Use Of English 2017 Jamb Examination

The word 'reproof' refers to an expression of blame or disapproval; it is a scolding or a rebuke given to someone for a fault. To find the opposite, we look for a word that signifies approval or praise. 'Commendation' is the formal expression of praise or approval, making it the direct antonym of reproof. While 'exhortation' means an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something, it does not necessarily imply praise. 'Opposition' means disagreement, and 'appropriation' refers to taking something for one's own use, neither of which are relevant opposites to a rebuke.

The word 'impelled' means to drive, force, or urge someone to do something. It suggests a strong internal or external pressure that motivates an action. Among the choices, 'compelled' is the closest synonym, as it also means to force or oblige someone to do something. 'Accompanied' means to go somewhere with someone, while 'authority' and 'finance' are nouns that do not fit the grammatical or contextual requirement of the sentence as a replacement for the verb 'impelled'.

In the context of a formal debate, the objective is to prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false. The specific term for proving an argument or a point to be incorrect using evidence or logic is to 'refute'. 'Rebuke' means to express sharp disapproval, 'reject' means to dismiss as inadequate or unsatisfactory without necessarily proving it wrong, and 'refuse' means to indicate unwillingness to accept something. Therefore, 'refute' is the most appropriate technical term for addressing an opponent's point in an argumentative setting.

leisure - /ˈleʒ.ə/
sure - /ʃɔː/
ledger - /ˈledʒ.ə/
treasure - /ˈtreʒ.ə/
judge - /dʒʌdʒ/
The underlined letter 's' in 'leisure' represents the voiced postalveolar fricative sound /ʒ/. In the word 'sure', the 's' represents the voiceless /ʃ/. In 'ledger' and 'judge', the sound represented is the voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/. The word 'treasure' contains the same voiced postalveolar fricative /ʒ/ sound as found in 'leisure'. Thus, 'treasure' is the correct match.

departmental - /ˌdiː.pɑːtˈmen.təl/
The word 'departmental' is derived from the noun 'department'. In English, when the suffix '-al' is added to a word to form an adjective, the stress often shifts. For 'departmental', the primary stress falls on the third syllable: de-part-MEN-tal. This follows the general rule where words ending in '-tal' often have the stress on the syllable immediately preceding the suffix. Therefore, the pattern departMENtal is the correct one.

The archaic or literary adjective 'bootless' means (of a task or undertaking) ineffectual or useless. If an errand is bootless, it means it achieved nothing and was a waste of time. To find the opposite, we need a word that describes an action that is productive or valuable. 'Worthwhile' means worth the time, money, or effort spent; of value or importance. This is the direct antonym of bootless. 'Vain' and 'delusive' are synonyms of being useless or misleading, while 'intended' just means planned.

This is a question on emphatic stress. The word 'STATED' is capitalised, indicating it is the point of emphasis in the sentence. Emphatic stress is used to highlight a specific piece of information, often to correct a contradictory idea. By stressing 'STATED', the speaker is emphasizing the *manner* or the *action* of the communication, rather than who did it or what was said. The question that would naturally prompt this emphasis is one that suggests a different verb for the action, such as 'Did Aderonke lament...?' (suggesting she complained instead of stated). The stress on 'STATED' clarifies that she simply stated it.

To 'fake' something like a painting means to create a copy or imitation of it with the intention to deceive people into thinking it is the original work. The adverb 'beautifully' suggests that the act of faking was done with high skill or aesthetic success. Therefore, the sentence means the painting is an imitation (a replica) that is so well done that it is deceptive. 'A good deceptive replica' perfectly captures both the 'fake' aspect and the 'beautifully' (high quality) aspect of the original statement.

This question tests vocabulary related to agriculture. While crops can be sold, weeded, or uprooted, the most standard and encompassing term for the process of gathering mature crops from the fields is 'harvesting'. The phrase 'in three months time' implies the duration until the crops reach maturity. 'Harvested' is the specific agricultural term used when crops have completed their growth cycle and are ready to be collected for use or sale.

The verb 'acquiesce' means to accept something reluctantly but without protest. In standard English usage, the verb 'acquiesce' is followed by the preposition 'in'. While many people mistakenly use 'to' or 'with', 'acquiesce in' is the grammatically established colocation when referring to agreeing with an arrangement, decision, or state of affairs. Therefore, 'Garba acquiesced in their decision' is the correct construction.