750 “TWIN” WORDS FOR AVOIDING SPELLING WOES IN WAEC/NECO ENGLISH LANGUAGE (1)

 BEWARE OF THESE TROUBLESOME PHONETIC TWINS!

 Words causing phonetic misspellings come in different shapes and sizes. They look like they are everyday common-place words. But do not be deceived!  That is where the road ends! Yes, many of them sound familiar orally and aurally but are they? You need to read the essays of many students in SS3 to understand how bad the situation really is and why we again had to spend time and effort to complete this “TROUBLESOME TWINS PROJECT”. But is it really exhaustive? Definitely not! For instance, twin words under W to Z are not yet added. But we shall do so from our records later. All said and done it is still a very credible and pain-staking effort comprising of errors of many years. It will definitely be useful to most tutors and their students.

This group of “twin” words, like the “2500 list” was compiled from errors made in past WAEC/NECO and schools’ examinations. The errors cover Essay, Comprehension and “Lexis and Structure” question papers of many years. They were also extracted from textbooks and various write-ups available on the net and are hereby put together as a sort of labor-saving mechanism for use by tutors in improving the spelling and oral usage of their students.

 In real life, do all twins look alike? Definitely not! So, there is another list of troublesome pairs which don’t really look or sound alike but are wrongly used grammatically by students. Some say it is because of what is called “the Nigerian factor”. For example we do find students using the word “fatal” instead of “serious” to describe an accident scene in which no life was lost! Also they use “second day” for “following day”,” borrow” for “lend”, ”carry” for “take” and “convince” for “persuade” etc. Why and how do we do this without batting an eyelid? The answer of course is not far-fetched. It is because of the saga arising from direct translations of our vernacular! But our focus here is on the first set of twins. So, more shall be said later about the second under “COMEDY OF ERRORS IN WAEC/NECO ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS BY NIGERIAN STUDENTS”.

Please read our “intro” to the 2500 word list. The content below can be used by tutors in the same ways and for the same reasons. Again some of the structural/organizational slips in the arrangement of words shall be corrected over time.

Thank you

POST SCRIPT

KINDLY POINT OUT ERROR(S) FOUND ON ANY OF OUR COMPILATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION AND INCLUSION.WE CAN NEVER BE 100%  CORRECT ALWAYS. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE LISTS THEMSELVES SHALL ALWAYS BE WORK IN PROGRESS!

WORDS  = COLUMNS 1,3,5 and 7.    TWIN WORDS =  COLUMNS 2,4,6 and 8 beside WORDS....about 95% or more of all instances given!

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A
aboard	abroad	allusion	Illusion/delusion	accept	except	already	all ready
access	excess	altar	alter	acme	acne	accession	ascension
ad	add	alternative	alternatively	adapter	adaptor	amateur	amateurish
addition	edition	amend	emend	adverse	averse	amiable	amicable
advice	advise	among	between	aesthetic	ascetic	amoral	immoral
affect	effect	amoral	immoral	affluent	effluent	angel	angle
ail	ale	annals	annuals	air	heir	annex	annexe
all	awl	annuals	annals	allay	alley	antiquated	antique
allegory	allergy	arc	ark	arisen	arose	alliterate	illiterate
artist	artiste	allot	a lot	allude	elude	assent	ascent
ate	hate	alteration	altercation	aural	oral	astrology	astronomy
axes	axis	axe	ask	awl	all
B
bad	bade	bade	bid	bail	bale	bail	bale
baited	bated	ball	bawl	ballet	ballot	banns	bans
bare	bear	ban	barn	baron	barren	base	bass
bated	baited	bath	bathe	baton	batten	bawl	ball
bazaar	bizarre	beach	beech	bean	been	bean	being
beau	bow	became	become	beech	beach	beat	beet
beer	bier	beet	beat	befallen	befell	began	begun
belief	believe	belie	belle	bellow	below	beret	berry
beret	bury	berth	birth	beside	besides	between	among
bid	bade	bier	beer	been	being	birth	berth
bit	bitten	bite	bight	bizarre	bazaar	blew	blown
blew	blue	bloc	bight	bite	blonde	blow	blown
blow	blew	blue	blew	boar	boor	boar	bore
board	bored	boast	bloc	block	bony	bookie	bouquet
boor	boar	boor	bore	boost	boast	bootee	booty
bore	boar	bore	boor	bore	born	bow	beau
bow	bough	boy	buoy	brae	bray	brake	break
brazier	brassiere	breach	breech	bread	bred	breath	breathe
bridal	bridle	broach	brooch	broke	broken	bought	but
buffet	buffer	broach	borough	bury	beret	boost	bonny
TO BE CONTD.

 

2500 WORDS FOR VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT AND SPELLING PRACTICE BY NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS (4)

 

CONTINUED FROM PART3

R
rabid	rapacious	rapprochement	raucous	recondite	referents	rejuvenate
rabies	radioed	railing	rancor	ransack	rapturous	reassurance
rebelled	rebellious	recalcitrant	receipt	receive	recommend	reconnaissance
reconnoiter	recruitment	recurrence	redundant	referee	reference	referred
regatta	regrettable	regretted	rehabilitation	reign	relevant	relief
relieve	reminisce	reminiscence	remuneration	rendezvous	repertoire	repetitive
remittance	remnant	remunerate	repellent	report writing	reprobate	requital
reprisal	requisite	rescind	resemblance	reservoir	resistance	resourceful
repugnance	residue	retinue	retrograde	revamp	reveler	ribald
responsibility	restaurateur	restaurant	resurrection	resuscitate	retrieve	reunion
reveille	revelry	revenue	reversible	rhapsody	rheumatism	rabble
rhubarb	rhyme	rhythm	ricochet	righteous	rigorous	rigor
riposte	risque	rubric	ruminating	rumpus	rhododendron	rhomboid
risotto	riveted	rogue	roughage	roulette	royalty	rucksack
ruinous	rummage	rumor
S
sabotage	sacrilege	saddened	salmon	salvage	sanctuary	sandwich
saccharine	sacrosanct	sag	saga	salacious	sallow	sanctimonious
sanitary	sapphire	satellite	scaffolding	scandalous	scenic	scepter
Santa Clause	sarcasm	satirical	saturnine	scrawny	scrounger	sectarian
schedule	scheme	schizophrenic	schooner	science	scissors	scruple
scrupulous	scurrilous	scythe	secretarial	secretary	sedative	sedentary
semblance	sham	simile	sinecure	skimp	skullduggery	slate
sensitive	separate	sergeant	serrated	serviceable	serviette	settee
shampooed	shattered	sheikh	sheriff	shield	shoveled	shuddered
shuddered	siege	significant	silhouette	simply	simultaneous	sincerely
sixtieth	skeleton	skilful	slanderous	slaughter	sleigh	sleight of hand
sleuth	slipshod	slouch	slovenly	sludge	snoop	snooze
sluice	smattering	smithereens	sniveled	soccer	solemn	solicitor
sobriety	sodden	soggy	sonnet	spills	splendor	soporific
soliloquy	soloist	somber	somersault	sophisticated	sovereign	spaghetti
specter	spherical	sphinx	sponsor	spontaneity	spontaneous	squabble
squandered	squawk	standoffish	staggered	stammered	statistics	statutory
squire	stalked	standoffish	statuesque	staunch	stodgy	stoical
stealth	stereophonic	stirrup	storage	straight-laced	straightjacket	strategic
strength	strenuous	stupor	suave	subpoena	subtle	succeed
stress	strident	stroppy	stunt	stupefy	subjugate	subservient
subterfuge	subversive	succinct	sully	supercilious	supposition	surreptitious
successor	successful	succinct	succulent	succumb	suddenness	suede
sufficient	suffocate	suicide	sullenness	summoned	supercilious	superfluous
supersede	supervise	supervise	supplementary	surgeon	surveillance	surveyor
susceptible	suspicious	sweetener	sycamore	symmetry	sympathize	symphony
sweltering	swipe	syllepsis	symphonies	synecdoche	synonyms	synagogue
syndicate	synonyms	syringe
T
tableau	taciturn	taffeta	tangerine	tangible	tattoo	technique
tacky	tantamount	tenacious	tepid	timorous	tirade	tomfoolery
terrorist	therapeutic	temperature	tenuous	terrifying	terrifically	territory
thoroughfare	threshold	therefore	thief	thinness	thirtieth	thorough
titivates	tobacconist	thrombosis	throughout	thwart	thyme	tightened
topsy-turvy	traipse	toboggan	toffee	tomatoes	tomorrow	tonsillitis
tornadoes	torpedoes	trajectory	treasonable	treatise	tremendous	trenchant
toweling	trafficked	torpor	tortoiseshell	tortuous	totaled	tourniquet
transferable	transferred	tragedy	traitorous	tranquility	tranquillizer	transcend
trifling	trip thongs	transparent	traveled	traveler	tremor	troublesome
trousseau	truism	trite	trounce	truckled	truculent	trudge
truism	truncate	trustee	tsetse	tuberculosis	tumor	tunneled
tureen	turquoise	truncheon	truss	turncoat	twaddle	tweak
		twelfth	typhoon	tyranny
U
ubiquitous	unbiased	undoubted	unduly	unequaled	unique	unnecessary
uncharted	underdog	unraveled	untenable	uppity
unremitting	unrequited	unrivaled	upheaval	uproarious
V
vaccinate	vacuum	vacuous	vanilla	variegate	vague	vendetta
vagrant	velocity	verbosity	vermilion	veterinary	vetoes	vice versa
vertigo	vest	vestibule	veneer	ventilator	verandah	vehement
vicissitude	vigorous	vigor	viscount	vivacious	visibility	vociferous
voluminous	volunteered	vulnerable	vicarious	vitriolic	volition	vortex
vowels
W
waif	warble	warmonger	welter	wheedle	wheeze	whet
walkie-talkie	walloped	warrior	wastage	watered	weakened	wearisome
Wednesday	weight	weird	wherewithal	widened	width	wield
whimsical	whittle	whopper	wicket	willowy	wilt	wince
wintry	witticism	wizened	whereabouts	woebegone	wooden	woodland
wisecrack	worsened	worship	worshiped	wrapper	wrath	wreak
writhe
X
xylophone
Y
yield	yoghurt
Z
zealous	zeugma	zigzagged

PAST WAEC/NECO EXAM QUESTIONS ON DESCRIPTIVE/IMAGINATIVE/NARRATIVE/STORY-WRITING -EDUCATION AND LIVING

 ENGLISH LANGUAGE DESCRIPTIVE/IMAGINATIVE/NARRATIVE/STORY-WRITING ESSAYS FOR PRACTICE(3)

[caption id="attachment_1301" align="alignleft" width="500"] students getting ready for living[/caption]

 

ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE

NOW PRACTICE WITH THE ESSAY QUESTIONS BELOW AND MAIL YOUR ANSWERS TO US. WE’LL LET YOU KNOW ASAP AREAS NEEDING FURTHER WORK OR ATTENTION…GOOD LUCK.”

1.Write a story, real or imagined, which illustrates the saying: “Make hay while the sun shines”

 2. Write a story ending with the words: “indeed it was a blessing in disguise”.

 3. Narrate an experience you had heard about that illustrates the saying: “Where there is a will there is a way”

 4. Tell a story that ends with advice: “Cut your coat according to your size”

 5. Narrate to your classmates an experience you had or heard about the saying: “You reap what you sow”

 6. A vehicle in which you are traveling was involved in an accident and several passengers including yourself were injured. Describe to sympathizers who have come to visit you in the hospital how the accident happened and what followed.

 7. You were amongst a group of students from your school who went for an excursion to places of interests in your country. Narrate to your classmates who did not go what you saw in at least two of the places you visited, and how you have benefited from the experience.

 8. Tell a story which ends with words “I have had to live with this stigma for the rest of my life”

 9. You have been involved in an accident in which very many of your friends criticized your role. Narrate the accident to a close friend and defend the role you played.

 10. Write a story which ends with the words: “I really agree that a patient dog eats the fattest bone”

 11. You witnessed the campaigns that preceded a Local Government election in your area in which the favorite candidate was defeated. Give a vivid account of the event before, during and after the election to one of your friends, explaining why you think the candidate lost.

12, Write a story in which you where personally involved, ending with: “If I knew he was that kind of person, I wouldn’t have gone out with him”

 13. Narrate the story that illustrates the warning; “Look before you leap”

 14. Tell a story that ends with the words: “It was a bitter experience, but I learnt my lesson”

 15. You have just spent your holiday in another part of the country with a friend, narrate your experience to other friends describing what you found interesting about the customs, food, dress and way of life of your hosts.

16. Narrate an experience you have had or heard about which illustrates the saying: “Honesty is the best policy”

17. Write a story in your school magazine beginning or ending with the sentence: ”I wish I had never met this man”

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 Donate

 If you feel that our  work has helped you and you’d like to support our mission to  continue spreading ideas like  those mentioned above, please make a donation below. We shall be very grateful for your support.AND NO AMOUNT SHALL BE CONSIDERED TOO SMALL!

 Being supported by our readers LIKE YOU enables us to give our creative output (those that originate from us) to the public domain, so it isn’t copyrighted. Please share it freely so that others may benefit from it.

To donate via credit card,cheque or cash, please use the information below and let us know if don’t mind if we acknowledge the donation publicly

  Thanking you

 O.O.ODUMOSU

  ACCOUNTS AT UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA)(23RD/72RD BRANCH FESTAC,LAGOS)


 MASON COLLEGE A/C NO-1005353681

 EDUPEDIA ASSOCIATES A/C NO1005280011 

PAST WAEC EXAM/NECO QUESTIONS ON “ARGUEMENTS,DEBATES AND SPEECHES”-EDUCATION AND LIVING

ENGLISH LANGUAGE QUESTIONS  FOR PRACTICE

[caption id="attachment_292" align="alignleft" width="500"] mason college students on school stage[/caption]

 

ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE

NOW PRACTICE WITH THE ESSAY QUESTIONS BELOW AND MAIL YOUR ANSWERS TO US. WE’LL LET YOU KNOW ASAP AREAS NEEDING FURTHER WORK OR ATTENTION…GOOD LUCK.”


1.You are speaker in a debate on the topic: “Civilian rule is better than military rule”. Write your contribution for or against the motion.

 2 .You are a speaker in an inter-school debate on the topic: “It is better to attend a school near your home than one outside your neighborhood.” Write your speech for or against the proposition.

 3. As your contribution to a debate, write an argument for or against the proposition: “We are happier than our forefathers.”

 4. You are the chief speaker in a school debate the topic of which is: “public secondary schools are better than private ones”. Write your speech for or against the topic.

 5. You are the chief speaker in a debate on the topic: “female children are more beneficial than male children to their parents.” Write out your speech for or against the motion.

 6. The topic of a debate organized by the Directorate of Mass Mobilization for senior secondary schools is: “The open ballot system is better than the secret ballot system for Nigeria.” Write your contribution for or against the motion.

 7. You are the main speaker in a school debate, the topic of which is: “Bribery and corruption are worse enemies of our country than armed robbery.” Write your speech for or against the topic.

 8. The topic of an essay competition organized by the young writers club for final year students is: “Our traditional marriage system is more suitable for the present generation of Nigerians than the English system.” Write your entry for or against the topic.

 9. The political science students association in one of the higher institutions of learning has invited your school to participate in a debate on the topic: Civil rule is preferable to military rule.” Write out your speech for or against the motion.

 10. Your school has been invited to participate in a debate on the topic: “Education in secondary schools should be abolished.” Write your speech for or against the motion.

 11. You have been invited to lead the motion in a school debate for or against the proposition that: “The 6-3-3-4 system of education was beneficial to the youths of Nigeria.” Write out your speech.    

 12. You have just ended your tenure as the President of the youth club in your community. Write a speech which will be delivered at the last general meeting before you leave office, recounting your achievements and expressing your hopes for the future of the club.

 13. You have been invited to a youth organization to speak on “Indiscipline among youths” Write out your speech.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Donate

If you feel that our  work has helped you and you’d like to support our mission to  continue spreading ideas like  those mentioned above, please make a donation below. We shall be very grateful for your support.AND NO AMOUNT SHALL BE CONSIDERED TOO SMALL!

Being supported by our readers LIKE YOU enables us to give our creative output (those that originate from us) to the public domain, so it isn’t copyrighted. Please share it freely so that others may benefit from it.

To donate via credit card,cheque or cash, please use the information below and let us know if don’t mind if we acknowledge the donation publicly

 Thanking you

O.O.ODUMOSU

  ACCOUNTS AT UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA)(23RD/72RD BRANCH FESTAC,LAGOS)


MASON COLLEGE A/C NO-1005353681

EDUPEDIA ASSOCIATES A/C NO -1005280011

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