JAMB UTME - Use of English - 2006

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks .

One of the most difficult and confusing aspect of English language is its spelling system. There is often ….16…. [A. discrepancy B. discord C. a similarity D. concord] between the punctuation of a word and its spelling. One cannot always tell how to spell a word ….17…. [A. throughout B. by C. as to D. as from] its pronunciation.

In order to understand the peculiarity of English spelling ….18….[A. difficulty B. confusion C. system D. code], it is good to know something about the history of the language. First, it is helpful to realize that English was originally spoken by people who could neither read nor write. While the ….19…. [A. middle-class B. educated C. less enlightened D. uneducated] people spoke English, the literate upper classes spoke French and wrote in Latin, later when English became a ….20…. [A. literary B. romantic C. written D. coded] language, there was no system for spelling its words. Moreover, the first writers of English were French speaking ….21… [A. newscasters B. scribes C. orators D. interpreters] who knew English only slightly: therefore, they carried many French spelling ….22…. [A. habits B. attitudes C. idiosyncrasies D. mannerisms] into English. In addition, these first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often ….23…. [A. inserted B. interjected C. interpolated D. juxtaposed] letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the ….24…. [A. antecedent B. opposing C. corresponding D. synonymous] word in Latin was spelled that way. Finally, the confusion increased when the ….25…. [A. diction B.morphology C. orthography D. pronunciation] of certain words changed while the spelling remained the same.

Answer Details

The best option to complete the gap in question number 17 is "by". The sentence talks about how it is not always possible to spell a word correctly based on its pronunciation. The word "by" is used to indicate the method or means of doing something. Therefore, the correct option here is "by".

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

The class has fallen in with the teacher's plans?

Answer Details

"The class has fallen in with the teacher's plans" means that the class has accepted and agreed to follow the teacher's plans. Therefore, the correct option is "The class has accepted the plans."

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

I watched him as he _____ the hole?

Answer Details

The correct option is "dug". This is because the sentence is in past tense, and "dug" is the past tense of the verb "dig". Therefore, the correct sentence would be "I watched him as he dug the hole."

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The reporter made a masterly analysis of the situation?

Answer Details

The underlined word "masterly" means skillful or expert, so the opposite would be "unskilful" or lacking expertise. Therefore, "an unskilful" is the opposite in meaning to the underlined word.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The usually hostile crowd was captivated by the player's winsome attitude?

Answer Details

The word "winsome" suggests that the player's attitude was charming and attractive, which made the previously hostile crowd attracted to him. Therefore, the option that is opposite in meaning to "winsome" is "obnoxious", which means unpleasant or offensive.

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

His father hardly misses the news because he goes about with his _____ radio?

Answer Details

The correct option to complete the sentence is "portable". The sentence implies that the father takes the radio with him while moving around, hence the need for a radio that can be easily carried. "Portable" means something that can be easily moved or carried from one place to another, and it fits the context of the sentence.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The police found a conclusive proof of the boy's guilt?

Answer Details

The opposite meaning of "conclusive" is "doubtful." The word "conclusive" in this context means that there is no doubt or uncertainty about the proof found. Therefore, the opposite meaning would be that the proof found is not reliable or convincing, which is expressed by the word "doubtful." The other options are not opposite in meaning to "conclusive" in this context.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks .

One of the most difficult and confusing aspect of English language is its spelling system. There is often ….16…. [A. discrepancy B. discord C. a similarity D. concord] between the punctuation of a word and its spelling. One cannot always tell how to spell a word ….17…. [A. throughout B. by C. as to D. as from] its pronunciation.

In order to understand the peculiarity of English spelling ….18….[A. difficulty B. confusion C. system D. code], it is good to know something about the history of the language. First, it is helpful to realize that English was originally spoken by people who could neither read nor write. While the ….19…. [A. middle-class B. educated C. less enlightened D. uneducated] people spoke English, the literate upper classes spoke French and wrote in Latin, later when English became a ….20…. [A. literary B. romantic C. written D. coded] language, there was no system for spelling its words. Moreover, the first writers of English were French speaking ….21… [A. newscasters B. scribes C. orators D. interpreters] who knew English only slightly: therefore, they carried many French spelling ….22…. [A. habits B. attitudes C. idiosyncrasies D. mannerisms] into English. In addition, these first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often ….23…. [A. inserted B. interjected C. interpolated D. juxtaposed] letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the ….24…. [A. antecedent B. opposing C. corresponding D. synonymous] word in Latin was spelled that way. Finally, the confusion increased when the ….25…. [A. diction B.morphology C. orthography D. pronunciation] of certain words changed while the spelling remained the same.

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

The commander said that he battle would be sustained, total and relentless?

Answer Details

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

Your performance will improve if you _____ hard.

Answer Details

The correct option is "practise" (or "practice" in American English). The sentence is in the conditional form, which means that it talks about a hypothetical situation or a possibility. The verb tense "would practice" suggests a hypothetical situation, which is not suitable for the context of the sentence. The option "practical" is an adjective, which does not fit the structure of the sentence. "Are practising" is in the present continuous tense, which also suggests a continuous or ongoing action, but the sentence talks about a general improvement. Therefore, the correct answer is "practise," which is the simple present tense and indicates a general action.

Choose the option that has the same stress on the first syllable.

Answer Details

The option that has the same stress on the first syllable as "insult" (noun) is "provoke." Both "insult" and "provoke" are words that have the stress on the first syllable. In "insult," the stress falls on the first syllable, which is "in-," while in "provoke," the stress also falls on the first syllable, which is "pro-." The other options, "prepare" and "pronounce," have the stress on the second syllable. Note that "insult" can also be used as a verb, and in that case, the stress falls on the second syllable: in-SULT. But in the given question, "insult" is specified as a noun.

In recent times women in Nigeria have been seeking independence and recognition. No longer content with their traditional role as housewives and mothers, the women have joined together to create a kind of women liberation movement, first under the umbrella of WRAPA, an acronym for Women’s Rights and Privileges Agency, and later under several bodies including non-governmental agencies like Women in Nigeria (WIN), Association of Northern Women in Science and Technology (ANWIST) and Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). A whole federal ministry called Ministry for Women Affairs has been established since 1995 for the development and advancement of Nigerian women towards what they call ‘gender equality’.

Through all these bodies, Nigerian women hope to acquire the freedom to pursue interest outside the home, like the opportunity to acquire education or pursue a career, instead of spending all the time doing housework.

The effects of the changes brought about by these bodies are already being felt in some families. For instance, the traditional husband-wife relationship appears to be undergoing a radical transformation. Because so man6yy women are now working, men are learning to share the household tasks of cooking, cleaning and even caring for the children. In some families, there appears to be a complete reversal of the traditional roles: the husband stays home while the wife earns the family’s income. It should be pointed out, however, that this is the exception, not the rule.

The effects of women’s liberation are being felt not only in the home but also on the job. More and more women are working and they are demanding equal responsible positions. It is not uncommon these days for a woman to head major Government ministries and parastatals. Many businesses now encourage women to advance to high management positions, and every year, the nation’s higher institutions produce more women doctors, lawyers, and accountants.

Politics and government are other areas that are feeling the impact of women’s movement. Although Nigerians do not appear ready to accept a woman president, women are already being elected to public offices in increasing numbers as senators and members of the national and state assemblies. Although Nigeria is yet to have a woman governor, which is the highest office in a state, there have been a few women deputy governors and house speakers. A few years ago, this would have been unthinkable.

In conclusion, women in Nigeria are acquiring greater independence which is causing sweeping changes in the society – at home, at work and in politics. Some men may not be happy with these changes but the women are always quick to point out that it was they, the men, who created the condition leading to the reaction of the women.

Answer Details

The correct statement according to the passage is "The quest for women's liberation appears to be making progress in Nigeria". The passage describes how women in Nigeria are seeking independence and recognition through various organizations and movements, and how this is leading to changes in the society - in the home, at work, and in politics. It also mentions how men are learning to share household tasks and how women are advancing in various fields. However, the passage does not suggest that the Nigerian society is now free of all discrimination against women, or that the majority of Nigerian women have taken over men's traditional role. It does mention the establishment of the Ministry for Women Affairs in 1995.

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

If he _____ for admission, I am sure he would succeed?

Answer Details

The option that best completes the sentence is "applied." The sentence is in the conditional form, where the speaker is expressing a hypothetical situation. The word "if" is a conditional conjunction that introduces a condition that must be met for the hypothetical outcome to occur. In this case, the condition is "if he applied for admission." The correct verb tense to use in the conditional clause is the past simple, which is "applied." The past simple is used to describe completed actions in the past, and in this case, it refers to a hypothetical past action that needs to be completed for the hypothetical outcome to occur. The other options are not suitable for this sentence because they do not match the verb tense needed in the conditional clause. "Will apply" is in the future tense, "has applied" is in the present perfect tense, and "had applied" is in the past perfect tense, which are not appropriate for a hypothetical situation in the past.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

After the war, the victors became increasingly vindictive?

Answer Details

The sentence states that after the war, the victors became increasingly vindictive. The word "vindictive" means having or showing a strong desire for revenge. So, the most appropriate option would be "vengeful attacks were incessantly carried out on those who lost the war".

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

Olu brought his clothes and those of his _____ ?

Answer Details

The correct option that best completes the sentence is "elder brother's." This is because the possessive form is needed to show ownership, and "elder brother's" is the correct possessive form for the singular noun "brother." The other options are either incorrect in terms of possession or plural, which does not agree with the singular noun "brother."

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

We have been living peacefully here but _____ hear rumours of war?

Answer Details

The most appropriate option that completes the sentence is "occasionally." It means that although they have been living peacefully, they occasionally hear rumors of war.

Choose the option that best option that best completes the gap(s).

The police claim that a number of stolen cars _____ recovered?

Answer Details

The best option to complete the sentence is "have been." This is because the subject of the sentence is "a number of stolen cars," which is plural, and the verb "recovered" should agree with the subject in number. "Have been" is the plural form of the auxiliary verb "have" used with past participle "been" to form the present perfect tense, which is appropriate for the past action that has relevance to the present moment. Therefore, the complete sentence should read, "The police claim that a number of stolen cars have been recovered."

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

Despite all preparations, the wedding did not _____ ?

Answer Details

The best option that completes the sentence is "come off". The phrase "come off" means to happen or occur in a particular way, especially in a planned or expected way. In the context of the sentence, "Despite all preparations," implies that everything was done to make the wedding successful, but unfortunately, it did not happen as planned. Therefore, "come off" is the appropriate phrasal verb to use in this situation as it conveys the idea that the wedding did not happen as expected despite all the preparations that were made. To sum up, the correct option is "come off" because it is the most suitable phrasal verb that conveys the meaning that the wedding did not happen as expected despite all the preparations that were made.

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

The old man was rushed to hospital when his blood pressure dropped to a _____ level?

Answer Details

The best option that completes the sentence is "dangerously low level". The sentence indicates that the man's blood pressure had decreased to a level that was critically low and dangerous to his health. The word "dangerously" emphasizes the severity of the situation, while "low level" indicates the specific condition the man was experiencing. The word "lowly" is not appropriate in this context because it refers to something that is humble or low in position, rather than low in quantity or intensity.

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

Our neighbour was attracted by the _____ from my mother's cooking?

Answer Details

The best option that completes the sentence is "aroma." The word "aroma" refers to a pleasant, often fragrant smell that is typically associated with cooking or food. Therefore, in the context of the sentence, it makes sense that the neighbour was attracted by the aroma from the speaker's mother's cooking.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The chief said he would use the power inherent in his office to stop the celebration.

Answer Details

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

He had hardly spoken when the bell rang?

Answer Details

Choose the option that has the same stress as the given word.

apparent?

Answer Details

The word 'apparent' has the stress on the second syllable: a-PA-rent. Among the given options, the word with the same stress pattern is 'telephone', with the stress on the second syllable: TE-le-phone. Therefore, the correct option is 'telephone'.

The root of problem which bedevil rural dwellers in Nigeria can be traced to the sad fact that work opportunities are so restricted that they cannot work their way out of poverty and misery. Though a great number of Nigerians still live in the villages and small towns, work opportunities exist mainly in the big cities where development efforts are concentrated. The reason usually given for his obvious lapse is that it is easier to establish industries and to find finance and markets to keep them going in the big cities and towns than in the rural areas where productivity is low because of mass illiteracy and poverty.

As capital is the product of human work, rural dwellers who are desperate enough to overcome poverty often leave the villages in search of some kind of existence in the big cities and towns. Therefore, rural unemployment in Nigeria produces mass migration into the cities, leading to a rate of urban growth which seriously taxes the resources of even the biggest cities like Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Kano. Form the sad experience of these cities; it is easy to see how rural unemployment can become urban unemployment with the attendant social problems like robbery, overcrowding and the growth of shanties or slums.

Such problems cannot be wished away but will remain with us until deliberate efforts are made to bring health to economic life outside the big cities in order to check the migration of destitute rural dwellers into town and cities that cannot absorb them.

It is necessary; therefore, that at least an important part of the development effort should bypass the bid cities and be concerned with the provision of viable infrastructure in the small town s and villages. In this connection, it is necessary to emphasize that the primary need is workplaces. The task should be to bring into existence thousands or millions of new workplaces in the rural areas and small towns in order to maximize work opportunities for rural dwellers.

For this proposition to make sense, first, the work opportunities should be created in the rural areas where the majority of the people live, not where they tend to migrate for lack of opportunities. Second, the production method employed must be relatively simple, so that the demands for high skills are minimized not only in the production process itself but also in matters of organization, raw material supply, financing, marketing and so forth. Third, production should be mainly from local materials and for local use. Lastly, rural workplaces should be cheap enough so that they can be created in large numbers. These four requirements together meet the description of what is usually called ‘cottage industry’. Millions of them are needed for rural transformation in Nigeria and to check the dangerous process of mutual poisoning between urban and rural areas in the country.

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

The witness provided a monstrous account of the event?

Answer Details

The word "monstrous" is used to describe something that is shocking or outrageous. Therefore, the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word is "shocking."

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

No sooner had he arrived than it started to rain?

Answer Details

The underlined phrase "No sooner had he arrived than" indicates that one event occurred immediately after another. The opposite of this would be "Long before," which means that an event happened far in advance of another event. Therefore, "Long before" is the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined phrase. For example, "Long before he arrived, it had started to rain." This sentence indicates that the rain started well in advance of his arrival.

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

The investigation Commission has treated all the _____ submitted to it by the warning factions?

Answer Details

The best option to complete the gap is "petitions". The sentence indicates that the investigation commission has reviewed something that was submitted to it by the warning factions. The word "petitions" refers to a formal request made to a higher authority, often written and signed by many people. Therefore, it is the most appropriate word in the context of the sentence.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

In our college, the regulations concerning resits are grey area?

Answer Details

Choose the appropriate stress pattern from the option. The syllables are written in capital letters.

genealogy?

Answer Details

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

The brave hunter killed the _____ in the forest?

Answer Details

The option that best completes the sentence is "big black spitting cobra." The sentence describes an event in which a hunter killed a snake in the forest. The snake is described as being "big" and "black," while also possessing the ability to spit venom, which suggests that it is a cobra. Therefore, the most accurate and descriptive phrase to complete the sentence is "big black spitting cobra." The other options have different word orders that do not provide the same level of accuracy and descriptive value.

Choose the option that has a different stress pattern from the others.

Answer Details

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Akpan was able to douse the flames with the new piece of equipment?

Answer Details

The word "douse" means to extinguish or put out a fire, therefore the option that is opposite in meaning is "ignite", which means to start or set on fire.

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

For beating _____ his coursemate, Agbji was _____ from the university?

Answer Details

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The point you have made is quite apt

Answer Details

The opposite of "apt" is "irrelevant." In the sentence, "apt" means the point made is suitable, appropriate, or relevant to the topic at hand. Therefore, "irrelevant" means that the point made is not suitable or appropriate to the topic being discussed.

The root of problem which bedevil rural dwellers in Nigeria can be traced to the sad fact that work opportunities are so restricted that they cannot work their way out of poverty and misery. Though a great number of Nigerians still live in the villages and small towns, work opportunities exist mainly in the big cities where development efforts are concentrated. The reason usually given for his obvious lapse is that it is easier to establish industries and to find finance and markets to keep them going in the big cities and towns than in the rural areas where productivity is low because of mass illiteracy and poverty.

As capital is the product of human work, rural dwellers who are desperate enough to overcome poverty often leave the villages in search of some kind of existence in the big cities and towns. Therefore, rural unemployment in Nigeria produces mass migration into the cities, leading to a rate of urban growth which seriously taxes the resources of even the biggest cities like Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Kano. Form the sad experience of these cities; it is easy to see how rural unemployment can become urban unemployment with the attendant social problems like robbery, overcrowding and the growth of shanties or slums.

Such problems cannot be wished away but will remain with us until deliberate efforts are made to bring health to economic life outside the big cities in order to check the migration of destitute rural dwellers into town and cities that cannot absorb them.

It is necessary; therefore, that at least an important part of the development effort should bypass the bid cities and be concerned with the provision of viable infrastructure in the small town s and villages. In this connection, it is necessary to emphasize that the primary need is workplaces. The task should be to bring into existence thousands or millions of new workplaces in the rural areas and small towns in order to maximize work opportunities for rural dwellers.

For this proposition to make sense, first, the work opportunities should be created in the rural areas where the majority of the people live, not where they tend to migrate for lack of opportunities. Second, the production method employed must be relatively simple, so that the demands for high skills are minimized not only in the production process itself but also in matters of organization, raw material supply, financing, marketing and so forth. Third, production should be mainly from local materials and for local use. Lastly, rural workplaces should be cheap enough so that they can be created in large numbers. These four requirements together meet the description of what is usually called ‘cottage industry’. Millions of them are needed for rural transformation in Nigeria and to check the dangerous process of mutual poisoning between urban and rural areas in the country.

Answer Details

Choose the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

capitalism?

Answer Details

The appropriate stress pattern for "capitalism" is "CApitalism," with the stress falling on the first syllable. This is because "capital" is the primary stress in the word, and the second syllable "-ism" is unstressed. The stress pattern is important for proper pronunciation of the word, as placing the stress on the wrong syllable can make the word difficult to understand or even change its meaning.

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

_____ been there to look several times without success?

Answer Details

The sentence is missing a subject. The option that best completes the sentence is "He's". The complete sentence is "He's been there to look several times without success". "He's" is a contraction of "He has", which is a correct subject-verb combination.

The root of problem which bedevil rural dwellers in Nigeria can be traced to the sad fact that work opportunities are so restricted that they cannot work their way out of poverty and misery. Though a great number of Nigerians still live in the villages and small towns, work opportunities exist mainly in the big cities where development efforts are concentrated. The reason usually given for his obvious lapse is that it is easier to establish industries and to find finance and markets to keep them going in the big cities and towns than in the rural areas where productivity is low because of mass illiteracy and poverty.

As capital is the product of human work, rural dwellers who are desperate enough to overcome poverty often leave the villages in search of some kind of existence in the big cities and towns. Therefore, rural unemployment in Nigeria produces mass migration into the cities, leading to a rate of urban growth which seriously taxes the resources of even the biggest cities like Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Kano. Form the sad experience of these cities; it is easy to see how rural unemployment can become urban unemployment with the attendant social problems like robbery, overcrowding and the growth of shanties or slums.

Such problems cannot be wished away but will remain with us until deliberate efforts are made to bring health to economic life outside the big cities in order to check the migration of destitute rural dwellers into town and cities that cannot absorb them.

It is necessary; therefore, that at least an important part of the development effort should bypass the bid cities and be concerned with the provision of viable infrastructure in the small town s and villages. In this connection, it is necessary to emphasize that the primary need is workplaces. The task should be to bring into existence thousands or millions of new workplaces in the rural areas and small towns in order to maximize work opportunities for rural dwellers.

For this proposition to make sense, first, the work opportunities should be created in the rural areas where the majority of the people live, not where they tend to migrate for lack of opportunities. Second, the production method employed must be relatively simple, so that the demands for high skills are minimized not only in the production process itself but also in matters of organization, raw material supply, financing, marketing and so forth. Third, production should be mainly from local materials and for local use. Lastly, rural workplaces should be cheap enough so that they can be created in large numbers. These four requirements together meet the description of what is usually called ‘cottage industry’. Millions of them are needed for rural transformation in Nigeria and to check the dangerous process of mutual poisoning between urban and rural areas in the country.

Answer Details

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks .

One of the most difficult and confusing aspect of English language is its spelling system. There is often ….16…. [A. discrepancy B. discord C. a similarity D. concord] between the punctuation of a word and its spelling. One cannot always tell how to spell a word ….17…. [A. throughout B. by C. as to D. as from] its pronunciation.

In order to understand the peculiarity of English spelling ….18….[A. difficulty B. confusion C. system D. code], it is good to know something about the history of the language. First, it is helpful to realize that English was originally spoken by people who could neither read nor write. While the ….19…. [A. middle-class B. educated C. less enlightened D. uneducated] people spoke English, the literate upper classes spoke French and wrote in Latin, later when English became a ….20…. [A. literary B. romantic C. written D. coded] language, there was no system for spelling its words. Moreover, the first writers of English were French speaking ….21… [A. newscasters B. scribes C. orators D. interpreters] who knew English only slightly: therefore, they carried many French spelling ….22…. [A. habits B. attitudes C. idiosyncrasies D. mannerisms] into English. In addition, these first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often ….23…. [A. inserted B. interjected C. interpolated D. juxtaposed] letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the ….24…. [A. antecedent B. opposing C. corresponding D. synonymous] word in Latin was spelled that way. Finally, the confusion increased when the ….25…. [A. diction B.morphology C. orthography D. pronunciation] of certain words changed while the spelling remained the same.

Answer Details

The most appropriate option for the gap numbered 18 is "system". The sentence talks about the peculiarity of the English spelling system and how it is helpful to know something about the history of the language to understand it. Therefore, option C, "system", makes the most sense.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

He is a prolific writer?

Answer Details

The word "prolific" means being very productive or producing many works, ideas, or results. Therefore, the option that is nearest in meaning to "prolific" is "a very productive" writer. This means that the writer produces a large quantity of written works or content.

The obvious function of a daily paper is to give news to the people, but this, at the moment, may be done in three ways, which are not all equally laudable. First, there is the paper which set out to give a brief resume of the news and backs this up by well-written articles on the current affairs by leading writers and experts. Secondly, there is the ‘daily’ which caters for popular taste, and contains only the most sensational and exciting bits of news, supporting them with comic-strips, pictures children’s corners, women’s sections and readers’ letters on anything but weighty topics. Thirdly, there is the propaganda type of paper, which presents only those versions of the news which agree with its own particular political outlook. All this gives news in different ways; but what deeper function can the ideal daily paper have?

In the case of the Nigerian daily newspaper, the first type gives the thinking reader an unbiased view of the world situation, so that he can judge the importance of recent events for himself, but it does not indicate to him what he ought to think. The drawbacks to this is that semi-literate or uneducated find it dull or difficult and so are discouraged from reading such a paper regularly, because it demands too much thought and effort from them. The main advantage of this type of paper, however, is its soundness, excellent English expression and general effect of widening the readers’ knowledge on a variety of subjects.

The second type interest the majority and give them more striking items of news in an easily comprehensible way, accompanied by lavish photographs and usually with some slight political bias towards the left and the interests of the working class, from which most of its readers come. The drawback of this type is that there is not enough solid thinking mater and the English is often faulty in style – tending towards ‘journalese’. The advantage is that it is quickly and easily read, on the bus or train or over the breakfast table, and gives a superficial knowledge of current affairs to people who would not have the time or inclination to read ‘heavier’ literature. Also, it is a ‘family’ paper, which every member of the household can enjoy, since there is something to please all their tastes.

The third type to some extent, appeals to emotion, not reason. It instruct the reader in exactly what that particular editor believe he ought to think, and does not give him a chance to have a mind of his own by letting him hear the other person’s point of view. The drawback is that it prevents people from thinking for themselves, and causes political hysteria rather than logical thinking. the only advantage is that it does represent the ‘freedom of the press’ to publish whatever it likes, and allows discontented people to air their grievances instead of letting them smoulder underground.

From these examples, it should be clear that the ideal function of a daily paper would be to present the news clearly and simply, and to support it with articles in good English which shows the points of view of various competent people of different outlooks on current problems. The reader could then choose which line of thought appealed to him most. Women’s and children’s sections would be good so long as they did not grow so out of proportion that the paper depended solely upon them for its popularity. Good pictures would add to the paper’s instructive value as well as to its interest; and advertisements, kept in bounds, might be helpful, both as shopping guides and as a financial help to the paper itself. All these points seem to be desirable in a daily paper now that the radio helps in giving news headlines.

The phrase political hysteria, as used in the passage means

Answer Details

In the passage, the phrase "political hysteria" refers to an intense emotional response to political issues that overrides logical thinking. It means that people become overly emotional and irrational about political matters, which can lead to tension and ill feeling.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The action was premeditated?

Answer Details

The word "premeditated" means planned or arranged in advance, so the option opposite in meaning would be "unplanned."

Choose the option that has the same stress as the given word.

dovetail?

Answer Details

Choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

character?

Answer Details

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Ogiri takes after his father, he fawns upon anyone with influence.

Answer Details

The sentence "Ogiri takes after his father, he fawns upon anyone with influence" means that Ogiri behaves like his father by excessively flattering or showing excessive attention to people who have power or influence in society. Therefore, the option that best explains this sentence is: "Like his father, Ogiri likes to flatter people with influence in society."

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

Tend?

Answer Details

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks .

One of the most difficult and confusing aspect of English language is its spelling system. There is often ….16…. [A. discrepancy B. discord C. a similarity D. concord] between the punctuation of a word and its spelling. One cannot always tell how to spell a word ….17…. [A. throughout B. by C. as to D. as from] its pronunciation.

In order to understand the peculiarity of English spelling ….18….[A. difficulty B. confusion C. system D. code], it is good to know something about the history of the language. First, it is helpful to realize that English was originally spoken by people who could neither read nor write. While the ….19…. [A. middle-class B. educated C. less enlightened D. uneducated] people spoke English, the literate upper classes spoke French and wrote in Latin, later when English became a ….20…. [A. literary B. romantic C. written D. coded] language, there was no system for spelling its words. Moreover, the first writers of English were French speaking ….21… [A. newscasters B. scribes C. orators D. interpreters] who knew English only slightly: therefore, they carried many French spelling ….22…. [A. habits B. attitudes C. idiosyncrasies D. mannerisms] into English. In addition, these first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often ….23…. [A. inserted B. interjected C. interpolated D. juxtaposed] letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the ….24…. [A. antecedent B. opposing C. corresponding D. synonymous] word in Latin was spelled that way. Finally, the confusion increased when the ….25…. [A. diction B.morphology C. orthography D. pronunciation] of certain words changed while the spelling remained the same.

Answer Details

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

Until he lost the election, agbo _____ to be Student Union president?

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

The chairman advised the participants to follow convention in stating their points?

Answer Details

The word "convention" here means "tradition" which refers to a generally accepted and established way of doing or thinking about something. Therefore, the option nearest in meaning is "tradition".

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

That little boy has become quite chubby?

Answer Details

The option opposite in meaning to the underlined word "chubby" is "thin". Chubby refers to a person who is overweight or slightly fat, while thin refers to a person who is underweight or skinny.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

After the meeting, I read a leer on his face as he looked at the woman?

Answer Details

The word "leer" means a sly, unpleasant, or malicious look, often suggestive of something improper or immoral. Therefore, the option that is nearest in meaning to "leer" is "bad look".

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

The judge emphasized his morbid desires in his judgement?

Answer Details

The word "morbid" means related to or characterized by an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, such as death, diseases, or decay. Therefore, the option that is nearest in meaning to "morbid" is "unpleasant."

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

The party men revelled all night when the election results were announced?

Answer Details

The word "revelled" means to enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way, typically with drinking and dancing. Therefore, the option that is nearest in meaning to "revelled" is "celebrated."

In recent times women in Nigeria have been seeking independence and recognition. No longer content with their traditional role as housewives and mothers, the women have joined together to create a kind of women liberation movement, first under the umbrella of WRAPA, an acronym for Women’s Rights and Privileges Agency, and later under several bodies including non-governmental agencies like Women in Nigeria (WIN), Association of Northern Women in Science and Technology (ANWIST) and Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). A whole federal ministry called Ministry for Women Affairs has been established since 1995 for the development and advancement of Nigerian women towards what they call ‘gender equality’.

Through all these bodies, Nigerian women hope to acquire the freedom to pursue interest outside the home, like the opportunity to acquire education or pursue a career, instead of spending all the time doing housework.

The effects of the changes brought about by these bodies are already being felt in some families. For instance, the traditional husband-wife relationship appears to be undergoing a radical transformation. Because so man6yy women are now working, men are learning to share the household tasks of cooking, cleaning and even caring for the children. In some families, there appears to be a complete reversal of the traditional roles: the husband stays home while the wife earns the family’s income. It should be pointed out, however, that this is the exception, not the rule.

The effects of women’s liberation are being felt not only in the home but also on the job. More and more women are working and they are demanding equal responsible positions. It is not uncommon these days for a woman to head major Government ministries and parastatals. Many businesses now encourage women to advance to high management positions, and every year, the nation’s higher institutions produce more women doctors, lawyers, and accountants.

Politics and government are other areas that are feeling the impact of women’s movement. Although Nigerians do not appear ready to accept a woman president, women are already being elected to public offices in increasing numbers as senators and members of the national and state assemblies. Although Nigeria is yet to have a woman governor, which is the highest office in a state, there have been a few women deputy governors and house speakers. A few years ago, this would have been unthinkable.

In conclusion, women in Nigeria are acquiring greater independence which is causing sweeping changes in the society – at home, at work and in politics. Some men may not be happy with these changes but the women are always quick to point out that it was they, the men, who created the condition leading to the reaction of the women.

Answer Details

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letters(s). underlined.

nine

Answer Details

Choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

Caused

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

His discovery of the vaccine became a quantum leap in search for a scientific cure for the illness?

Answer Details

The word "quantum leap" in this context means a significant and sudden improvement or breakthrough. Therefore, the option that is nearest in meaning to "quantum leap" is "great improvement."

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The man drew a sword as people congregated round him?

Answer Details

The opposite of "congregated round" would be "fled from", as it implies dispersing or moving away from the man with the sword rather than gathering around him.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

The plan has gone awry?

Answer Details

The option nearest in meaning to the word underlined is "wrong". "Awry" means not going according to plan, going wrong, or deviating from the expected course of events. Therefore, the plan going "awry" implies that the plan has gone "wrong".

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks .

One of the most difficult and confusing aspect of English language is its spelling system. There is often ….16…. [A. discrepancy B. discord C. a similarity D. concord] between the punctuation of a word and its spelling. One cannot always tell how to spell a word ….17…. [A. throughout B. by C. as to D. as from] its pronunciation.

In order to understand the peculiarity of English spelling ….18….[A. difficulty B. confusion C. system D. code], it is good to know something about the history of the language. First, it is helpful to realize that English was originally spoken by people who could neither read nor write. While the ….19…. [A. middle-class B. educated C. less enlightened D. uneducated] people spoke English, the literate upper classes spoke French and wrote in Latin, later when English became a ….20…. [A. literary B. romantic C. written D. coded] language, there was no system for spelling its words. Moreover, the first writers of English were French speaking ….21… [A. newscasters B. scribes C. orators D. interpreters] who knew English only slightly: therefore, they carried many French spelling ….22…. [A. habits B. attitudes C. idiosyncrasies D. mannerisms] into English. In addition, these first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often ….23…. [A. inserted B. interjected C. interpolated D. juxtaposed] letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the ….24…. [A. antecedent B. opposing C. corresponding D. synonymous] word in Latin was spelled that way. Finally, the confusion increased when the ….25…. [A. diction B.morphology C. orthography D. pronunciation] of certain words changed while the spelling remained the same.

Answer Details

The correct option to fill in the gap is "scribes". The sentence refers to the first writers of English, who were French-speaking and knew English only slightly. "Scribes" is the most appropriate option as it refers to the people who used to write at that time. The other options are not suitable in this context. "Newscasters" and "orators" are not relevant as the sentence is talking about writers, not speakers. "Interpreters" are also not relevant as the sentence is not referring to people who translate languages.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks .

One of the most difficult and confusing aspect of English language is its spelling system. There is often ….16…. [A. discrepancy B. discord C. a similarity D. concord] between the punctuation of a word and its spelling. One cannot always tell how to spell a word ….17…. [A. throughout B. by C. as to D. as from] its pronunciation.

In order to understand the peculiarity of English spelling ….18….[A. difficulty B. confusion C. system D. code], it is good to know something about the history of the language. First, it is helpful to realize that English was originally spoken by people who could neither read nor write. While the ….19…. [A. middle-class B. educated C. less enlightened D. uneducated] people spoke English, the literate upper classes spoke French and wrote in Latin, later when English became a ….20…. [A. literary B. romantic C. written D. coded] language, there was no system for spelling its words. Moreover, the first writers of English were French speaking ….21… [A. newscasters B. scribes C. orators D. interpreters] who knew English only slightly: therefore, they carried many French spelling ….22…. [A. habits B. attitudes C. idiosyncrasies D. mannerisms] into English. In addition, these first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often ….23…. [A. inserted B. interjected C. interpolated D. juxtaposed] letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the ….24…. [A. antecedent B. opposing C. corresponding D. synonymous] word in Latin was spelled that way. Finally, the confusion increased when the ….25…. [A. diction B.morphology C. orthography D. pronunciation] of certain words changed while the spelling remained the same.

Answer Details

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

You are to write a report and give it to the security office?

Answer Details

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

Everybody is allowed to _____ his view on state matters?

Answer Details

The best option that completes the gap is "air". To "air" one's views means to express them publicly or to make them known. Therefore, the sentence implies that everyone has the right to express their views on state matters.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks .

One of the most difficult and confusing aspect of English language is its spelling system. There is often ….16…. [A. discrepancy B. discord C. a similarity D. concord] between the punctuation of a word and its spelling. One cannot always tell how to spell a word ….17…. [A. throughout B. by C. as to D. as from] its pronunciation.

In order to understand the peculiarity of English spelling ….18….[A. difficulty B. confusion C. system D. code], it is good to know something about the history of the language. First, it is helpful to realize that English was originally spoken by people who could neither read nor write. While the ….19…. [A. middle-class B. educated C. less enlightened D. uneducated] people spoke English, the literate upper classes spoke French and wrote in Latin, later when English became a ….20…. [A. literary B. romantic C. written D. coded] language, there was no system for spelling its words. Moreover, the first writers of English were French speaking ….21… [A. newscasters B. scribes C. orators D. interpreters] who knew English only slightly: therefore, they carried many French spelling ….22…. [A. habits B. attitudes C. idiosyncrasies D. mannerisms] into English. In addition, these first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often ….23…. [A. inserted B. interjected C. interpolated D. juxtaposed] letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the ….24…. [A. antecedent B. opposing C. corresponding D. synonymous] word in Latin was spelled that way. Finally, the confusion increased when the ….25…. [A. diction B.morphology C. orthography D. pronunciation] of certain words changed while the spelling remained the same.

Answer Details

In recent times women in Nigeria have been seeking independence and recognition. No longer content with their traditional role as housewives and mothers, the women have joined together to create a kind of women liberation movement, first under the umbrella of WRAPA, an acronym for Women?s Rights and Privileges Agency, and later under several bodies including non-governmental agencies like Women in Nigeria (WIN), Association of Northern Women in Science and Technology (ANWIST) and Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). A whole federal ministry called Ministry for Women Affairs has been established since 1995 for the development and advancement of Nigerian women towards what they call ?gender equality?.

Through all these bodies, Nigerian women hope to acquire the freedom to pursue interest outside the home, like the opportunity to acquire education or pursue a career, instead of spending all the time doing housework.

The effects of the changes brought about by these bodies are already being felt in some families. For instance, the traditional husband-wife relationship appears to be undergoing a radical transformation. Because so man6yy women are now working, men are learning to share the household tasks of cooking, cleaning and even caring for the children. In some families, there appears to be a complete reversal of the traditional roles: the husband stays home while the wife earns the family?s income. It should be pointed out, however, that this is the exception, not the rule.

The effects of women?s liberation are being felt not only in the home but also on the job. More and more women are working and they are demanding equal responsible positions. It is not uncommon these days for a woman to head major Government ministries and parastatals. Many businesses now encourage women to advance to high management positions, and every year, the nation?s higher institutions produce more women doctors, lawyers, and accountants.

Politics and government are other areas that are feeling the impact of women?s movement. Although Nigerians do not appear ready to accept a woman president, women are already being elected to public offices in increasing numbers as senators and members of the national and state assemblies. Although Nigeria is yet to have a woman governor, which is the highest office in a state, there have been a few women deputy governors and house speakers. A few years ago, this would have been unthinkable.

In conclusion, women in Nigeria are acquiring greater independence which is causing sweeping changes in the society ? at home, at work and in politics. Some men may not be happy with these changes but the women are always quick to point out that it was they, the men, who created the condition leading to the reaction of the women.

Answer Details

In recent times women in Nigeria have been seeking independence and recognition. No longer content with their traditional role as housewives and mothers, the women have joined together to create a kind of women liberation movement, first under the umbrella of WRAPA, an acronym for Women’s Rights and Privileges Agency, and later under several bodies including non-governmental agencies like Women in Nigeria (WIN), Association of Northern Women in Science and Technology (ANWIST) and Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). A whole federal ministry called Ministry for Women Affairs has been established since 1995 for the development and advancement of Nigerian women towards what they call ‘gender equality’.

Through all these bodies, Nigerian women hope to acquire the freedom to pursue interest outside the home, like the opportunity to acquire education or pursue a career, instead of spending all the time doing housework.

The effects of the changes brought about by these bodies are already being felt in some families. For instance, the traditional husband-wife relationship appears to be undergoing a radical transformation. Because so man6yy women are now working, men are learning to share the household tasks of cooking, cleaning and even caring for the children. In some families, there appears to be a complete reversal of the traditional roles: the husband stays home while the wife earns the family’s income. It should be pointed out, however, that this is the exception, not the rule.

The effects of women’s liberation are being felt not only in the home but also on the job. More and more women are working and they are demanding equal responsible positions. It is not uncommon these days for a woman to head major Government ministries and parastatals. Many businesses now encourage women to advance to high management positions, and every year, the nation’s higher institutions produce more women doctors, lawyers, and accountants.

Politics and government are other areas that are feeling the impact of women’s movement. Although Nigerians do not appear ready to accept a woman president, women are already being elected to public offices in increasing numbers as senators and members of the national and state assemblies. Although Nigeria is yet to have a woman governor, which is the highest office in a state, there have been a few women deputy governors and house speakers. A few years ago, this would have been unthinkable.

In conclusion, women in Nigeria are acquiring greater independence which is causing sweeping changes in the society – at home, at work and in politics. Some men may not be happy with these changes but the women are always quick to point out that it was they, the men, who created the condition leading to the reaction of the women.

Answer Details

The root of problem which bedevil rural dwellers in Nigeria can be traced to the sad fact that work opportunities are so restricted that they cannot work their way out of poverty and misery. Though a great number of Nigerians still live in the villages and small towns, work opportunities exist mainly in the big cities where development efforts are concentrated. The reason usually given for his obvious lapse is that it is easier to establish industries and to find finance and markets to keep them going in the big cities and towns than in the rural areas where productivity is low because of mass illiteracy and poverty.

As capital is the product of human work, rural dwellers who are desperate enough to overcome poverty often leave the villages in search of some kind of existence in the big cities and towns. Therefore, rural unemployment in Nigeria produces mass migration into the cities, leading to a rate of urban growth which seriously taxes the resources of even the biggest cities like Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Kano. Form the sad experience of these cities; it is easy to see how rural unemployment can become urban unemployment with the attendant social problems like robbery, overcrowding and the growth of shanties or slums.

Such problems cannot be wished away but will remain with us until deliberate efforts are made to bring health to economic life outside the big cities in order to check the migration of destitute rural dwellers into town and cities that cannot absorb them.

It is necessary; therefore, that at least an important part of the development effort should bypass the bid cities and be concerned with the provision of viable infrastructure in the small town s and villages. In this connection, it is necessary to emphasize that the primary need is workplaces. The task should be to bring into existence thousands or millions of new workplaces in the rural areas and small towns in order to maximize work opportunities for rural dwellers.

For this proposition to make sense, first, the work opportunities should be created in the rural areas where the majority of the people live, not where they tend to migrate for lack of opportunities. Second, the production method employed must be relatively simple, so that the demands for high skills are minimized not only in the production process itself but also in matters of organization, raw material supply, financing, marketing and so forth. Third, production should be mainly from local materials and for local use. Lastly, rural workplaces should be cheap enough so that they can be created in large numbers. These four requirements together meet the description of what is usually called ‘cottage industry’. Millions of them are needed for rural transformation in Nigeria and to check the dangerous process of mutual poisoning between urban and rural areas in the country.

Answer Details

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

market

Answer Details

The option that has the same vowel sound as the underlined word "market" is "get." The vowel sound in "market" is the short "e" sound, which is also called the "schwa" sound. The schwa sound is the most common vowel sound in English and is often represented by the letter "e" in unstressed syllables. The same sound is heard in the word "get," where the "e" is pronounced with the schwa sound. The other options do not have the same vowel sound as "market." "Mortgage" has a different vowel sound, which is the "aw" sound. "Bachelor" has the "a" sound, and "enter" has the "eh" sound.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

Because Jamium is so easily offended, he was not considered for the post of head boy?

Answer Details

The word "offended" means to feel upset, annoyed, or insulted. Therefore, the option nearest in meaning to "easily offended" is "irritable," which means easily annoyed or provoked to anger.

Choose the option that has the same stress on the first syllable.

Answer Details

The correct option is "madam". In this word, the stress is on the first syllable "ma", just like "frequent" (verb), "convict" (verb), and "mature".

The obvious function of a daily paper is to give news to the people, but this, at the moment, may be done in three ways, which are not all equally laudable. First, there is the paper which set out to give a brief resume of the news and backs this up by well-written articles on the current affairs by leading writers and experts. Secondly, there is the ‘daily’ which caters for popular taste, and contains only the most sensational and exciting bits of news, supporting them with comic-strips, pictures children’s corners, women’s sections and readers’ letters on anything but weighty topics. Thirdly, there is the propaganda type of paper, which presents only those versions of the news which agree with its own particular political outlook. All this gives news in different ways; but what deeper function can the ideal daily paper have?

In the case of the Nigerian daily newspaper, the first type gives the thinking reader an unbiased view of the world situation, so that he can judge the importance of recent events for himself, but it does not indicate to him what he ought to think. The drawbacks to this is that semi-literate or uneducated find it dull or difficult and so are discouraged from reading such a paper regularly, because it demands too much thought and effort from them. The main advantage of this type of paper, however, is its soundness, excellent English expression and general effect of widening the readers’ knowledge on a variety of subjects.

The second type interest the majority and give them more striking items of news in an easily comprehensible way, accompanied by lavish photographs and usually with some slight political bias towards the left and the interests of the working class, from which most of its readers come. The drawback of this type is that there is not enough solid thinking mater and the English is often faulty in style – tending towards ‘journalese’. The advantage is that it is quickly and easily read, on the bus or train or over the breakfast table, and gives a superficial knowledge of current affairs to people who would not have the time or inclination to read ‘heavier’ literature. Also, it is a ‘family’ paper, which every member of the household can enjoy, since there is something to please all their tastes.

The third type to some extent, appeals to emotion, not reason. It instruct the reader in exactly what that particular editor believe he ought to think, and does not give him a chance to have a mind of his own by letting him hear the other person’s point of view. The drawback is that it prevents people from thinking for themselves, and causes political hysteria rather than logical thinking. the only advantage is that it does represent the ‘freedom of the press’ to publish whatever it likes, and allows discontented people to air their grievances instead of letting them smoulder underground.

From these examples, it should be clear that the ideal function of a daily paper would be to present the news clearly and simply, and to support it with articles in good English which shows the points of view of various competent people of different outlooks on current problems. The reader could then choose which line of thought appealed to him most. Women’s and children’s sections would be good so long as they did not grow so out of proportion that the paper depended solely upon them for its popularity. Good pictures would add to the paper’s instructive value as well as to its interest; and advertisements, kept in bounds, might be helpful, both as shopping guides and as a financial help to the paper itself. All these points seem to be desirable in a daily paper now that the radio helps in giving news headlines.

Answer Details

The passage discusses the three different ways that a daily newspaper can present news: unbiased and informative, sensational and easily readable, and propaganda with a political bias. However, the ideal function of a daily paper should be to present the news clearly and simply, with well-written articles representing different points of view, and sections for women and children, while avoiding excessive use of sensationalism or propaganda. Therefore, "A good newspaper is that which is simple, logical and balanced in its news coverage," best summarizes the argument in the passage.

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

Did you have _____ when you went to visit the medical doctor?

Answer Details

The correct option is "diarrhoea". This is the correct spelling of the word, which refers to a medical condition characterized by frequent and watery bowel movements. The other options are misspelled variations of the word.

The root of problem which bedevil rural dwellers in Nigeria can be traced to the sad fact that work opportunities are so restricted that they cannot work their way out of poverty and misery. Though a great number of Nigerians still live in the villages and small towns, work opportunities exist mainly in the big cities where development efforts are concentrated. The reason usually given for his obvious lapse is that it is easier to establish industries and to find finance and markets to keep them going in the big cities and towns than in the rural areas where productivity is low because of mass illiteracy and poverty.

As capital is the product of human work, rural dwellers who are desperate enough to overcome poverty often leave the villages in search of some kind of existence in the big cities and towns. Therefore, rural unemployment in Nigeria produces mass migration into the cities, leading to a rate of urban growth which seriously taxes the resources of even the biggest cities like Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Kano. Form the sad experience of these cities; it is easy to see how rural unemployment can become urban unemployment with the attendant social problems like robbery, overcrowding and the growth of shanties or slums.

Such problems cannot be wished away but will remain with us until deliberate efforts are made to bring health to economic life outside the big cities in order to check the migration of destitute rural dwellers into town and cities that cannot absorb them.

It is necessary; therefore, that at least an important part of the development effort should bypass the bid cities and be concerned with the provision of viable infrastructure in the small town s and villages. In this connection, it is necessary to emphasize that the primary need is workplaces. The task should be to bring into existence thousands or millions of new workplaces in the rural areas and small towns in order to maximize work opportunities for rural dwellers.

For this proposition to make sense, first, the work opportunities should be created in the rural areas where the majority of the people live, not where they tend to migrate for lack of opportunities. Second, the production method employed must be relatively simple, so that the demands for high skills are minimized not only in the production process itself but also in matters of organization, raw material supply, financing, marketing and so forth. Third, production should be mainly from local materials and for local use. Lastly, rural workplaces should be cheap enough so that they can be created in large numbers. These four requirements together meet the description of what is usually called ‘cottage industry’. Millions of them are needed for rural transformation in Nigeria and to check the dangerous process of mutual poisoning between urban and rural areas in the country.

Answer Details

The obvious function of a daily paper is to give news to the people, but this, at the moment, may be done in three ways, which are not all equally laudable. First, there is the paper which set out to give a brief resume of the news and backs this up by well-written articles on the current affairs by leading writers and experts. Secondly, there is the ‘daily’ which caters for popular taste, and contains only the most sensational and exciting bits of news, supporting them with comic-strips, pictures children’s corners, women’s sections and readers’ letters on anything but weighty topics. Thirdly, there is the propaganda type of paper, which presents only those versions of the news which agree with its own particular political outlook. All this gives news in different ways; but what deeper function can the ideal daily paper have?

In the case of the Nigerian daily newspaper, the first type gives the thinking reader an unbiased view of the world situation, so that he can judge the importance of recent events for himself, but it does not indicate to him what he ought to think. The drawbacks to this is that semi-literate or uneducated find it dull or difficult and so are discouraged from reading such a paper regularly, because it demands too much thought and effort from them. The main advantage of this type of paper, however, is its soundness, excellent English expression and general effect of widening the readers’ knowledge on a variety of subjects.

The second type interest the majority and give them more striking items of news in an easily comprehensible way, accompanied by lavish photographs and usually with some slight political bias towards the left and the interests of the working class, from which most of its readers come. The drawback of this type is that there is not enough solid thinking mater and the English is often faulty in style – tending towards ‘journalese’. The advantage is that it is quickly and easily read, on the bus or train or over the breakfast table, and gives a superficial knowledge of current affairs to people who would not have the time or inclination to read ‘heavier’ literature. Also, it is a ‘family’ paper, which every member of the household can enjoy, since there is something to please all their tastes.

The third type to some extent, appeals to emotion, not reason. It instruct the reader in exactly what that particular editor believe he ought to think, and does not give him a chance to have a mind of his own by letting him hear the other person’s point of view. The drawback is that it prevents people from thinking for themselves, and causes political hysteria rather than logical thinking. the only advantage is that it does represent the ‘freedom of the press’ to publish whatever it likes, and allows discontented people to air their grievances instead of letting them smoulder underground.

From these examples, it should be clear that the ideal function of a daily paper would be to present the news clearly and simply, and to support it with articles in good English which shows the points of view of various competent people of different outlooks on current problems. The reader could then choose which line of thought appealed to him most. Women’s and children’s sections would be good so long as they did not grow so out of proportion that the paper depended solely upon them for its popularity. Good pictures would add to the paper’s instructive value as well as to its interest; and advertisements, kept in bounds, might be helpful, both as shopping guides and as a financial help to the paper itself. All these points seem to be desirable in a daily paper now that the radio helps in giving news headlines.

Answer Details

The appropriate title for this passage is "The Ideal Daily Newspaper". This is because the passage discusses the different types of daily newspapers and their functions, while also highlighting the ideal functions of a daily newspaper. The author provides insights into the advantages and drawbacks of each type of daily newspaper and concludes by describing what an ideal daily newspaper should look like, including presenting news clearly and simply, supporting it with articles in good English, and providing sections for women and children, as well as good pictures and advertisements.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

The recommended novel has a convoluted theme?

Answer Details

The option nearest in meaning to the word underlined is "a complicated". "Convoluted" means complicated or intricate, and the other options do not convey the same meaning. Therefore, the correct answer is "a complicated".

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

I think she takes her guardian's support for granted?

Answer Details

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

The perfect reeled off the names of all the students who broke the library?

Answer Details

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

He gave himself up by his plebeian tastes?

Answer Details

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks .

One of the most difficult and confusing aspect of English language is its spelling system. There is often ….16…. [A. discrepancy B. discord C. a similarity D. concord] between the punctuation of a word and its spelling. One cannot always tell how to spell a word ….17…. [A. throughout B. by C. as to D. as from] its pronunciation.

In order to understand the peculiarity of English spelling ….18….[A. difficulty B. confusion C. system D. code], it is good to know something about the history of the language. First, it is helpful to realize that English was originally spoken by people who could neither read nor write. While the ….19…. [A. middle-class B. educated C. less enlightened D. uneducated] people spoke English, the literate upper classes spoke French and wrote in Latin, later when English became a ….20…. [A. literary B. romantic C. written D. coded] language, there was no system for spelling its words. Moreover, the first writers of English were French speaking ….21… [A. newscasters B. scribes C. orators D. interpreters] who knew English only slightly: therefore, they carried many French spelling ….22…. [A. habits B. attitudes C. idiosyncrasies D. mannerisms] into English. In addition, these first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often ….23…. [A. inserted B. interjected C. interpolated D. juxtaposed] letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the ….24…. [A. antecedent B. opposing C. corresponding D. synonymous] word in Latin was spelled that way. Finally, the confusion increased when the ….25…. [A. diction B.morphology C. orthography D. pronunciation] of certain words changed while the spelling remained the same.

In question number 24 choose the best option from the letters A-D that best completes the gap

Answer Details

The best option for the gap is "corresponding." The sentence mentions that the first writers of English often carried many French spelling idiosyncrasies into English. This suggests that the spelling of some English words corresponded to their French counterparts, even though the pronunciation may have been different. Therefore, "corresponding" makes the most sense in the context of the sentence.

Choose the option that has a different stress pattern from the others.

Answer Details

The word that has a different stress pattern from the others is "revivalist". The stress is on the second syllable (-vi-) instead of the antepenultimate syllable (-va-). In "ability", "quadruplicate", and "registration", the stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks .

One of the most difficult and confusing aspect of English language is its spelling system. There is often ….16…. [A. discrepancy B. discord C. a similarity D. concord] between the punctuation of a word and its spelling. One cannot always tell how to spell a word ….17…. [A. throughout B. by C. as to D. as from] its pronunciation.

In order to understand the peculiarity of English spelling ….18….[A. difficulty B. confusion C. system D. code], it is good to know something about the history of the language. First, it is helpful to realize that English was originally spoken by people who could neither read nor write. While the ….19…. [A. middle-class B. educated C. less enlightened D. uneducated] people spoke English, the literate upper classes spoke French and wrote in Latin, later when English became a ….20…. [A. literary B. romantic C. written D. coded] language, there was no system for spelling its words. Moreover, the first writers of English were French speaking ….21… [A. newscasters B. scribes C. orators D. interpreters] who knew English only slightly: therefore, they carried many French spelling ….22…. [A. habits B. attitudes C. idiosyncrasies D. mannerisms] into English. In addition, these first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often ….23…. [A. inserted B. interjected C. interpolated D. juxtaposed] letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the ….24…. [A. antecedent B. opposing C. corresponding D. synonymous] word in Latin was spelled that way. Finally, the confusion increased when the ….25…. [A. diction B.morphology C. orthography D. pronunciation] of certain words changed while the spelling remained the same.

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

His loss suddenly became redeemable?

Answer Details

The sentence is referring to the loss of something becoming redeemable, meaning it can be recovered or compensated for. Therefore, the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word is "recoverable".

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

The clubs were not _____ on a solid ethical base?

Answer Details

The correct option to complete the sentence is "founded." To found something means to establish or create it, often with the idea of building a strong foundation or basis for it. So, when we say that the clubs were not founded on a solid ethical base, we mean that they were not established with a strong ethical foundation or basis. In other words, the clubs did not have a solid ethical framework upon which they could build and operate.

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

He wrote to you, _____?

Answer Details

The best option to complete the sentence is "didn't he". This is because the sentence is in the past tense, and "didn't" is the contraction for "did not". It is commonly used in English to form questions in the past tense.

The root of problem which bedevil rural dwellers in Nigeria can be traced to the sad fact that work opportunities are so restricted that they cannot work their way out of poverty and misery. Though a great number of Nigerians still live in the villages and small towns, work opportunities exist mainly in the big cities where development efforts are concentrated. The reason usually given for his obvious lapse is that it is easier to establish industries and to find finance and markets to keep them going in the big cities and towns than in the rural areas where productivity is low because of mass illiteracy and poverty.

As capital is the product of human work, rural dwellers who are desperate enough to overcome poverty often leave the villages in search of some kind of existence in the big cities and towns. Therefore, rural unemployment in Nigeria produces mass migration into the cities, leading to a rate of urban growth which seriously taxes the resources of even the biggest cities like Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Kano. Form the sad experience of these cities; it is easy to see how rural unemployment can become urban unemployment with the attendant social problems like robbery, overcrowding and the growth of shanties or slums.

Such problems cannot be wished away but will remain with us until deliberate efforts are made to bring health to economic life outside the big cities in order to check the migration of destitute rural dwellers into town and cities that cannot absorb them.

It is necessary; therefore, that at least an important part of the development effort should bypass the bid cities and be concerned with the provision of viable infrastructure in the small town s and villages. In this connection, it is necessary to emphasize that the primary need is workplaces. The task should be to bring into existence thousands or millions of new workplaces in the rural areas and small towns in order to maximize work opportunities for rural dwellers.

For this proposition to make sense, first, the work opportunities should be created in the rural areas where the majority of the people live, not where they tend to migrate for lack of opportunities. Second, the production method employed must be relatively simple, so that the demands for high skills are minimized not only in the production process itself but also in matters of organization, raw material supply, financing, marketing and so forth. Third, production should be mainly from local materials and for local use. Lastly, rural workplaces should be cheap enough so that they can be created in large numbers. These four requirements together meet the description of what is usually called ‘cottage industry’. Millions of them are needed for rural transformation in Nigeria and to check the dangerous process of mutual poisoning between urban and rural areas in the country.

Answer Details

The writer describes the features of a 'cottage industry' as having four requirements. First, work opportunities should be created in the rural areas where the majority of the people live, not where they tend to migrate for lack of opportunities. Second, the production method employed must be relatively simple, so that the demands for high skills are minimized not only in the production process itself but also in matters of organization, raw material supply, financing, marketing, and so forth. Third, production should be mainly from local materials and for local use. Lastly, rural workplaces should be cheap enough so that they can be created in large numbers. Therefore, the answer is rural location, simplicity, local sourcing of raw materials, and affordability of the product.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

A tentative solution was provided?

Answer Details

The option opposite in meaning to the underlined word "tentative" is "definite." "Tentative" means uncertain, hesitant, or not fully worked out or developed. "Definite" means clear, certain, or conclusive. Therefore, "a definite solution" would be the opposite of "a tentative solution." The other options are not antonyms of "tentative." "A convincing solution" would be a solution that is persuasive or compelling, "a provisional solution" would be a solution that is temporary or conditional, and "an amicable solution" would be a solution that is friendly or peaceful, but none of them have the opposite meaning to "tentative."

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

The move to expel the chairman was sanctioned by members of the party?

Answer Details

The option nearest in meaning to the underlined word "sanctioned" is "supported." In this context, "sanctioned" means to give official approval or permission for an action, decision or plan. Therefore, "supported" is the option nearest in meaning, as it also means to approve or agree with something. The other options are not synonyms of "sanctioned." "Unleashed" means to release or set free, "opposed" means to resist or go against, and "initiated" means to begin or start something.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

The dispute over land acquisition has come to a head?

Answer Details

The sentence means that the dispute over land acquisition has reached a critical or serious stage. Therefore, the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence is "The problem has reached crisis proportions."

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

I owe you far less than you owe me?

Answer Details

The obvious function of a daily paper is to give news to the people, but this, at the moment, may be done in three ways, which are not all equally laudable. First, there is the paper which set out to give a brief resume of the news and backs this up by well-written articles on the current affairs by leading writers and experts. Secondly, there is the ‘daily’ which caters for popular taste, and contains only the most sensational and exciting bits of news, supporting them with comic-strips, pictures children’s corners, women’s sections and readers’ letters on anything but weighty topics. Thirdly, there is the propaganda type of paper, which presents only those versions of the news which agree with its own particular political outlook. All this gives news in different ways; but what deeper function can the ideal daily paper have?

In the case of the Nigerian daily newspaper, the first type gives the thinking reader an unbiased view of the world situation, so that he can judge the importance of recent events for himself, but it does not indicate to him what he ought to think. The drawbacks to this is that semi-literate or uneducated find it dull or difficult and so are discouraged from reading such a paper regularly, because it demands too much thought and effort from them. The main advantage of this type of paper, however, is its soundness, excellent English expression and general effect of widening the readers’ knowledge on a variety of subjects.

The second type interest the majority and give them more striking items of news in an easily comprehensible way, accompanied by lavish photographs and usually with some slight political bias towards the left and the interests of the working class, from which most of its readers come. The drawback of this type is that there is not enough solid thinking mater and the English is often faulty in style – tending towards ‘journalese’. The advantage is that it is quickly and easily read, on the bus or train or over the breakfast table, and gives a superficial knowledge of current affairs to people who would not have the time or inclination to read ‘heavier’ literature. Also, it is a ‘family’ paper, which every member of the household can enjoy, since there is something to please all their tastes.

The third type to some extent, appeals to emotion, not reason. It instruct the reader in exactly what that particular editor believe he ought to think, and does not give him a chance to have a mind of his own by letting him hear the other person’s point of view. The drawback is that it prevents people from thinking for themselves, and causes political hysteria rather than logical thinking. the only advantage is that it does represent the ‘freedom of the press’ to publish whatever it likes, and allows discontented people to air their grievances instead of letting them smoulder underground.

From these examples, it should be clear that the ideal function of a daily paper would be to present the news clearly and simply, and to support it with articles in good English which shows the points of view of various competent people of different outlooks on current problems. The reader could then choose which line of thought appealed to him most. Women’s and children’s sections would be good so long as they did not grow so out of proportion that the paper depended solely upon them for its popularity. Good pictures would add to the paper’s instructive value as well as to its interest; and advertisements, kept in bounds, might be helpful, both as shopping guides and as a financial help to the paper itself. All these points seem to be desirable in a daily paper now that the radio helps in giving news headlines.

Answer Details

Choose the option that best best completes the gap(s).

The _____ robber showed no mercy during the attack?

Answer Details

The word that best completes the gap is "ruthless". "Ruthless" means showing no pity or compassion for others and willing to cause harm to achieve one's goals. In the context of the sentence, it means that the robber was merciless and violent during the attack.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

He has no reason to have his heart in his mouth?

Answer Details

The opposite of "having his heart in his mouth" would be to be confident. When someone "has their heart in their mouth," it means they are anxious, nervous, or fearful about something. Therefore, the correct option is "be confident," which means to have a belief in oneself and one's abilities without fear or doubt.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

In our last play, Segun acted the hero?

Answer Details

The option opposite in meaning to the underlined word "hero" is "villain." In this context, "hero" means a character who is brave, admired and respected for their actions or deeds. Therefore, "villain" is the option opposite in meaning, as it refers to a character who is evil, wicked or cruel. The other options, such as "devil," "criminal," and "assassin," do not necessarily have an opposite meaning to "hero." For example, a devil can be seen as a villainous character, but it can also be interpreted as a powerful or mischievous supernatural being. Similarly, a criminal or an assassin may be seen as the antagonist in a story, but not necessarily as the opposite of a hero.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The notice reads, 'No cash translations in this hall'?

Answer Details

The opposite of the underlined word "cash" is "cheque." The notice indicates that cash transactions are not allowed, which means that transactions involving cheques may be allowed.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

Adamu is rather meddlesome in dealing with his friends.

Answer Details

The option nearest in meaning to the underlined word "meddlesome" is "impertinent." "Meddlesome" means being excessively involved in other people's affairs, especially in a way that is unwanted or interfering. "Impertinent" means not showing proper respect, rude, or being irrelevant. Both words indicate an inappropriate or unwanted involvement or behavior towards someone else. The other options are not synonyms of "meddlesome." "Intimidating" means making someone feel scared or frightened, "quarrelsome" means having a tendency to argue or quarrel, and "uncaring" means lacking concern or interest in others.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks .

One of the most difficult and confusing aspect of English language is its spelling system. There is often ….16…. [A. discrepancy B. discord C. a similarity D. concord] between the punctuation of a word and its spelling. One cannot always tell how to spell a word ….17…. [A. throughout B. by C. as to D. as from] its pronunciation.

In order to understand the peculiarity of English spelling ….18….[A. difficulty B. confusion C. system D. code], it is good to know something about the history of the language. First, it is helpful to realize that English was originally spoken by people who could neither read nor write. While the ….19…. [A. middle-class B. educated C. less enlightened D. uneducated] people spoke English, the literate upper classes spoke French and wrote in Latin, later when English became a ….20…. [A. literary B. romantic C. written D. coded] language, there was no system for spelling its words. Moreover, the first writers of English were French speaking ….21… [A. newscasters B. scribes C. orators D. interpreters] who knew English only slightly: therefore, they carried many French spelling ….22…. [A. habits B. attitudes C. idiosyncrasies D. mannerisms] into English. In addition, these first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often ….23…. [A. inserted B. interjected C. interpolated D. juxtaposed] letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the ….24…. [A. antecedent B. opposing C. corresponding D. synonymous] word in Latin was spelled that way. Finally, the confusion increased when the ….25…. [A. diction B.morphology C. orthography D. pronunciation] of certain words changed while the spelling remained the same.

Answer Details

The most appropriate option for the gap is "inserted". The sentence mentions that the first writers of English, who were used to writing in Latin, often added letters into words even when they were not pronounced because the Latin word was spelled that way. The word "inserted" means to add or put something into something else, which fits the context of the sentence. The other options - "interjected", "interpolated", and "juxtaposed" - do not accurately convey the idea of adding letters into words.

In recent times women in Nigeria have been seeking independence and recognition. No longer content with their traditional role as housewives and mothers, the women have joined together to create a kind of women liberation movement, first under the umbrella of WRAPA, an acronym for Women’s Rights and Privileges Agency, and later under several bodies including non-governmental agencies like Women in Nigeria (WIN), Association of Northern Women in Science and Technology (ANWIST) and Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). A whole federal ministry called Ministry for Women Affairs has been established since 1995 for the development and advancement of Nigerian women towards what they call ‘gender equality’.

Through all these bodies, Nigerian women hope to acquire the freedom to pursue interest outside the home, like the opportunity to acquire education or pursue a career, instead of spending all the time doing housework.

The effects of the changes brought about by these bodies are already being felt in some families. For instance, the traditional husband-wife relationship appears to be undergoing a radical transformation. Because so man6yy women are now working, men are learning to share the household tasks of cooking, cleaning and even caring for the children. In some families, there appears to be a complete reversal of the traditional roles: the husband stays home while the wife earns the family’s income. It should be pointed out, however, that this is the exception, not the rule.

The effects of women’s liberation are being felt not only in the home but also on the job. More and more women are working and they are demanding equal responsible positions. It is not uncommon these days for a woman to head major Government ministries and parastatals. Many businesses now encourage women to advance to high management positions, and every year, the nation’s higher institutions produce more women doctors, lawyers, and accountants.

Politics and government are other areas that are feeling the impact of women’s movement. Although Nigerians do not appear ready to accept a woman president, women are already being elected to public offices in increasing numbers as senators and members of the national and state assemblies. Although Nigeria is yet to have a woman governor, which is the highest office in a state, there have been a few women deputy governors and house speakers. A few years ago, this would have been unthinkable.

In conclusion, women in Nigeria are acquiring greater independence which is causing sweeping changes in the society – at home, at work and in politics. Some men may not be happy with these changes but the women are always quick to point out that it was they, the men, who created the condition leading to the reaction of the women.

Answer Details

From the last paragraph, it can be concluded that the liberation movement is women's reaction to men's action. The paragraph states that some men may not be happy with these changes but the women are always quick to point out that it was they, the men, who created the condition leading to the reaction of the women. This implies that the women's liberation movement is a response to the actions of men in Nigerian society.

The root of problem which bedevil rural dwellers in Nigeria can be traced to the sad fact that work opportunities are so restricted that they cannot work their way out of poverty and misery. Though a great number of Nigerians still live in the villages and small towns, work opportunities exist mainly in the big cities where development efforts are concentrated. The reason usually given for his obvious lapse is that it is easier to establish industries and to find finance and markets to keep them going in the big cities and towns than in the rural areas where productivity is low because of mass illiteracy and poverty.

As capital is the product of human work, rural dwellers who are desperate enough to overcome poverty often leave the villages in search of some kind of existence in the big cities and towns. Therefore, rural unemployment in Nigeria produces mass migration into the cities, leading to a rate of urban growth which seriously taxes the resources of even the biggest cities like Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Kano. Form the sad experience of these cities; it is easy to see how rural unemployment can become urban unemployment with the attendant social problems like robbery, overcrowding and the growth of shanties or slums.

Such problems cannot be wished away but will remain with us until deliberate efforts are made to bring health to economic life outside the big cities in order to check the migration of destitute rural dwellers into town and cities that cannot absorb them.

It is necessary; therefore, that at least an important part of the development effort should bypass the bid cities and be concerned with the provision of viable infrastructure in the small town s and villages. In this connection, it is necessary to emphasize that the primary need is workplaces. The task should be to bring into existence thousands or millions of new workplaces in the rural areas and small towns in order to maximize work opportunities for rural dwellers.

For this proposition to make sense, first, the work opportunities should be created in the rural areas where the majority of the people live, not where they tend to migrate for lack of opportunities. Second, the production method employed must be relatively simple, so that the demands for high skills are minimized not only in the production process itself but also in matters of organization, raw material supply, financing, marketing and so forth. Third, production should be mainly from local materials and for local use. Lastly, rural workplaces should be cheap enough so that they can be created in large numbers. These four requirements together meet the description of what is usually called ‘cottage industry’. Millions of them are needed for rural transformation in Nigeria and to check the dangerous process of mutual poisoning between urban and rural areas in the country.

Answer Details

The obvious function of a daily paper is to give news to the people, but this, at the moment, may be done in three ways, which are not all equally laudable. First, there is the paper which set out to give a brief resume of the news and backs this up by well-written articles on the current affairs by leading writers and experts. Secondly, there is the ‘daily’ which caters for popular taste, and contains only the most sensational and exciting bits of news, supporting them with comic-strips, pictures children’s corners, women’s sections and readers’ letters on anything but weighty topics. Thirdly, there is the propaganda type of paper, which presents only those versions of the news which agree with its own particular political outlook. All this gives news in different ways; but what deeper function can the ideal daily paper have?

In the case of the Nigerian daily newspaper, the first type gives the thinking reader an unbiased view of the world situation, so that he can judge the importance of recent events for himself, but it does not indicate to him what he ought to think. The drawbacks to this is that semi-literate or uneducated find it dull or difficult and so are discouraged from reading such a paper regularly, because it demands too much thought and effort from them. The main advantage of this type of paper, however, is its soundness, excellent English expression and general effect of widening the readers’ knowledge on a variety of subjects.

The second type interest the majority and give them more striking items of news in an easily comprehensible way, accompanied by lavish photographs and usually with some slight political bias towards the left and the interests of the working class, from which most of its readers come. The drawback of this type is that there is not enough solid thinking mater and the English is often faulty in style – tending towards ‘journalese’. The advantage is that it is quickly and easily read, on the bus or train or over the breakfast table, and gives a superficial knowledge of current affairs to people who would not have the time or inclination to read ‘heavier’ literature. Also, it is a ‘family’ paper, which every member of the household can enjoy, since there is something to please all their tastes.

The third type to some extent, appeals to emotion, not reason. It instruct the reader in exactly what that particular editor believe he ought to think, and does not give him a chance to have a mind of his own by letting him hear the other person’s point of view. The drawback is that it prevents people from thinking for themselves, and causes political hysteria rather than logical thinking. the only advantage is that it does represent the ‘freedom of the press’ to publish whatever it likes, and allows discontented people to air their grievances instead of letting them smoulder underground.

From these examples, it should be clear that the ideal function of a daily paper would be to present the news clearly and simply, and to support it with articles in good English which shows the points of view of various competent people of different outlooks on current problems. The reader could then choose which line of thought appealed to him most. Women’s and children’s sections would be good so long as they did not grow so out of proportion that the paper depended solely upon them for its popularity. Good pictures would add to the paper’s instructive value as well as to its interest; and advertisements, kept in bounds, might be helpful, both as shopping guides and as a financial help to the paper itself. All these points seem to be desirable in a daily paper now that the radio helps in giving news headlines.

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined.

The government has announced its preparedness for the scheme?

Answer Details

The word 'preparedness' means being ready for something, so the option nearest in meaning to it is 'readiness'.