Use Of English 2014 Jamb Examination

Convene (verb) - /kənˈviːn/
In a legislative or formal context, the word 'convene' means to come together or assemble for a meeting or activity. Since the House and the Senate are meeting specifically to hear a presidential address, this is the most appropriate term. 'Collude' implies a secret or illegal cooperation to deceive others. 'Adjourn' and 'rise' both refer to the ending of a session or meeting, which would be the opposite of what is happening if they are meeting to hear an address.

Turn (noun) - /tɜːn/
The phrase 'at the turn of the century' is a standard English idiom used to describe the period of time when one century ends and a new one begins. It is the most natural and idiomatic way to express the transition between eras in history. While 'birth' might metaphorically suggest a beginning and 'event' refers to an occurrence, neither fits the established colocation for historical timeframes like 'turn' does in this context.

Either (adverb) - /ˈaɪ.ðər/
In English grammar, 'either' is used at the end of a negative sentence to mean 'also' or 'likewise'. The sentence contains the negative contraction 'can't' (cannot), which necessitates the use of 'either' to show that the ballpoint pen is excluded in addition to a previous condition or as a second item in a negative choice. 'As well' and 'also' are generally used in affirmative (positive) sentences, and 'furthermore' is a conjunctive adverb used to introduce extra information, not to conclude a negative parallel.

Out of the woods (idiom) - /aʊt əv ðə wʊdz/
The correct idiomatic expression is 'to be out of the woods', which means to be out of danger or difficulty. It is often used to describe a situation that has improved but still requires caution. Note that the plural 'woods' is the standard form of the idiom, but 'wood' is the closest available option provided in the list. The other options like 'forest', 'fog', or 'water' do not form this specific idiomatic meaning in general English usage.

Cuisine (noun) - /kwɪˈziːn/
The word 'cuisine' refers to a style or method of cooking, especially as characteristic of a particular country, region, or establishment. In the context of enjoying something 'special' at a restaurant, 'cuisine' refers to the high-quality food or the culinary style offered. A 'chef' is the person who cooks, a 'suite' is a set of rooms, and 'a la carte' is a way of ordering individual dishes from a menu rather than a fixed-price meal, but 'cuisine' represents the actual food experience being enjoyed.

This sentence requires a consistent use of past tenses to maintain narrative sequence. The first part of the sentence uses the past tense 'wanted', which indicates that the action took place in the past. To describe an action that started before that past moment and continued up until it, we use the past perfect continuous tense ('had been going on'). Using 'has been' would be a tense mismatch (present perfect in a past context), and 'want' would be a subject-verb agreement error since 'invigilator' is singular and requires 'wants' in the present tense. Therefore, the combination of 'wanted' and 'had been' is grammatically sound.

The phrase 'to and fro' is a common English idiom meaning to move constantly backwards and forwards or from side to side. It is derived from Old English and is the standard way to describe a repetitive, oscillating movement, such as a guard walking a beat. While 'to and from' is a valid phrase in other contexts (like commuting to and from work), it is not the idiomatic expression used to describe the act of 'pacing' in a confined area.

In legal terminology, the verb 'testify' is commonly followed by the preposition 'against' when the evidence provided is damaging or intended to prove the guilt of the accused person. In many legal systems, there is also the concept of 'spousal privilege', where a spouse might refuse to testify 'against' their partner. The other prepositions—'from', 'in', and 'at'—do not correctly collocate with 'testify' to indicate the target or opposition of the witness's statement.

When a movie or book is described as 'very interesting', it implies that it holds the viewer's full attention. The word 'absorbing' is a synonym for 'engrossing' or 'fascinating', describing something that takes up all of one's attention and energy. 'Perverting' means to lead astray or distort, 'absolving' means to declare someone free from guilt, and 'nauseating' means causing a feeling of sickness. Given the positive context of the movies being 'very interesting', 'absorbing' is the only logical choice.

This question tests subject-verb agreement and the correct formation of the passive voice in the present perfect tense. The subject of the sentence is 'The words', which is plural. Therefore, the auxiliary verb must be 'have' rather than 'has'. The passive construction for the present perfect requires 'been' (the past participle of 'be') followed by the main verb's past participle 'divided'. 'Being' is used for continuous tenses, not the perfect tense. Thus, 'have been' correctly completes the sentence to show that the action was performed on the plural subject.