WASSCE Comprehension: How to tackle question h (ENGLISH TITLES ELEVEN)

The instruction usually reads thus:

For each of the followings words or phrase, find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in the passage.

Afterwards, candidates are now provided with six (6) words to supply suitable synonyms. I have, however, observed that candidates usually score low in this aspect, as simple as it appears. Let's consider the (main) reason. 

If a word will substitute for another, it must be the same part of speech as the word it is replacing. In other words, it will be a noun for a noun, an adjective for an adjective, an adverb for an adverb, etc. 

A noun for a noun

Candidates have to be reminded, for instance, that a noun can be expressed in number; that is in singular or plural forms. So, the principle is: a given singular noun will be replaced by a singular noun. On the other hand, a plural noun will be replaced by a plural noun. Let's consider the answer of two candidates to replace the word feats with another word. 

feats -- achievement.............C1

feats -- accomplishment.......C2

The two candidates are wrong. You probably know why. Let's consider the given word, feats. The word is a plural noun; hence the synonyms to be provided must be in plural forms. So, the correct answers would be: 

feats -- achievements.............C1

feats -- accomplishments.......C2

Notice carefully the addition of 's'. It is only with the addition of 's' that the candidates can boast that they have answered the question correctly. Consider this example below:

"...Look at the complaining public utilities, our inefficient and wasteful parastatals and state owned companies." [NECO 2001]

utilities (plural nouns) 

utilities --- facilities, amenities 

utilities --- facility, amenity (WRONG) 

A verb for a verb

In the same vein, let me quickly spell out the rules that will guide your choice of a synonym if the given word is a verb. 

(i) singular verb for singular verb

(ii) plural verb for plural verb 

(iii) continuous tense for continuous tense

(iv) past tense for past tense

"...Each victory paves the way for a promotion up the ladder..." [WASSCE '98]

paves (singular verb)

paves --- opens, clears

paves --- open, clear (WRONG)

"...Times were changing and he was sure that the earth goddess would understand and condone his going away from the village." [WASSCE 2003]

condone (plural verb)

condone --- tolerate, allow, permit 

One must doff one's cap for the tens of thousands of African vibrant human capital trying to make ends met in their homelands or abroad. 

trying (continuous tense)

trying --- struggling 

"...Young girls who have been enticed with assurances of a rosy future often end up in forced prostitution, with all its unpleasant consequences." [WASSCE 2004]

enticed (plural verb)

enticed --- lured, seduced 

enticed --- lure, seduce (WRONG)

An adverb for an adverb

"...When the system of Indirect rule  necessitated the appointment of a warrant chief at Nduizo, the District Officer also promptly thought of his friend as the most suitable candidate." [WASSCE 2003]

promptly (adverb)

promptly --- quickly, immediately

promptly --- quick, immediate (WRONG)

However, consider the following excerpt: 

"...Anybody would know that the son needed prompt specialist medical attention. [WASSCE 2001]

Do you know that the option said to be wrong above are correct in this excerpt? That is an instance of an adjective for an adjective. 

prompt (adjective) 

prompt --- quick, immediate 

prompt --- quickly, immediately (WRONG)

Candidates must also understand that it is how words are used in sentences that determines the part of speech of a word, not necessarily the part of speech specified in the dictionary. I will give you an example.

"...But Musa soon decided that his returns could cater for a little more than that. His yearning for education still very keen, he cut his daily schedules at 4:00pm to attend an evening school organised by some secondary school teachers." [May/June 2011]

Did you notice the underlined word? Yearning, right? The word yearning as used in the passage is a noun, not a verb, though it ends in -ing. So, an appropriate synonym for the word would be desire. 

Let's consider another example. 

1. Usain Bolt runs fast. 

2. Usain Bolt is fast. 

The focus is on the word fast in the two sentences. In the first instance, fast is an adverb; in the second instance, however, fast is an adjective. So, the synonyms for the word fast will differ. 

1. The intervention of the police was rather fast. 

fast (adjective)

fast --- prompt, quick

2. On sighting the assailants, he ran as fast as he could. 

fast (adverb)

fast --- quickly

fast --- quick (WRONG)

'promptly' will not be a suitable synonym in this regard. 

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES

I don't usually encourage candidates to provide more than one word as synonym for just a word. It two supposed synonyms are provided, one correct, the other wrong, the candidate will be awarded zero. 

Now, you can attempt the following.

1. The test reveals the hidden particles in the water. 

2. It is unfortunate that good paid employments are difficult to come by nowadays, even with a good university certificate.  

3. But Musa soon decided that his returns could cater for a little more than that. 

4. When the system of Indirect rule  necessitated the appointment of a warrant chief at Nduizo, the District Officer also promptly thought of his friend as the most suitable candidate.

5. The result is there for all to see...an even larger army of maimed and battered survivors; and the nation colossal outlay on hospital and other bills. 

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