protagonist's return home. In which act and scene does the climax of the drama occur?

A. Act III, Scene 1

B. Act I, Scene 2

C. Act II, Scene 3

Correct D. Act II, Scene 2

Correct Answer: D

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Question 8 View Details

The following events occur in a novel, but their chronological order is not given: A. The hero receives a mysterious letter. B. The hero meets the mentor. C. The hero defeats the villain. D. The hero discovers a hidden map. E. The hero returns home. Constraints: 1. Event D happens after event A but before event C. 2. Event B happens after event A. 3. Event C happens after event D. 4. Event E happens after event C. Arrange the events in their correct chronological order.

Correct A. A, B, D, C, E

B. A, B, C, D, E

C. A, D, B, C, E

D. B, A, D, C, E

Correct Answer: A

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Question 9 View Details

Identify the poetic device used in the line: "The moon smiled down on the restless sea."

A. alliteration

Correct B. personification

C. metaphor

D. simile

Correct Answer: B

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Question 10 View Details

Read the three stanzas below. Stanza 1: "Morning light breaks, golden and bright, Birds sing praises, hearts take flight. Fields awaken, hope is sown, Life begins anew, fully grown." Stanza 2: "Grey clouds gather, shadows creep, Rain drums sorrow, the world weeps. Empty streets echo lonely cries, Dreams dissolve beneath tired skies." Stanza 3: "Flames roar fierce, anger's fierce blaze, Thunder cracks, the night betrays. Fists clenched tight, the storm is near, War drums pound, the end is here." Which stanza conveys the strongest sense of melancholy, and why?

A. Stanza 1, because its diction and imagery (e.g., "morning light", "birds sing praises", "fields awaken", "hope is sown") consistently evoke optimism and renewal, which could be mistaken for melancholy but actually conveys a hopeful tone.

B. Stanza 3, because its diction and imagery (e.g., "flames roar", "thunder cracks", "fists clenched", "war drums") consistently evoke anger and conflict, which might be misread as sadness but primarily expresses fury.

Correct C. Stanza 2, because its diction and imagery (e.g., "grey clouds", "rain drums sorrow", "world weeps", "lonely cries", "dreams dissolve") consistently evoke sadness and loss, creating the strongest sense of melancholy.

D. Stanza 2, because its diction and imagery (e.g., "grey clouds", "rain drums sorrow", "world weeps", "lonely cries") consistently evoke tension and foreboding rather than genuine sadness, making it the least melancholic stanza.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 11 View Details

A play contains three notable features: (i) a character speaks his innermost thoughts aloud while other characters are present on stage, (ii) a particular phrase is repeated at the beginning of each act, and (iii) the stage directions call for a sudden change of lighting to highlight a revelation that the audience already knows about. Which dramatic technique is NOT employed in this play? Options: soliloquy, leitmotif, dramatic irony, flashback.

A. soliloquy

B. leitmotif

Correct C. flashback

D. dramatic irony

Correct Answer: C

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Question 12 View Details

Which literary genre is defined by a plot that centres on a fundamental clash between good and evil, frequently incorporates supernatural elements, and conveys a clear moral lesson to the reader?

A. legend

Correct B. myth

C. epic

D. fairy tale

Correct Answer: B

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Question 13 View Details

In a novel, the narrator initially describes the protagonist, Sara, as "tall, with a scar on her left cheek, always smiling," and later Sara volunteers to stay behind in a burning building to save her younger brother. Which types of characterization are demonstrated by these passages?

A. indirect only

B. direct only

Correct C. direct and indirect

D. implicit and explicit

Correct Answer: C

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Question 14 View Details

Consider the sentence: "The thunder roared like a lion, and the night whispered secrets, while the city was a cage of steel." Identify the figure of speech that is NOT used in this sentence. Options: metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole.

A. metaphor

Correct B. hyperbole

C. simile

D. personification

Correct Answer: B

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Question 15 View Details

A short story is narrated by a first‑person voice who recounts his childhood memories. Each chapter jumps forward in time, and the narrator frequently contradicts statements made in earlier chapters, causing the reader to question the truth of his account. Which narrative technique is primarily responsible for the reader's doubt about the story's truth?

A. first‑person narrator

B. omniscient narrator

C. stream of consciousness

Correct D. unreliable narrator

Correct Answer: D

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Question 16 View Details

Read the following line from a poem: "The night wrapped the village in a silken blanket." Which literary device is illustrated in this line?

A. hyperbole

Correct B. metaphor

C. simile

D. personification

Correct Answer: B

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Question 17 View Details

Consider the excerpt: "She broke the chains of silence, stepping into the sunrise of her own voice." What is the central theme expressed in this excerpt?

A. resilience

Correct B. empowerment

C. freedom

D. identity

Correct Answer: B

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Question 18 View Details

Read the stanza below: "Grey clouds drift, whispering woes,\ Mournful rivers murmur, moving slow;\ Leaves linger, laced with lingering loss,\ Silence sighs, soft as a sorrowful snow." How does the poet use visual imagery and alliteration to create a mood of melancholy in the stanza?

A. The stanza relies on abstract ideas rather than concrete images, and the lack of alliteration makes the mood neutral.

B. The poet describes a bright sunrise with golden light and bustling birds, while the repeated \/b\/ and \/r\/ sounds create a lively rhythm; these visual and auditory elements produce an uplifting mood.

C. Through images of dark storms and harsh winds, and the heavy use of \/d\/ and \/k\/ consonants, the poem conveys a sense of anger rather than sadness.

Correct D. The poet paints a bleak landscape with images such as grey clouds, mournful rivers and lingering leaves, while the repeated /l/ and /s/ sounds (alliteration) give the lines a soft, hushed quality; together these visual and sound devices evoke a lingering sense of sadness, producing a melancholy mood.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 19 View Details

In a bustling Lagos market during the rainy season of 1975, a young girl named Amaka sells roasted plantains to support her family. How does this setting—its time, place, and socio‑economic conditions—shape Amaka's motivations and actions?

A. The 1975 Lagos market was prosperous and offered many scholarships, so Amaka chose to study instead of selling plantains, showing her motivation was academic ambition.

Correct B. The 1975 Lagos market, with its rapid urbanisation and limited welfare, forces Amaka's low‑income family to depend on informal trade; the busy market gives her customers but also competition, so she must work hard and be resourceful, making her motivated to earn money for her family rather than pursue schooling or leisure.

C. Because the market was quiet and the economy stable, Amaka faced little competition and could relax, indicating her actions were driven by leisure rather than necessity.

D. The setting had little impact; Amaka's decision to sell plantains was purely a personal hobby unrelated to family needs or economic conditions.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 20 View Details

Tunde, a university student, discovers his family's involvement in political corruption, which directly contradicts his personal ideals of justice and integrity. Identify the primary type of conflict in Tunde's story and justify your choice.

Correct A. Man vs self - Tunde is conflicted between his personal ideals of justice and the corrupt behaviour of his family, creating an internal moral dilemma.

B. Man vs fate - Tunde feels powerless against a predetermined destiny that forces him to follow his family's corrupt legacy.

C. Man vs society - Tunde struggles against the societal expectations of his community, which pressure him to accept his family's corrupt actions.

D. Man vs external - Tunde battles external forces, such as law enforcement, that threaten his family's political influence.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 21 View Details

Read the passage: "She walked through the market, the stalls bursting with colours, the air thick with the scent of spices. Children laughed, merchants shouted, and the sun painted golden patches on the cobblestones." Which literary style is predominantly employed in this passage?

A. Expository

B. Narrative

C. Persuasive

Correct D. Descriptive

Correct Answer: D

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Question 22 View Details

In the line "The night was a blanket, covering the town in silence," which literary device is used?

A. Hyperbole

Correct B. Metaphor

C. Simile

D. Personification

Correct Answer: B

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Question 23 View Details

Consider Hamlet's soliloquy that begins "To be, or not to be, that is the question…". What is the primary function of this soliloquy in the drama?

Correct A. To reveal the character's inner conflict and philosophical doubts

B. To advance the plot by revealing the next scene's setting

C. To provide background information about the kingdom's history

D. To introduce a comic relief character through humorous monologue

Correct Answer: A

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Question 24 View Details

Two excerpts are taken from the same poem. Excerpt A reads: "Morning light dances on the water, promising a day of endless possibilities." Excerpt B reads: "Now the river runs black, its banks littered with dead reeds, silence choking the air." Compare the tone of the two excerpts and state the overall tonal shift that occurs in the poem.

Correct A. The tone shifts from optimistic/hopeful in Excerpt A to bleak/melancholic in Excerpt B

B. The tone shifts from calm\/serene in Excerpt A to angry\/irate in Excerpt B

C. The tone shifts from nostalgic\/reflective in Excerpt A to triumphant\/celebratory in Excerpt B

D. The tone shifts from mysterious\/enigmatic in Excerpt A to playful\/light‑hearted in Excerpt B

Correct Answer: A

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Question 25 View Details

In the climax of Henrik Ibsen's *A Doll's House*, Nora decides to leave her husband and children. Classify this climax as either an internal (psychological) climax or an external (action‑driven) climax.

Correct A. Internal (psychological) climax

B. Internal (action‑driven) climax

C. External (psychological) climax

D. External (action‑driven) climax

Correct Answer: A

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