CARA'S TIPSEnglish Language · Lesson 1
Cracking comprehension
JAMBWAECNECO
What the syllabus asks
JAMB: Comprehension passages
WAEC: Comprehension (literal, inferential and evaluative questions; vocabulary in context; figures of speech; grammatical function and name of expressions)
NECO: Comprehension (literal, inferential and evaluative questions; vocabulary in context; figures of speech; grammatical function and name of expressions)
What you will learn
- Use skimming and scanning to read efficiently.
- Answer literal, inferential and evaluative questions accurately.
- Replace words from the passage with suitable equivalents.
- Identify figures of speech and explain their meaning.
- State the grammatical name and function of expressions.
- Write concise answers in your own words.
Key points
- Skim for the gist first, then read the questions, then scan to locate answers.
- Literal = stated; inferential = implied; evaluative = judgement with evidence.
- Vocabulary replacement: same meaning in context, same part of speech and form; give one answer.
- Figures of speech: name the figure AND explain its meaning.
- Grammatical name (phrase/clause type) and function (subject, object, qualifies X, modifies Y).
- Tone/attitude: give an adjective plus evidence.
- Write short, complete answers in your own words; never lift whole sentences.
- Skimming gives the general idea quickly; scanning finds a specific detail; questions usually follow the order of the passage.
- Connecting words (however, yet, therefore, ultimately) are signposts showing where the writer's argument turns.
- Expository passages explain a topic; each paragraph usually opens with a topic sentence followed by supporting details, which makes scanning for answers much faster and far more reliable under real exam pressure in the hall.
Start here: How comprehension is tested
In WAEC Paper 2, the comprehension section usually gives a passage of about 500–700 words followed by 8–10 questions. JAMB gives shorter passages with multiple-choice questions. Both test the same core skill: can you find, understand and explain what a writer means?
Questions come in three levels:
- Literal: the answer is stated in the passage. "What did the farmer buy at the market?"
- Inferential: the answer is implied; you work it out from clues. "What does the farmer's behaviour suggest about his character?"
- Evaluative: you judge or give an opinion with support. "Do you think the farmer acted wisely? Give a reason."
Plus special question types: vocabulary replacement, figures of speech, and grammatical name and function.
Think of comprehension like being a detective at a crime scene. Literal questions ask what is plainly visible (a broken window). Inferential questions ask what the clues suggest (someone entered from outside). Evaluative questions ask for your professional judgement (was the house badly secured?). A good detective never invents evidence, and neither should you. Every answer must be anchored in the text.
💡 Exam tip: on average, spend about 25–30 minutes on the WAEC comprehension section: 5 minutes reading, the rest answering. Do not reread the whole passage for each question; use scanning.
Try it yourself. Classify: "Why do you think the author mentions the drought in paragraph 2?"
Show solution
Inferential: you must work out the author's purpose from clues.
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Practice questions
1.
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
When the borehole in Umuola dried up for the third time that dry season, the villagers did not wait for the local government. A retired engineer, Mrs Okafor, gathered the youth and showed them how to clean the old well, line it with concrete rings and cover it to keep out dust and insects. Some elders were sceptical; they had seen many projects begin with fanfare and end in silence. Yet within six weeks, water was flowing again, and the youth had formed a committee to collect a small monthly fee for maintenance. Mrs Okafor insisted that the money be recorded in a book that anyone could inspect. "A project that hides its accounts," she said, "is already digging its own grave."
The villagers acted on their own becauseWhen the borehole in Umuola dried up for the third time that dry season, the villagers did not wait for the local government. A retired engineer, Mrs Okafor, gathered the youth and showed them how to clean the old well, line it with concrete rings and cover it to keep out dust and insects. Some elders were sceptical; they had seen many projects begin with fanfare and end in silence. Yet within six weeks, water was flowing again, and the youth had formed a committee to collect a small monthly fee for maintenance. Mrs Okafor insisted that the money be recorded in a book that anyone could inspect. "A project that hides its accounts," she said, "is already digging its own grave."
- the borehole had failed repeatedly
- the local government had asked them to
- Mrs Okafor paid them
- the elders insisted on it
Show answer
A: the borehole had failed repeatedly
The passage says the borehole dried up "for the third time" and the villagers "did not wait" for government.
2.
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
When the borehole in Umuola dried up for the third time that dry season, the villagers did not wait for the local government. A retired engineer, Mrs Okafor, gathered the youth and showed them how to clean the old well, line it with concrete rings and cover it to keep out dust and insects. Some elders were sceptical; they had seen many projects begin with fanfare and end in silence. Yet within six weeks, water was flowing again, and the youth had formed a committee to collect a small monthly fee for maintenance. Mrs Okafor insisted that the money be recorded in a book that anyone could inspect. "A project that hides its accounts," she said, "is already digging its own grave."
The word sceptical, as used in the passage, meansWhen the borehole in Umuola dried up for the third time that dry season, the villagers did not wait for the local government. A retired engineer, Mrs Okafor, gathered the youth and showed them how to clean the old well, line it with concrete rings and cover it to keep out dust and insects. Some elders were sceptical; they had seen many projects begin with fanfare and end in silence. Yet within six weeks, water was flowing again, and the youth had formed a committee to collect a small monthly fee for maintenance. Mrs Okafor insisted that the money be recorded in a book that anyone could inspect. "A project that hides its accounts," she said, "is already digging its own grave."
- angry
- excited
- careless
- doubtful
Show answer
D: doubtful
The elders had seen projects "end in silence", so they doubted this one would succeed.
3.
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
When the borehole in Umuola dried up for the third time that dry season, the villagers did not wait for the local government. A retired engineer, Mrs Okafor, gathered the youth and showed them how to clean the old well, line it with concrete rings and cover it to keep out dust and insects. Some elders were sceptical; they had seen many projects begin with fanfare and end in silence. Yet within six weeks, water was flowing again, and the youth had formed a committee to collect a small monthly fee for maintenance. Mrs Okafor insisted that the money be recorded in a book that anyone could inspect. "A project that hides its accounts," she said, "is already digging its own grave."
The expression "begin with fanfare and end in silence" suggests that previous projectsWhen the borehole in Umuola dried up for the third time that dry season, the villagers did not wait for the local government. A retired engineer, Mrs Okafor, gathered the youth and showed them how to clean the old well, line it with concrete rings and cover it to keep out dust and insects. Some elders were sceptical; they had seen many projects begin with fanfare and end in silence. Yet within six weeks, water was flowing again, and the youth had formed a committee to collect a small monthly fee for maintenance. Mrs Okafor insisted that the money be recorded in a book that anyone could inspect. "A project that hides its accounts," she said, "is already digging its own grave."
- were too expensive
- were run by youths
- started noisily but were abandoned
- were completed quietly
Show answer
C: started noisily but were abandoned
Fanfare = showy celebration; silence = nothing more happened — they were abandoned.
4.
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
When the borehole in Umuola dried up for the third time that dry season, the villagers did not wait for the local government. A retired engineer, Mrs Okafor, gathered the youth and showed them how to clean the old well, line it with concrete rings and cover it to keep out dust and insects. Some elders were sceptical; they had seen many projects begin with fanfare and end in silence. Yet within six weeks, water was flowing again, and the youth had formed a committee to collect a small monthly fee for maintenance. Mrs Okafor insisted that the money be recorded in a book that anyone could inspect. "A project that hides its accounts," she said, "is already digging its own grave."
Mrs Okafor insisted on an open record book in order toWhen the borehole in Umuola dried up for the third time that dry season, the villagers did not wait for the local government. A retired engineer, Mrs Okafor, gathered the youth and showed them how to clean the old well, line it with concrete rings and cover it to keep out dust and insects. Some elders were sceptical; they had seen many projects begin with fanfare and end in silence. Yet within six weeks, water was flowing again, and the youth had formed a committee to collect a small monthly fee for maintenance. Mrs Okafor insisted that the money be recorded in a book that anyone could inspect. "A project that hides its accounts," she said, "is already digging its own grave."
- avoid paying tax
- promote accountability
- punish the youth
- impress the elders
Show answer
B: promote accountability
Her quote shows she believed hidden accounts kill projects, so openness (accountability) keeps it alive.
5.
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
When the borehole in Umuola dried up for the third time that dry season, the villagers did not wait for the local government. A retired engineer, Mrs Okafor, gathered the youth and showed them how to clean the old well, line it with concrete rings and cover it to keep out dust and insects. Some elders were sceptical; they had seen many projects begin with fanfare and end in silence. Yet within six weeks, water was flowing again, and the youth had formed a committee to collect a small monthly fee for maintenance. Mrs Okafor insisted that the money be recorded in a book that anyone could inspect. "A project that hides its accounts," she said, "is already digging its own grave."
Which of these best describes Mrs Okafor?When the borehole in Umuola dried up for the third time that dry season, the villagers did not wait for the local government. A retired engineer, Mrs Okafor, gathered the youth and showed them how to clean the old well, line it with concrete rings and cover it to keep out dust and insects. Some elders were sceptical; they had seen many projects begin with fanfare and end in silence. Yet within six weeks, water was flowing again, and the youth had formed a committee to collect a small monthly fee for maintenance. Mrs Okafor insisted that the money be recorded in a book that anyone could inspect. "A project that hides its accounts," she said, "is already digging its own grave."
- Practical and principled
- Proud and lazy
- Timid and secretive
- Wealthy and careless
Show answer
A: Practical and principled
She taught practical skills and insisted on transparency.
Key words
- Comprehension
- Understanding a written passage.
- Gist
- The general meaning or main idea.
- Skimming
- Reading quickly to get the gist.
- Scanning
- Searching quickly for specific information.
- Literal
- Stated directly in the text.
- Inference
- A conclusion drawn from clues in the text.
- Evaluative question
- A question asking for a judgement or opinion supported by the text.
- Paraphrase
- To express the same meaning in different words.
- Figure of speech
- A non-literal use of language (simile, metaphor, personification, etc.).
- Tone
- The writer's attitude as shown by word choice.
- Clause
- A group of words with a subject and a finite verb.
- Phrase
- A group of words without a finite verb doing one job.
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The Cara's Tips app teaches every topic from the very basics, with quick checks, worked examples and exam practice. It works offline.
Open this lesson in the free appDownload for Android