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1990 WAEC English Language Theory Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions on it.       When neighbours learnt...

English Language
WAEC 1990

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

      When neighbours learnt that the Umorus household had been raided by robbers, they were genuinely downcast because the easy-going Umorus minded their own business and had contributed immensely  to the development of the area. Visitors early that morning were shocked at the way the doors were vandalized  before the robbers forced their way into the living-room to make away with the radio, the television, the wall clock, and the video cassette recorder.

      As some sympathizers discussed the perfection with which modern robbers strike nowadays, a few of them drove to the police station and soon arrived with detectives. Quickly, statements were obtained from the couple and a few neighbours, all in an attempt to pin down  suspects. From these statements. it was learnt that the bushes and uncom-pleted houses nearby had not been searched. The officer ordered his men to comb  the bushes and the unfinished structures. While this lasted, he stood over the culvert near one of the buildings.

      Thoroughly, from room to room, from tree to tree, the searchers toiled. But it was a fruitless exercise. The help rendered by neighbours did not yield clues. At last, the police boss concluded that the robbers were beyond their reach, and so called off their chase.  He blew his whistle and ordered his men into the jeep. Reassuring Mr. Umoru that the search would continue, he instructed the driver to move.

      All the while, in the culvert, their booty by their side, the two robbers snored on. Had a stray dog not given them away, later in the afternoon, they would have escaped with their booty.

(a) Why were the neighbours concerned about the robbery in the house of the Umorus?

(b) Identify the two types of sympathizers mentioned in the passage.

(c) (i) Were the Police careful enough in their search? (ii) Why do you think so?

(d) What finally happened to the robbers?

(e) 'Had a stray dog not given them away'

(i) What is the grammatical term used to describe the above expression, as used in the passage?

(ii) What is its function?

(f) Give one word that could replace each of the following as used in the passage: (i) immensely; (ii) vandalized; (iii) pin down (iv) comb; (v) structures; (vi) chase.

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Explanation

(a) The Umorus were minding their business and contributed to the development of their community or area. 
(b)(i) The first type of sympathizers were those who were there talking about the method of the robbers, 
(ii) The second type were those who followed up their concern with action they went to call the police. 
(c) (i) No, they were not (ii) In spite of their search, the police were not able to get the robbers. 
(d) The robbers were discovered by a stray dog. 
(e)(i)Adverbial clause of condition (ii) It is modifying the verb "escaped" 
(f)(i) Immensely - greatly, a lot. (ii) vandalized - destroyed, damaged, broken 
(iii) pindown - track down, get, arrest (iv) comb - search. ransack, rummage (v) structures - buildings (vi) chase - search, pursuit


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Post-UTME Past Questions - Original materials are available here - Download PDF for your school of choice + 1 year SMS alerts
WAEC offline past questions - with all answers and explanations in one app - Download for free
WAEC Past Questions, Objective & Theory, Study 100% offline, Download app now - 24709
WAEC May/June 2024 - Practice for Objective & Theory - From 1988 till date, download app now - 99995
Post-UTME Past Questions - Original materials are available here - Download PDF for your school of choice + 1 year SMS alerts
WAEC Past Questions, Objective & Theory, Study 100% offline, Download app now - 24709
WAEC May/June 2024 - Practice for Objective & Theory - From 1988 till date, download app now - 99995
WAEC offline past questions - with all answers and explanations in one app - Download for free