Use Of English 2020 Jamb Examination

The word 'parochial' literally relates to a church parish, but in a broader metaphorical sense, it refers to having a limited or narrow outlook. Someone whose judgements are parochial is restricted to a very small area or viewpoint and lacks a broad perspective. Therefore, 'narrow-minded' is the closest synonym. It contrasts with the chief's intelligence, suggesting that despite being smart, his views are limited and biased.

The word 'gibberish' refers to speech or writing that is unintelligible, nonsensical, or lacks any clear logic. If someone's work is described as gibberish, it means it cannot be understood and makes no sense. Thus, 'meaningless' is the nearest in meaning. It stands in direct opposition to 'meaningful'.

The word 'inimical' describes something that is obstructive, hostile, or detrimental to a certain goal or progress. If lateness is inimical to a company's progress, it means it actively damages or hinders that progress. Consequently, 'harmful' is the most accurate synonym among the choices. 'Inevitable' and 'unavoidable' mean something that must happen, which does not fit the context of damage.

In this context, to 'decline' an offer means to politely or formally refuse to accept it. 'Reject' is the closest synonym as it also means to refuse to accept, consider, or use something. While 'snubs' implies a rude refusal and 'ignores' implies a lack of response, 'rejects' captures the act of saying no to the offer itself.

The idiom 'swan song' refers to the final performance, activity, or work of a person before they retire or die. It originates from the ancient belief that swans, which are usually silent, sing a beautiful song just before they pass away. In the context of the actor, his appearance being his 'swan song' indicates it was his very last performance before his death or final exit from the stage.

The idiom 'not to let the grass grow under one's feet' is a figurative expression used to describe a person who is energetic, proactive, and acts immediately without delay. If grass were to grow under someone's feet, it would imply they have been standing still or idle for a very long time. Therefore, the phrase characterizes Muiz as someone who is industrious and avoids procrastination, making the interpretation that he does not waste time the most appropriate.

The word 'unalloyed' literally refers to a metal that is pure and not mixed with any other elements. In a metaphorical sense, when applied to emotions or qualities like loyalty, it means complete, pure, and total. To find the opposite, we look for a word that suggests inconsistency or lack of total commitment. 'Wavering' describes a state of hesitation, uncertainty, or being unsteady. A 'wavering' loyalty is the direct opposite of a pure, steadfast, and unalloyed one. While 'alterable' means capable of being changed, it doesn't capture the essence of unsteady commitment as well as 'wavering' does in a military context.

Something that is 'inconsequential' is insignificant, trivial, or has no important effect. The economist is contrasting the small appearance of the price rise with its actual impact. However, looking at the provided options, 'dangerous' serves as the most logical opposite in this context, implying the effect was actually severe and significant rather than trivial. Note that while words like 'significant' or 'substantial' would be more precise antonyms, within this specific multiple-choice set, 'dangerous' indicates a serious consequence that negates the idea of being inconsequential.

'Resplendent' means attractive and impressive through being richly colourful or shining. The sentence structure uses 'contrasted with', indicating that the second part of the sentence must describe the opposite of colourful and shining. 'Drab' means lacking brightness or interest, often used to describe things that are dull, brownish, or greyish. Therefore, 'drab' is the perfect antonym to highlight the visual difference between the bird and its environment.

The word 'innocuous' is derived from the Latin 'innocuus', meaning 'harmless'. It refers to things that are not offensive or injurious. The conjunction 'but' signals that the chairman had the opposite view. The direct antonym of 'harmless' is 'harmful'. While 'inappropriate' or 'antagonistic' might describe the comments, 'harmful' provides the most precise linguistic opposite to the root meaning of innocuous in a formal examination setting.