WAEC 2015 English Language · Question 57

Those properties are … sale

Question

From the words or groups of words lettered A to D, choose the words or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences. Those properties are...sale

A.up for
B.up on
C.out for
D.down for

Answer: A. up for

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: This is a test of idiomatic expressions (prepositional phrases). We need the phrase that correctly completes "Those properties are ... sale."

Explain the concept: In English, the fixed expression for something that is available to be bought is "up for sale". It means the item has been officially put on the market. A similar phrase is "on sale", which usually means sold at a reduced price, or "for sale" on its own.

Solution, step by step:

A. up for sale: This is a correct, standard idiom. It means the properties are being offered for purchase. ✔
B. up on sale: This is not an English idiom. ✘
C. out for sale: This is not idiomatic. ("Out" does not combine with "for sale" in this way.) ✘
D. down for sale: This is not idiomatic. ("Down for" is used in other contexts, such as "down for a meeting", meaning scheduled.) ✘

Full sentence: "Those properties are up for sale."

Correct answer: A

Exam tip: Questions like this test fixed phrases (idioms and collocations), so grammar rules will not help you. You have to know which words go together. Learn them in groups, for example:

up for sale / auction / grabs / discussion
on sale (discounted) / on display
down with (a sickness)

Reading the options aloud in the sentence also helps. The right one usually "sounds" natural.

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.