WAEC 2013 English Language · Question 49

In the sentence below, there is one underlined word and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to D…

Question

In the sentence below, there is one underlined word and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will, at the same time correctly fill the gap in the sentence. The Magistrate convicted the hardened criminal but .....and discharged the first offender

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

A.acquitted
B.jailed
C.released
D.sentenced

Answer: A. acquitted

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question

The underlined word is "convicted" (the formatting was lost, but it is clearly the word being contrasted). We need a word that:

Is most nearly opposite in meaning to "convicted", and
Fits the gap grammatically and logically: "The Magistrate convicted the hardened criminal but ..... and discharged the first offender."

Explain the concept

To convict means to declare someone guilty of a crime in court.
To acquit means to declare someone not guilty. This is the direct legal opposite of convict.

Test each option

A. acquitted: the direct opposite of "convicted". It fits: the magistrate convicted the hardened criminal but acquitted and discharged the first offender. ✔
B. jailed: this is a consequence of conviction, not an opposite. ✘
C. released: it fits the sense loosely, but it is not the legal opposite of convicted. It also repeats the idea of "discharged", so it is redundant. ✘
D. sentenced: this follows conviction, so it is similar rather than opposite. ✘

Answer

The correct option is A. acquitted.

Tip: In "opposite meaning" questions, find the exact word pair first. Convict ↔ acquit, guilty ↔ innocent. Then check that the word fits the sentence grammatically. Words like "jailed" and "sentenced" are part of the same process as conviction, so they are never opposites.

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.