JAMB UTME - Use of English - 1994

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

People dislike Jobe because he is a _____ young man?

Maelezo ya Majibu

People dislike Jobe because he is a tricky young man. Explanation: Out of the given options, "tricky" is the only adjective that appropriately describes Jobe as someone who is likely to be deceitful, sly, or crafty in his actions. The other options are either not valid adjectives (tricking) or have a different meaning that does not fit the context (trickful means full of tricks, but it doesn't convey the negative connotation that is implied in the sentence). Therefore, "tricky" is the correct option.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The phrase "stepped off the wrong foot" is an idiom which means to start off badly or to make a mistake. Therefore, the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word is "started off badly."

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

A citizen in a democracy can _____ the law if he or she wants to correct an injustice.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

Sa'adatu as well as the maids _____ ?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "likes plantain chips". The sentence is in the present tense and the subject "Sa'adatu as well as the maids" is plural. Therefore, the correct verb form should also be plural, which is "likes". The phrase "plantain chips" is the object of the verb and does not need to be changed.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

Defects like _____ in government's development plans _____ for extra vigilance?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "these / call." The sentence is referring to multiple defects in government's development plans, so "these" should be used instead of "this." The word "call" should be singular because it's referring to a general need for vigilance, not multiple calls. Therefore, "these / call" is the correct option. In simpler terms, the sentence is saying that when there are multiple defects in government development plans, it's important to be extra vigilant, and the correct way to express this idea is by using "these / call."

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

Ngozi's countenance is less gloomy; it would appear as if she is relatively out of the woods?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined phrase "out of the woods" in the given sentence is "free from difficulties." The expression "out of the woods" is often used to indicate that someone has emerged from a difficult or dangerous situation, and is now safe and free from harm. In the context of the given sentence, it means that Ngozi's situation, which was previously uncertain or difficult, has now improved, and she is now in a better state. In simpler terms, the sentence means that Ngozi's mood has improved, and it seems that she has overcome the difficulties she was facing before.

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The handset was faulty and so it was impossible to _____ them on phone?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is "get through to." This means to successfully make contact with someone by phone. In this context, the speaker is saying that because the handset was faulty, they were unable to contact the other person by phone.

Gossip! Yes gossip is universal. In some language, it may have an outright negative connotation but in English, it basically means ‘idle talk’, chat about trivial things or matter. When moderated and kind, ‘casual talk’ may serve to exchange useful information as a means of updating one’s knowledge. The whole neighborhood may grow gossipy with who got married, pregnant, died, or it may just be a humorous chi-chat devoid of malicious intent.

However, idle talk more often than not, degenerates beyond the bounds of property and good taste. Facts get embellish, exaggerated or deliberately distorted. Humiliation is made the source of humor. Privacy is violated, confidence betrayed and reputations injured or ruined. Condemnation takes the place of commendation, murmuring and fault finding are extolled. The end result is like the mud thrown on a clean piece of white cloth. It does not stick but it leaves a dirty and sometimes permanent stain behind.

Gossip has been blamed for sleepless nights, headache and indigestion. Certainly, it must have caused you some personal anguish at one time or the other that is someone must at some times have tried getting a knife between your shoulder blades. Negative gossip is almost universally frowned upon. Among the Indians in the United States, gossiping about someone is classified with lying and stealing. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, the tale bearer is detested and often avoided. Indeed, throughout history, measures have been taken to curb this ‘deadly’ disease. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the ducking stool was popularly used in England and Germany and later in the United States.

The gossip was tied to a chair and repeatedly ducked in water. In modern times, the war against gossiping has also been fought. Rumor control centers have been established to even respond to rumors that were potentially harmful to government activities. Law have been passed to curb gossip. Nicknames have been given to those who peddle the trade. Ever heard of ‘Amebo’!

Such efforts notwithstanding, gossip survives. It is alive and flourishing. Gossip is everywhere. There is neighborhood gossip, office gossip, party gossip, family gossip and funnily enough, religious gossip. Gossip transcends all cultures, race and civilizations, and it has flourished and it is still flourishing at every level of the society. Gossip is deeply a part of human nature. Yet gossip is not inherently evil. There is a positive side to casual talk. Knowing where to draw harmless and harmful gossip is the key to avoiding victimizing others and being victim yourself.

Maelezo ya Majibu

When gossip 'degenerates beyond the bounds of propriety and good taste' it becomes harmful. This is because gossiping in this manner can lead to the embellishment or distortion of facts, violation of privacy, betrayal of confidence, and injury or ruin of reputations. It can also cause personal anguish and negative physical symptoms such as sleepless nights, headache, and indigestion. In some cultures, gossiping is classified with lying and stealing and is considered detestable. Despite efforts to curb gossip, it remains a part of human nature and is still flourishing in every level of society.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

I shall never be so tired _____ to write to you?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the underlined word.

In the course of the debate, the speakers were advised to summarize their points?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the underlined word "summarize" is "develop". "Summarize" means to briefly state the main points or ideas of something, while "develop" means to expand on or elaborate on something, to add more detail and depth. In the given sentence, the speakers were advised to summarize their points, which means to give a concise and brief summary of their ideas. Therefore, the opposite of "summarize" would be to develop or elaborate on their points, which would mean to provide more detail and explanation. Options like "argue," "round off," or "round up" do not convey the opposite meaning of "summarize."

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

After my husband's popular election, we had to keep open house throughout the weekend?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The phrase "keep open house" means to entertain every caller, especially if they are coming to offer congratulations or show support. In the given sentence, the speaker says that they had to entertain guests throughout the weekend, which means that they had to "keep open house". Therefore, the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined phrase is "entertain every caller".

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The expected guest eventually arrived _____ his wife?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

I don't think he can _____?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

I now realize I _______ you before?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The president of the union _____ for the airport by the time the riot started?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill in the gap is "was leaving." This is because the sentence is in the past tense, and the phrase "by the time the riot started" indicates that the leaving action had already occurred before the riot. "Was leaving" is the past continuous tense, which fits this context. The other options do not fit because "would have left" is the conditional perfect tense and implies that the leaving action did not actually happen. "Is about leaving" is present continuous tense and does not fit with the past tense of the rest of the sentence. "Has left" is present perfect tense and also does not fit with the past tense context of the sentence.

What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot work their way out of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When the do find occasional work, their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so the drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in big cities either - and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding some work appear to be greater than in the villages - where such chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then producers mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment.

The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contains about eighty ninety per cent of the population? The primary needs is work, places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker, it must be to maximize work opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed The poor man greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore important that everybody should produce something, than that a few people should each produce a great ideal. And in most developing countries , this can only be achieved by using an appropriate technology.

Maelezo ya Majibu

In many places in the world today, the poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer, and the programmes of development planning and foreign aid appear to be unable to reverse this trend. Nearly all the developing countries have a modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are similar to those in developed countries. But they also have a non-modern sector, where the pattern of living and working are not only unsatisfactory, but in many cases is even getting worse.

What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot find occasional workout of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When they do find occasional work their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so they drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in the big cities either – and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding work appear to be greater there than in the villages – where chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then, produces mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment.

The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contain about eighty to ninety per cent of the population? The primary need is work places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker is unimportant. Bu t the primary aim cannot be to maximize output per worker, it must be to maximize wok opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed. The poor man’s greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore more important that everybody should produce something, than that a few should each produce a great deal. And in most developing countries, this can only be achieved by using an appropriate intermediate technology.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Politics in pre-colonial times did not involve the partisan type of electioneering campaign that we now have. The society was ruled by a king or an emir and his traditional chiefs or by the council of elders or clan heads. Where there existed the hierarchical system as in the Yoruba and Hausa kingdoms, succession to throne was mainly patriarchal. A recorded exception was the case of queen Amina of the Zazzau Empire who ruled in the 15th century AD.

A host of unsung and unrecorded women regents and at the times women village rulers abound, especially the present Ondo state where some influential female chiefs and regents still exist. In Ibadan, the famous Efunsetan Aniwura held political as well as economic sway and it took a lot of drive, brain work and political engineering for the then King and his council chiefs to subdue her. The history of the various towns and villages of the period could boast of such women who were actively engaged in the running of government.

In the Igbo society, a rise to leadership position was through demonstrated ability in fostering societal survival rather than heritage. Women’s voice in the politics of each clan is given focus either through the guild of wives, the guild of daughters, or the market women’s guild. Women, through these organs, could make their feelings known on any issue affecting their community as a whole or females in particular, Thus, unpopular edict or ‘decrees’ could be revoked or revised as a result of mounted pressure from any of these female associations. No decision was usually taken by the man without prior consultation with the leaders of the women’s groups.

It must however be emphasized that the degree of women participation in politics was yet much limited when compared to that of men.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

In his own story, he confirmed that they had been on his tail for quite sometime?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the phrase "on his tail" in the given sentence is "closely following and watching him." The phrase "on his tail" is an idiomatic expression that means to closely follow or pursue someone. It is often used in contexts where someone is being followed by law enforcement or a similar authority. In this sentence, the phrase means that the person confirmed that they had been closely followed and watched by someone for quite some time. In simpler terms, the sentence is saying that someone was closely following and watching the person in question for quite some time, as confirmed by the person's own story.

Choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the underlined word.

The elderly often fulminate against the apparent indolence of the young generation?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word "fulminate" means to strongly criticize or protest against something. Therefore, the option that is opposite in meaning is "commend warmly," which means to praise or approve of someone or something.

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

Many would argue that the achievement is commensurate with the effort?

Maelezo ya Majibu

In many places in the world today, the poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer, and the programmes of development planning and foreign aid appear to be unable to reverse this trend. Nearly all the developing countries have a modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are similar to those in developed countries. But they also have a non-modern sector, where the pattern of living and working are not only unsatisfactory, but in many cases is even getting worse.

What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot find occasional workout of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When they do find occasional work their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so they drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in the big cities either – and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding work appear to be greater there than in the villages – where chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then, produces mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment.

The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contain about eighty to ninety per cent of the population? The primary need is work places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker is unimportant. Bu t the primary aim cannot be to maximize output per worker, it must be to maximize wok opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed. The poor man’s greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore more important that everybody should produce something, than that a few should each produce a great deal. And in most developing countries, this can only be achieved by using an appropriate intermediate technology.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

Ojo used to play tennis everyday?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The phrase "used to play" in the given sentence indicates a habitual action that Ojo regularly did in the past. Therefore, the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word is "was in the habit of playing".

Gossip! Yes gossip is universal. In some language, it may have an outright negative connotation but in English, it basically means ‘idle talk’, chat about trivial things or matter. When moderated and kind, ‘casual talk’ may serve to exchange useful information as a means of updating one’s knowledge. The whole neighborhood may grow gossipy with who got married, pregnant, died, or it may just be a humorous chi-chat devoid of malicious intent.

However, idle talk more often than not, degenerates beyond the bounds of property and good taste. Facts get embellish, exaggerated or deliberately distorted. Humiliation is made the source of humor. Privacy is violated, confidence betrayed and reputations injured or ruined. Condemnation takes the place of commendation, murmuring and fault finding are extolled. The end result is like the mud thrown on a clean piece of white cloth. It does not stick but it leaves a dirty and sometimes permanent stain behind.

Gossip has been blamed for sleepless nights, headache and indigestion. Certainly, it must have caused you some personal anguish at one time or the other that is someone must at some times have tried getting a knife between your shoulder blades. Negative gossip is almost universally frowned upon. Among the Indians in the United States, gossiping about someone is classified with lying and stealing. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, the tale bearer is detested and often avoided. Indeed, throughout history, measures have been taken to curb this ‘deadly’ disease. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the ducking stool was popularly used in England and Germany and later in the United States.

The gossip was tied to a chair and repeatedly ducked in water. In modern times, the war against gossiping has also been fought. Rumor control centers have been established to even respond to rumors that were potentially harmful to government activities. Law have been passed to curb gossip. Nicknames have been given to those who peddle the trade. Ever heard of ‘Amebo’!

Such efforts notwithstanding, gossip survives. It is alive and flourishing. Gossip is everywhere. There is neighborhood gossip, office gossip, party gossip, family gossip and funnily enough, religious gossip. Gossip transcends all cultures, race and civilizations, and it has flourished and it is still flourishing at every level of the society. Gossip is deeply a part of human nature. Yet gossip is not inherently evil. There is a positive side to casual talk. Knowing where to draw harmless and harmful gossip is the key to avoiding victimizing others and being victim yourself.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The title that best sums up this passage is "Gossip: The good and the bad". The passage discusses the nature of gossip, its positive and negative effects, and how it is deeply ingrained in human nature. While negative gossip can cause harm and damage reputations, harmless gossip can serve as a means of exchanging useful information and updating one's knowledge. The key to avoiding victimizing others and being a victim oneself is knowing where to draw the line between harmless and harmful gossip.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

As you have been here before _____ lead the way?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "you'd better". It is a contraction of "you had better" and is used to suggest or recommend a course of action. In this case, the speaker is telling the person who has been here before to lead the way, implying that it would be better if they do so.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

When we visited him, he offered us a variety of _____ drinks such as whisky and brandy?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap would be "hard". This is because the sentence mentions drinks like whisky and brandy, which are considered "hard" alcoholic beverages as they have a higher alcohol content compared to other types of alcohol like beer or wine.

Choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the underlined word.

Nigeria is gradually experiencing economic recession?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the underlined word "recession" is "recovery". A recession is a significant decline in economic activity, often characterized by a contraction in employment and investment. On the other hand, recovery refers to the process of improving or returning to a state of normalcy after a period of difficulty or decline. Therefore, if Nigeria is experiencing economic recession, it means that the economy is declining or going through a period of difficulty. The opposite of this is if the country is experiencing economic recovery, which means that the economy is improving and returning to a state of normalcy after a period of difficulty or decline.

In the question below, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:

Here is Mr Pam the tailor

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

Go straight down the hill and take the third _______ on the left. you can't miss it?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

She was taken aback by his altitude?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The phrase "taken aback" means to be surprised or shocked by something unexpected. Therefore, the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to "taken aback" is "surprised." In the given sentence, the speaker is expressing that the person was surprised by his attitude, which means that his attitude was unexpected or different from what was anticipated.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

I hereby declare and _____ that, to the best of my knowledge, this statement is true in all respects?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "affirm." To affirm means to state as a fact or assert strongly and publicly. In this context, the speaker is declaring that the statement they are making is true to the best of their knowledge.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

School buildings that _____ in 1950 _____ now uninhabitable?

Maelezo ya Majibu

School buildings that were built in 1950 are now uninhabitable. Explanation: The sentence refers to school buildings that were constructed in the year 1950, which means that the correct verb form to use is the past tense form "were built". Additionally, since the sentence talks about their current state of being uninhabitable, the correct auxiliary verb to use is "are". Therefore, the correct option to fill in the gap is "were built / are".

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

I would like to _____ my father to Kaduna?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "accompany". This means that the speaker wants to travel with their father to Kaduna. "Follow" suggests that the speaker will travel separately, but follow their father to Kaduna. "Escort" suggests that the speaker will provide protection or guidance to their father on the journey. "Join" suggests that the father is already in Kaduna and the speaker wants to go there to be with him.

Choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the underlined word.

As soon as the headmaster appeared, the chanting resumed?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

We could not put up with his terrible disposition?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The phrase "put up with" means to tolerate something or someone unpleasant. Therefore, the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word is "tolerate."

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The director is to liaise _____ the management _____ corporate matters?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct answer is "with / on". The phrasal verb "to liaise with" means to cooperate or work closely with someone, and in this sentence, the director is supposed to liaise with the management. The preposition "on" is used to indicate the topic or subject of the corporate matters they will be discussing or working on together.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

I have decided to _____ drinking alcohol for health reasons?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "give up". The sentence means that the speaker has made the decision to stop drinking alcohol for health reasons. "Abandon", "discard", and "jettison" also mean to get rid of something, but "give up" specifically means to stop doing something that is habit-forming or detrimental to health.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill in the gap is "were made". The subject of the sentence is "a range of options," which is plural. Therefore, the correct verb to use is the plural form "were." The phrase "to the political parties" indicates that the options were available for the political parties to choose from during the elections. The past tense "concluded" indicates that the elections are over.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:

The paper carries many humorous cartoon on Saturdays

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:

The lecture was merely obfuscating the issue with his endless examples

Maelezo ya Majibu

The word "obfuscating" means to make something confusing or unclear. Therefore, the opposite in meaning would be to make something clear or easier to understand. The most appropriate option that is opposite in meaning to "obfuscating" is "clarifying".

What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot work their way out of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When the do find occasional work, their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so the drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in big cities either - and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding some work appear to be greater than in the villages - where such chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then producers mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment.

The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contains about eighty ninety per cent of the population? The primary needs is work, places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker, it must be to maximize work opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed The poor man greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore important that everybody should produce something, than that a few people should each produce a great ideal. And in most developing countries , this can only be achieved by using an appropriate technology.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The phrase 'reverse this trend' as used in the text means to improve the situation. The text describes the trend of rural unemployment leading to mass migration into the cities, which in turn leads to urban unemployment. To 'reverse this trend' would mean to find ways to promote economic growth in small towns and villages and create millions of work opportunities for the unemployed and under-employed in these areas. The aim is to provide employment opportunities that are poorly paid and relatively unproductive, but still better than having no work at all. Therefore, reversing this trend means improving the economic situation by creating more work opportunities in rural areas.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

When i was in the secondary school, my parents were active members of the _____

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "Parents - Teachers Association" or "Parents - Teachers' Association". Explanation: In most schools, there is an association of parents and teachers that work together to promote the education and welfare of the students. This association is commonly referred to as the Parents-Teachers Association or PTA. The PTA is involved in various activities such as fundraising, school events, and community outreach programs to support the school and enhance the education of the students.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:

Ina sentence, there must always be a concord between a subject and its verb

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word "concord" in the given sentence is "disagreement." The term "concord" refers to the agreement or harmony between two or more things. In grammar, it specifically refers to the agreement between the subject and verb of a sentence. Therefore, if there is no agreement between the subject and verb of a sentence, it would be considered a "disagreement." In simpler terms, the sentence is saying that a subject and its verb in a sentence must always agree with each other. The opposite of agreement is disagreement, which means they do not agree with each other.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

Some motorist _____ Sokoto and Kano?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Politics in pre-colonial times did not involve the partisan type of electioneering campaign that we now have. The society was ruled by a king or an emir and his traditional chiefs or by the council of elders or clan heads. Where there existed the hierarchical system as in the Yoruba and Hausa kingdoms, succession to throne was mainly patriarchal. A recorded exception was the case of queen Amina of the Zazzau Empire who ruled in the 15th century AD.

A host of unsung and unrecorded women regents and at the times women village rulers abound, especially the present Ondo state where some influential female chiefs and regents still exist. In Ibadan, the famous Efunsetan Aniwura held political as well as economic sway and it took a lot of drive, brain work and political engineering for the then King and his council chiefs to subdue her. The history of the various towns and villages of the period could boast of such women who were actively engaged in the running of government.

In the Igbo society, a rise to leadership position was through demonstrated ability in fostering societal survival rather than heritage. Women’s voice in the politics of each clan is given focus either through the guild of wives, the guild of daughters, or the market women’s guild. Women, through these organs, could make their feelings known on any issue affecting their community as a whole or females in particular, Thus, unpopular edict or ‘decrees’ could be revoked or revised as a result of mounted pressure from any of these female associations. No decision was usually taken by the man without prior consultation with the leaders of the women’s groups.

It must however be emphasized that the degree of women participation in politics was yet much limited when compared to that of men.

A suitable title for the passage is

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The exercise will be easily accomplished by the team if members _____ their _____?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option to fill the gap is "pool/resources together." This means that the team members need to combine or bring together their resources in order to accomplish the exercise easily. "Pool" means to combine or contribute resources together, while "together" emphasizes the need for collaboration and cooperation.

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

Despite the pressure of work during the week i shall endeavor to _____ at your wedding?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill in the gap is "put in an appearance". This means that the speaker will make an effort to attend the wedding despite having a lot of work to do. It implies that the speaker may not be able to stay for very long, but they will at least make an appearance. The other options either do not make sense or are not commonly used phrases.

What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot work their way out of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When the do find occasional work, their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so the drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in big cities either - and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding some work appear to be greater than in the villages - where such chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then producers mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment.

The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contains about eighty ninety per cent of the population? The primary needs is work, places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker, it must be to maximize work opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed The poor man greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore important that everybody should produce something, than that a few people should each produce a great ideal. And in most developing countries , this can only be achieved by using an appropriate technology.

When the writer says '...literally millions of work places', he wants the reader to?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The writer wants the reader to appreciate the need for numerous workplaces. The phrase 'literally millions of work places' emphasizes the urgency and scale of the problem, and highlights the fact that a large number of job opportunities are needed to address the issue of unemployment and underemployment in developing countries. The writer wants the reader to understand that creating job opportunities should be a top priority to improve the living conditions of the poor.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

There are _____ on spelling and pronunciation at the end of the book?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option is "appendices". This is because "appendix" is the singular form while "appendices" is the plural form of the word. Since the sentence refers to more than one section on spelling and pronunciation at the end of the book, the correct word to use is "appendices". "Appendixes" is also a plural form of the word, but it is less commonly used than "appendices".

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

I am surprised to learn that Badmus is an agnostic?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

The governor's wife, in characteristically simple attire, walked into the hall unnoticed?

Maelezo ya Majibu

In this sentence, "characteristically" means that the governor's wife was wearing simple attire in a way that is typical of her or consistent with her usual style. Therefore, the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to "characteristically" is "typically".

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:

Had he come that day, the problem would still not have been solved

Maelezo ya Majibu

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

Much to her chagrin, the bridegroom did not turn up for the wedding?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word is "disappointment". "Chagrin" means a feeling of annoyance, embarrassment or disappointment when something does not happen the way you had hoped or planned. In this context, the bride is disappointed that the groom did not show up for their wedding.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

If the boys arrived early enough, the match _____ ?

Maelezo ya Majibu

What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot work their way out of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When the do find occasional work, their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so the drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in big cities either - and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding some work appear to be greater than in the villages - where such chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then producers mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment.

The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contains about eighty ninety per cent of the population? The primary needs is work, places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker, it must be to maximize work opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed The poor man greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore important that everybody should produce something, than that a few people should each produce a great ideal. And in most developing countries , this can only be achieved by using an appropriate technology.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

Although the manager is busy right now, he will be with you presently?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word "presently" in the given sentence is "soon." The word "presently" means in a short time, shortly or soon. In the context of the given sentence, it implies that the manager is busy at the moment, but will be available to meet or talk with you soon. In simpler terms, the sentence means that although the manager is currently occupied, he will be available to meet or talk with you soon.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:

He is now the megaphone of the people's oppressors

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option to fill the gap is: "He now speaks on behalf of the oppressors". This means that he is no longer speaking for the people but rather for those who oppress them. The use of the word "megaphone" suggests that he is using his voice to amplify the message of the oppressors.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

My friend _____ me for many years when i met him last week?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap in the sentence is "had not seen." This is because the sentence is in the past perfect tense, which is used to describe a completed action that happened before another past action. In this case, the past action is "met him last week" and the completed action that happened before that is "had not seen." This implies that the speaker's friend and the speaker had not met each other for a long time, possibly years.

Politics in pre-colonial times did not involve the partisan type of electioneering campaign that we now have. The society was ruled by a king or an emir and his traditional chiefs or by the council of elders or clan heads. Where there existed the hierarchical system as in the Yoruba and Hausa kingdoms, succession to throne was mainly patriarchal. A recorded exception was the case of queen Amina of the Zazzau Empire who ruled in the 15th century AD.

A host of unsung and unrecorded women regents and at the times women village rulers abound, especially the present Ondo state where some influential female chiefs and regents still exist. In Ibadan, the famous Efunsetan Aniwura held political as well as economic sway and it took a lot of drive, brain work and political engineering for the then King and his council chiefs to subdue her. The history of the various towns and villages of the period could boast of such women who were actively engaged in the running of government.

In the Igbo society, a rise to leadership position was through demonstrated ability in fostering societal survival rather than heritage. Women’s voice in the politics of each clan is given focus either through the guild of wives, the guild of daughters, or the market women’s guild. Women, through these organs, could make their feelings known on any issue affecting their community as a whole or females in particular, Thus, unpopular edict or ‘decrees’ could be revoked or revised as a result of mounted pressure from any of these female associations. No decision was usually taken by the man without prior consultation with the leaders of the women’s groups.

It must however be emphasized that the degree of women participation in politics was yet much limited when compared to that of men.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The implied message in the passage is that women are capable of political leadership, and that they have played active roles in the politics of pre-colonial Nigeria. The passage describes examples of women rulers, regents, and chiefs, as well as the important role of women's guilds and associations in decision-making processes. While the passage acknowledges that women's participation in politics was limited compared to men, it suggests that women were not excluded from the political sphere in pre-colonial times.

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

They show no fitness in dealing with strangers?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The underlined word "fitness" refers to the ability or suitability to deal with strangers. The option that is nearest in meaning to "fitness" is "tact" which means having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid offending others or making them uncomfortable. Therefore, the most appropriate option is "tact".

In many places in the world today, the poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer, and the programmes of development planning and foreign aid appear to be unable to reverse this trend. Nearly all the developing countries have a modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are similar to those in developed countries. But they also have a non-modern sector, where the pattern of living and working are not only unsatisfactory, but in many cases is even getting worse.

What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot find occasional workout of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When they do find occasional work their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so they drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in the big cities either – and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding work appear to be greater there than in the villages – where chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then, produces mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment.

The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contain about eighty to ninety per cent of the population? The primary need is work places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker is unimportant. Bu t the primary aim cannot be to maximize output per worker, it must be to maximize wok opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed. The poor man’s greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore more important that everybody should produce something, than that a few should each produce a great deal. And in most developing countries, this can only be achieved by using an appropriate intermediate technology.

Maelezo ya Majibu

The writer wants the reader to appreciate the magnitude of the need for work places in small towns and villages in developing countries. The phrase "literally millions of work places" emphasizes the urgent need for a large number of job opportunities in order to address the problem of rural unemployment and mass migration to urban areas. Therefore, the correct option is to appreciate numerous workplaces.

Gossip! Yes gossip is universal. In some language, it may have an outright negative connotation but in English, it basically means ‘idle talk’, chat about trivial things or matter. When moderated and kind, ‘casual talk’ may serve to exchange useful information as a means of updating one’s knowledge. The whole neighborhood may grow gossipy with who got married, pregnant, died, or it may just be a humorous chi-chat devoid of malicious intent.

However, idle talk more often than not, degenerates beyond the bounds of property and good taste. Facts get embellish, exaggerated or deliberately distorted. Humiliation is made the source of humor. Privacy is violated, confidence betrayed and reputations injured or ruined. Condemnation takes the place of commendation, murmuring and fault finding are extolled. The end result is like the mud thrown on a clean piece of white cloth. It does not stick but it leaves a dirty and sometimes permanent stain behind.

Gossip has been blamed for sleepless nights, headache and indigestion. Certainly, it must have caused you some personal anguish at one time or the other that is someone must at some times have tried getting a knife between your shoulder blades. Negative gossip is almost universally frowned upon. Among the Indians in the United States, gossiping about someone is classified with lying and stealing. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, the tale bearer is detested and often avoided. Indeed, throughout history, measures have been taken to curb this ‘deadly’ disease. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the ducking stool was popularly used in England and Germany and later in the United States.

The gossip was tied to a chair and repeatedly ducked in water. In modern times, the war against gossiping has also been fought. Rumor control centers have been established to even respond to rumors that were potentially harmful to government activities. Law have been passed to curb gossip. Nicknames have been given to those who peddle the trade. Ever heard of ‘Amebo’!

Such efforts notwithstanding, gossip survives. It is alive and flourishing. Gossip is everywhere. There is neighborhood gossip, office gossip, party gossip, family gossip and funnily enough, religious gossip. Gossip transcends all cultures, race and civilizations, and it has flourished and it is still flourishing at every level of the society. Gossip is deeply a part of human nature. Yet gossip is not inherently evil. There is a positive side to casual talk. Knowing where to draw harmless and harmful gossip is the key to avoiding victimizing others and being victim yourself.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

One _____ be too careful these days; times are uncertain and walls have ears?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "can't". This means that one cannot be too careful these days because times are uncertain and walls have ears. The phrase "can't be too careful" is an idiom that means it is important to be cautious and vigilant in order to avoid trouble or danger. The speaker is emphasizing the importance of being careful and avoiding risks in the current situation.

Gossip! Yes gossip is universal. In some language, it may have an outright negative connotation but in English, it basically means ‘idle talk’, chat about trivial things or matter. When moderated and kind, ‘casual talk’ may serve to exchange useful information as a means of updating one’s knowledge. The whole neighborhood may grow gossipy with who got married, pregnant, died, or it may just be a humorous chi-chat devoid of malicious intent.

However, idle talk more often than not, degenerates beyond the bounds of property and good taste. Facts get embellish, exaggerated or deliberately distorted. Humiliation is made the source of humor. Privacy is violated, confidence betrayed and reputations injured or ruined. Condemnation takes the place of commendation, murmuring and fault finding are extolled. The end result is like the mud thrown on a clean piece of white cloth. It does not stick but it leaves a dirty and sometimes permanent stain behind.

Gossip has been blamed for sleepless nights, headache and indigestion. Certainly, it must have caused you some personal anguish at one time or the other that is someone must at some times have tried getting a knife between your shoulder blades. Negative gossip is almost universally frowned upon. Among the Indians in the United States, gossiping about someone is classified with lying and stealing. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, the tale bearer is detested and often avoided. Indeed, throughout history, measures have been taken to curb this ‘deadly’ disease. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the ducking stool was popularly used in England and Germany and later in the United States.

The gossip was tied to a chair and repeatedly ducked in water. In modern times, the war against gossiping has also been fought. Rumor control centers have been established to even respond to rumors that were potentially harmful to government activities. Law have been passed to curb gossip. Nicknames have been given to those who peddle the trade. Ever heard of ‘Amebo’!

Such efforts notwithstanding, gossip survives. It is alive and flourishing. Gossip is everywhere. There is neighborhood gossip, office gossip, party gossip, family gossip and funnily enough, religious gossip. Gossip transcends all cultures, race and civilizations, and it has flourished and it is still flourishing at every level of the society. Gossip is deeply a part of human nature. Yet gossip is not inherently evil. There is a positive side to casual talk. Knowing where to draw harmless and harmful gossip is the key to avoiding victimizing others and being victim yourself.

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the passage, 'such efforts notwithstanding' refers to the attempts made to curb gossip, including the establishment of rumor-control centers, the enactment of laws against gossip, and even the use of the ducking stool in the past. Despite all these efforts, gossip still survives and flourishes in society today.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The keepers themselves are sometimes _______ by the bees?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is "stung". The sentence is in the passive voice, and the subject "the keepers" is the one receiving the action of the verb "stung" performed by the bees. "Stung" is the correct past participle form of the verb "sting" which means to prick or wound with a sting. Therefore, the sentence means that the bees sometimes sting the keepers.

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

Until his recent experience, Onimisi used to pride himself _____ his fearlessness?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "on." This is because the sentence structure suggests that Onimisi was proud of his fearlessness. The preposition "on" is commonly used to indicate a sense of pride or satisfaction with a particular attribute or achievement. In this case, the sentence suggests that Onimisi was proud of his fearlessness until something happened to challenge it.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:

All through his years in public office, he found his father's advice invaluable

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the underlined word "invaluable" is "worthless." "Invaluable" means extremely useful or helpful, so "worthless," meaning having no value or usefulness, would be the opposite.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:

One of the guarantors shall sign here

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the given question, the most appropriate option to fill the gap is "It is obligatory that one of the guarantors signs here." The sentence is referring to a legal or official document that requires the signatures of the guarantors. The word "shall" in the sentence implies that the action of signing is mandatory, and failure to sign may affect the validity or enforceability of the document. Therefore, "It is obligatory that one of the guarantors signs here," best describes the requirement for signing.

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

He claimed that Mr. okoli's utterance was tantamount to defamation of character, so he sued for _____

Maelezo ya Majibu

The correct option is "damages". In the sentence, the subject claimed that someone had defamed his character, which means he is seeking compensation for the harm that has been done to his reputation. The word "damages" in this context refers to the financial compensation awarded to the person who has been wronged in a legal suit. Therefore, the sentence implies that he sued for "damages".

Politics in pre-colonial times did not involve the partisan type of electioneering campaign that we now have. The society was ruled by a king or an emir and his traditional chiefs or by the council of elders or clan heads. Where there existed the hierarchical system as in the Yoruba and Hausa kingdoms, succession to throne was mainly patriarchal. A recorded exception was the case of queen Amina of the Zazzau Empire who ruled in the 15th century AD.

A host of unsung and unrecorded women regents and at the times women village rulers abound, especially the present Ondo state where some influential female chiefs and regents still exist. In Ibadan, the famous Efunsetan Aniwura held political as well as economic sway and it took a lot of drive, brain work and political engineering for the then King and his council chiefs to subdue her. The history of the various towns and villages of the period could boast of such women who were actively engaged in the running of government.

In the Igbo society, a rise to leadership position was through demonstrated ability in fostering societal survival rather than heritage. Women’s voice in the politics of each clan is given focus either through the guild of wives, the guild of daughters, or the market women’s guild. Women, through these organs, could make their feelings known on any issue affecting their community as a whole or females in particular, Thus, unpopular edict or ‘decrees’ could be revoked or revised as a result of mounted pressure from any of these female associations. No decision was usually taken by the man without prior consultation with the leaders of the women’s groups.

It must however be emphasized that the degree of women participation in politics was yet much limited when compared to that of men.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

To be extravagant is to be _____ ?

Maelezo ya Majibu

To be extravagant means to spend money excessively or to be wasteful with resources. Therefore, the most appropriate option to fill in the gap is "wasteful."

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

Sixty percent of the unskilled workers _____ yearly by the company?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The trader _____ his wares at the trade fair?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap would be "exhibited". When a trader exhibits his wares, it means that he is showcasing or displaying them for people to see and potentially buy. It is a common practice at trade fairs where vendors gather to showcase their products or services. The other options - displayed, spread, and demonstrated - could also be used to describe the act of showcasing goods, but "exhibited" is the most appropriate term in this context.

It is clear to me that you won't visit Okoro this holiday, will you?...

Maelezo ya Majibu

The question is asking for a confirmation of whether the person will be visiting Okoro during the holiday or not. The answer is "No, I won't visit" or "No, I will not visit" as they both mean the same thing.

Politics in pre-colonial times did not involve the partisan type of electioneering campaign that we now have. The society was ruled by a king or an emir and his traditional chiefs or by the council of elders or clan heads. Where there existed the hierarchical system as in the Yoruba and Hausa kingdoms, succession to throne was mainly patriarchal. A recorded exception was the case of queen Amina of the Zazzau Empire who ruled in the 15th century AD.

A host of unsung and unrecorded women regents and at the times women village rulers abound, especially the present Ondo state where some influential female chiefs and regents still exist. In Ibadan, the famous Efunsetan Aniwura held political as well as economic sway and it took a lot of drive, brain work and political engineering for the then King and his council chiefs to subdue her. The history of the various towns and villages of the period could boast of such women who were actively engaged in the running of government.

In the Igbo society, a rise to leadership position was through demonstrated ability in fostering societal survival rather than heritage. Women’s voice in the politics of each clan is given focus either through the guild of wives, the guild of daughters, or the market women’s guild. Women, through these organs, could make their feelings known on any issue affecting their community as a whole or females in particular, Thus, unpopular edict or ‘decrees’ could be revoked or revised as a result of mounted pressure from any of these female associations. No decision was usually taken by the man without prior consultation with the leaders of the women’s groups.

It must however be emphasized that the degree of women participation in politics was yet much limited when compared to that of men.

Maelezo ya Majibu

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:

Such measures end up exacerbating the pain,

Maelezo ya Majibu

The opposite meaning of "exacerbating" is "alleviating". "Exacerbating" means to make something worse or more severe, while "alleviating" means to make something less severe or easier to bear. In the context of the sentence, it means that the measures being taken are making the pain worse, so the opposite meaning would be that the measures are making the pain better or relieving it.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The police _____ happy about the dwindling crime rate.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

_____ we can now start meaningful development?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "With the cold war over." The phrase "with the cold war over" serves as an introductory clause that helps to set the stage for the main clause of the sentence. It suggests a causal relationship between the end of the Cold War and the possibility of meaningful development. The other options do not fit as well. "Since the cold war is over" suggests that meaningful development has already been happening since the end of the Cold War. "The cold war over" is not a complete sentence, and "that the cold war is over" is a subordinate clause that does not fit grammatically in this sentence.

In many places in the world today, the poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer, and the programmes of development planning and foreign aid appear to be unable to reverse this trend. Nearly all the developing countries have a modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are similar to those in developed countries. But they also have a non-modern sector, where the pattern of living and working are not only unsatisfactory, but in many cases is even getting worse.

What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot find occasional workout of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When they do find occasional work their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so they drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in the big cities either – and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding work appear to be greater there than in the villages – where chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then, produces mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment.

The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contain about eighty to ninety per cent of the population? The primary need is work places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker is unimportant. Bu t the primary aim cannot be to maximize output per worker, it must be to maximize wok opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed. The poor man’s greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore more important that everybody should produce something, than that a few should each produce a great deal. And in most developing countries, this can only be achieved by using an appropriate intermediate technology.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Gossip! Yes gossip is universal. In some language, it may have an outright negative connotation but in English, it basically means ‘idle talk’, chat about trivial things or matter. When moderated and kind, ‘casual talk’ may serve to exchange useful information as a means of updating one’s knowledge. The whole neighborhood may grow gossipy with who got married, pregnant, died, or it may just be a humorous chi-chat devoid of malicious intent.

However, idle talk more often than not, degenerates beyond the bounds of property and good taste. Facts get embellish, exaggerated or deliberately distorted. Humiliation is made the source of humor. Privacy is violated, confidence betrayed and reputations injured or ruined. Condemnation takes the place of commendation, murmuring and fault finding are extolled. The end result is like the mud thrown on a clean piece of white cloth. It does not stick but it leaves a dirty and sometimes permanent stain behind.

Gossip has been blamed for sleepless nights, headache and indigestion. Certainly, it must have caused you some personal anguish at one time or the other that is someone must at some times have tried getting a knife between your shoulder blades. Negative gossip is almost universally frowned upon. Among the Indians in the United States, gossiping about someone is classified with lying and stealing. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, the tale bearer is detested and often avoided. Indeed, throughout history, measures have been taken to curb this ‘deadly’ disease. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the ducking stool was popularly used in England and Germany and later in the United States.

The gossip was tied to a chair and repeatedly ducked in water. In modern times, the war against gossiping has also been fought. Rumor control centers have been established to even respond to rumors that were potentially harmful to government activities. Law have been passed to curb gossip. Nicknames have been given to those who peddle the trade. Ever heard of ‘Amebo’!

Such efforts notwithstanding, gossip survives. It is alive and flourishing. Gossip is everywhere. There is neighborhood gossip, office gossip, party gossip, family gossip and funnily enough, religious gossip. Gossip transcends all cultures, race and civilizations, and it has flourished and it is still flourishing at every level of the society. Gossip is deeply a part of human nature. Yet gossip is not inherently evil. There is a positive side to casual talk. Knowing where to draw harmless and harmful gossip is the key to avoiding victimizing others and being victim yourself.

Maelezo ya Majibu

According to the text, gossip appeals to people because human beings take delight in passing and acquiring information. While gossip can be entertaining, it can also be harmful and destructive. Gossip provides an avenue for idle talk, which can sometimes lead to the spread of false information and reputational harm. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the harmful effects of gossip and to know where to draw the line between harmless and harmful gossip.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The pen which you have just picked up is _____?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The old man couldn't help _____ at his grandson's babbling?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill in the gap is "laughing." The sentence is in the past tense, and the phrase "couldn't help" suggests that the old man was unable to control his laughter. Therefore, the correct form of the verb to use here is the -ing form, which indicates an ongoing or continuous action in the past. The other options do not fit because "to laugh" suggests an intention or purpose, rather than an inability to control laughter. "That he laughed" is a clause and does not fit grammatically in this sentence. "In laughing" is a prepositional phrase and does not make sense in the context of the sentence.

Choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the underlined word.

We should discourage further investments in existing factories?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The opposite of 'existing' is 'prospective'. In the given sentence, 'existing factories' refers to factories that already exist. Therefore, discouraging further investment in existing factories means discouraging investment in factories that have already been established. The opposite would be to encourage investment in factories that are yet to be established, which is referred to as 'prospective'.

What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot work their way out of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When the do find occasional work, their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so the drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in big cities either - and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding some work appear to be greater than in the villages - where such chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then producers mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment.

The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contains about eighty ninety per cent of the population? The primary needs is work, places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker, it must be to maximize work opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed The poor man greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore important that everybody should produce something, than that a few people should each produce a great ideal. And in most developing countries , this can only be achieved by using an appropriate technology.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

Based on the facts before me, i have no alternative _____ to terminate your appointment?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill in the gap is "but". The speaker is saying that they have no choice but to terminate the person's appointment based on the facts before them. This implies that the termination is the only option available to them, despite any other considerations or possibilities.

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

My _____ is for you to refuse the _____ of the wicked?

Maelezo ya Majibu

My advice is for you to refuse the advice of the wicked. Explanation: The sentence is referring to the act of giving counsel or suggestions to someone, so the correct word to use in the first blank is "advice" which is a noun. In the second blank, "advice" is also the correct option as it refers to the suggestions or recommendations given by the wicked. The option "advise" refers to the action of giving advice or counsel.

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

The corporate existence of any nation is in jeopardy if her leaders pay lip service to her unity?

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

Measles _____ no longer impossible to manage these days

Maelezo ya Majibu

Measles is no longer impossible to manage these days. The appropriate option to fill the gap is "is" because "measles" is a singular noun, so it takes a singular verb. In this sentence, the verb is in the present tense, so "is" is the correct form of the verb to use with "measles".

In many places in the world today, the poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer, and the programmes of development planning and foreign aid appear to be unable to reverse this trend. Nearly all the developing countries have a modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are similar to those in developed countries. But they also have a non-modern sector, where the pattern of living and working are not only unsatisfactory, but in many cases is even getting worse.

What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot find occasional workout of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When they do find occasional work their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so they drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in the big cities either – and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding work appear to be greater there than in the villages – where chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then, produces mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment.

The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contain about eighty to ninety per cent of the population? The primary need is work places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker is unimportant. Bu t the primary aim cannot be to maximize output per worker, it must be to maximize wok opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed. The poor man’s greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore more important that everybody should produce something, than that a few should each produce a great deal. And in most developing countries, this can only be achieved by using an appropriate intermediate technology.

Maelezo ya Majibu

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

The patient was _____ by a group of surgeons last week?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option to fill the gap is "operated on". This means that the patient underwent a surgical procedure performed by a group of surgeons.

Choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

As a matter of fact, we have been trying to step up production?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The phrase "step up" in this context means to increase or raise, so the option nearest in meaning is "increase."

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap.

She usually works hard, but _____ she could be very lazy?

Maelezo ya Majibu

The most appropriate option is "at times". It means that occasionally or sometimes she can be very lazy, even though she usually works hard.