WAEC 2014 English Language · Question 124

After the sentence below, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that you…

Question

After the sentence below, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for the sentence. We shall understand her better by and by. This means that we shall know her better

A.without her knowing it
B.much later
C.before long
D.by spending time with her

Answer: C. before long

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The sentence is "We shall understand her better by and by." The key is the idiom "by and by".

Concept: "By and by" is an old-fashioned idiom meaning soon, before long, or after a while. It points to a future time that is not far off. Don't confuse it with the "by" in "by doing something," which shows the method used.

Working through the options:

A. without her knowing it: Nothing in the sentence suggests secrecy. Wrong.
B. much later: "By and by" suggests a fairly short wait, not a distant future. Wrong.
C. before long: This is the standard meaning of "by and by" (soon, in due course). Correct.
D. by spending time with her: This reads "by" as a method, which misses the idiom. Wrong.

Answer: The sentence means "We shall know her better before long.

Tip: Idioms in WASSCE "interpretation" questions should be read as a whole phrase, not word by word. Remember "by and by = bye-bye to waiting too long", meaning it will happen soon.

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.