📖 2012

JAMB Literature in English 2012 past questions

45 questions from the 2012 JAMB UTME Literature in English paper. Free, with answers where available.

Practice with CBT mock → All Literature in English years
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q1 ✓ Answer: B
Which Question Paper Type of Literature-in- English as indicated above is given to you?
A
Type Green
B
Type Purple
C
Type Red
D
Type Yellow Question 2 to 5 are based on J.C. De Graft's Sons and Daughters.
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q2 ✓ Answer: C
Who is the paternal aunt to Aaron and Maanan?
A
Mrs Bonu
B
Hannah
C
Fosuwa
D
Adwao
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q3 ✓ Answer: D
From the play, George is a
A
laboratory assistant
B
pharmacist
C
nurse
D
medical doctor Use the quotation below to answer questions 1 and
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q4 ✓ Answer: A
"If you touch me, I shall smash your face with this bottle" The statement is made by
A
Manaan to lawyer B
B
Manaan to Mrs Bonu
C
James to Awere
D
Awere to Aaron
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q5 ✓ Answer: B
The issue at stake is that
A
Maanan is trying to compromise
B
Lawyer B is trying to kiss Maanan
C
James sees Awere as a bad influence
D
Mrs Bonu is taunting Maanan for loving her husband Questions 6 to 10 are based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q6 ✓ Answer: B
"From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life..." The lines above suggest that the tragedy in the play [PAGE 18]
A
could have been averted
B
is predestined
C
is brought on enmity
D
brought misfortune on the lovers
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q7 ✓ Answer: D
O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night A rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear." From the lines above, Juliet's beauty is presented
A
in contrast to the dark night
B
as a source of envy to all
C
in terms of riches
D
as being outstanding
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q8 ✓ Answer: C
"The all-seeing sun, Ne'er saw match since first the world begun." The lines above were spoken by
A
Count Paris in praise of Juliet
B
Romeo in praise of Juliet
C
Romeo in praise of Roseline
D
Lady Capulet in praise of Roseline
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q9 ✓ Answer: A
The major role of Mercutio in the play is to
A
serve as a contrast to Romeo
B
aid and abet Romeo's passion
C
annoy Tybalt
D
accompany Romeo to Friar Lawrence
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q10 ✓ Answer: C
The play shares the feature of classical tragedy through the use of
A
violence on stage
B
chorus
C
comic relief
D
flashback Questions 11 to 13 are based on Ferdinand Oyono’s The Old Man and the Medal.
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q11 ✓ Answer: C
"Meka, kneeling down in his usual fashion with his behind up in the air. Kelara knelt down beside him. Amalia and her husband knelt down as well." The actions of Meka, Kelara, Amalia and her husband signify
A
parade
B
dance
C
prayer
D
celebration [PAGE 19]
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q12 ✓ Answer: B
"He had knocked his toes against so many things that he had no toenails anymore and the yaws he had suffered from his youth had twisted his toes up so that they pointed to the sky" The description above is in reference to the foot of
A
Kelara
B
Meka
C
Egamba
D
Mvondo
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q13 ✓ Answer: B
"They said their prayers in a monotonous sing-song, kneeling on their bamboo bed like camels waiting to be loaded." The dominant figure of speech in the excerpt above is
A
rhetorical question
B
simile
C
metaphor
D
mixed metaphor Questions 14 to 16 are based on Buchi Emecheta’s The joy of Motherhood.
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q14 ✓ Answer: A
As a symbol of material success and fulfilment, Ibuzza community places a lot of importance on
A
childbirth
B
wealth
C
male child
D
female child
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q15 ✓ Answer: D
Ona on her dying bed appeals to Agbadi to
A
give her a befitting burial
B
take good care of her children
C
take another wife
D
allow Nnu Ego marry a man of her choice
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q16 ✓ Answer: D
The little money Nnaife makes after returning from Fernando PO is used for
A
expanding Nnu Ego's business
B
taking care of his family
C
sending his children to school
D
getting more wives Questions 14 to 16 are based on George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q17 ✓ Answer: C
The novel is mainly classified as a
A
metaphor
B
hyperbole
C
satire
D
fiction
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q18 ✓ Answer: A
Winston writes that the hope of the country lies on the
A
ministry of the truth
B
proles
C
party
D
children
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q19 ✓ Answer: C
In the novel, two minutes hate is a programme designed for
A
parents
B
thought police
C
the community
D
children
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q20 ✓ Answer: A
To drop his philosophy of life and imbibe the tenets of the party, Winston is subjected to all forms of torture and inhuman treatment by
A
O'Brien
B
thought police
C
Big Brother
D
Goldstein Questions 21 to 30 are based on selected poems from Johnson, R, et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ED.): Poems of Black Africa; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T. (eds.): A Selection of African Poetry: U. Maduka, C.T et al: Exam Focus: Longman Examination Guides; Nwoga, D.I. (ed.): West African Verse and Adeoti G: Naked Soles.
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q21 ✓ Answer: B
The movement in Adeoti's Naked Soles is characterized by
A
hope and agreement
B
freedom and self-determination
C
pricks and tears
D
disappointed and disarray
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q22 ✓ Answer: A
One of the dominant themes if Rubadin's An African Thunderstorm is the
A
relationship between man and woman
B
activities of man during rainy seasons
C
effect of rain on women and children
D
problem of climate change
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q23 ✓ Answer: A
In Kunene's A Heritage of Liberation, the weapons are to be preserved for the generation yet unborn by the
A
gods
B
elders
C
people [PAGE 20]
D
government
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q24 ✓ Answer: D
Give Me The Minstrel's Seat ends on a clarion call for
A
freedom
B
peace
C
rectitude
D
commitment
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q25 ✓ Answer: A
"...the youthful hue/sits on thy skin like a morning dew..." The excerpt above from Marvell's To His Coy Mistress is an example of
A
simile
B
anaphora
C
paradox
D
onomatopia
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q26 ✓ Answer: A
In Lawrence's Bat, the poet compares bats with
A
sparrows
B
swans
C
swallows
D
crows
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q27 ✓ Answer: C
Elliot's The Journey of the Magi could be said to examine the issues of
A
three trees on the low sky
B
empty wine-skins
C
spiritual rebirth
D
holy pilgrimage
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q28 ✓ Answer: D
"We would be believing we dreamt it" The figure of speech in the line above from Acquah's In the Navel of the Soul is
A
apostrophe
B
assonance
C
antithesis
D
alliteration
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q29 ✓ Answer: D
The casualties in Launko's End of the War
A
women
B
children
C
men
D
soldiers
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q30 ✓ Answer: A
The theme of Cope's Sonnet VII is
A
art of poetry
B
adventure
C
contempt for literature
D
isolation Questions 31 to 40 are based on general Literary Principles.
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q32 ✓ Answer: C
Characterization in a novel refers to the
A
writer's opinion of the characters
B
way the characters are revealed to the reader
C
characters and the way they behave
D
reader's opinion of the characters
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q33 ✓ Answer: A
In literary work, verbal irony refers to a
A
device in which the speaker means the opposite of what he says
B
situation in which a character speaks or acts against the trend of events
C
difficult situation which defies a logical or rational resolution
D
device in which the actor on stage means exactly what he says
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q34 ✓ Answer: A
In the theater, words spoken by a character that are meant to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters on stage is called
A
aside
B
soliloquy
C
acoustic
D
tone
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q35 ✓ Answer: B
Drama is the representation of a complete series of actions by means of
A
movement and gesture for the screen and audience
B
speech, movement and gesture for the stage only
C
speech, movement and gesture for the stage, screen and radio
D
speech, gesture and movement for the screen and radio
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q39 ✓ Answer: D
The juxtaposition of two contrasting ideas in a line of poetry is
A
euphemism
B
synedoche
C
catharsis
D
oxymoron
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q40 ✓ Answer: D
The main aim of caricature is to
A
describe
B
expose
C
emphasize
D
ridicule Questions 41 to 50 are based on Literary Appreciation
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q41 ✓ Answer: D
O! Ceremony, show me but thy worth What is thy soul of adoration The figure of speech in the lines above is
A
antithesis
B
invocation
C
personification
D
apostrophe
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q42 ✓ Answer: A
"What eyes will watch our large mouths, Shaped by the laughter of big children What eyes will watch our large mouths?" Birage Diop:Vanity The tone of the lines above is one of
A
sarcasm
B
sacrilege
C
chiasmus
D
eulogy
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q43 ✓ Answer: B
The old man slept in his favourite chair The wind ran its fingers through his hair He looked like a tree gone dry of sap And his hands were dry upon his lap The rhyme a scheme of the poem above is
A
bbaa
B
aabb
C
abab
D
baba
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q44 ✓ Answer: A
Unequal laws unto a savage race, That board, and sleep, and feed.... The lines above show that the speaker
A
detects discrimination
B
is desirous of adventure
C
hates his old wife
D
knows much of his city men 45 How can I look at Oyo and say I hate long shiny cars? How can I come to the children and despise international schools? And Koomson comes, and the family sees Jesus Christ in him.... The feeling conveyed by the speaker above is one of
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q46 ✓ Answer: D
"Hide me now, when night children haunt the earth" Wole Soyinka:Night Night children in the stanza above reflects the consciousness of
A
birds
B
armed robbers
C
animals
D
spirit beings
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q47 ✓ Answer: A
"Serrated shadows, through dark leaves, Til, bathed in warm suffusion of your dapped cells Sensation pained me, faceless, silent as night thieves." Wole Soyinka: Night The dominant mood in the lines above is one of
A
apprehension
B
defiance
C
joy
D
indifference
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q48 ✓ Answer: C
"The drums overwhelmed the guns " J.P Clark: Casualties The poet in the excerpt above uses
A
litotes
B
symbolism
C
onomatopoeia
D
alliteration
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q49 ✓ Answer: A
‘. They do not see the funeral piles At home eating up the forests ’ [PAGE 22] J.P. Clark:Casualties The imagery created in the above excerpt is achieved through
A
metaphor
B
personification
C
synecdoche
D
metonym
Literature in English JAMB 2012 Q50 ✓ Answer: B
"I cannot rest from travel: I will drink Life to the lees, all times I have enjoyed Greatly, have suffered greatly" A.L. Tennyson: Ulysses The lines above inform the reader that the poet
A
is determined to suffer
B
has his poetic imagination kindled
C
will cure his sour mood
D
will not drink much [PAGE 23] ANSWER KEYS