WAEC 2021 English Language · Question 101

Throughout the long argument, the minister maintained his found over the claims. This means that the minister

Options

  1. A.accepted his error
  2. B.refused to change his stand
  3. C.said different things
  4. D.did not consider every view

Answer: B. refused to change his stand

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "Throughout the long argument, the minister maintained his found over the claims." The word "found" is almost certainly a typo for "ground" (the idiom maintain/hold/stand one's ground). We are asked what the sentence means.

Explain the concept

The idiom "to maintain (or stand/hold) one's ground" means to keep your position firmly and refuse to give way, even when others challenge or oppose you.

Step-by-step solution

  1. "Throughout the long argument" tells us there was prolonged opposition or disagreement.
  2. "Maintained his ground" means he stuck to his position.
  3. Now check each option: • A. accepted his error: This is the opposite. Someone who accepts an error gives up their position. • B. refused to change his stand: This matches the idiom exactly. He held firmly to his position. • C. said different things: This suggests inconsistency, but maintaining ground means being consistent. • D. did not consider every view: The idiom says nothing about whether he considered other views. It only says he did not yield.

Correct answer: B. refused to change his stand

Tip: Learn the "ground" idioms for the exam:

  • Stand/hold/maintain one's ground = refuse to yield
  • Gain ground = make progress
  • Lose ground = fall behind or weaken
  • Break new ground = do something innovative

Also, whenever a word looks odd in a WASSCE sentence, as "found" does here, think about which common idiom it could belong to. This can help you work out the meaning.

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