WAEC Yoruba 2021
Questions & Answers

A student might mistakenly choose options referring to time or appearance because grammar terms can sound abstract. An Ọ̀rọ̀ ìṣe is a word that describes an action or work being done, such as 'jẹun' (to eat) or 'sáré' (to run). Common mistake: Confusing action words with descriptive adjectives or time markers.

Options like Ọba or Sọ̀rọ̀ might be chosen by mistaking the subject or the verb for the descriptor. Ìtẹ́lọ́rùn acts as the descriptive modifier here because it explains the manner in which the king is speaking. Common mistake: Failing to identify descriptive modifiers that follow verbs.

One might mistakenly pick a literal interpretation about catching chickens during the day. This proverb conveys that a person should not abandon vital matters to pursue trivial or worthless things. Common mistake: Taking traditional proverbs literally rather than understanding their moral lessons.

Options like 'huit' or 'dix' might be chosen through random guessing of foreign number translations. The number nine in Yoruba, 'mẹ́sàn-án', corresponds to 'neuf' in French. Common mistake: Confusing similar-sounding French numerals when translating basic counts.

A student might mistakenly choose household furniture like a chair when scanning vocabulary words. An 'ìkòkò adágún' is a traditional cooking utensil used for preparing food over an open fire. Common mistake: Confusing traditional kitchen items with general household furniture.

Options involving cooking or trade might be selected if the compound word components are misinterpreted. 'Àwíyé' refers to an individual who speaks the truth or possesses truthful knowledge. Common mistake: Mistranslating cultural titles based on partial word resemblances.

Words relating to cold or pleasant conditions might seem plausible if context clues are ignored. The term 'ru' in this phrase indicates that the weather is growing hot or stirring with heat. Common mistake: Translating meteorological terms as cool when context indicates warmth.

One might mistakenly pick generic fruit names like orange due to unfamiliarity with local ingredients. 'Èso ìrú' is the seed/fruit commonly known as 'ògìrì' in Yoruba, which is frequently utilized as a soup condiment. Common mistake: Confusing local spice seeds with common edible fruits.

Options denoting strength or good character might be picked if prefixes are overlooked. 'Àìlọ́gbọ́n' refers directly to a person who lacks understanding, wisdom, or knowledge. Common mistake: Misinterpreting negative prefixes in descriptive Yoruba adjectives.

A student could mistakenly select Ọbàtálá or Ṣàngó by mixing up prominent Yoruba deities. Yemọja is revered as the deity of water because she governs rivers and aquatic bodies. Common mistake: Attributing water dominion to storm or creation deities.

Common household items like balls or chairs might be chosen if cultural artifacts are guessed randomly. Beads ('ìlẹ̀kẹ̀') serve as a traditional material utilized in ritual worship to signify religious devotion. Common mistake: Assuming ceremonial items are modern recreational objects.

Options relating to keeping house or physical positioning might be selected due to lexical confusion. 'Ìdálẹ̀' points toward reverence for deities or traditional religious practices. Common mistake: Confusing ritual terminology with domestic housekeeping actions.

A student might mistakenly choose speaking or cooking activities based on surface sentence flow. 'Àṣàrò' means deep thinking, contemplation, or pondering over a matter. Common mistake: Confusing reflective thought processes with verbal communication.

Domestic pets or large predators might be mistakenly selected if ritual guidelines are unfamiliar. An 'àdùbà' is a specific animal traditionally used for ritual sacrifices due to its nature. Common mistake: Selecting household pets instead of traditional sacrificial animals.

Options concerning magical powers or royalty might catch the eye of a careless reader. An 'àbíkú' denotes a child who repeatedly dies and is believed to be repeatedly reborn to the same mother. Common mistake: Confusing cyclical infant mortality beliefs with children possessing extraordinary abilities.

A student might mistakenly choose seeking knowledge or trading if they do not recall plot motivations. Lapite shows bravery in confronting enemies because he aims to protect his town and its people. Common mistake: Misattributing political defense motivations to academic or commercial pursuits.

A student might incorrectly choose options like A, C, or D thinking they refer to time, place, or action, which are common grammatical categories. However, looking at the correct option B, a descriptive term in Yoruba grammar specifically modifies or paints a picture of an object's quality, such as its measurement or physical shape. Common mistake: Confusing descriptive words with action or time markers.

One might mistakenly select A or D because they relate to rain or sun, which easily come to mind when thinking about weather terms. Analyzing the correct choice C, 'Ìgbà kọ́rọ̀' represents a specific dry season period characterized by parched land during the broader dry season ('ẹrùn'). Common mistake: Mixing up general weather conditions with the specific named period of dry soil.

A test-taker could mistakenly pick options A, B, or C because they superficially mimic the phrasing of the proverb without capturing its true social essence. Unpacking the correct choice D, the proverb literally means a single eye cannot make a market, which fundamentally illustrates the core values of communal cooperation and collective unity among people. Common mistake: Interpreting proverbs literally rather than grasping their social message of teamwork.

A student might mistakenly select Ọbàtálá, Èṣù, or Ọya because these are prominent deities in traditional Yoruba mythology. Arriving at the correct answer B, Yemọja holds the title of the caretaker or guardian of children because she is traditionally known to nurture and care for them. Common mistake: Attributing the general roles of creation or fate to the wrong deity.