WAEC WASSCE 2013 Comprehension passages
COMPREHENSION PASSAGE I
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
The World Day against Child Labor was observed on June 12 in several parts of Ghana. A national durbar was held at the Agbogbloshie market in Accra, a venue that was strategically selected for its prevalence in female porters.
it was quite an effort for the organizers to convince the girls and women to sit and listen to the message. The reasons for this included the fact that, sitting would waste precious time during which they could be out making some money. Those who sat did so only because they were tired and wanted rest for a few minutes. They were rewarded with delicious caps of chilled fruit juice and snacks. They were also treated to good traditional music, dance and drama. These girls and women had traveled to Accra to make a living. They said they could not return home ‘empty handed.’ They needed to buy saucepans and pieces of cloth to prepare for marriage when they returned home.
One girl narrated how a woman had brought her to Accra, with the blessing of her parents, to attend school and serve as a housekeeper. She had been promised a sewing machine, a school uniform and a lot of money. Unfortunately, that woman disappeared on arrival. Stranded, she found a few female porters at the lorry park who spoke her dialect. They took her in and introduced her to their porterage business.
It is sad that so many youngsters have had their dreams shattered. Parents, rather than support their children at home, allow them to travel to distant places to work for strangers. Children’s aspirations have been altered; their main aim now is to make money and get married. Many parents consider themselves too poor to cater for their children, yet they continue to produce more, expecting the government to support their children.
while some youth desire to continue their education or to learn a trade, there are very few avenues open to them. several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have joined hands with the government to assist such youth. Centers have been provided particularly for girls to learn a trade. Some girls who go sewing machines and working tools have sold this off and resumed their porterage business. There is a need to adopt specific measures to solve these lingering problems.
In the Kumasi Central Market, for example, and innovation was introduced a few years ago. After many porters had been interviewed, those who were younger than 15 were immediately registered and enrolled in school. Then customers were also educated to allow only porters older than 15 years to operate. It was a herculean task. Unfortunately, this effort was discontinued when some girls started lying about their ages. Even those enrolled in school began to withdraw and return to the markets and lorry parks to make money. The lure of money was too strong to resist.
Questions
a) Why did some porters choose to sit and listen to the message?
b) What is the ultimate aim of the girls who travel to Accra?
c) Give two reasons why efforts to help the porters were unsuccessful.
d) How did the abandoned girl get out of a situation?
e) What is the rightest attitude to the parents of the children in the passage?
f) ... when they returned home.
(i) What is the grammatical name of the expression above?
(ii) What is is functioning in the sentence?
g) ...a herculean task.
What is the meaning of the expression above?
h) For each of the following words or group of words, find another word or phrase which means the same as the word or group of words and can replace it in the passage:
i. strategically
ii. rewarded with
iii. shattered
iv. cater for
v. Specific
vi. lure of
COMPREHENSION PASSAGE II
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
Of the various organs in the party command the houses on darkly the most important. All the other guns perform very useful functions which make continuous existence possible. However, while someone else can be surgically removed with no fatal consequences, if the heart feels for even a few minutes, the human being dies. Yet it is the only organ that never really rests. It throbs ceaselessly, distributing blood to nourish all parts of the body.
Come to think of it, a month heart beats about 70 times every minute. At that rate we can see with all certainty that the heart beats 4,200 times every hour or 1,000,800 times in a day. If a person lives for 70 years, his heart would beat 2,575,440,000 times. From all indications, there is no known machine contrived by man that can equal this feat. Machines made by man normally have long periods of inactivity when they are undergoing repairs or are being serviced. New parts are installed to improve their performance. Besides, very few machines can keep on working for more than a few years without depreciating. Yet, there is one machine that keeps on working efficiently for years on end, whether we are awake or asleep, without any form of servicing or repair - the marvelous heart!
As a result of the hearts dependability we take it for granted. We hardly ever give ourselves enough rest and overworking puts a strain on the heart. We also do not think of what we eat or drink and their effects on the heart. Rather, most people carelessly consume all sorts of foods and drinks, regardless of their cholesterol content, that can cause harm to the heart. We also find it convenient not to take the appropriate exercise that strengthens the heart.
Regrettably, there are some individuals who overburden their hearts and put this vital organ at risk, by taking unprescribed drugs. People should avoid negative emotions like anger and jealousy because they disrupt the function of the heart. Therefore, to have a good heart, live long and well, people should at all costs adopt healthy lifestyles and living harmony with all.
Question
(a) Why is the heart certain important organ?
(b) What is screen
(c) How can man-made machines be made to function well?
(d) Mention two things with the writers say it should be done to improve the working of the heart.
(e) Mention two things which should be avoided if the heart is to work well.
(f) …that never really rests.
(i) What is the grammatical name of the expression above.
(ii) What is its function?
(g) … we take it for granted.
What is the meaning of this expression as it is used in the passage?
(h) For each of the following words or group of words, find another word or phrase which means the same as the word or group of words and can replace it in the passage:
(i) ceaselessly
(ii) contrived
(iii) strain
(iv) appropriate
(v) disrupt
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