Use Of English 2015 Jamb Examination

Pass - /pɑːs/
In United Kingdom English (Received Pronunciation), the 'a' in 'pass' is pronounced as a long open back unrounded vowel /ɑː/.
earth - /ɜːθ/
clerk - /klɑːk/
lass - /læs/
man - /mæn/
The word 'clerk' is pronounced with the same /ɑː/ sound, making it the correct phonetic match. 'Lass' and 'man' both use the short /æ/ sound, while 'earth' uses the mid-central vowel /ɜː/. Despite the difference in spelling, 'clerk' and 'pass' share the same vowel quality in standard British English.

The sentence uses the time preposition 'since', which is typically used with the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense to describe an action that began in the past and is still continuing in the present. 'Has been teaching' is the present perfect continuous form, which emphasizes the ongoing nature of the teaching profession from 2001 up until the current moment. 'Taught' would imply the action is finished, 'was teaching' is past continuous and requires a specific past timeframe, and 'teaches' is simple present used for general habits rather than actions linked to a specific starting point in the past.

In the novel *The Last Days at Forcados High School* by A.H. Mohammed, Efua Coker moves to live with her aunt after being expelled from her previous school. Aunt Moni is the one who introduces Efua to Nene Ekpo, who is a friend and fellow student at Forcados High. This introduction is a pivotal moment in the story as it marks the beginning of the relationship between the reserved Efua and the more sociable Nene, integrated within the domestic setting of Aunt Moni's house.

Power - /ˈpaʊ.ə/
The underlined part 'ower' in 'power' represents a triphthong sound /aʊə/, which is a glide from /a/ to /ʊ/ and then to the schwa /ə/.
flour - /flaʊ.ə/
higher - /haɪ.ə/
liar - /laɪ.ə/
flier - /flaɪ.ə/
The word 'flour' contains the exact same triphthong /aʊə/ as 'power'. The other options ('higher', 'liar', and 'flier') all contain a different triphthong, /aɪə/, which glides from /a/ to /ɪ/ before ending in the schwa. Therefore, 'flour' is the only word that matches the vowel quality of 'power'.

Fret - /fret/
A rhyme requires the words to share the same stressed vowel and all following sounds. 'Fret' ends with the /et/ sound.
freight - /freɪt/ (ends in /eɪt/)
height - /haɪt/ (ends in /aɪt/)
threat - /θret/ (ends in /et/)
thread - /θred/ (ends in /ed/)
The word 'threat' shares the same short /e/ vowel followed by the voiceless alveolar plosive /t/, making it a perfect rhyme for 'fret'. 'Thread' is a near-match but ends in a voiced /d/ sound, while 'freight' and 'height' use different vowel sounds entirely.

In A.H. Mohammed's novel, *The Last Days at Forcados High School*, physical descriptions are used to distinguish the unique personalities of the students. Seyi Lawal, the Head Boy of the school, is described as having a characteristic laugh that only reveals his upper teeth. This detail helps to paint a picture of his formal yet amiable personality as a student leader. Seyi is often seen interacting with Jimi and other main characters, and his specific mannerisms, like this unique smile or laugh, contribute to his characterisation as a prominent and recognizable figure within the school community.

Done - /dʌn/
The underlined 'o' in 'done' represents the short central open-mid unrounded vowel /ʌ/.
don - /dɒn/ (contains the short /ɒ/ sound)
sun - /sʌn/ (contains the short /ʌ/ sound)
clown - /klaʊn/ (contains the diphthong /aʊ/)
dawn - /dɔːn/ (contains the long /ɔː/ sound)
The word 'sun' contains the exact same /ʌ/ vowel sound as 'done'. Words like 'son', 'blood', and 'tough' also share this specific vowel quality. In contrast, 'don' uses a rounded back vowel, 'clown' uses a gliding vowel, and 'dawn' uses a long vowel, making 'sun' the only correct phonetic match.

In the novel, Efua Coker's primary guardian at Forcados is her aunt, Aunt Moni. However, the narrative also reveals her connection to other adults in the community. Mrs. Alli is the character identified as Efua’s relative or family connection in this context. These family ties are crucial to the plot because Efua’s mother is largely absent from her daily life, having sent her away to live with relatives following the troubles Efua faced at her previous school. This lack of a stable nuclear family unit contributes significantly to Efua's introverted and cautious nature.

Mr. Mallum, the Principal of Forcados High School, is introduced with a very specific and somewhat comical physical description. The author describes him as being small in stature and having a 'wiry' frame. A distinct auditory detail provided is that he 'spoke through his nose', indicating a nasal quality to his voice. These descriptions serve to humanise the authority figure and make him a memorable character for the readers. His small physical presence often contrasts with the authority he wields over the large and diverse student population.

The sentence makes reference to a future event indicated by the time marker 'next year'. In English grammar, the simple future tense is used to express actions that are planned or expected to happen in the future. The passive construction 'will be held' is appropriate here because the focus is on the election (the event) rather than the organisers. 'Is being' would imply the election is happening right now, 'has been' refers to a past action with present relevance, and 'have being' is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, 'will be' is the only logical choice for an event scheduled for the following year.