WAEC Civic Education 2011 Past Questions & Answers

Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purpose of exploitation. This exploitation very often involves forcing victims to work against their will in difficult conditions for little or no pay, which is known as forced labour. Other forms of exploitation include sexual slavery and organ harvesting.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'useful trade' because the work victims are forced into can be a legitimate trade, but they miss the key element that it is done by force and for exploitation, not as a genuine opportunity.

Public servants are employees of the government who are meant to serve all citizens equally, no matter which political party is in power. Being 'non-partisan' means they do not take sides or show favour to any political party. This neutrality is essential for them to carry out their duties fairly and professionally for the benefit of the entire country.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'involved in politics' because public servants work for the government, but their role is to implement government policies impartially, not to actively participate in party politics.

HIV and Ebola are diseases spread through contact with infected bodily fluids. Using contaminated medical equipment like needles and syringes that have been used on an infected person is a direct way for these fluids to enter another person's bloodstream. This is a major route of transmission for both viruses, making the use of unsterilized sharp objects extremely dangerous.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Very sick person' because they associate sickness with contagion, but transmission of HIV and Ebola requires direct contact with infected bodily fluids, which option B describes more precisely.

The correct option is D because the question asks for an action that is NOT a way to prevent Ebola. Bathing with medicated soap is a general hygiene practice but is not a specific or recommended method for preventing the Ebola virus. The other options (A, B, and C) are all key, officially recommended measures to stop the spread of Ebola, which involves avoiding contact with body fluids and practicing good hand hygiene.

Common mistake: A student might misread the negative word 'not' in the question and quickly choose option A or B because they are well-known and correct ways to prevent Ebola.

A centenary is a 100-year anniversary. Nigeria's centenary celebration marks 100 years since the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates by the British in 1914. This event created the single country we know today as Nigeria, so the 100th anniversary was celebrated in 2014 $(1914 + 100)$.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 1960, confusing the centenary of the 1914 amalgamation with an anniversary of Nigeria's independence.

This question tests your awareness of national responses to public health emergencies, like the Ebola outbreak. The topic of major epidemics is covered under Emerging Issues, with HIV/AIDS often used as the main example. During the 2014 Ebola crisis in Nigeria, the government and health ministries set up dedicated emergency phone lines, and the numbers in option A were the official, widely publicized contact lines provided by the Lagos State Government for the Ebola response.

Common mistake: Students might get confused by the other options because all the phone numbers look similar, and the correct answer relies on remembering specific factual information from that public health campaign rather than logical deduction.

This question tests your knowledge on the dangers of self-medication, which is a key part of the drug abuse topic. While taking an over-the-counter drug like Panadol is common, it is not a cure for all illnesses. If a fever does not go away after a short period, like three days, it is a sign of a more serious problem that requires a professional diagnosis from a doctor.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D, knowing a doctor is the right person to see, but underestimating the danger of waiting for ten days before seeking help for a persistent fever.

The question asks you to identify the option that is good or desirable for society. Cultism, terrorism, and vandalism are all negative and destructive behaviours that harm the community. Patriotism, which is the love and devotion for one's country, is a positive value that helps to build a strong and united nation.

Common mistake: Students may get confused by the double negative 'NOT undesirable' and quickly select a familiar negative term like 'cultism' without realizing the question is asking for the positive option.

Nigeria is a federation made up of 36 states and one Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. In many official contexts and questions like this, the FCT is counted along with the states. Therefore, the 36 states plus the 1 FCT equals a total of 37 administrative units, which has been the case since 1996.

Common mistake: A common mistake is for students to only remember the 36 states and get confused because 36 is not an option, leading them to guess an incorrect answer.

The Boko Haram insurgency is considered to have started its violent phase in 2009. This was marked by an uprising that began in Bauchi and spread to other northern states, leading to the death of its founder, Mohammed Yusuf, in police custody. This event triggered the group's full-scale violent campaign against the Nigerian state, which is a direct challenge to law, order, and constituted authority.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 2014 because that was the year of the highly publicized Chibok schoolgirls' kidnapping, but the insurgency had already been active for several years before that event.