Practice waec model questions vol1 literature_in_english 2024 Past Questions

Question 1 View Details

Read the excerpt below and answer the two questions that follow: "Jide pressed his palm against the cold metal of the gate, his breath forming fleeting clouds in the night air. He could hear the distant drums of the festival, yet his mind was tangled in the decision to betray his brother. The narrator seemed to know only what Jide thought." 1. Identify the narrative perspective used in the passage. 2. Explain how this perspective shapes the reader's perception of Jide's internal conflict.

Correct A. Third‑person limited; it allows the reader to experience Jide's private doubts directly while remaining unaware of other characters' thoughts, thereby intensifying sympathy and suspense about his conflict.

B. Second‑person limited; it addresses the reader directly as "you," which would shift focus away from Jide's inner conflict.

C. First‑person omniscient; it gives the narrator full knowledge of all characters' thoughts, which would make Jide's conflict seem less personal.

D. Third‑person objective; it reports only observable actions without access to Jide's thoughts, so the reader cannot grasp his internal struggle.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 2 View Details

Consider the following description of Amaka: "Amaka entered the room with a crisp white blouse, her shoes clicking sharply on the tiled floor. She greeted everyone with a smile, but her eyes lingered on the empty chair at the far end. When asked about the missing ledger, she replied, 'It must have been misplaced; I'll look into it tomorrow.' Yet she slipped a folded note into her pocket without anyone noticing." Identify two methods of characterization (one direct, one indirect) employed in the passage and explain how, together, they reveal Amaka's core value.

A. Direct: the dialogue about the missing ledger; Indirect: the sound of her shoes clicking. Together they indicate she is concerned with punctuality rather than honesty.

Correct B. Direct: description of her appearance and spoken words; Indirect: her lingering gaze and the secret note. Together they show that although she appears orderly and polite, she prioritises self‑preservation over honesty.

C. Direct: narration of her thoughts; Indirect: the description of her clothing. Together they suggest she values fashion above all.

D. Direct: the mention of the empty chair; Indirect: the folded note she hides. Together they imply she is fearful of authority, not self‑preservation.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 3 View Details

Read the passage below: "The clatter of horse‑drawn carriages mingled with the cries of market women selling yams and palm oil. Lanterns flickered along the mud‑packed streets of the town, while the distant silhouette of the colonial governor's mansion loomed over the horizon. Children chased each other around the baobab tree, their laughter echoing under the heavy scent of smoke." From the clues given, deduce: 1. The historical period. 2. The geographical location. 3. The predominant social class of the majority of the characters. Explain briefly how each element of the setting contributes to the story's tension.

A. Early 21st‑century post‑colonial Nigeria; a North‑central inland city (e.g., Abuja); the expatriate diplomatic corps. The modern government building's prominence, the bustling tech market, and international conferences create tension between global influence and local traditions.

B. Mid‑18th‑century pre‑colonial Ghana; an inland forest settlement (e.g., Kumasi); the indigenous aristocratic elite. The presence of a royal palace, the quiet market, and traditional rituals generate tension between tribal customs and emerging trade.

C. Late 19th‑early 20th‑century colonial Kenya; an East African highland town (e.g., Nairobi); the European settler upper class. The governor's mansion, the colonial tea plantations, and the settlers' leisure activities produce tension between colonial authority and indigenous labor.

Correct D. Late 19th‑early 20th‑century colonial Nigeria; a West African coastal town (e.g., Lagos); the indigenous lower‑to‑middle class. The colonial mansion's dominance, the lively market, and the everyday activities together create tension between ordinary life and foreign authority.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 4 View Details

Identify two figures of speech in the sentence below and discuss how their combined effect shapes the tone of the passage: "The night draped the village in a velvet blanket, while the moon, a jealous lover, stared down with envy."

A. Alliteration (night draped the village) and onomatopoeia (moon's jealous sigh). Together they generate a rhythmic, playful tone that emphasizes sound over meaning.

B. Simile (night like a velvet blanket) and hyperbole (moon as the most jealous lover). Together they produce a whimsical, light‑hearted tone that mixes softness with exaggerated emotion.

Correct C. Metaphor (night as a velvet blanket) and personification (moon as a jealous lover). Together they create a brooding, tense tone that blends comfort with an unsettling sense of watchfulness.

D. Symbolism (night representing death) and irony (moon's envy of the sun). Together they establish a solemn, reflective tone that underscores contrast between darkness and light.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 5 View Details

Two characters speak in the excerpts below: **Dialogue A** - "I cannot stay any longer, the weight of this secret is crushing my soul," she whispered, eyes downcast. **Dialogue B** - "You think you can run? The truth follows you like a shadow you cannot outrun," he shouted, fists clenched. Compare the characterization of the two speakers using direct and indirect methods, and infer which character is more likely to undergo a significant change by the end of the story.

A. Both characters are directly portrayed as calm (soft tone, relaxed posture) and indirectly as indifferent; therefore neither is likely to change significantly.

Correct B. Character A is directly shown as vulnerable (whisper, downcast eyes) and indirectly as burdened by a secret; Character B is directly aggressive (shouting, fists) and indirectly relentless. The vulnerable character (Dialogue A) is more likely to undergo a major change.

C. Character A is directly shown as aggressive (shouting, fists) and indirectly as relentless; Character B is directly vulnerable (whisper, downcast eyes) and indirectly burdened. The aggressive character (Dialogue B) is more likely to undergo a major change.

D. Character A is directly shown as confident (loud voice, steady gaze) and indirectly as indifferent; Character B is directly fearful (whisper, trembling) and indirectly secretive. The confident character (Dialogue A) is more likely to undergo a major change.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 6 View Details

In the short story, Ada lives in a drought‑stricken village, volunteers to fetch water from a distant well, meets an old man who gives her a mysterious seed, returns home and plants it, and the next morning the villagers discover a spring where the seed was planted. Identify the climax of the story.

A. Ada's decision to fetch water from the distant well.

B. The old man's arrival and his gift of the mysterious seed.

Correct C. The emergence of the spring after Ada plants the seed.

D. The villagers' celebration after discovering the spring.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 7 View Details

Excerpt: "Mathilde stared at her reflection, the cheap dress hanging limp on her shoulders, and felt a sudden heat rise in her cheeks as Monsieur Loisel entered, his eyes briefly flickering to the cracked mirror." Why does Mathilde feel ashamed when she returns home?

A. Because she is frightened by Monsieur Loisel's sudden appearance.

B. Because she is embarrassed about the cracked mirror reflecting her face.

Correct C. Because she believes she has failed to meet societal expectations of beauty and wealth.

D. Because she is angry that the dress is cheap and poorly made.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 8 View Details

Identify the literary device in the sentence: "The night wrapped the town in a velvet blanket."

A. Alliteration

Correct B. Personification

C. Metaphor

D. Simile

Correct Answer: B

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Question 9 View Details

Passage: "Grey clouds gathered over the abandoned pier, their shadows stretching like tired fingers across the cold, silent water. A lone gull hovered, its cry muffled by the wind, while the distant lighthouse flickered weakly, as if reluctant to guide any soul home." What is the predominant mood of the passage? Support your answer with two textual references.

Correct A. Melancholy; evidenced by the "Grey clouds" and the "cold, silent water" imagery.

B. Serenity; evidenced by the "lone gull hovered" and the "cold, silent water" imagery.

C. Foreboding; evidenced by the "Grey clouds" and the "lighthouse flickered weakly" imagery.

D. Tension; evidenced by the "shadows stretching like tired fingers" and the "muffled cry" imagery.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 10 View Details

Excerpt A: "Our ancestors taught us to honor the river; its waters are the lifeblood of our people, and we must never disturb its flow." Excerpt B: "Why should we cling to old rites that bind us? The river can be redirected, and progress demands new paths." How do the attitudes of the speakers toward tradition differ?

A. Speaker A is indifferent to tradition, while Speaker B strongly defends it.

B. Both speakers value tradition equally, but Speaker A emphasizes its spiritual significance while Speaker B focuses on its economic benefits.

Correct C. Speaker A respects and seeks to preserve tradition, whereas Speaker B questions and wants to change it.

D. Speaker A wants to modernize the river's use, whereas Speaker B wants to keep the river untouched.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 11 View Details

Excerpt: "He stared at the wilted roses, wondering whether the garden had ever known joy." In this sentence, the rhetorical question "whether the garden had ever known joy" primarily serves to ______.

A. pose a literal question about the garden's historical existence

B. highlight the garden's physical decay rather than its emotional state

C. convey the narrator's certainty that joy has always existed in the garden

Correct D. express the narrator's doubt about the possibility of happiness

Correct Answer: D

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Question 12 View Details

Excerpt: "The night sky erupted in a cascade of fireworks, each burst a flash of colour that sang against the silence." Identify the two types of imagery used and explain how they combine to create a sense of celebration.

A. visual imagery only (the fireworks); it merely describes the scene without any auditory element

Correct B. visual imagery (cascade of fireworks, flash of colour) and auditory imagery (sang); together they create a vivid, lively celebration

C. auditory imagery only (the crackling sounds); it creates a sense of tension rather than celebration

D. tactile imagery (the feel of heat) and olfactory imagery (the scent of smoke); together they suggest a chaotic scene

Correct Answer: B

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Question 13 View Details

Excerpt: "At first the meadow glistened with dew, and the children laughed, their voices like silver bells. But when the storm clouds gathered, the wind howled and the sky turned black, swallowing the light." What event in the passage causes the shift from a joyful to a foreboding mood?

A. the meadow's dew evaporating under the heat

B. the children's laughter fading as the sun set

Correct C. the gathering of storm clouds and the onset of the howling wind

D. the arrival of a wandering herd of cattle

Correct Answer: C

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Question 14 View Details

Dialogue from a play:\nKing: I feel safe, my guards are loyal.\nMessenger: My lord, the poison has already been poured into your cup.\nWhat dramatic device is illustrated in this exchange, and what is its effect on the audience?

A. foreshadowing; it hints at future danger for the king

Correct B. dramatic irony; it creates tension because the audience knows the king is in danger while he remains unaware

C. verbal irony; it shows the messenger's sarcasm toward the king

D. situational irony; it highlights the king's misplaced confidence

Correct Answer: B

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Question 15 View Details

Line: "The wind whispered secrets through the trees." Which literary device is employed in this line?

A. simile

B. alliteration

C. metaphor

Correct D. personification

Correct Answer: D

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Question 16 View Details

Read the excerpt: "The council convened at dawn, its members cloaked in solemn resolve, each aware that the forthcoming deliberations would determine the fate of the township. Their voices, measured and austere, resonated through the vaulted chamber, echoing the gravity of the moment." Identify the register used in the passage and explain how the author's choice of diction contributes to the overall tone.

A. Informal register; the use of words such as "dawn", "cloaked", "gravity" creates a relaxed, conversational tone.

Correct B. Formal register; the use of words such as "convened", "solemn", "deliberations", and "gravity" creates a serious, dignified tone.

C. Technical register; the use of words such as "convened", "solemn", "deliberations", and "gravity" creates a precise, objective tone.

D. Colloquial register; the use of words such as "convened", "solemn", "deliberations", and "gravity" creates a humorous, lighthearted tone.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 17 View Details

Consider the four lines: "Beneath the waning moon, the river sighs / Its silver tongue unravels night's disguise / Shadows dance upon the trembling reeds / While silence weaves a tapestry of deeds." Identify two poetic devices present and explain how their combined effect enhances the poem's contemplation of nature's mystery.

A. Metaphor and assonance; metaphor gives the river symbolic meaning, and assonance creates a melodic effect, together deepening the poem's sense of nature's mystery.

Correct B. Personification and alliteration; personification gives the river human qualities, and alliteration creates a musical rhythm, together deepening the poem's sense of nature's mystery.

C. Simile and onomatopoeia; simile compares the river to a snake, and onomatopoeia mimics sounds, together deepening the poem's sense of nature's mystery.

D. Imagery and consonance; imagery paints vivid pictures, and consonance adds harsh sounds, together deepening the poem's sense of nature's mystery.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 18 View Details

In the passage, "Ada stared at the mirror, her reflection a stranger; she could no longer reconcile the expectations of her family with the yearning that pulsed within her heart," what is the primary type of conflict depicted? Justify your answer with reference to the text.

Correct A. Person vs self (internal conflict); Ada is torn between her family's expectations and her own yearning.

B. Person vs nature (external conflict); Ada battles the harsh environment surrounding her.

C. Person vs technology (external conflict); Ada struggles with modern gadgets conflicting with tradition.

D. Person vs society (external conflict); Ada feels pressure from her community rather than internal doubt.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 19 View Details

The night sky was a blanket of glittering diamonds.

A. Hyperbole

B. Personification

Correct C. Metaphor

D. Simile

Correct Answer: C

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Question 20 View Details

A story tells of a young boy, Kofi, who discovers an abandoned library in his village. He teaches the elders to read, and together they revive the forgotten knowledge, fostering unity and progress. State the central theme of the story and cite one element from the summary that supports this theme.

A. The theme is the importance of material wealth; this is supported by the revival of the library, which brings economic prosperity to the village.

B. The theme is the loss of tradition; this is supported by the abandoned library, which symbolizes forgotten customs.

Correct C. The theme is empowerment through education; this is supported by Kofi teaching the elders to read, which revives knowledge and unites the community.

D. The theme is intergenerational conflict; this is supported by Kofi's attempts to teach the elders, which creates tension between youth and age.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 21 View Details

In Wole Soyinka's drama ‘The Lion and the Jewel', Baroka offers Sidi a bride‑price of 200 cowries. Explain how this amount functions symbolically to contrast Baroka's traditional authority with Lakunle's modern ideals. Provide two distinct points in your answer.

Correct A. It shows that the bride‑price embodies Baroka's reliance on age‑old communal customs, highlighting his traditional authority, while Lakunle's refusal of the custom underscores his modern, Western‑oriented ideals.

B. It indicates that the bride‑price is a sign of Baroka's wealth, emphasizing his economic power, while Lakunle's refusal shows his poverty and inability to pay.

C. It demonstrates that the bride‑price is a token of Lakunle's respect for tradition, highlighting his adherence to communal customs, whereas Baroka's rejection of the price reflects his modern outlook.

D. It suggests that the bride‑price is a trivial detail with no symbolic meaning, and both characters treat it similarly, showing no contrast between tradition and modernity.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 22 View Details

Read the excerpt from Chinua Achebe's ‘No Longer at Ease': "He had been taught that the white man's language was the key to success, yet he felt a pang of shame when he heard his own mother's voice." Based on this passage, what internal conflict does the protagonist experience regarding his education? State the two conflicting feelings.

A. Enthusiasm for adopting Western customs versus indifference toward his mother's language.

B. Hope for a prosperous future through English education versus anxiety about losing his family's business.

C. Confusion over the relevance of schooling versus admiration for colonial officials.

Correct D. Pride in the perceived advantage of English (colonial) education versus shame/guilt for abandoning his mother's language and native culture.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 23 View Details

In the poem the line reads: "The night is a black veil over the village." What does this metaphor suggest about the night?

A. It suggests that the night is a protective blanket, gently soothing the villagers.

B. It implies that the night is a festive curtain, inviting celebration throughout the village.

C. It indicates that the night is a transparent sheet, allowing the villagers to see clearly.

Correct D. It conveys that night brings darkness and concealment, covering the village like a hidden, possibly ominous, shroud.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 24 View Details

Both Chinua Achebe's ‘Things Fall Apart' and Wole Soyinka's ‘The Lion and the Jewel' feature the motif of fire. Identify the symbolic meaning of fire in each work and explain how the differing meanings reflect the authors' contrasting views on cultural change. Provide a concise comparative analysis in three sentences.

Correct A. In ‘Things Fall Apart' fire symbolizes destructive change and the collapse of tradition, reflecting Achebe's warning about cultural loss; in ‘The Lion and the Jewel' fire represents the sustaining warmth of communal tradition, showing Soyinka's belief in the resilience of culture. The opposing symbols illustrate Achebe's pessimistic view of colonial impact versus Soyinka's more optimistic celebration of tradition.

B. In "Things Fall Apart" fire symbolizes the bright hope of progress, showing Achebe's optimism about cultural adaptation; in "The Lion and the Jewel" fire represents chaotic destruction, reflecting Soyinka's critique of tradition. The contrasting symbols highlight Achebe's positive view of change versus Soyinka's negative stance.

C. In "Things Fall Apart" fire denotes the spiritual enlightenment of the characters, suggesting Achebe's belief in cultural synthesis; in "The Lion and the Jewel" fire is a metaphor for the coldness of modernity, indicating Soyinka's fear of losing warmth. The symbols therefore reverse the authors' actual positions on change.

D. In "Things Fall Accident" fire stands for the literal cooking fires of the village, with no symbolic weight; in "The Lion and the Jewel" fire is merely a stage prop, indicating neither cultural change nor tradition. This shows both authors treat fire as a neutral element.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 25 View Details

In the short story ‘The Interpreters', the narrative begins with the protagonist's present crisis and later reveals his childhood through a flashback. Identify the narrative technique used and discuss its effect on the reader's understanding of the protagonist's motivations in two sentences.

A. It uses a linear chronological narrative; this straightforward structure eliminates mystery and directly presents the protagonist's motivations without revealing hidden past influences.

Correct B. It uses a flashback within a frame narrative; this structure builds suspense and gradually uncovers the protagonist's past, helping the reader understand the deeper reasons behind his current behaviour.

C. It uses a stream-of-consciousness technique; this approach immerses the reader in the protagonist's immediate thoughts, but it does not rely on flashbacks to explain his current actions.

D. It uses an unreliable narrator within a fragmented narrative; this method creates ambiguity about the protagonist's motives, focusing on contradictory recollections rather than a clear back‑story.

Correct Answer: B

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