The principal punished the students for being DISHONEST.

The question gives a sentence with the word DISHONEST in capitals. This is a WASSCE "emphasis/stress" question. The capitalised word shows where the speaker puts emphasis, so the correct option is the question that tests that word, usually by contrasting it with its opposite, while keeping the rest of the sentence unchanged.

Step 1: Analyze the question

Sentence: The principal punished the students for being DISHONEST.

The stressed word is "dishonest." The sentence implies the students were punished for being dishonest, and not for some other quality such as being honest or sincere.

Step 2: Compare each option with the original

• A. Changes "principal" to "teacher." The stressed word is not tested. ✗
• B. Changes "punished" to "praise." The stressed word is not tested. ✗
• C. Keeps "principal," "punish," and "students," and changes only the stressed word, "dishonest," to its opposite "sincere." This tests the emphasised word. ✓
• D. Changes "students" to "teachers." The stressed word is not tested. ✗

Step 3: Answer

Option C is the only one that keeps everything else the same and changes only the emphasised word to its opposite. The question asks, "Was it for being sincere that the principal punished them?" This matches the emphasis on DISHONEST.

Exam tip: In emphasis questions, find the capitalised word. The correct option keeps all other words the same and changes only that word, usually to its antonym. If an option changes a different word, eliminate it.