WAEC 2014 English Language · Question 26

I just couldn't … what he was saying.

Question

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes the sentence. I just couldn't .......... what he was saying.

A.make do
B.make out
C.make up
D.make by

Answer: B. make out

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The sentence is "I just couldn't .......... what he was saying." We need a phrasal verb that means understand or hear clearly.

Explain the concept: This is a phrasal verb question. Here is what each option means:

make do: to manage with what is available (e.g., "We had to make do with one lamp.")
make out: to understand, hear, or see something clearly (e.g., "I couldn't make out the writing.")
make up: to invent, to reconcile, or to compose (e.g., "She made up a story.")
make by: not a standard phrasal verb in this sense.

Solution:

The sentence is about not catching or understanding someone's words.
"Make out" fits that meaning, since "couldn't make out what he was saying" means "couldn't understand or hear clearly what he was saying."
"Make do" would need "with" and has a different meaning.
"Make up what he was saying" would mean inventing his words, which doesn't fit.
"Make by" doesn't work at all.

Answer: B. make out.

Tip: Remember "make out" = see, hear, or understand with difficulty. When you see "couldn't ___ what someone said/wrote," think "make out." Also learn related phrasal verbs for exams: make up for (compensate) and make off with (steal and run away).

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