Use Of English 2016 Jamb Examination
Use Of English 2016 Jamb Examination
Question 61
The word in capital letters has emphatic stress. Choose the option to which the given sentence relates.
My house is a BUNGALOW
My house is a BUNGALOW
Emphatic stress is used by a speaker to highlight the specific part of a sentence that provides the answer to a doubt, a question, or a contradiction. In the statement 'My house is a BUNGALOW', the stress is placed on the type of building. This means the speaker is specifically clarifying the architectural style of the house. To find the correct related question, we must find an option that questions the specific category of the house. Option A asks if the house is a 'terrace'. By responding with emphasis on 'BUNGALOW', the speaker is correcting the misconception that the house is a terrace house. Options B, C, and D focus on the tense, the article, and the owner respectively, which would require the stress to be on different words in the reply.
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The passage explicitly discusses the factors that heighten our natural sense of curiosity. The author states that 'this inquisitiveness is vastly stimulated by jealousy, suspicion or any hint that we ourselves are directly or indirectly involved'. This directly supports the idea that feeling suspicious about a situation or believing one is involved in it acts as a catalyst for wanting to know more. While the other options suggest broad generalisations about human conduct or the environment, the passage specifically links the intensification of inquisitive behaviour to the presence of suspicion and personal stakes.
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Question 63
The word absorbed as used in the passage, means
In the context of the sentence 'a letter which someone else is absorbed', the word describes a state of intense mental focus. When a person is absorbed in a task, such as reading a letter, they are giving it their full attention to the exclusion of everything else. The word 'engrossed' is a precise synonym for this state, as it means having all one's attention or interest occupied by someone or something. 'Disturbed' would imply an interruption, 'covered' would imply physical concealment, and 'entailed' would imply a logical consequence, none of which fit the description of a person deeply focused on reading.
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Question 64
From the passage, it can be deduced that curiosity thrives
The author points out that there is a 'fair amount of personal interest in other people's affairs even when they do not concern us'. This suggests that curiosity is not merely about survival or direct involvement, but is fueled by the inherent interest or 'news value' of a situation. The passage compares certain real-life events, like divorce suits, to novels or plays, indicating that if a subject is captivating, mysterious, or relatable, our curiosity will naturally flourish. Therefore, the driving force behind thriving curiosity is the level of interest the subject generates in the observer.
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Question 65
The author seems to suggest that curiosity is
The opening sentence of the passage states that 'Curiosity is as clear and definite as any of our urges.' By comparing curiosity to 'urges', the author is categorising it alongside basic biological or psychological drives that humans possess naturally. Urges are typically viewed as innate rather than skills that are taught (learned) or picked up through cultural experience (acquired). The description of it being a 'definite' part of our makeup suggests that the author views curiosity as an inherent, inborn quality of the human condition that manifests automatically in various situations.
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Question 66
Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled [....11.....] in the passage.
Boxing is sometimes called 'the noble art of self defence'. According to some people, boxing appeals to the lowest instincts in the ....11.... who have come to watch blood flow and their fellow human suffer.
Boxing is sometimes called 'the noble art of self defence'. According to some people, boxing appeals to the lowest instincts in the ....11.... who have come to watch blood flow and their fellow human suffer.
In the context of sports and public performances, the people who gather to watch an event are collectively referred to as spectators. While 'witnesses' might be used for legal or accidental events, and 'congregations' is reserved for religious gatherings, 'spectators' is the precise term for an audience at a sporting match like boxing. The passage describes these individuals as having come specifically to watch the physical combat and the suffering of the participants, which aligns with the role of a sports audience observing a contest from the stands.
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Question 67
Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled [....12.....] in the passage.
Boxers who are medically fit appear in the ....12....
Boxers who are medically fit appear in the ....12....
Every sport has a specific name for the area where the competition takes place. For boxing, the designated area is called the 'ring'. Despite being called a ring, it is actually a square platform enclosed by ropes. A 'stage' is for theatrical performances, a 'track' is for racing or athletics, and a 'circle' does not denote a standard boxing arena. Therefore, boxers who have passed their medical fitness tests enter the ring to begin their match.
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Question 68
Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled [....13.....] in the passage.
The referee sometimes allows the .....13... to go on for long so that one of the contestants is reduced to a human punch bag.
The referee sometimes allows the .....13... to go on for long so that one of the contestants is reduced to a human punch bag.
Bout (noun) - /baÊŠt/
While 'match' and 'contest' are general terms that could apply to many sports, the specific technical term used to describe a single boxing boxing session or a full boxing match is a 'bout'. Using the word 'bout' demonstrates a specific understanding of boxing register. A 'performance' would imply a rehearsed show rather than a competitive fight. In this sentence, the author is discussing the duration of the physical struggle between the two athletes, making 'bout' the most register-appropriate choice.
While 'match' and 'contest' are general terms that could apply to many sports, the specific technical term used to describe a single boxing boxing session or a full boxing match is a 'bout'. Using the word 'bout' demonstrates a specific understanding of boxing register. A 'performance' would imply a rehearsed show rather than a competitive fight. In this sentence, the author is discussing the duration of the physical struggle between the two athletes, making 'bout' the most register-appropriate choice.
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Question 69
Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled [....14.....] in the passage.
The referee sometimes allows the bout to go on for long so that one of the ...14... is reduced to a human punch bag.
The referee sometimes allows the bout to go on for long so that one of the ...14... is reduced to a human punch bag.
The individuals participating in a formal sporting competition are called contestants. 'Assailants' suggests a criminal or unprovoked attack, 'disputants' refers to people involved in a verbal argument or legal disagreement, and 'brawlers' implies people engaged in an unstructured, often illegal street fight. Since boxing is a regulated sport with rules and referees, the participants are athletes competing within a framework, making 'contestants' the correct and neutral term to describe the two boxers in the ring.
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Question 70
Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled [....15.....] in the passage.
It may happen that the boxers are not well ...15... one being much stronger than the other...
It may happen that the boxers are not well ...15... one being much stronger than the other...
In competitive sports, when two opponents are of similar skill, weight, or strength, they are said to be 'well matched'. If one boxer is significantly stronger than the other, it indicates a mismatch in the pairing. 'Levelled' usually refers to making a surface flat, 'groomed' refers to personal appearance or training for a specific role, and 'sparred' is a verb for practicing boxing without full force. Therefore, 'matched' is the standard adjective used to describe the suitability of two opponents facing each other in a contest.
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