Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardDrawing Inferences and Deductions from Unseen Passages

Read the dramatic extract below carefully:

BOMA: Look at the ledger again, Uncle! The figures for the palm oil shipments do not match the receipts from the port inspector.
DAPO: (Closing the book slowly) Some numbers, my boy, are like shadows—they lengthen or shrink depending on where the sun stands.
BOMA: But the auditor arrives tomorrow from Lagos!
DAPO: Then we shall ensure the sun is at noon when he looks at them. Now, light the lantern and call no one.

What can be inferred about Dapo's intention regarding the upcoming audit?

  1. He intends to conceal the financial discrepancies through deliberate manipulation before the auditor arrives.Answer
  2. B
    He is confident that the port inspector's receipts will verify the legitimacy of his business transactions.
  3. C
    He plans to blame Boma for the accounting errors discovered in the palm oil ledger.
  4. D
    He believes the Lagos auditor lacks the professional competence to detect the shipment discrepancies.

Answer

Dapo intends to conceal the financial discrepancies through deliberate manipulation before the auditor arrives.
The correct answer is derived from Dapo's evasive comparison of numbers to shadows and his urgent, secretive command to light the lantern and call no one before the auditor's arrival. These details implicitly point to a covert plan to adjust the ledger figures overnight.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the core problem established in the dialogue.
Boma identifies a clear mismatch between the palm oil shipment ledger figures and official port inspector receipts.
Identifying the conflict is necessary to interpret the character's reaction.
2
Interpret Dapo's figurative language regarding numbers and shadows.
Dapo implies that figures are flexible and can be manipulated or presented in a specific light to obscure the truth.
Understanding the metaphor reveals Dapo's philosophical justification for dishonesty.
3
Deduce Dapo's tactical decision from his closing instructions.
Commanding Boma to light the lantern and keep the matter secret right before the auditor arrives indicates overnight tampering with the records.
Secrecy combined with urgent night work confirms an intent to cover up the discrepancy.

Key Concept

Drawing logical inferences from dramatic dialogue based on implicit contextual evidence and figurative language.
Rate this question

Topics

Drawing Inferences and Deductions from Unseen Passages

More questions from this topic