JAMB UTME - Literature In English - 1979

Question 1 Report

The woods decay,the woods decay and fall,
The vapors weep their burden to the ground,
Man comes and fills the field and lies beneath,
And after many a summer dies the swan.
The theme of these lines is

the falling of leaves

the ground on which the leaves fall

man as a farmer

the power of death over every life Correct answer

the flight of birds in certain reasons

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Question 2 Report

In 'The Call of the River Nun','O'incomprehensible God!' expresses the poet's

anger against God

horror of God

acceptance of God

rejection of God Correct answer

inability to understand life

Answer Details

Read lesson note on Poetry (JAMB)

Poetry

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Question 3 Report

We returned to our places,these kingdoms ,
But no longer at ease here,in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their goods.
I should be glad of another death.
The author of these lines is

W.B. Yeats

Chinua Achebe

Thomas Hardy

T.S. Elliot Correct answer

E.G. Okara

Answer Details

Read lesson note on Poetry (JAMB)

Poetry

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Question 4 Report

I lingered over the choice
But in the darkness of my doubts
You lifted the lamp of love
And i saw in your face
The road that i should take
In 'The Mesh' the poet 'lingered over the choice' because

he had quarelled with the lady

he is not yet sure of the lady's love

he is not yet sure of his love for the lady Correct answer

the lady is not beautiful

the lady is too possesive

Answer Details

Read lesson note on Poetry (JAMB)

Poetry

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Question 5 Report

The Adventure of Tom Sawyer depicts Tom's

naivety Correct answer

crass stupidity

ingenuity

hard heartedness

riches

Answer Details

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General Literary Principles

Prose

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Question 6 Report

In Birago Diop's 'Vanity',these two lines 'Sad complaining voices of beggars
Who indeed will hear them without laughter?'contain

an exaggeration

a hyperbole

a paradox Correct answer

an understatement

an illogicallity

Answer Details

Read lesson note on Poetry (JAMB)

Poetry

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Question 7 Report

'Exposition' in a play means

the initial unfolding of the necessary background of the play

its climax

the marriage of the hero and heroine

the untangling of the plot Correct answer

the private speech of a character

Answer Details

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General Literary Principles

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Question 8 Report

Modern African Stories
In Alex la Guma's A Matter of Taste, it is a matter of taste to eat exactly what you want because

that is your own favourite choice

you can afford it Correct answer

friends can always get it for you

you can always have it as bonus at work

your taste is always available

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Question 9 Report

In 'Wild Grapes' the narrator says 'You see me celebrate two birthdays,And give myself out as two different ages because

she is reincarnated

she has first declared a false age

the incident of the poem begins a new chapter in her life Correct answer

the grapes are wilder than herself

the grapes are older than herself

Answer Details

Read lesson note on Poetry (JAMB)

Poetry

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Question 10 Report

In 'The Duel' the line 'And the swords clicked and scrapped,and the onsets sped' indicates

the depth of their fatique

the loftiness of their hopes

the abjectness of their fears

the fervour of their prayers

the fierceness of the fight Correct answer

Answer Details

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Poetry

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Question 11 Report

In Night of Seine,the word'dark' in 'listen to our dark blood beat' is used

biologically

scientifically

figuratively Correct answer

literally

sociologically

Answer Details

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General Literary Principles

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Question 12 Report

She rose up.She walked up to the table.She stirred up the food once more,and lifted it up from the hot plate.She picked up the second pan and placed it on the red coils.From underneath,in the cardboard box,she collected two enamel plates green with a red band.she wiped them with a white napkin hanging on the line over the bed.she brought out two forks and two spoons.
By using details, the author of the above passage makes the scene

monotonous

unattractive

realistic Correct answer

bewildering

strange

Answer Details

Read lesson note on General Literary Principles (JAMB)

General Literary Principles

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Question 13 Report

The Concubine
'Ihuoma,my child' Wigwe began at last,'really i ought to have come here with more people,but i have avoided formalities because i want to spare myself any embarrassment.Formalities will come later if all goes well'.
Wigwe has come to Ihuoma in order to

marry her clandestinely

gain her consent before coming with relations

persuade her to marry his own son Correct answer

dissuade her from marrying his own son

inquire about her health

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General Literary Principles

Prose

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Question 14 Report

Kontiki Expedition demonstrates human

rashness

wastefulness

tactlessness

courage Correct answer

recklessness

Answer Details

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General Literary Principles

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Question 15 Report

Point out the odd item in this list

Romeo and Juliet

Ozidi

Tom Sawyer

A Raisin in the Sun Correct answer

Kongi's Harvest

Answer Details

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Drama

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Question 16 Report

In Kossoh Town Boy,the hero presents his father as

tyrannical

despotic

strict Correct answer

weak

selfish

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Drama

Prose

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Question 17 Report

'The Sacrilege' ends on a note of the complexity of

revenge

ambition

faith

fate Correct answer

existence

Answer Details

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Poetry

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Question 18 Report

One of the following is a mark of good poetry

An interesting story

Imaginative use of language Correct answer

Realistic Characterisation

Flashback

Audience participation

Answer Details

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Poetry

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Question 19 Report

A good plot must posses

many exciting events

good,interesting characters

a pleasant setting

intrigue Correct answer

single,complete and ordered action

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Drama

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Question 20 Report

Pick out the odd one

Metaphor

Characterization Correct answer

Personification

Rythm

Simile

Answer Details

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Drama

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Question 21 Report

In a 'Portrait', a poet writes:
At mankind's feast,i take my place
In solemn,sanctimonious state,
And have the air of saying grace
While i defile the dinner plate.
The tone of this passage may be described as

solemn

self-mocking Correct answer

dead earnest

serious

angry

Answer Details

Read lesson note on Poetry (JAMB)

Poetry

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Question 22 Report

Mr Johnson always buys beautiful things for his wife Bamu because

he has plenty of money

he loves to see beautiful things onher

she demands them from him

his friends buy such things for their wives Correct answer

they are always cheap

Answer Details

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Literary Appreciation

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Question 23 Report

Dennis Brutus' 'A Troubadour I Traverse' is on the following

a poem of resistance against oppression Correct answer

a poem about a lost lover

a poem about a journey of exploration

a poem of satisfaction with one's society

none of the above

Answer Details

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Poetry

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Question 24 Report

The central theme of Shakespeare's As You Like It is

wrestling

disguise

forest life

disagreement between brothers

the nature of true love Correct answer

Answer Details

Read lesson note on A Midsummer Night’s Dream (WAEC)

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

General Literary Principles

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Question 25 Report

The most quarrelsome character in Romeo and Juliet is

Benvolio

Tybalt

Paris

Mercutio Correct answer

Juliet's nurse

Answer Details

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Drama

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Question 26 Report

Events in The Concubine are dominated by

Ihuoma

Emenike

The Sea god

supernatural elements Correct answer

Ekwueme

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Poetry

Prose

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Question 27 Report

In 'Come Away My Love' Kariuki deals with the problems of

love in the abstract

reflections on shop windows

the music of the piano

love between people of different races Correct answer

the light from the candle

Answer Details

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Drama

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Question 28 Report

'Stream-side Exchange' primarily shows J.P Clark's interest in

birds

children

trade

rivers

destiny Correct answer

Answer Details

Read lesson note on “a Government Driver On His Retirement” By Onu Chi (WAEC)

“a Government Driver On His Retirement” By Onu Chi

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Question 29 Report

Our attitude to the hero of George Elliot's Sill Marner is one of

contempt

fear

sympathy Correct answer

hatred

none of the above

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General Literary Principles

Prose

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Question 30 Report

Which of the following statements is true of Shakespeare's Macbeth

Macbeth is a wicked woman who does not love her husband

The Birnam wood actually moved

The tragedy of Macbeth is caused by Macbeth's ambition and some other factors Correct answer

Macbeth is the only cause of his own tragedy

The witches have only good news for Macbeth

Answer Details

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Drama

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Question 31 Report

In 'Night',Soyinka describes night as

horrifying

terrifying Correct answer

protective

soothing

both protective and terrifying

Answer Details

Read lesson note on Literary Appreciation (JAMB)

Literary Appreciation

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Question 32 Report

A play is drama because

it contains characters

it does not contain any story

it cannot be read silently

it can be acted on the stage Correct answer

it is written in verse

Answer Details

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Drama

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Question 33 Report

In 'The Vultures' the vultures are

birds of prey

African hunters

colonial masters Correct answer

vampires

sacrificial animals

Answer Details

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Poetry

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Question 34 Report

Romeo and Juliet
"O'Romeo,Romeo!Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy father and refuse thy name"
Juliet makes this statement because

she hates Romeo

she hates Romeo's father Correct answer

she is anxiuos to marry Romeo

she finds the name Romeo unromantic

she wants Romeo to bear a particular name

Answer Details

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Drama

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Question 35 Report

A novel can be described as

a narration of facts

a story

a brief description of a concept or point of view

an extended prose narrative covering a wide range of characters and experience Correct answer

a narration of an incedent

Answer Details

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General Literary Principles

Prose

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Question 36 Report

A Raisin' in the Sun
That's it.There you are.Man say to his woman got me a dream.His woman got me a dream.His woman say:I got to take hold of this here world,baby!And a woman will say:Eat your eggs and go to work....
'a dream' in this speech refers to

a liquor store

a prosperous academic career Correct answer

a political career

a family estate in Clybourne Park

a film industry

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Drama

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Question 37 Report

In 'Telephone Conversation', the tone of the question 'You mean-like plain or milk chocolate? is

sarcastic Correct answer

complimentary

admissive

pleading

commanding

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Poetry

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Question 38 Report

Kalu Uka's 'Earth to Earth' is about one of the following

death Correct answer

urine

flowers

goddess of the Earth

love

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Question 39 Report

Although the following statement is not a direct quotation from any books,it serves as as an aid to identifying characters that appear in the works.Read it carefully and say which character is likely to make it: 'How could i have succumbed to the pressures of the corrupt society?I thought i would be a successful social reformer but now i am as bad as those i criticize'

Ihuoma

Tom

Clara

Emenike

Obi Okonkwo Correct answer

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Drama

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Question 40 Report

The dominant feeling in Leopold Sedar Senghor's 'In Memoriam' is

happiness

nostalgia Correct answer

sadness

despair

hatred

Answer Details

Read lesson note on “Black Woman” By Leopold Sedar Senghor (WAEC)

“Black Woman” By Leopold Sedar Senghor

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Question 41 Report

A woman cried out.The policeman who was edging nearer had been joined by another.Both were edging nearer.Carefully and slowly.But it was not that that had made the woman cry out.She had seen one of the men's hand slip.He was now holding on by one hand only.The crowd was tense.This was the Kill.Automatically they moved forward in a body.The doctor was in the lead.
The author of this passage creates in the reader

disbelief

a feeling of nostalgia

a feeling of light hearted relaxation

suspense Correct answer

unconcern

Answer Details

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Poetry

Literary Appreciation

General Literary Principles