JAMB UTME - Use of English - 2025

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In The Lekki Headmaster, Bepo dedicates a significant portion of his working life to Stardom Schools. The novel establishes that he served the institution for over two decades, meaning more than twenty years. During this long tenure, he rises through the ranks and becomes the headmaster, shaping the school's identity and culture.

The other options overstate or understate the duration. One decade (ten years) would be too short for the deep institutional knowledge and influence Bepo demonstrates. Three or five decades would be excessively long and inconsistent with the novel's timeline. Two decades accurately reflects the substantial but realistic career Bepo has at Stardom Schools.

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The underlined letters in knot are kn. In English, when a word begins with "kn," the "k" is silent and only the /n/ sound (voiced alveolar nasal) is pronounced. So "knot" is pronounced /nɒt/, beginning with the same sound as "not."

Now consider each option:

• church - begins with /tʃ/ (the "ch" affricate), not /n/.
• norm - begins with /n/, the same consonant sound represented by "kn" in "knot."
• keep - begins with /k/, which is actually the letter that is silent in "knot."
• cease - begins with /s/, not /n/.

The correct answer is norm, because the "n" in "norm" produces the same /n/ sound as the "kn" combination in "knot."

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In the novel, one of the school drivers at Stardom Schools attempted to sell a school bus in order to pay his son's tuition fees abroad. This is another manifestation of the "japa" syndrome that the novel explores: the lengths to which ordinary Nigerians go to fund overseas education and migration for their families.

The driver's desperation to secure funds for his son's foreign education led him to attempt the disposal of school property entrusted to him. This act highlights how the desire to send children abroad for education can push people into making reckless and dishonest decisions, even when it means betraying their employer's trust.

The other options are not supported by the text. The driver's motive was specifically to cover the cost of his son's tuition abroad, not to fund a wife's business, settle a personal debt, or finance his own trip to the United Kingdom.

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This question tests the student's recall of which Nigerian festivals the students attended during their excursions in the novel.

According to the novel, the students attended the Calabar Carnival, the Osun Oshogbo Festival, and the Argungu Festival. These three festivals are among the most prominent cultural celebrations in Nigeria: the Calabar Carnival is a major annual event in Cross River State, the Osun Oshogbo Festival is a UNESCO-recognised cultural celebration in Osun State, and the Argungu Festival is a famous fishing and cultural festival in Kebbi State.

The Abuja Carnival is not mentioned among the festivals the students attended. The correct combination is therefore the first three festivals only (Calabar Carnival, Osun Oshogbo Festival, and Argungu Festival), not all four.

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In English, emphatic stress highlights the word that carries the most important new or contrasting information in a sentence. The stressed word is the one that corrects, clarifies, or contrasts with something previously stated or implied.

In the sentence "They came with me to the MEETING," the stress falls on MEETING. This means the speaker is emphasising the destination or event - they went to a meeting, not to some other event. The stress corrects or contrasts the type of event.

The question that would prompt this response must be one that gets the event wrong. Among the options, the question "Did they come with me to the party?" suggests a different event (a party), which the speaker corrects by stressing MEETING. The other questions change other elements of the sentence (whether they came, how they arrived, or who came), which would require stress on different words, not on MEETING.

The correct answer is the question that asks about coming to the party, since the emphatic stress on MEETING corrects that element.

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According to The Lekki Headmaster, the first storey building in Nigeria was built by Henry Townsend. This historical detail is mentioned during the school excursion to Badagry, where students learn about Nigeria's early contact with European missionaries and the legacy of the colonial era.

Henry Townsend was a Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionary who arrived in Nigeria in the 19th century. He is historically associated with early missionary activity in Western Nigeria, including the establishment of churches and other structures. The first storey building, located in Badagry, Lagos State, is a significant historical landmark that represents one of the earliest examples of European-style architecture in Nigeria.

The other figures listed are notable historical personalities but are not credited with building the first storey building in Nigeria according to the novel. Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther was the first African Anglican bishop. Lord Lugard was a colonial administrator known for the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria. Lord Bernard Shaw is not a figure associated with this achievement.

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This question tests knowledge of the correct order of adjectives in English. When multiple adjectives modify a single noun, they must follow a specific conventional sequence. The standard order is:

1. Opinion/quality (e.g., beautiful, shiny)
2. Size (e.g., big, small)
3. Age (e.g., new, old)
4. Shape (e.g., round, square)
5. Colour (e.g., red, blue)
6. Origin (e.g., Nigerian, French)
7. Material (e.g., wooden, plastic)
8. Purpose/type (e.g., lunch, sleeping)

Applying this to the adjectives in the question:

• Shiny = opinion/quality
• New = age
• Red = colour
• Lunch = purpose (it is a lunch pack)

The correct order is therefore: shiny new red lunch pack. Each adjective falls neatly into its expected slot in the sequence, producing a natural-sounding phrase.

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The Lekki Headmaster presents migration as a phenomenon that brings mixed blessings and challenges. The novel does not take a simplistic position either for or against migration. Instead, it shows through Mr Bepo's experience that emigration offers genuine opportunities, such as better economic conditions and professional advancement, but also comes with significant costs: separation from community, loss of cultural rootedness, the disruption of institutions like schools, and deep emotional pain.

This balanced perspective is the novel's central lesson on migration. It acknowledges the legitimate reasons why Nigerians seek opportunities abroad while also highlighting the personal sacrifices and national consequences involved. The story avoids the extremes of presenting migration as always beneficial or as a betrayal of one's roots, instead depicting it as a complex decision with real trade-offs on both sides. This nuanced treatment makes the novel a thoughtful contribution to the ongoing national conversation about the Japa phenomenon.

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Immanent means existing or operating within; inherent or indwelling. When something is immanent in a system, it is an intrinsic, internal part of that system. The sentence states that the gear exists within a car as an inherent component.

The word opposite in meaning is transcendent, which means existing beyond or above; surpassing or exceeding normal limits. In philosophy, immanent and transcendent are a classic pair of opposites: immanent describes what is contained within, while transcendent describes what lies beyond or outside.

The other options are not antonyms:

• available means accessible or obtainable. Something can be both available and immanent, so this does not oppose the meaning.
• necessary means required or essential. While a gear may be necessary in a car, this describes its importance, not its relationship of being internal versus external.
• functional means working or operative. This describes whether something works, not whether it is inherent or beyond.

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The key phrase in this sentence is "as though", which functions exactly like "as if" or "like" to introduce a comparison between two different things. He is compared to someone who had just returned from a dreamy wonderland, but he has not literally been to such a place.

This is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that makes an explicit comparison between two unlike things using comparison words such as "like", "as", "as if", or "as though". Here, the way the character looks at the ceiling and at faces is compared to the dazed, absent-minded manner of someone returning from a fantasy world.

The other figures of speech do not apply here:

• Personification gives human qualities to non-human things. Nothing non-human is being personified.
• Irony involves a contrast between expectation and reality, or saying the opposite of what is meant. There is no such contrast here.
• Metaphor states that one thing is another without using comparison words. Because "as though" is used, this is a simile rather than a metaphor.

The presence of "as though" is the definitive marker that identifies this as a simile.

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The predominant theme of The Lekki Headmaster is migration and identity. The entire novel is structured around Mr Bepo's personal struggle with the decision to emigrate and the broader social phenomenon of Nigerian professionals leaving the country, a trend popularly called the Japa Syndrome.

The novel examines how migration is not simply a physical relocation but a fundamental question of identity. Bepo must confront who he is: an educator rooted in Nigerian soil, or a man who can reinvent himself abroad. The theme extends beyond the protagonist to encompass his wife's aspirations, his colleagues' reactions, and the impact on the students and school community. Through these multiple perspectives, the novel presents migration and identity as interconnected concerns, showing how the decision to leave reshapes not only the migrant's sense of self but also the community left behind.

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The central challenge Mr Bepo faces throughout The Lekki Headmaster is balancing his career as a school headmaster with the intense pressure to migrate abroad. His wife and various social forces urge him to relocate to the United Kingdom, where presumably better economic prospects await. However, Bepo is deeply committed to Stardom Schools, his students, and the Nigerian educational system.

This tension between staying to serve his community and leaving for personal advancement defines Bepo's character arc. He is torn between loyalty to his profession and homeland on one hand, and family expectations and the promise of a more comfortable life abroad on the other. The novel uses this personal struggle to examine the broader phenomenon of brain drain in Nigeria, where skilled professionals leave the country, depriving it of talent and leadership in critical sectors like education.

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Mr. Guta demanded the immediate dismissal of Mr. Fafore. During Open Day, Mr. Guta visited the MD's office and angrily insisted that Mr. Fafore, the English language teacher, be fired from the school. His demand was based on what he believed was a grammatical error he had found in his son's class notes, which he attributed to Mr. Fafore's teaching.

Mr. Guta's reaction was extreme: rather than seeking a correction or clarification, he went straight to the school's highest authority and demanded that the teacher lose his job over the alleged mistake. This reflects the power dynamics in the novel, where wealthy or influential parents can exert pressure on school management to take drastic action against staff.

The other options do not match the narrative. Mr. Guta did not ask for a salary increase for Mr. Fafore, a change in class teacher, or a public apology. His sole demand was that Mr. Fafore be dismissed immediately.

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Bepo recalled the story as an example of culture shock for Nigerian teachers abroad. This can be found on page 13 of the novel where Bepo notes that he recalls reading the story of a Nigerian teacher who got settled the first day he walked into a class in a UK school and one of the students asked: "Are you an idiot?". Bepo, however, believes this is an isolated incident, if at all it is true, and should not deter him from relocating abroad to reunite with his family. 

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During the prefect election speech at Stardom Schools, the conflict erupted because Banky insulted Tosh's father. This personal attack during what should have been a formal school event escalated tensions between the two students and led to a confrontation that disrupted the election process.

Banky's decision to target Tosh's father rather than focusing on his own qualifications for the prefect position reveals the depth of personal animosity among the students. The incident demonstrates how rivalries and personal grudges can spill over into public events, and it gives the school administration, particularly Bepo, a disciplinary situation to manage. The episode also highlights the responsibilities that come with leadership positions and the importance of maintaining respect and decorum during competitive processes, a lesson that resonates with the novel's broader themes of leadership and integrity.

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This question tests the ability to identify mood and atmosphere in a narrative. Mood refers to the emotional atmosphere that a writer creates in a scene, shaped by word choice, setting, pacing, and the behaviour of characters.

At the beginning of the story, when the principal walks to the podium, the mood is tense and uncertain. The way the scene is set up conveys a sense of apprehension among the audience - students and staff do not know what the principal is about to announce or how it will affect them. This unease establishes early dramatic tension in the narrative and draws readers into the story by creating an atmosphere of anticipation.

The mood is not joyful or uplifting because there is no celebration. It is not calm and indifferent because the scene conveys emotional engagement from the audience. It is not merely hopeful and eager because the dominant note is anxiety rather than optimism.

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This question asks why Mr Bepo chose to process his passport renewal in Ibadan rather than elsewhere.

Bepo chose Ibadan for his passport renewal because he was advised that the process would be easier there. Someone recommended Ibadan as a location where the passport application experience would be smoother and less stressful compared to other offices, particularly the notoriously chaotic Lagos immigration office.

The decision was not based on Ibadan being physically closer to his location, having a personal contact at the immigration office, or the fees being cheaper there (since official fees are the same nationwide). The irony in the novel is that despite the advice, Bepo still encounters significant challenges, middlemen, and inflated charges during his passport renewal experience in Ibadan.

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Arduous means requiring a great deal of effort, endurance, or stamina; extremely difficult and tiring. The sentence acknowledges that parenting is demanding despite being enjoyable.

The word nearest in meaning is strenuous, which means requiring or involving great exertion or effort. Both arduous and strenuous emphasise the demanding, physically or mentally exhausting nature of an activity.

The other options are close but not the best fit:

• troublesome means causing difficulty or annoyance; it focuses on problems caused rather than effort required.
• hectic means full of frantic activity and rushed pace; it describes a busy tempo rather than the difficulty of a task.
• severe means strict, harsh, or intense; it does not capture the sense of requiring sustained effort that arduous conveys.

Strenuous is the closest synonym because, like arduous, it specifically describes something that demands sustained physical or mental effort.

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Bepo, the protagonist and principal of Stardom Schools, lives at Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos. Ikeja is a major commercial and residential area on the mainland of Lagos, and Adeniyi Jones is a well-known street and neighbourhood within Ikeja. This setting places Bepo in a middle-class Lagos neighbourhood, consistent with his status as a school principal.

The novel uses real Lagos locations to ground its story in a recognisable urban landscape. Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, is distinct from the other options provided. Oniru on Victoria Island and Obalende near Ikoyi are both on Lagos Island, while Yaba is a separate mainland neighbourhood. The novel specifically identifies Bepo's residence as being in the Adeniyi Jones area of Ikeja.

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This question tests understanding of Bepo's central motivation in the novel. Despite his deep attachment to teaching and to Nigeria, Bepo ultimately decides to leave the country in order to reunite with his family and avoid marital collapse.

Bepo's wife, Seri, had already moved abroad, where she worked as a nurse. The prolonged separation placed enormous strain on their marriage, and Bepo eventually recognised that remaining in Nigeria would cost him his family. His decision to leave was therefore not driven by personal ambition or career advancement but by the need to preserve his marriage and maintain his family unit.

This motivation is central to the novel's themes. Bepo does not leave to pursue further education, to escape insecurity, or because of unresolved conflict. His departure is an act of personal sacrifice - he gives up the profession and country he loves because the alternative is losing his family. The novel uses this dilemma to illustrate how the brain drain is not always about economic opportunity but can also be driven by deeply personal circumstances.

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Sola was the Home Economics teacher at Stardom Schools before she relocated to the UK. This can be found on page 15 of the novel.

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Mr Audu, the Fina Arts teacher, is known for his well-timed witty remark. In chapter 1 of the novel, he refers to the MD as "a witch and a wizard rolled into one". He is also the one who coined the name "The Lekki Headmaster" for Mr Bepo.

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Two words rhyme when they share the same vowel and final consonant sounds from the stressed vowel onward. Time is pronounced /taɪm/, so the rhyming word must end with the sound /aɪm/.

Consider each option:

• lime - pronounced /laɪm/. It ends with /aɪm/, which is exactly the same ending as "time."
• nine - pronounced /naɪn/. Although the vowel /aɪ/ matches, the final consonant is /n/, not /m/.
• mine - pronounced /maɪn/. Same situation as "nine": correct vowel but final /n/ instead of /m/.
• mind - pronounced /maɪnd/. Ends in /nd/, which does not match /m/.

The correct answer is lime, because /laɪm/ and /taɪm/ share the identical ending /aɪm/.

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The passage explicitly states, "One of the first things that a child notices is how noisy many kinds of birds are".

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The board discovers that the Stardom Cooperative Society holds N95 million in its account. Of this total, over N50 million has already been loaned out to staff members. This is a surprisingly large sum for a school staff cooperative, and its discovery is what prompts the MD to convene a board meeting to discuss the risks and governance of the cooperative.

The sheer size of the fund alarms the board because it represents a significant financial pool that, if mismanaged, could expose the school to serious liability. The fact that more than half of the money has been disbursed as loans to staff raises additional concerns about repayment risk, especially given incidents like Mr. Nku absconding abroad with a N2 million loan.

The other figures (over N50 million, N200 million, and N45 million) are not the total amount in the cooperative's account. The N50 million figure refers to the amount already loaned out, not the total holdings.

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The word similarly has four syllables: SIM-i-lar-ly. In English, the primary stress falls on the first syllable: /ˈsɪmɪləli/.

This follows a common English stress pattern where the base adjective "similar" (/ˈsɪmɪlə/) already carries its primary stress on the first syllable. Adding the suffix "-ly" to form the adverb does not shift the stress; it remains on the same syllable as in the base word.

The other options place the stress on the wrong syllable: stressing the third syllable (simiLARly) or the fourth (simlarLY) or the second (siMIlarly) would produce an unnatural pronunciation that does not match standard English.

The correct stress pattern is SImilarly, with primary stress on the first syllable.

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According to the novel, Owu waterfalls in Kwara is the highest in West Africa, measuring 120 meters above water level and cascading 330 feet down an escarpment. This can be found on page 44 of the novel. 

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In The Lekki Headmaster, the statement "It's like hanging a snake in the roof and going to bed" is a vivid proverb used to describe the danger of ignoring a known threat. A snake hanging in the roof poses an immediate risk to anyone sleeping below, so going to bed without dealing with it would be reckless.

This statement is made by the Chairman during a discussion about a pressing issue. The Chairman uses this proverbial language to convey urgency and to argue that the matter at hand cannot be left unresolved. The use of proverbs and figurative language is characteristic of dialogue among senior figures in the novel, and this particular statement reflects the Chairman's concern and authority in pressing for action.

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The grammatical rule at the source of the disagreement between the MD and the principal (Bepo) was subject-verb agreement with phrases like "as well as." The dispute arose from the sentence "Ade as well as Jide comes early." The MD sided with the parent, Mr. Guta, believing the verb should be "come" (plural) to agree with both "Ade" and "Jide." The principal, Bepo, defended Mr. Fafore by explaining that the grammar was in fact correct.

The rule is that "as well as" is not a coordinating conjunction like "and." It does not create a compound subject. Instead, the verb agrees with the subject that precedes "as well as." In the sentence "Ade as well as Jide comes early," the main subject is "Ade" (singular), so the singular verb "comes" is correct. If the sentence used "and" instead ("Ade and Jide come early"), then the plural verb "come" would be required.

This is a commonly misunderstood grammar point, and the novel uses it to illustrate how confident but incorrect assumptions about language can have serious consequences, including the wrongful dismissal of a competent teacher.

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The Ignatius family's relocation plans were disrupted when a DNA test revealed that Mr. Ignatius was not Favour's biological father. Favour is their fifteen-year-old daughter, and this discovery shattered the family. The revelation led to a severe domestic crisis in which Mr. Ignatius (also referred to as Mr. Ibe in the narrative) told Mrs. Ignatius and Favour to leave the house.

This plot development is one of the novel's most dramatic moments. The family had been preparing for emigration, with Mrs. Ignatius even learning new vocational skills. However, the DNA result brought everything to a halt, as the personal turmoil it caused made relocation impossible. The incident illustrates how unforeseen personal crises can derail even the most carefully laid plans.

The other options do not reflect what happened in the novel. Mr. Ignatius did not lose his job, Mrs. Ignatius did not simply change her mind, and their visa application was not denied. The disruption was entirely personal in nature, arising from the DNA test result.

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This question tests comprehension of a biographical detail about the novel's protagonist. Bepo attended the University of Benin (UNIBEN), one of Nigeria's established federal universities.

He studied English/History Education, a combined Bachelor of Education programme that qualified him to teach both English Language and History at the secondary school level. This dual-subject education degree is a common offering at Nigerian universities and is designed specifically to produce qualified classroom teachers. His educational background is consistent with his career trajectory as a dedicated teacher at Stardom Schools and helps explain his deep professional attachment to teaching, which underlies his initial reluctance to leave Nigeria.

The other options do not match the text. A pure English Language degree or History and Political Science degree would not carry the education component. Educational Management focuses on school administration rather than classroom instruction, which does not align with Bepo's role as a practising teacher.

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Bepo believed that a major challenge in transportation was that many commercial drivers lacked enlightened business practices and were not trustworthy, which ruined the business dream. This can be found on page 12 of the novel.

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A "slave driver" is an idiom for a person in authority who demands excessive work from those under them. The term originally referred to someone who forced enslaved people to work, and in modern usage it describes any boss or supervisor who overworks their employees.

The sentence reinforces this meaning: the speaker had to work two weekends in a row, indicating an unreasonable workload imposed by the boss. This directly matches the description of a taskmaster who overworks employees.

Being "very rich" describes wealth, not management style. Being "considerate" or "friendly" are positive traits that contradict the negative connotation of "slave driver." The idiom specifically criticises the boss for demanding too much labour.

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Personification is a figure of speech that gives human qualities, emotions, or behaviours to something that is not human. In the expression "Tears trickled out of his eyes... More tears streamed from both eyes, competitively," the word competitively is the key indicator of personification. Tears are not sentient beings; they cannot compete with one another. By describing the tears as streaming "competitively," the writer gives them the human quality of rivalry - as though the tears from each eye are racing against each other to flow faster.

This device intensifies the emotional impact of the scene. Rather than simply stating that the character cried heavily, the personification creates a vivid, almost physical image of overwhelming grief pouring out uncontrollably.

This is not a simile because there is no comparison using "like" or "as." It is not a metaphor because the tears are not being described as something else entirely. It is not hyperbole because the description does not exaggerate the amount of crying in an unrealistic way - rather, it gives the tears a human characteristic.

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A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is directly described as being another, without using the comparison words "like" or "as." When Mr. Audu says the MD is "a witch and wizard rolled into one," he is not literally claiming that the MD practises witchcraft. Instead, he uses this vivid image to convey that the MD is formidable, cunning, and perhaps intimidating - combining the negative qualities stereotypically associated with both a witch and a wizard into a single person.

This is not personification because personification involves giving human traits to something non-human, and the MD is already a human being. It is not an allusion, which would require a reference to a specific well-known person, literary work, or historical event. While witches and wizards appear across many cultural traditions, the expression does not reference any particular one. It is not assonance, which is the repetition of vowel sounds in closely placed words - there is no notable vowel-sound pattern in this phrase.

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Tosh's father, Chief Didi Ogba spent 36 months in detention because he was facing trial for alleged misappropriation of a 2.5 billion government contract sum. This can be found on page 42 of the novel.

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Mr Bepo first applied for the position of the school's English Teacher. He was to teach SSS1-3. This was revealed during the MD's farewell speech and can be found on pages 56-57 of the novel. 

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J.P. Clark's poem Ibadan is a compact, vivid depiction of the city. The poem reads: "Ibadan, / running splash of rust / and gold - flung and scattered / among seven hills like broken / china in the sun." To answer this question, each literary device must be checked against the actual text.

Metaphor is present. The city of Ibadan is described as a "running splash of rust and gold." This is a direct comparison that equates the city with a splash of colour, without using "like" or "as."

Simile is present. The phrase "like broken china in the sun" explicitly compares the scattered buildings of Ibadan to pieces of broken china, using the word "like."

Imagery is present throughout. The poem creates strong visual pictures through words such as "rust," "gold," "seven hills," "broken china," and "sun," appealing directly to the reader's sense of sight.

Onomatopoeia is not present. Onomatopoeia occurs when a word imitates a natural sound (e.g., "buzz," "crash," "hiss"). Although the word "splash" has onomatopoeic origins, in this poem it is used as a metaphor for the spread of colour across the landscape, not to represent an actual sound. No word in the poem functions as onomatopoeia.

Since the question asks which device is not used in the poem, the correct answer is onomatopoeia.

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Two words rhyme when they share the same vowel and final consonant sounds. Cat is pronounced /kæt/, so the rhyming word must end with /æt/.

Consider each option:

• call - pronounced /kɔːl/. Different vowel (/ɔː/) and different final consonant (/l/).
• bat - pronounced /bæt/. It ends with /æt/, matching "cat" perfectly.
• back - pronounced /bæk/. The vowel /æ/ matches, but the final consonant is /k/ instead of /t/.
• cut - pronounced /kʌt/. The final consonant /t/ matches, but the vowel is /ʌ/, not /æ/.

The correct answer is bat, because /bæt/ and /kæt/ share the identical ending /æt/.

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This can be page 12 of the novel where it is revealed that Bepo, amongst other things, has thought of establishing his own school after having garnered a lot of experience in teaching and school management. His only fear was if he would have enough money to "float a standard school, given the taste he had already imbibed at Stardom." 

He had initially built a school - "Fruitful Future" but it had crumbled due to socio-economic challenges in the location. 

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Emphatic stress marks the word that carries the key piece of contrasting or corrective information. The stressed word answers the part of the preceding question that was wrong.

In the sentence "The woman was delivered of a baby BOY," the stress falls on BOY. This means the speaker is emphasising the gender of the baby - it was a boy, not something else. The stress corrects a mistaken assumption about the baby's gender.

The question that would prompt this emphasis must be one that gets the gender wrong. The question "Was the woman delivered of a baby girl?" suggests the baby was a girl, and the speaker's stressed response corrects this to BOY. The other options change the subject ("the girl" instead of "the woman") or the number ("two baby boys"), which would require stress on different words.

The correct answer is the question that asks whether the woman was delivered of a baby girl.

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Bepo had a nasty experience at the NIN office because the network glitches were terrible. This can be found on page 53 of the novel. 

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The boarding fee at Stardom Schools was reduced in order to reduce student lateness. The school administration observed that many students were chronically late to school because of Lagos's notorious traffic congestion. By making the boarding option more affordable, the school aimed to encourage more students to board on the premises rather than commute daily through heavy traffic.

This decision reflects a practical, problem-solving approach to school management. Rather than simply punishing lateness, Bepo and the administration addressed the root cause by removing the financial barrier that prevented families from choosing the boarding option. This detail illustrates Bepo's thoughtful leadership style and his concern for both the academic performance and well-being of his students. It also highlights the everyday operational challenges of running a school in a megacity like Lagos, where traffic can consume hours of a student's day.

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This comprehension question moves beyond simple recall to test inference and character analysis. It asks what Mr Bepo's refusal to relocate to the United Kingdom reveals about his core values as a person.

Mr Bepo's reluctance to relocate reveals that he prioritises his students and professional relationships. Despite the clear financial incentive to join his wife in the UK, where she earns significantly more than he does in Nigeria, Mr Bepo chooses to remain because of the bonds he has formed with his students and colleagues. His identity and sense of purpose are deeply tied to his role as an educator, and he is unwilling to abandon the people who depend on him for a higher salary.

His reluctance does not indicate that he values financial security over personal fulfilment - in fact, the opposite is true, since staying in Nigeria means accepting a lower income. He is not avoiding difficult decisions; he has made a deliberate and considered choice. Nor does the passage suggest he feels unprepared for a new environment. His decision is a positive, values-driven one rooted in his commitment to teaching and to the community he serves.

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The idiom "tightening his belt" (or "tighten one's belt") means to reduce spending and live more frugally. The image is of someone who has less to eat and must tighten their belt because they have lost weight - it metaphorically represents cutting back on expenses.

The sentence highlights a contrast: despite his wealth, Mr Oluboye is known for being economical. This means he is very careful with his spending even though he could afford to be more extravagant.

"Helping the poor" describes generosity, not personal frugality. "Refusing to wear a belt" and "wearing fashionable belts" take the idiom literally rather than figuratively, which misses the point entirely.

The correct interpretation is that Mr Oluboye is very careful with his spending.

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This question requires the student to make an inference about the character Tai based on evidence from the novel.

From the events described in the novel, it can be inferred that Tai is a middleman who exploits passport applicants. He positions himself at or near the immigration office, intercepts applicants like Mr Bepo, and charges them inflated fees far above the official government rate. He profits from the desperation and confusion of people who are unfamiliar with the process or who have been frustrated by the bureaucratic obstacles.

Tai is not a legitimate immigration officer since he does not hold an official position. He is not an honest businessman because his dealings involve deception and exploitation. He is also not unaware of the actual renewal process; on the contrary, he knows the system intimately and uses that knowledge to extract money from applicants. The phrase "in cahoots," used elsewhere in the novel, further confirms that Tai works in secret collaboration with immigration staff to exploit the system.

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This cloze test question requires the word that correctly fills gap 10. The passage discusses the United Nations Security Council and how decisions are made within it.

The correct word is vote. In the UN Security Council, each member state has one vote. This is stated in Article 27 of the UN Charter: decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members, and decisions on substantive matters require the affirmative votes of nine members including the concurring votes of the five permanent members (the veto power). "Vote" is the precise legal and procedural term for how member states express their position on resolutions.

The other options are less precise:

• "Assent" means agreement or approval, but it is not the standard procedural term used in UN decision-making.
• "Consent" means permission or agreement, but UN decisions are determined by votes, not by consent of individual members.
• "Voice" can mean the right to express an opinion, but the formal mechanism of decision-making in the Security Council is specifically through voting.

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This cloze test question requires the word that correctly fills gap 15. The passage discusses the United Nations Security Council and the measures it can take to maintain or restore international peace and security.

The correct word is sanctions. Under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Security Council can impose sanctions on states or entities that threaten international peace. These may include economic sanctions (trade restrictions, asset freezes), diplomatic sanctions (severing of relations), or other non-military measures outlined in Article 41. Sanctions are the primary enforcement tool the Council uses before resorting to military action.

The other options do not fit the context of UN enforcement:

• "Rules" are general guidelines or regulations, not specific enforcement measures imposed on violators.
• "Order" could refer to a legal order but is not the standard term for the punitive measures the Security Council imposes.
• "Discipline" implies internal correction or punishment, which does not describe the external enforcement measures applied between sovereign states.

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This question tests comprehension of a specific event in the novel that highlights the contrast between healthcare systems. When Sola's daughter Betty was hospitalised in the UK, the gesture that most impressed Sola was the speed of the emergency response: emergency care arrived in under five minutes.

For Sola, who had lived in Nigeria where emergency medical services are often slow or unreliable, the efficiency and promptness of the UK healthcare system was remarkable. The rapid response time demonstrated a level of medical infrastructure and organisation that she had not experienced before. This moment serves as a turning point in the narrative, reinforcing the practical advantages of living abroad and contributing to the novel's exploration of why Nigerian professionals choose to remain in countries like the UK despite the personal and cultural costs of migration.

The other options - free medication, a job offer for her husband, or transfer to a private hospital - do not correspond to the specific detail highlighted in the text.

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Mrs. Ladele was watching a movie where she was captivated by an "imminent bubble burst." Unknown to the doctor in the film, the doctor's husband was responsible for the pregnancy of the doctor's best friend. Mrs. Ladele was watching this painful truth unfold when she heard Bibi's scream. This can be found on page 22 of the novel.

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The director claimed the ritual was necessary because it was actually part of a special prayer for his late father, who had given him the land on which the school was built. This can be found on page 41 of the novel.

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The sentence "The boy _____ the flute for about thirty minutes" requires a verb form that expresses an action continuing over a stated duration. The phrase "for about thirty minutes" signals a period of time during which the action has been ongoing.

The correct answer is has been playing, which is the present perfect continuous tense. This tense is formed with has/have + been + present participle (-ing) and is used to describe an action that started in the past and has continued up to the present moment. The "for" + time expression naturally pairs with this tense.

The other options are flawed:

• "Was playing" (past continuous) describes a past action in progress but does not connect it to the present; it would need additional past-time context.
• "Has play" is grammatically incorrect; the present perfect requires the past participle "played," not the base form.
• "Has being playing" is also incorrect; the correct auxiliary is "been," not "being." "Being" is a present participle, while "been" is the past participle of "be" needed after "has."

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On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Stardom Schools recited the second stanza of the national anthem: "Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause..." This can be found on page 6 of the novel.

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In The Lekki Headmaster, Bepo chooses to renew his passport in Ibadan rather than Lagos because he wants to avoid the notoriously long queues at the Lagos passport office. Lagos, being Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital, has an extremely high volume of passport applicants, leading to overcrowding, long waiting times, and a generally frustrating experience at its immigration offices.

By opting to travel to Ibadan instead, Bepo hopes for a quicker, less stressful process. This practical decision also serves a narrative purpose: the journey to Ibadan gives the author an opportunity to describe the road, the landscape, and Bepo's reflections along the way, including the poem that comes to his mind as he approaches the city.

The other reasons offered - cost differences, family connections in Ibadan, or an official transfer - are not the motivation the novel provides. Bepo's decision is purely practical: he wants to bypass the chaos of the Lagos passport office.

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The word grammarian has four syllables: gram-MA-ri-an. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: /ɡrəˈmeəriən/.

This follows the common English stress rule for words ending in the suffix "-arian" (like "librarian," "vegetarian," "humanitarian"). In these words, the stress typically falls on the syllable immediately before "-arian" - but since "-arian" itself starts with a stressed syllable in some patterns, the result for "grammarian" is stress on "-MA-."

Stressing the first syllable (GRAmmarian), the third (grammaRIan), or the fourth (grammariAN) would produce unnatural pronunciations that do not match standard English.

The correct stress pattern is graMMArian.

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This comprehension question explores Mr Bepo's personal motivations for choosing to remain in Nigeria rather than relocating to the United Kingdom, where his wife Seri already works as a nurse.

Mr Bepo is reluctant to relocate to the United Kingdom because he does not want to leave his students. Despite the significant financial advantage of moving abroad (his wife earns far more in the UK than he earns as a school principal in Nigeria), Mr Bepo feels a deep sense of duty and attachment to the students he teaches. His commitment to their education and well-being outweighs the material benefits of emigrating.

His reluctance is not primarily driven by fear of adapting to a new environment, a belief that life in Nigeria is inherently better, or an unwillingness to leave his wife and children behind (since his wife is already in the UK). The passage makes clear that his bond with his students is the decisive factor holding him back. This detail is central to the novel's exploration of the personal costs and moral dimensions of the japa (emigration) trend in Nigeria.

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"Foot-dragging" is an idiomatic expression that means deliberately delaying action or being slow and reluctant to do something that needs to be done. It comes from the image of someone literally dragging their feet while walking, moving as slowly as possible because they do not want to reach their destination.

In the sentence, the character's foot-dragging "pushed his marriage to the brink." This means his reluctance to act promptly on an important matter caused so much damage that his marriage was nearly destroyed. The context makes it clear that the delay was harmful, not thoughtful or productive.

The other options are the opposite of what the idiom means:

• "Quick decision making" is the direct opposite of foot-dragging.
• "Unnecessary excitement" has no connection to delay or reluctance.
• "Thoughtful consideration" might sound similar to taking one's time, but foot-dragging implies unhelpful stalling, not careful reflection. The negative consequence (pushing marriage to the brink) confirms that this was irresponsible delay, not wise caution.

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Mr Bepo's emotional breakdown during the school assembly was caused by his upcoming relocation to the United Kingdom. As he stood before the students and staff he had led and mentored, the reality of leaving Stardom Schools overwhelmed him, and he broke down emotionally.

This scene is one of the most powerful moments in the novel. The school assembly, a routine event in Bepo's daily life as headmaster, becomes the setting for a deeply personal reckoning. Facing the community he built, the students whose futures he has shaped, and the colleagues who have become like family, Bepo cannot contain the grief of departure. His breakdown reveals that despite whatever rational arguments favour emigration, the emotional and human cost is enormous. The scene functions as the novel's emotional climax, crystallising its central message about the painful trade-offs inherent in the Japa decision.

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Sola and her husband settled in Manchester due to lower rent and cost of living. They could not afford the monthly rent of up to 1,500 or 1,000 pounds in London, so they had to stay in Manchester, where they rented a two-bedroom apartment for 650 pounds monthly. 

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In The Lekki Headmaster, Mr. Nku is a staff member of Stardom Schools who exploited the school's cooperative society before emigrating. He took a loan of N2 million from the cooperative and then relocated abroad just two days later, effectively absconding with the funds. Because cooperative loans are repaid through monthly salary deductions, leaving the country and the job meant the money could not be recovered through the normal repayment mechanism.

This act is described as unethical because Mr. Nku appears to have borrowed the money with the premeditated intention of never repaying it. He used a legitimate financial channel (the cooperative) for a dishonest purpose: funding his emigration at the expense of his colleagues, whose contributions make up the cooperative's pool.

The other options do not match the narrative. Mr. Nku did not sell school property, steal directly from the school treasury, or falsify visa documents. His specific wrongdoing was the cooperative loan he took and then fled from, which ties into the novel's broader theme of how the desperation to relocate abroad (the "japa" phenomenon) drives people to unethical choices.