Use Of English 2014 Jamb Examination

Debilitate (verb) - /dɪˈbɪl.ɪ.teɪt/
To debilitate means to make someone or something weak or infirm. In the context of an industry, a prolonged strike causes a loss of strength, productivity, and financial health. The opposite of weakening something is to give it energy, strength, or life. 'Invigorated' means to give strength or energy to something, making it the direct antonym. 'Weakened' is a synonym, while 'destroyed' and 'isolated' do not capture the specific sense of restoring strength or vitality.

Plagiarised (adjective) - /ˈpleɪ.dʒə.raɪzd/
Plagiarism involves taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. A plagiarised copy of a book implies it is a dishonest reproduction or imitation of another's intellectual property. The antonym for something copied or stolen is something that is the first or primary source. 'An original' refers to the unique, authentic work created by the actual author. 'Annotated' refers to adding notes, 'used' refers to the condition of the book, and 'revised' refers to an updated version, none of which are the direct opposite of plagiarised.

Taken aback (idiom) - /ˈteɪ.kən əˈbæk/
To be taken aback means to be very surprised or shocked by something, often to the point of being momentarily confused. In this sentence, the girl was startled by the unexpected generosity of the gift. The opposite state of being surprised or shocked is to remain completely affected or showing no emotion. 'Unmoved' describes a person who is not affected by emotion or surprise. 'Shocked', 'surprised', and 'nonplussed' are all synonyms or closely related in meaning to being taken aback.

Erratic (adjective) - /ɪˈræt.ɪk/
An erratic person or player is one who does not follow any fixed or regular course, often being inconsistent or unpredictable in their performance. If Musa is erratic, his quality of play varies wildly. The antonym for something that is inconsistent is something that is steady, consistent, or follows a standard pattern. 'Regular' implies a constant, reliable level of performance. 'Unstable' and 'unpredictable' are synonyms of erratic, while 'strong' refers to physical ability rather than consistency.

Translucent (adjective) - /trænzˈluː.sənt/
A translucent material allows light, but not detailed shapes, to pass through; it is semi-transparent. To find the opposite, we must identify a term for a material that does not allow any light to pass through at all. 'Opaque' is the scientific term for substances that light cannot penetrate. 'Transparent' is a degree further than translucent (allowing clear images to pass), while 'luminous' refers to giving off light itself rather than how light passes through it. [Image of transparent, translucent and opaque objects]

Unquenchable (adjective) - /ʌnˈkwentʃ.ə.bəl/
The word 'unquenchable' is used to describe a feeling, desire, or thirst that is so strong it cannot be satisfied or stopped. In the context of the sentence, the niece's desire for adventure stories is limitless. To find the opposite, we look for a word that suggests a limit, a decrease, or a state of being satisfied. 'Reduced' implies that the intensity or amount has been made smaller or less significant, serving as a functional antonym in this context. 'Inextinguishable' is a synonym, while 'spurious' (false) and 'illegitimate' (unlawful) do not relate to the intensity of a desire.

Antipathy (noun) - /ænˈtɪp.ə.θi/
Antipathy refers to a deep-seated feeling of aversion, dislike, or hostility towards something or someone. If neighbours have an antipathy to dogs, they strongly dislike them or find them repellant. The direct opposite of a strong dislike is a feeling of liking, fondness, or love. 'Affection' represents a feeling of fondness or liking, making it the perfect antonym for antipathy. 'Enmity' is a synonym (hostility), 'alarm' refers to fear, and 'acronym' is a linguistic term unrelated to emotions.

Unpick (verb) - /ʌnˈpɪk/
To unpick a seam means to carefully undo the stitches that hold two pieces of fabric together, usually using a tool like a seam ripper. It is a process of taking apart what has been joined by needle and thread. The logical opposite of taking a seam apart is the act of creating the seam by joining the fabric together with stitches. 'Sewed up' refers to the action of fastening or joining something with stitches, which is the direct reversal of unpicking. 'Threaded' refers to passing thread through a needle, and 'tore up' implies a violent destruction of the fabric rather than a neat reversal of stitching.

Vague (adjective) - /veɪɡ/
When a testimony or statement is described as 'vague', it means it is uncertain, indefinite, or lacks clear details, making it difficult to understand or rely upon. To find the opposite, we need a word that describes information that is easy to perceive, certain, and well-defined. 'Clear' is the most appropriate antonym as it describes something that is easy to see, hear, or understand without any confusion. 'Ambiguous' is a synonym for vague, while 'disturbing' and 'true' refer to the emotional impact or the veracity of the statement rather than its clarity.

Communal (adjective) - /ˈkɒm.jə.nəl/
Communal living refers to a situation where resources, living spaces, and responsibilities are shared by a group of people rather than belonging to an individual. It is inherently social and collective. The antonym for something shared by a group is something that is restricted to one person or a small, non-public group. 'Private' refers to things that are intended for or restricted to the use of one particular person or group, serving as the direct opposite of communal. 'Collective', 'general', and 'shared' are all synonyms or closely related in meaning to communal.