JAMB Use of English 1985

75 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 1

Obi: Let’s go to the Sports Club Cafeteria. One naira per meal is a privilege in this country. And God knows that I am too broke to afford anything more. Olu: Got a membership identity card? Don’t forget the place is for bona fide members only. Obi: Forget it. There are other types of identity cards, remember. Just flash something before the eyes of those men at the gate, provided it looks like an identity card. Olu: Ee... eh, I see. That is why the place is always congested. I don’t think it is even worth the trouble. I can’t stand a queue. Obi: That shouldn’t bother you. You don’t have to join the queue. Just walk straight to the serving point without fear and be sure you shout your order. Olu: But only V.I.Ps have the right to break queues. Obi: Sure, but V.I.Ps don’t wear badges on their faces. Pose man, pose. After all, this is Nigeria. Olu: You mean there are many impostors here? Obi: Certainly, and many people with privileges too. If you want to get along, you must pose, and to get along means getting what you want. If you choose to term it ‘privileges’, it suits me. It is all a question of semantics.

Which of the following is NOT implied in the expression “One naira per meal is a privilege in this country” as used in the conversation?

  1. Nowhere in this country is food sold for one naira.
  2. The price per meal at the Sports Club Cafeteria is one naira.
  3. It is rare for anybody to feed satisfactorily with one naira in any hotel in the country
  4. Obi cannot afford more than one naira for one meal
  5. Ordinarily, one naira cannot buy much in the country.
Answer and explanation

A: Nowhere in this country is food sold for one naira.

The cafeteria itself sells a meal for one naira, so saying nowhere sells food at that price is contradicted by the conversation. The other choices reflect the unusual value of the meal or Obi’s stated lack of money.

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Question 4

Obi: Let’s go to the Sports Club Cafeteria. One naira per meal is a privilege in this country. And God knows that I am too broke to afford anything more. Olu: Got a membership identity card? Don’t forget the place is for bona fide members only. Obi: Forget it. There are other types of identity cards, remember. Just flash something before the eyes of those men at the gate, provided it looks like an identity card. Olu: Ee... eh, I see. That is why the place is always congested. I don’t think it is even worth the trouble. I can’t stand a queue. Obi: That shouldn’t bother you. You don’t have to join the queue. Just walk straight to the serving point without fear and be sure you shout your order. Olu: But only V.I.Ps have the right to break queues. Obi: Sure, but V.I.Ps don’t wear badges on their faces. Pose man, pose. After all, this is Nigeria. Olu: You mean there are many impostors here? Obi: Certainly, and many people with privileges too. If you want to get along, you must pose, and to get along means getting what you want. If you choose to term it ‘privileges’, it suits me. It is all a question of semantics.

The conversation about privileges shows that

  1. an impostor is one who claims privileges
  2. to get along must always imply making claims to privileges
  3. it is always easy to recognize V.I.Ps in Nigeria, because they are always laying claim to privileges
  4. there are many impostors laying claim to privileges in Nigeria
  5. “Semantics” means calling “to get along” “privileges”.
Answer and explanation

D: there are many impostors laying claim to privileges in Nigeria

Olu asks whether there are many impostors and Obi answers certainly, then describes posing to obtain benefits. This directly supports impostors claiming privileges without treating every privileged person as an impostor.

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Question 6

Days passed fast for Ntanya and Teresa. They could hardly notice the land getting brown all over Kachawanga again, since neither of them noticed any more the sun come up and go down. Ntanya would work very hard in the field hauling in the last harvest and Teresa would stay at home washing, cooking and waiting, waiting for him to come home. She would cook his meal with extra care and when there was little meat she would only give bits to the children and not even touch it herself but use only the smell to get her food down and reserve the whole chunk for her husband. When Ntanya would come home with sweat on his brows she would put the wooden tray on a stool for him and sit down by him watching him eat with great satisfaction: every bolus that went down Ntanya’s throat would also go down her own throat. When Ntanya would insist on sharing the food with her she would always say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be. Ntanya would then eat and drink to his satisfaction and always rest a while in the sun after saying ‘Thank you mother’.

Bolus in the passage means

  1. Adam’s apple
  2. throat pill
  3. liquid
  4. piece of meat
  5. large morsel.
Answer and explanation

E: large morsel.

A bolus here is a mouthful of food being swallowed. Large morsel fits the eating context; it is not a part of the throat or necessarily a piece of meat.

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Question 7

Days passed fast for Ntanya and Teresa. They could hardly notice the land getting brown all over Kachawanga again, since neither of them noticed any more the sun come up and go down. Ntanya would work very hard in the field hauling in the last harvest and Teresa would stay at home washing, cooking and waiting, waiting for him to come home. She would cook his meal with extra care and when there was little meat she would only give bits to the children and not even touch it herself but use only the smell to get her food down and reserve the whole chunk for her husband. When Ntanya would come home with sweat on his brows she would put the wooden tray on a stool for him and sit down by him watching him eat with great satisfaction: every bolus that went down Ntanya’s throat would also go down her own throat. When Ntanya would insist on sharing the food with her she would always say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be. Ntanya would then eat and drink to his satisfaction and always rest a while in the sun after saying ‘Thank you mother’.

Ntanya and Teresa could hardly notice the land getting brown because

  1. they were on their honeymoon
  2. they had just got married
  3. they hardly noticed the sun
  4. the sun did not come up
  5. Ntanya worked very hard in the field.
Answer and explanation

C: they hardly noticed the sun

The opening sentence directly explains their failure to notice the land’s changing colour by saying they no longer noticed the sun rising and setting. The passage does not state that they were newly married or on honeymoon.

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Question 8

Days passed fast for Ntanya and Teresa. They could hardly notice the land getting brown all over Kachawanga again, since neither of them noticed any more the sun come up and go down. Ntanya would work very hard in the field hauling in the last harvest and Teresa would stay at home washing, cooking and waiting, waiting for him to come home. She would cook his meal with extra care and when there was little meat she would only give bits to the children and not even touch it herself but use only the smell to get her food down and reserve the whole chunk for her husband. When Ntanya would come home with sweat on his brows she would put the wooden tray on a stool for him and sit down by him watching him eat with great satisfaction: every bolus that went down Ntanya’s throat would also go down her own throat. When Ntanya would insist on sharing the food with her she would always say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be. Ntanya would then eat and drink to his satisfaction and always rest a while in the sun after saying ‘Thank you mother’.

Teresa gave only bits of meat to the children because

  1. they would get more from Ntanya
  2. she cooked it with extra care
  3. they were young
  4. she kept most of it for her husband
  5. she could not afford meat.
Answer and explanation

D: she kept most of it for her husband

The passage explicitly says Teresa reserved the main chunk of meat for her husband. That explains the small portions given to the children, without assuming that their age or the price of meat was the reason.

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Question 9

Days passed fast for Ntanya and Teresa. They could hardly notice the land getting brown all over Kachawanga again, since neither of them noticed any more the sun come up and go down. Ntanya would work very hard in the field hauling in the last harvest and Teresa would stay at home washing, cooking and waiting, waiting for him to come home. She would cook his meal with extra care and when there was little meat she would only give bits to the children and not even touch it herself but use only the smell to get her food down and reserve the whole chunk for her husband. When Ntanya would come home with sweat on his brows she would put the wooden tray on a stool for him and sit down by him watching him eat with great satisfaction: every bolus that went down Ntanya’s throat would also go down her own throat. When Ntanya would insist on sharing the food with her she would always say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be. Ntanya would then eat and drink to his satisfaction and always rest a while in the sun after saying ‘Thank you mother’.

Ntanya said ‘Thank you mother’ to

  1. his mother
  2. his wife
  3. his aunt
  4. Teresa’s mother
  5. his grand-mother
Answer and explanation

B: his wife

Ntanya says the words after Teresa has served him and cared for him. Mother is his affectionate form of address to his wife in this exchange, not evidence that his mother was present.

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Question 10

Days passed fast for Ntanya and Teresa. They could hardly notice the land getting brown all over Kachawanga again, since neither of them noticed any more the sun come up and go down. Ntanya would work very hard in the field hauling in the last harvest and Teresa would stay at home washing, cooking and waiting, waiting for him to come home. She would cook his meal with extra care and when there was little meat she would only give bits to the children and not even touch it herself but use only the smell to get her food down and reserve the whole chunk for her husband. When Ntanya would come home with sweat on his brows she would put the wooden tray on a stool for him and sit down by him watching him eat with great satisfaction: every bolus that went down Ntanya’s throat would also go down her own throat. When Ntanya would insist on sharing the food with her she would always say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be. Ntanya would then eat and drink to his satisfaction and always rest a while in the sun after saying ‘Thank you mother’.

Teresa would say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be so that

  1. Ntanya would eat to his satisfaction
  2. Ntanya would say “Thank you mother”
  3. she could cook again
  4. she could watch him eat
  5. every bolus would go down her own throat
Answer and explanation

A: Ntanya would eat to his satisfaction

Teresa says she has already eaten so that Ntanya can eat his fill. The next sentence explicitly says he then eats and drinks to his satisfaction, supporting this purpose.

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Question 11

Mathematics is the language in which the Book of Nature is written: Mathematics is the queen of the sciences. It is universally agreed that Mathematics is the backbone of Science and Technology. For without Mathematics the engineer is but an artist or a sculptor. He can build his bridge, attest to its form and beauty, but without Mathematics he cannot guarantee its reliability to serve the purpose for which it is built. Mathematics is indeed the science of sciences. It is also art of all arts. It is right, legitimate and defensible to consider Mathematics as an Art. The poet, the musician, the artist and the mathematician have a lot in common. Fundamental to all their studies and works is their common interest in the logical study of related concepts and objects to form patterns which will produce beauty, harmony and logical order. Thus the poet arranges words to produce a pattern called poetry: the musician arranges sounds to produce a pattern called music: the artist arranges colours to produce a pattern called painting and the mathematician arranges abstract ideas into a pattern, using symbols, to produce equations. Each of these patterns - the poem, the music, the painting and the equation must stand up to the test of some order, harmony and beauty. So if Mathematics is not an art what is art?

The views expressed in this passage belong to

  1. JAMB
  2. artists
  3. mathematicians
  4. the poet
  5. the author of the passage.
Answer and explanation

E: the author of the passage.

The passage presents its own argument about mathematics, science and art. These claims belong to the author; mentioning artists and mathematicians does not make either group the speaker.

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Question 12

Mathematics is the language in which the Book of Nature is written: Mathematics is the queen of the sciences. It is universally agreed that Mathematics is the backbone of Science and Technology. For without Mathematics the engineer is but an artist or a sculptor. He can build his bridge, attest to its form and beauty, but without Mathematics he cannot guarantee its reliability to serve the purpose for which it is built. Mathematics is indeed the science of sciences. It is also art of all arts. It is right, legitimate and defensible to consider Mathematics as an Art. The poet, the musician, the artist and the mathematician have a lot in common. Fundamental to all their studies and works is their common interest in the logical study of related concepts and objects to form patterns which will produce beauty, harmony and logical order. Thus the poet arranges words to produce a pattern called poetry: the musician arranges sounds to produce a pattern called music: the artist arranges colours to produce a pattern called painting and the mathematician arranges abstract ideas into a pattern, using symbols, to produce equations. Each of these patterns - the poem, the music, the painting and the equation must stand up to the test of some order, harmony and beauty. So if Mathematics is not an art what is art?

The expression “Mathematics is the queen of the Sciences” contains

  1. a contradiction
  2. an analogy
  3. an irony
  4. a lie
  5. nonsense
Answer and explanation

B: an analogy

Calling mathematics the queen of the sciences compares its leading position with a queen’s position. Analogy is the available comparison term; the sentence is not meant as a literal claim about royalty.

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Question 14

Mathematics is the language in which the Book of Nature is written: Mathematics is the queen of the sciences. It is universally agreed that Mathematics is the backbone of Science and Technology. For without Mathematics the engineer is but an artist or a sculptor. He can build his bridge, attest to its form and beauty, but without Mathematics he cannot guarantee its reliability to serve the purpose for which it is built. Mathematics is indeed the science of sciences. It is also art of all arts. It is right, legitimate and defensible to consider Mathematics as an Art. The poet, the musician, the artist and the mathematician have a lot in common. Fundamental to all their studies and works is their common interest in the logical study of related concepts and objects to form patterns which will produce beauty, harmony and logical order. Thus the poet arranges words to produce a pattern called poetry: the musician arranges sounds to produce a pattern called music: the artist arranges colours to produce a pattern called painting and the mathematician arranges abstract ideas into a pattern, using symbols, to produce equations. Each of these patterns - the poem, the music, the painting and the equation must stand up to the test of some order, harmony and beauty. So if Mathematics is not an art what is art?

The last sentence of the passage , ‘So if Mathematics is not an art what is art?’ is a

  1. question posed for the reader to answer
  2. statement put in the form of a question
  3. question combined with a statement
  4. mathematical equation stated in words
  5. pattern which illustrates beauty, harmony and order in language.
Answer and explanation

B: statement put in the form of a question

The final question is rhetorical: it reinforces the author’s argument that mathematics is an art. It functions as a statement rather than a genuine request for the reader to supply an answer.

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Question 15

Mathematics is the language in which the Book of Nature is written: Mathematics is the queen of the sciences. It is universally agreed that Mathematics is the backbone of Science and Technology. For without Mathematics the engineer is but an artist or a sculptor. He can build his bridge, attest to its form and beauty, but without Mathematics he cannot guarantee its reliability to serve the purpose for which it is built. Mathematics is indeed the science of sciences. It is also art of all arts. It is right, legitimate and defensible to consider Mathematics as an Art. The poet, the musician, the artist and the mathematician have a lot in common. Fundamental to all their studies and works is their common interest in the logical study of related concepts and objects to form patterns which will produce beauty, harmony and logical order. Thus the poet arranges words to produce a pattern called poetry: the musician arranges sounds to produce a pattern called music: the artist arranges colours to produce a pattern called painting and the mathematician arranges abstract ideas into a pattern, using symbols, to produce equations. Each of these patterns - the poem, the music, the painting and the equation must stand up to the test of some order, harmony and beauty. So if Mathematics is not an art what is art?

Mathematics can be considered as a form of art because

  1. its main principle is made use of by the arts
  2. it involves drawing of figures
  3. it is a form of Fine Arts
  4. it is a type of Graphic Arts
  5. it also involves a study of beauty harmony and order
Answer and explanation

E: it also involves a study of beauty harmony and order

The author links mathematics and the arts through patterns that create beauty, harmony and order. Those shared concerns are the stated basis for considering mathematics an art.

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Question 16

My good people: I come before you this evening as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned. Now, the usual political thing to do when charges are levelled against you is either to ignore them or to deny them without giving details. But before I answer any of your questions, let me state categorically that I have not touched a kobo of the N50,000 we contributed. Every kobo of it has been used in defraying political campaign expenses. As a matter of fact, during one of my meet-the-press conferences, Tony Agiwa accosted me and said, ‘Honourable Senator, what about this fund we hear about?’ I told him there was no secret about the fund and that he should meet Abu O. Abu to get details of the fund. I told him, ‘You will find that the purpose of the fund was primarily to defray political expenses.’ In answer to another one of his questions, I said that neither contributors to this fund, nor contributors to any of my campaigns had ever received any special consideration that he would not have received as an ordinary constituent. And I can say that never, since I became a Senator, have I made a telephone call for them to an agency or have I gone down to an agency on their behalf. Records will show that, and these records are in the hands of the Administrator.

The author is

  1. exonerating himself from allegations of embezzlement
  2. ignoring the allegations of embezzlement
  3. taking part in a political campaign
  4. demonstrating that he is a Senator
  5. trying to implicate Abu O. Abu, a fellow politician.
Answer and explanation

A: exonerating himself from allegations of embezzlement

The speaker responds to doubts about his integrity by denying personal misuse of the fund and explaining its stated purpose. He is defending himself against embezzlement allegations, not ignoring them.

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Question 17

My good people: I come before you this evening as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned. Now, the usual political thing to do when charges are levelled against you is either to ignore them or to deny them without giving details. But before I answer any of your questions, let me state categorically that I have not touched a kobo of the N50,000 we contributed. Every kobo of it has been used in defraying political campaign expenses. As a matter of fact, during one of my meet-the-press conferences, Tony Agiwa accosted me and said, ‘Honourable Senator, what about this fund we hear about?’ I told him there was no secret about the fund and that he should meet Abu O. Abu to get details of the fund. I told him, ‘You will find that the purpose of the fund was primarily to defray political expenses.’ In answer to another one of his questions, I said that neither contributors to this fund, nor contributors to any of my campaigns had ever received any special consideration that he would not have received as an ordinary constituent. And I can say that never, since I became a Senator, have I made a telephone call for them to an agency or have I gone down to an agency on their behalf. Records will show that, and these records are in the hands of the Administrator.

Constituent in the passage means

  1. a section of his constituency
  2. his entire constituency
  3. his campaigner
  4. a person having voting rights where he is living
  5. a supporter
Answer and explanation

D: a person having voting rights where he is living

In this political context a constituent is a person represented in the senator’s constituency, especially a voter there. The word refers to an individual, not the whole constituency or necessarily a campaign supporter.

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Question 18

My good people: I come before you this evening as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned. Now, the usual political thing to do when charges are levelled against you is either to ignore them or to deny them without giving details. But before I answer any of your questions, let me state categorically that I have not touched a kobo of the N50,000 we contributed. Every kobo of it has been used in defraying political campaign expenses. As a matter of fact, during one of my meet-the-press conferences, Tony Agiwa accosted me and said, ‘Honourable Senator, what about this fund we hear about?’ I told him there was no secret about the fund and that he should meet Abu O. Abu to get details of the fund. I told him, ‘You will find that the purpose of the fund was primarily to defray political expenses.’ In answer to another one of his questions, I said that neither contributors to this fund, nor contributors to any of my campaigns had ever received any special consideration that he would not have received as an ordinary constituent. And I can say that never, since I became a Senator, have I made a telephone call for them to an agency or have I gone down to an agency on their behalf. Records will show that, and these records are in the hands of the Administrator.

Accosted in the passage means

  1. grossly insulted
  2. greeted
  3. fought with
  4. forced
  5. went and spoke to
Answer and explanation

E: went and spoke to

Tony Agiwa goes up to the senator and speaks to him about the fund. Accosted describes this direct approach; the passage does not say that a fight or gross insult occurred.

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Question 19

My good people: I come before you this evening as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned. Now, the usual political thing to do when charges are levelled against you is either to ignore them or to deny them without giving details. But before I answer any of your questions, let me state categorically that I have not touched a kobo of the N50,000 we contributed. Every kobo of it has been used in defraying political campaign expenses. As a matter of fact, during one of my meet-the-press conferences, Tony Agiwa accosted me and said, ‘Honourable Senator, what about this fund we hear about?’ I told him there was no secret about the fund and that he should meet Abu O. Abu to get details of the fund. I told him, ‘You will find that the purpose of the fund was primarily to defray political expenses.’ In answer to another one of his questions, I said that neither contributors to this fund, nor contributors to any of my campaigns had ever received any special consideration that he would not have received as an ordinary constituent. And I can say that never, since I became a Senator, have I made a telephone call for them to an agency or have I gone down to an agency on their behalf. Records will show that, and these records are in the hands of the Administrator.

It appears that the N50,000

  1. has been spent
  2. has been paid into the government treasury
  3. will soon be paid into the government treasury
  4. has been saved by Abu O. Abu
  5. will be used for future campaigns.
Answer and explanation

A: has been spent

The speaker says every kobo has been used to pay campaign expenses. According to his account, the fund has therefore been spent, not saved for a future campaign or paid into a treasury.

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Question 20

My good people: I come before you this evening as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned. Now, the usual political thing to do when charges are levelled against you is either to ignore them or to deny them without giving details. But before I answer any of your questions, let me state categorically that I have not touched a kobo of the N50,000 we contributed. Every kobo of it has been used in defraying political campaign expenses. As a matter of fact, during one of my meet-the-press conferences, Tony Agiwa accosted me and said, ‘Honourable Senator, what about this fund we hear about?’ I told him there was no secret about the fund and that he should meet Abu O. Abu to get details of the fund. I told him, ‘You will find that the purpose of the fund was primarily to defray political expenses.’ In answer to another one of his questions, I said that neither contributors to this fund, nor contributors to any of my campaigns had ever received any special consideration that he would not have received as an ordinary constituent. And I can say that never, since I became a Senator, have I made a telephone call for them to an agency or have I gone down to an agency on their behalf. Records will show that, and these records are in the hands of the Administrator.

Abu O. Abu is portrayed as

  1. a corrupt politician
  2. the administrator of the fund
  3. an ordinary taxpayer
  4. a government official
  5. a citizen
Answer and explanation

B: the administrator of the fund

The speaker directs the questioner to Abu O. Abu for details about the fund and then says its records are held by the Administrator. Together these statements portray Abu as the fund’s administrator.

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Question 21

The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops. At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustling about in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare. The sun danced dizzily in the sky, with a strange cruelty. Each day the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the last drop of moisture out of the earth. The family sat down in despair, waiting and waiting. Their hopes had run so high; the goats had started producing milk, which they had eagerly poured on their porridge, now they ate plain porridge with no milk. It was impossible to plant corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melon seeds in the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow of the huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain had fled away. Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. They carried on with their game of making house like their mother and chattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made children from sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded them severely in an exact imitation of their own mother. Their voices could be heard scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when I send you to draw water, why do you spill half of it out of the bucket?’ ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge pot without letting the porridge burn?’ Then, they would beat the rag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions. The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to fall out of the sky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food, and of all their herd only two goats were left. It was the women of the family who finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.

The evidence that the family hopes had run high is that the

  1. land was ready for planting
  2. earth was alive with insects singing
  3. goats had started producing milk
  4. family ate porridge
  5. family had corn and maize seeds
Answer and explanation

C: goats had started producing milk

Immediately after mentioning their high hopes, the writer describes the goats producing milk and the family eagerly adding it to porridge. That improvement is the clearest stated evidence of their earlier optimism.

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Question 22

The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops. At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustling about in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare. The sun danced dizzily in the sky, with a strange cruelty. Each day the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the last drop of moisture out of the earth. The family sat down in despair, waiting and waiting. Their hopes had run so high; the goats had started producing milk, which they had eagerly poured on their porridge, now they ate plain porridge with no milk. It was impossible to plant corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melon seeds in the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow of the huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain had fled away. Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. They carried on with their game of making house like their mother and chattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made children from sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded them severely in an exact imitation of their own mother. Their voices could be heard scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when I send you to draw water, why do you spill half of it out of the bucket?’ ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge pot without letting the porridge burn?’ Then, they would beat the rag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions. The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to fall out of the sky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food, and of all their herd only two goats were left. It was the women of the family who finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.

‘The adults paid no attention to this’ refers to

  1. the children scolding the rag-dolls
  2. the plain porridge
  3. the burnt porridge
  4. their breaking nerves
  5. the land.
Answer and explanation

A: the children scolding the rag-dolls

This refers back to the children’s play, especially their scolding and beating of the rag-dolls. The adults ignore that activity because they are preoccupied with the missing rain.

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Question 23

The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops. At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustling about in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare. The sun danced dizzily in the sky, with a strange cruelty. Each day the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the last drop of moisture out of the earth. The family sat down in despair, waiting and waiting. Their hopes had run so high; the goats had started producing milk, which they had eagerly poured on their porridge, now they ate plain porridge with no milk. It was impossible to plant corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melon seeds in the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow of the huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain had fled away. Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. They carried on with their game of making house like their mother and chattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made children from sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded them severely in an exact imitation of their own mother. Their voices could be heard scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when I send you to draw water, why do you spill half of it out of the bucket?’ ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge pot without letting the porridge burn?’ Then, they would beat the rag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions. The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to fall out of the sky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food, and of all their herd only two goats were left. It was the women of the family who finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.

The family sat down in despair because

  1. the land was ready and ploughed
  2. they ate plain porridge with no milk
  3. the sun danced dizzily in the sky
  4. the land was covered in a haze of mist
  5. it was impossible to plant seeds.
Answer and explanation

E: it was impossible to plant seeds.

The drought makes it impossible to plant the seeds in the dry earth. That prevents the family’s planned farming and explains its despair more directly than the descriptions of heat or mist.

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Question 24

The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops. At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustling about in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare. The sun danced dizzily in the sky, with a strange cruelty. Each day the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the last drop of moisture out of the earth. The family sat down in despair, waiting and waiting. Their hopes had run so high; the goats had started producing milk, which they had eagerly poured on their porridge, now they ate plain porridge with no milk. It was impossible to plant corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melon seeds in the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow of the huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain had fled away. Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. They carried on with their game of making house like their mother and chattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made children from sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded them severely in an exact imitation of their own mother. Their voices could be heard scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when I send you to draw water, why do you spill half of it out of the bucket?’ ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge pot without letting the porridge burn?’ Then, they would beat the rag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions. The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to fall out of the sky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food, and of all their herd only two goats were left. It was the women of the family who finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.

All their animals had been sold in order to

  1. avoid despair
  2. buy food
  3. induce rain
  4. save animal food
  5. make the children happy.
Answer and explanation

B: buy food

The final paragraph states that the animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food. Buy food repeats that reason; the passage does not say the sales were intended to bring rain.

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Question 25

The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops. At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustling about in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare. The sun danced dizzily in the sky, with a strange cruelty. Each day the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the last drop of moisture out of the earth. The family sat down in despair, waiting and waiting. Their hopes had run so high; the goats had started producing milk, which they had eagerly poured on their porridge, now they ate plain porridge with no milk. It was impossible to plant corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melon seeds in the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow of the huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain had fled away. Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. They carried on with their game of making house like their mother and chattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made children from sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded them severely in an exact imitation of their own mother. Their voices could be heard scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when I send you to draw water, why do you spill half of it out of the bucket?’ ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge pot without letting the porridge burn?’ Then, they would beat the rag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions. The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to fall out of the sky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food, and of all their herd only two goats were left. It was the women of the family who finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.

‘Game of making house’ means

  1. building a house with sand
  2. being happy in the house
  3. playing in the house
  4. imitating running a home like adults
  5. playing hide-and-seek in the house
Answer and explanation

D: imitating running a home like adults

The children imitate their mother’s household responsibilities by making rag-doll children and scolding them. Their game therefore imitates running a home, rather than building a physical house.

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Question 28

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “taciturn”: Chidi is naturally taciturn.

  1. friendly
  2. cheerful
  3. dumb
  4. lively
  5. garrulous.
Answer and explanation

E: garrulous.

Taciturn describes someone who speaks very little. Garrulous means excessively talkative and gives the direct contrast; friendliness and cheerfulness do not determine how much someone talks.

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Question 29

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “altruism”: He is loved for his altruism.

  1. benevolence
  2. sincerity
  3. selfishness
  4. selflessness
  5. kindness.
Answer and explanation

C: selfishness

Altruism is concern for other people’s welfare rather than one’s own advantage. Selfishness reverses that concern, while benevolence, selflessness and kindness are close to the original meaning.

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Question 30

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “upheld”: The Military Governor upheld the decision of his cabinet.

  1. held up
  2. undercut
  3. maintained
  4. abolished
  5. reversed.
Answer and explanation

E: reversed.

To uphold a decision is to maintain or confirm it. Reversed means changed it to the opposite decision, giving the clearest contrast in this context.

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Question 31

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “evasive”: Many untrustworthy students give evasive answers to questions which they fully understand.

  1. direct
  2. outspoken
  3. simple
  4. truthful
  5. clever.
Answer and explanation

A: direct

Evasive answers avoid addressing the question directly. Direct answers give a clear response, making direct the opposite; an answer can be simple or clever while still avoiding the issue.

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Question 32

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “imminent”: The deafening noise of the two jet planes which flew across our compound yesterday made people fear that an assault on the country might be imminent.

  1. impending
  2. ahead
  3. remote
  4. eminent
  5. threatening
Answer and explanation

C: remote

Imminent means about to happen very soon. Remote means distant or unlikely, giving the contrast to an immediate threat; impending is a synonym of imminent.

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Question 33

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “indifferent to”: Disgruntled people are indifferent to any plans to rid the society of evil.

  1. different from
  2. diffident about
  3. in agreement with
  4. interested in
  5. opposed to.
Answer and explanation

D: interested in

Indifferent to means not interested in or concerned about something. Interested in directly reverses that lack of concern; agreement and opposition describe positions rather than the presence of interest.

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Question 36

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “entitles”: This card entitles you to attend the film show.

  1. disqualifies
  2. discourages
  3. disenchants
  4. proclaims
  5. satisfies
Answer and explanation

A: disqualifies

Entitles gives a right to attend. Disqualifies removes eligibility, so it supplies the direct opposite; discourages affects willingness rather than the right to attend.

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Question 37

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “abridged”: This is an abridged edition of Oliver Twist

  1. reprinted
  2. enlarged
  3. outdated
  4. extinct
  5. banned
Answer and explanation

B: enlarged

An abridged edition has been shortened. Enlarged describes an expanded edition and is the opposite among these choices; reprinted concerns another printing, not length.

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Question 38

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “afraid of his own shadow”: Victor will not attend the dinner party tonight: he is afraid of his own shadow.

  1. not in the mood
  2. attending another party
  3. scared of imaginary things
  4. unhappy with his assigned role
  5. unable to forget his fears.
Answer and explanation

C: scared of imaginary things

Being afraid of one’s own shadow means being excessively fearful even when there is no real danger. Scared of imaginary things captures that unnecessary fear, rather than a different social commitment.

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Question 39

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “knocking your head against a brick wall”: Telling Ali to break his habit of coming to work late is like knocking your head against a brick wall

  1. trying the impossible
  2. asking him to beat you
  3. making a fool of yourself
  4. asking him to be your enemy
  5. making him break down at work
Answer and explanation

A: trying the impossible

The idiom describes repeated effort that cannot achieve its aim. Trying the impossible best expresses the frustration of repeatedly asking Ali to change an entrenched habit.

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Question 40

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “a chip on his shoulder”: The manager often quarrels with his staff because he goes around with a chip on his shoulder.

  1. deformed shoulder
  2. readiness to be angered
  3. look of contempt
  4. an air of superiority
  5. search for gossip.
Answer and explanation

B: readiness to be angered

Having a chip on one’s shoulder means being resentful and easily offended. Readiness to be angered fits the manager’s frequent quarrels; the phrase does not describe a physical shoulder injury.

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Question 41

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “popular”: The new employee is so humble and friendly that he will soon make himself popular.

  1. welcomed and accepted
  2. hated
  3. estranged
  4. rejected
  5. a personal friend.
Answer and explanation

A: welcomed and accepted

A popular person is liked and accepted by many people. Welcomed and accepted fits the employee’s friendly behaviour, while the negative choices mean the opposite.

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Question 42

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “took exception to”: He took exception to Ezenwa’s remark.

  1. was delighted at
  2. was excited by
  3. got demoralized by
  4. objected to
  5. was perplexed by.
Answer and explanation

D: objected to

To take exception to a remark is to object to it or find it offensive. Objected to gives this meaning directly; excitement, delight and confusion do not express the objection.

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Question 43

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “hardly ever”: Kelechi hardly ever falls sick.

  1. most often
  2. very seldom
  3. sometimes
  4. frequently
  5. occasionally
Answer and explanation

B: very seldom

Hardly ever means almost never. Very seldom expresses the same very low frequency, while frequently and most often describe a high frequency.

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Question 44

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “met their Waterloo”: The gallant soldiers met their Waterloo at Philippi

  1. victory
  2. trouble
  3. defeat
  4. happiest period
  5. enemy
Answer and explanation

C: defeat

To meet one’s Waterloo means to suffer a decisive defeat. The expression is figurative here and does not mean merely encountering an enemy or reaching a happy period.

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Question 45

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “futile”: It is futile trying to make bricks without straw.

  1. fertile
  2. important
  3. fragile
  4. vain
  5. bad
Answer and explanation

D: vain

A futile effort cannot achieve its intended result. Vain has that meaning in this context; fertile and important do not express an unsuccessful effort.

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Question 46

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “knocked me out”: The ceiling of my bed-room fell in and knocked me out.

  1. made me unconscious
  2. removed me
  3. flattened me
  4. killed me
  5. frightened me.
Answer and explanation

A: made me unconscious

To knock someone out is to make the person unconscious. It does not necessarily mean killing the person, and it means more than simply frightening or moving them.

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Question 47

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “incessantly”: In May 1978 the rain fell incessantly and made life drab.

  1. at intervals
  2. recurrently
  3. repeatedly
  4. concurrently
  5. continuously
Answer and explanation

E: continuously

Incessantly means continuously, without stopping. Repeatedly or recurrently allows breaks between separate events, whereas incessantly stresses the lack of a pause.

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Question 48

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “marvelous”: Little Ugochi has a bicycle which is in marvelous condition.

  1. need of a tune up
  2. excellent
  3. questionable
  4. unstable
  5. working
Answer and explanation

B: excellent

Marvelous means extremely good or excellent. Excellent condition therefore matches the description; merely working is a weaker statement about the bicycle.

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Question 49

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “maintained”: The lecturer maintained his usual good humour in spite of the cat-calls and the rude behaviour of his students

  1. provoked
  2. obtained
  3. kept
  4. lost
  5. improved.
Answer and explanation

C: kept

Maintained means kept something at its existing level or state. The lecturer kept his good humour despite the students’ behaviour; he did not lose or newly obtain it.

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Question 50

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “lecture”: The class as a whole will have a lecture on scarce commodities tomorrow

  1. argument
  2. deliberation
  3. dispute
  4. conference
  5. talk
Answer and explanation

E: talk

A lecture is an informative talk given to an audience or class. Talk is the closest general word here, whereas a dispute or argument involves disagreement.

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Question 52

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “momentarily”: He lost his voice momentarily.

  1. in a moment
  2. in a split second
  3. for a brief period of time
  4. without delay
  5. instantly.
Answer and explanation

C: for a brief period of time

Here momentarily describes how long the loss of voice lasted: only a brief period. Instantly and without delay concern when something happens rather than its short duration.

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Question 53

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “willy nilly”: The corrupt official had to leave the public service willy nilly.

  1. unprepared
  2. reluctantly
  3. willingly
  4. compulsorily
  5. by retirement
Answer and explanation

D: compulsorily

Willy-nilly can mean whether one wants to or not. Had to leave makes the compulsory sense clear; reluctantly describes unwillingness but does not itself express being forced.

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Question 54

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “penultimate”: I am yet to write the penultimate paragraph of my essay.

  1. last but one
  2. third to the last
  3. second
  4. concluding
  5. introductory
Answer and explanation

A: last but one

Penultimate means next to last, or last but one. It is not the final paragraph and does not mean the third paragraph from the end.

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Question 56

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “ajar”: Stephen was blamed for leaving his door ajar during the heavy rainfall.

  1. unlocked
  2. unbolted
  3. open
  4. keyless
  5. locked
Answer and explanation

C: open

Ajar means slightly open. Open is therefore the closest option; an unlocked or unbolted door can still be completely closed.

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Question 58

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “predominantly”: Nigeria, like most other African countries is predominantly agricultural.

  1. mainly
  2. certainly
  3. entirely
  4. undoubtedly
  5. superficially
Answer and explanation

A: mainly

Predominantly means mainly or for the most part. It describes a majority, not totality, so entirely is too strong. This question tests the word’s meaning in the supplied sentence.

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Question 59

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “punitive”: Despite increasingly punitive laws against hemp smoking, it is still rising at an alarming rate.

  1. devastating
  2. exemplary
  3. barbaric
  4. severe
  5. satisfactory
Answer and explanation

D: severe

Punitive describes something intended to punish, often harshly. Severe is the closest available description of such laws; satisfactory expresses approval rather than punishment.

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Question 60

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “indefinitely”: The Senate postponed the meeting indefinitely.

  1. for a short time
  2. for six months
  3. definitely
  4. without fixing a date
  5. for several months
Answer and explanation

D: without fixing a date

Postponing a meeting indefinitely means leaving its new date unsettled. Without fixing a date captures that uncertainty; the expression does not specify six months or any other fixed period.

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Question 61

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “laissez-faire”: You have been asked to change your laissez-faire attitude to work.

  1. stupid
  2. carefree
  3. careful
  4. serious
  5. responsible
Answer and explanation

B: carefree

A laissez-faire attitude is relaxed and allows matters to proceed with little intervention. Carefree is the closest choice here, contrasting with a careful or highly responsible approach.

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Question 63

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “an unmitigated”: My spell in the university was an unmitigated disaster

  1. an unavoidable
  2. a painful
  3. a regrettable
  4. an unqualified
  5. an unfortunate
Answer and explanation

D: an unqualified

An unmitigated disaster is a complete disaster, with nothing to lessen it. Unqualified means without reservation or limitation and gives that force; painful and unfortunate do not express completeness.

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Question 64

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “To be above board”: To be above board is to be

  1. afloat
  2. on top of a plank
  3. above suspicion
  4. raised above a board
  5. the chairman of a board
Answer and explanation

C: above suspicion

Being above board means acting openly and honestly. Above suspicion is the closest available expression, rather than a literal position above a piece of wood.

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Question 65

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “foolhardiness”: It is sheer foolhardiness for unarmed policemen to pursue armed robbers.

  1. nonsense
  2. bravery
  3. foolishness
  4. stupidity
  5. foolish risk taking
Answer and explanation

E: foolish risk taking

Foolhardiness is taking reckless risks without properly considering the danger. Foolish risk taking captures both the lack of judgment and the danger, more precisely than foolishness alone.

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Question 66

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “given to”: Bankole was a man given to much wine.

  1. pushed to
  2. taken over by
  3. addicted to
  4. forced to
  5. afflicted by
Answer and explanation

C: addicted to

Given to means habitually inclined to do or use something. Addicted to is the closest listed expression for the repeated drinking described here; the phrase does not mean that someone physically forced him.

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Question 67

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “taken in”: The officer refused to be taken in by the private.

  1. won over
  2. drawn in
  3. overtaken
  4. deceived
  5. Involved
Answer and explanation

D: deceived

To be taken in is to be deceived. Deceived fits the passive phrase be taken in; won over instead means persuaded to support someone.

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Question 69

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “came down heavily”: The judge came down heavily on the accused person in his judgement.

  1. crashed heavily
  2. fell down headlong
  3. descended upon heavily
  4. imposed a stiff penalty
  5. crash landed on.
Answer and explanation

D: imposed a stiff penalty

To come down heavily on someone is to punish or criticize them severely. In a judge’s judgment, imposed a stiff penalty fits that sense; the expression does not describe falling physically.

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Question 70

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “been urged to desist from witch-hunting and character assassination”: Employees have been urged to desist from witch-hunting and character assassination.

  1. commanded to stop hunting witches
  2. ordered to stop assassinating witches
  3. entreated not to accuse individuals unjustly and maliciously
  4. informed to resist witch hunters and character assassins
  5. urged to desist from barbaric acts.
Answer and explanation

C: entreated not to accuse individuals unjustly and maliciously

Witch-hunting and character assassination involve unfair targeting and malicious attacks on reputations. The employees are therefore being urged not to accuse individuals unjustly and maliciously, not to stop a literal hunt for witches.

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Question 71

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “white elephant projects”: The government should stop white elephant projects.

  1. projects in which white men kill elephants
  2. projects in which white elephants are used
  3. projects for painting some elephants white
  4. high cost projects with low utility values
  5. low cost projects with high utility values.
Answer and explanation

D: high cost projects with low utility values

A white elephant is something costly to maintain but of little practical value. High cost projects with low utility values states both parts of the expression’s meaning.

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Question 72

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Mary goes to school _____ bus.

  1. in
  2. on
  3. with
  4. through
  5. by
Answer and explanation

E: by

By bus is the usual phrase for travelling using that form of transport. In or on would normally need a determiner here, such as on a bus.

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Question 73

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The loud noise in the neighbourhood attracted people who stared _____ the thief.

  1. at
  2. about
  3. with
  4. on
  5. over
Answer and explanation

A: at

Stare at means look fixedly at someone or something. At introduces the person receiving the stare; the other prepositions do not form this construction.

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Question 75

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The lawyer insisted _____ the full payment of his charge.

  1. with
  2. in
  3. for
  4. at
  5. on
Answer and explanation

E: on

Insist on is followed by a noun phrase naming the demand. On therefore introduces the full payment; insist for and insist with do not fit this structure.

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Question 76

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Little children are usually afraid _____ thunder.

  1. about
  2. for
  3. of
  4. with
  5. at
Answer and explanation

C: of

Afraid of introduces the thing that causes fear. Of thunder completes this pattern; afraid for would instead express concern about someone’s welfare.

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Question 77

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: On the orders of the steward, the cook rushed _____ the market

  1. to
  2. at
  3. for
  4. in
  5. against
Answer and explanation

A: to

Rushed to the market describes hurried movement towards that destination. To is the destination preposition; at would suggest an attack rather than going to buy something.

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Question 78

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The principal advised that we pursue this case cautiously, otherwise we are bound to be taken _____ by Ada’s lies.

  1. away
  2. out
  3. in
  4. off
  5. on
Answer and explanation

C: in

Taken in by someone’s lies means deceived by those lies. In completes the phrasal verb and the following by-phrase identifies the cause of the deception.

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Question 80

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: When you are faced with an examination of this nature endeavour to keep your mind _____ the job and not be distracted for one moment.

  1. at
  2. in
  3. for
  4. on
  5. to
Answer and explanation

D: on

Keep your mind on the job means keep your attention focused on it. On links the attention to its task and fits the warning against distraction.

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Question 86

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: James _____ reminding that not all that glitters is gold.

  1. needs
  2. need
  3. needing
  4. needs to
  5. need to
Answer and explanation

A: needs

Needs reminding means needs to be reminded. The singular subject James takes needs, and the following -ing form is used directly without to.

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Question 88

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The boy thought that driving a car was not _____ dangerous than riding a bicycle.

  1. so very
  2. particularly
  3. very
  4. any more
  5. any
Answer and explanation

D: any more

The comparison uses more dangerous than. Any strengthens the negative comparison, producing not any more dangerous than; very or particularly cannot supply the required comparative form.

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Question 90

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Very few students have satisfactory _____ these days because the student population has increased tremendously.

  1. acommondation
  2. accomodation
  3. accommodation
  4. acommoddation
  5. acommodation.
Answer and explanation

C: accommodation

Accommodation is spelt with two c’s and two m’s. The other alternatives omit or add letters and are not the standard spelling.

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Question 91

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The old politicians were discredited because they tried to _____ the people’s ignorance.

  1. cash in on
  2. catch in with
  3. catch in on
  4. cash in with
  5. cash in by
Answer and explanation

A: cash in on

Cash in on means exploit something for advantage or profit. It fits politicians benefiting from ignorance; the other combinations do not form that expression.

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Question 92

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The plane overshot the _____ in a minor accident.

  1. railway
  2. hangar
  3. tarmac
  4. runway
  5. road
Answer and explanation

D: runway

A runway is the strip on which aircraft take off and land. Overshooting it means going beyond its end; a hangar is a building used to house aircraft.

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Question 93

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: That single _____ was enough to spoil a whole life time of good living.

  1. occurence
  2. ocurence
  3. occurrence
  4. occurrense
  5. ocurrence.
Answer and explanation

C: occurrence

Occurrence is spelt with two c’s and two r’s and ends in -ence. The other choices misspell that noun.

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Question 94

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The thief ran _____ luck when the policeman running after him caught up with him and knocked him down.

  1. into
  2. with
  3. of
  4. out of
  5. off
Answer and explanation

D: out of

Ran out of luck means stopped being fortunate. The capture marks that change, so out of completes the expression.

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Question 95

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Whilst the thief was _____ the passengers, he kept apologizing for the inconvenience he was causing them

  1. robbing
  2. rubbing
  3. robing
  4. rubing
  5. robbed.
Answer and explanation

A: robbing

Robbing means stealing from people and is formed by doubling the final b before -ing. Rubbing means moving against a surface, while robing means dressing in robes.

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Question 96

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Your brigade would be the better for it, if you desisted _____ rumor-mongering, observed the Chief of Staff

  1. from
  2. away
  3. into
  4. away from
  5. on
Answer and explanation

A: from

Desist from means stop doing something. From correctly introduces rumour-mongering; desist away from is not the standard construction.

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Question 100

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: He received a pat _____ the back for his brilliant success in the examination

  1. by
  2. at
  3. in
  4. on
  5. for
Answer and explanation

D: on

A pat on the back expresses praise or congratulations. On identifies where the pat is given and completes the established phrase for recognising the examination success.

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