Use Of English 2008 Jamb Examination

When a mother is afraid that her child would die when it has only a pimple or a slight headache, we speak of anxiety. But if she is afraid when the child has a serious illness, we call her reaction ….16…. [A. hysteria B. xenophobia C. fear D. foolish].

If someone is afraid whenever he stands on a height or when he has to discuss ….17…. [A. workshop B. a seminar C. a topic D. an exercise] he knows well, we call his reaction ….18…. [A. incompetence B. anxiety C. anger D. immaturity]; if someone is afraid when he loses his way high up the mountain during a heavy thunderstorm, we would speak of ….19…. [A. trepidation B. ignorance C. depression D. apprehension].

Thus far, we have a simple and near distinction between the two, namely, one is a reaction that is proportionate to the danger one has to face whereas the other is ….20…. [A. an unrelated B. a dissimilar C. an equal D. an unparalleled] reaction to danger or even a reaction to ….21…. [A. imaginary B. unrealistic C. ominous D. unusual] danger.

This distinction has one ….22…. [A. direction B. flavor C. flaw D. meaning], however, which is that the decision ….23…. [A. as to B. as from C. as in D. as of] whether the reaction is proportionate depends on the average knowledge existing in the particular ….24…. [A. medium B. culture C. feature D. institution].

But, even if that knowledge proclaims a certain attitude to be unfounded, a neurotic will find no difficulty in giving his action a ….25…. [A. rational B. reactional C. proactive D. radical] foundation.