WAEC 2010 English Language · Question 42

The president appointed staunch supporters of his policies as advisers.

Question

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word. The president appointed staunch supporters of his policies as advisers.

In the original paper part of this question is underlined. The underline isn't shown here: see the explanation below.

A.trusted
B.critical
C.affluent
D.strong

Answer: D. strong

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Step 1: Analyze the question You are asked to find the word closest in meaning to the underlined word, staunch, in the sentence: "The president appointed staunch supporters of his policies as advisers."

Step 2: Explain the concept Staunch (adjective) means firm, loyal, and strongly committed to a person, cause, or belief. A "staunch supporter" is one who supports something strongly and steadfastly, without wavering.

Step 3: Test each option

A. trusted: A staunch supporter may be trusted, but "trusted" describes how others view the person. It does not capture the strength of commitment that staunch conveys.
B. critical: This is nearly the opposite. A critical person finds fault, and the sentence says they support the policies.
C. affluent: This means wealthy and has nothing to do with loyalty.
D. strong: This is closest. A staunch supporter is a strong, firm, committed one.

"Strong" best matches the idea of firm, unwavering support. "Trusted" is a tempting distractor, but it is a consequence of loyalty, not a synonym of staunch.

Step 5: Exam tip Remember staunch = steadfast = firm = loyal. When you meet "staunch supporter," "staunch believer," or "staunch defender," think strong and unshakeable. In synonym questions, pick the option that matches the word's core meaning, not one that merely fits the context loosely.

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