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Question 2521Question →

In the sentence below, emphatic stress is placed on the word in CAPITAL LETTERS:

'The courageous ARCHITECT designed the eco-friendly skyscraper in Abuja.'

Which of the following questions is the sentence above designed to answer?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Did the courageous engineer design the eco-friendly skyscraper in Abuja?

Answer

Did the courageous engineer design the eco-friendly skyscraper in Abuja?
Emphatic stress is used to highlight or contrast specific information in a sentence. When the word 'ARCHITECT' is emphasized, the speaker is correcting or clarifying who designed the skyscraper (e.g., asserting it was an architect, not an engineer or someone else). The question asking if a 'courageous engineer' designed the skyscraper is the only query that directly prompts this contrast while preserving the rest of the sentence structure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word receiving emphatic stress in the given statement.
The word 'ARCHITECT' is printed in full capital letters, indicating that it carries the contrastive/emphatic stress.
Emphatic stress highlights a specific element of information to contradict or emphasize it against alternatives.
2
Determine the element of the statement that must be questioned.
The question must specifically ask about or contradict the profession/person ('ARCHITECT'), keeping all other elements (adjective 'courageous', verb 'designed', object 'eco-friendly skyscraper', location 'Abuja') identical.
A sentence with emphatic stress serves as a direct response to a question that queries only the emphasized information.
3
Evaluate the options to find the question that queries only the stressed element.
The question asking whether an 'engineer' designed the building directly contrasts with 'ARCHITECT', making the statement 'The courageous ARCHITECT designed the eco-friendly skyscraper in Abuja' the appropriate corrective response.
Only this question substitutes the emphasized word while retaining all other original details.

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Focus
Question 2522Question →

In Alex Agyei-Agyiriri's prescribed novel *Unexpected Joy at Dawn*, match each major character on the left with their corresponding narrative role or structural function within the text.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

Nii Tackie
Mama Orojo
Joe
Massa

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

Nii Tackie corresponds to enduring xenophobic hostility in Lagos while searching for his true familial identity; Mama Orojo corresponds to operating as a prosperous Ghanaian businesswoman traveling to Nigeria to find her brother; Joe corresponds to functioning as a resourceful gold prospector who becomes Mama Orojo's business partner and suitor; and Massa corresponds to suffering a prolonged terminal illness whose physical decline allegorizes national economic decay.
Each character fulfills a specific structural function in Alex Agyei-Agyiriri's novel: Nii Tackie represents alien alienation and identity struggle in Nigeria; Mama Orojo embodies entrepreneurial fortitude and family loyalty across borders; Joe represents local economic survival strategies through mining; and Massa represents the nation's tragic decline through her physical suffering.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Nii Tackie's central conflict and setting.
Identify Nii Tackie as the Ghanaian bank employee living in Lagos experiencing xenophobia and alienation during economic crisis.
Establishes Nii's core thematic function regarding identity and displacement.
2
Examine Mama Orojo's narrative motivation and journey.
Identify Mama Orojo as the wealthy Ghanaian sister who travels to Lagos seeking Nii.
Clarifies her active role as a dual-country protagonist driving the plot's reunion quest.
3
Identify Joe's profession and connection to the main characters.
Link Joe to gold mining activities in Ghana and his romantic/commercial alliance with Mama Orojo.
Distinguishes his supporting role in the Ghanaian setting from Nii's plight in Nigeria.
4
Determine Massa's symbolic function in the novel.
Connect Massa's incurable illness to the broader political and economic paralysis of post-independence Ghana.
Recognizes the allegorical weight given to her character.

Key Concept

Major Character Identification and Narrative Roles in Prescribed Prose
Estimated Time:2m 0s
Question 2523Question →

Every delegate attending the international summit was instructed to submit _____ official credentials to the secretariat before the opening session. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence in standard formal English?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: his or her

Answer

his or her
The correct answer provides the singular possessive form necessary to agree with the singular antecedent 'delegate' modified by 'Every'. In standard formal English, singular subjects require singular pronouns.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent in the main clause
The subject noun phrase is 'Every delegate', where the head noun is the singular 'delegate'.
Determining the head noun and its number (singular or plural) is essential for selecting the corresponding pronoun.
2
Apply standard rules for singular indefinite modifiers
Quantifiers like 'every', 'each', and 'everybody' render the noun phrase grammatically singular.
In formal written English, singular antecedents must be paired with singular pronouns.
3
Select the grammatically aligned possessive pronoun
'his or her' correctly provides gender-inclusive singular possessive agreement for a human antecedent.
Plural pronouns like 'their' are considered informal or grammatically mismatched in traditional JAMB UTME assessment contexts.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Singular Indefinite Modifiers
Question 2524Question →

Consider the introductory clause in the sentence below:

'After reviewing the maritime safety regulations, _______.'

Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: the port authority official approved the vessel's departure clearance.

Answer

The sentence is correctly completed by 'the port authority official approved the vessel's departure clearance.' because the subject performing the action in the introductory participial phrase must immediately follow the comma.
The introductory modifier 'After reviewing the maritime safety regulations' requires an active subject who is capable of reviewing regulations. The clause beginning with 'the port authority official approved...' correctly positions the human agent as the subject of the main clause, satisfying proper modifier alignment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory modifier and its implied action
The phrase 'After reviewing the maritime safety regulations' contains an action ('reviewing') that requires an active, animate agent.
An introductory participial phrase must logically modify the subject of the main clause.
2
Evaluate the subject of the main clause in each option
Only 'the port authority official' can perform the act of reviewing safety regulations.
Placing an inanimate object like 'departure clearance' after the comma leads to a dangling modifier.
3
Check modifier and lexical accuracy across all candidates
The option beginning with 'the port authority official' maintains proper modifier agreement, idiomatic collocation, and spelling.
Ensures grammatical correctness without introducing homophone or collocation errors.

Key Concept

Participial Modifier Placement and Modifier Agreement
Question 2525Question →

From the options lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined in the word y<u>a</u>cht.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: sausage

Answer

The word 'sausage' contains the same monophthong sound /ɒ/ as 'yacht'.
The underlined letter 'a' in 'yacht' is pronounced as the short open back rounded pure vowel /ɒ/. The word 'sausage' also features this exact short monophthong sound /ɒ/ in its primary syllable (/ˈsɒsɪdʒ/).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the phonetic transcription of the target word
The word 'yacht' is transcribed as /jɒt/, where the underlined letter 'a' represents the short pure vowel (monophthong) /ɒ/.
Correct phonetic identification of the target sound is required before evaluating distractors.
2
Analyze the vowel sounds of the given options
'sausage' = /ˈsɒsɪdʒ/ (/ɒ/);
'yawn' = /jɔːn/ (/ɔː/);
'pass' = /pɑːs/ (/ɑː/);
'yack' = /jæk/ (/æ/).
Transcribing options reveals the accurate monophthong sound in each candidate word.
3
Match the target sound to the corresponding option
'sausage' is the only option that shares the monophthong /ɒ/.
Selecting the word with the matching pure vowel sound completes the assessment.

Key Concept

Short open back rounded monophthong /ɒ/ sound matching
Question 2526Question →

In Bayo Adebowale's novel *Lonely Days*, which of the following best describes the primary narrative role of the protagonist, Yaremi?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: A resilient widow who actively resists harmful cultural widowhood rites and asserts her personal independence.

Answer

A resilient widow who actively resists harmful cultural widowhood rites and asserts her personal independence.
In *Lonely Days*, Yaremi's central narrative role is that of a strong-willed protagonist who challenges the oppressive widowhood customs of Kufi village. Following her husband Ajumobi's death, she stands firm against forced remarriage through the cap-picking ceremony, demonstrating independence, moral strength, and self-reliance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the central figure and text
Yaremi is the protagonist of Bayo Adebowale's prose work *Lonely Days*.
Determining the character's structural placement establishes the basis for role analysis.
2
Analyze her key actions and plot function
After the death of her husband Ajumobi, Yaremi refuses to submit to dehumanizing widowhood rituals and rejects the village elders' cap-picking tradition for remarriage.
Evaluating a protagonist's actions highlights how she drives the central conflict against societal expectations.
3
Synthesize her narrative role
Yaremi serves as a symbol of female fortitude, individuality, and resistance against oppressive cultural norms.
Matching narrative actions with thematic significance yields the correct character role summary.

Key Concept

Protagonist Narrative Function and Role Analysis
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2527Question →

During a workplace conversation, a manager utters the statement, 'You haven't submitted the quarterly financial summary yet, have you?' with a distinct upward pitch movement on the tag 'have you?'. What does this specific intonation pattern indicate about the manager's state of mind?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: The manager is expressing genuine uncertainty and asking a real question to discover whether the summary has been submitted.

Answer

The manager is expressing genuine uncertainty and asking a real question to discover whether the summary has been submitted.
In standard English intonation, when a question tag carries a rising pitch movement, it functions as a genuine question. The speaker does not know the answer for sure and is seeking information rather than confirmation. Therefore, the option describing the manager as expressing genuine uncertainty and asking a real question is correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic structure of the utterance.
The utterance consists of a negative declarative statement followed by an affirmative tag: 'You haven't..., have you?'
Identifying the clause and tag structure is necessary to apply intonation rules.
2
Identify the pitch movement specified on the question tag.
The pitch movement on the tag 'have you?' is described as an upward pitch movement (rising intonation).
Intonation contours on question tags govern their pragmatic meaning in English.
3
Apply standard English phonological rules for question tag intonation.
A rising intonation on a question tag signifies that the speaker is doubtful or genuinely seeking information rather than confirming an established belief.
Falling intonation on tags signals confirmation/agreement, while rising intonation signals genuine inquiry and uncertainty.

Key Concept

Pragmatic function of rising intonation on tag questions
Question 2528Question →

Consider the sentence frame below:

'The museum curator presented a _______ mahogany desk to the governing council.'

Which of the following options provides the correct order of adjectives to complete the sentence grammatically?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: beautiful antique rectangular Nigerian

Answer

The option containing 'beautiful antique rectangular Nigerian' is the correct answer because it conforms to the standard rule for ordering cumulative adjectives in English grammar.
The correct option arranges the modifiers according to the standard order of cumulative adjectives in English (Opinion -> Age -> Shape -> Origin). Evaluative adjectives such as 'beautiful' (opinion) precede physical descriptors like 'antique' (age) and 'rectangular' (shape), followed by proper adjectives indicating origin ('Nigerian').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the adjectives being used and classify their categories
'beautiful' is an opinion adjective, 'antique' is an age adjective, 'rectangular' is a shape adjective, and 'Nigerian' is an origin adjective.
English grammar requires cumulative pre-nominal adjectives to follow a specific sequence.
2
Apply the standard English adjective order rule (OSASCOMP: Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose)
The correct sequence must be Opinion ('beautiful') -> Age ('antique') -> Shape ('rectangular') -> Origin ('Nigerian').
Opinion modifiers must always precede factual descriptors like age, shape, and origin.

Key Concept

Order of Cumulative Adjectives
Question 2529Question →

Match each word derived from the root word 'photograph' to the phonological rule that correctly describes its primary syllable stress placement.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

PHO-to-graph
pho-TOG-ra-phy
pho-to-GRAPH-ic

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'PHO-to-graph' matches primary stress on the first syllable of the base noun; 'pho-TOG-ra-phy' matches primary stress on the antepenultimate syllable before suffix '-y'; 'pho-to-GRAPH-ic' matches primary stress on the penultimate syllable before suffix '-ic'.
Each derivative word follows specific phonological stress rules: the base noun 'PHO-to-graph' places primary stress on the first syllable, the noun 'pho-TOG-ra-phy' conditions antepenultimate stress due to the suffix '-y', and the adjective 'pho-to-GRAPH-ic' conditions penultimate stress due to the suffix '-ic'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the primary stressed syllable in each word using the capitalized letters.
'PHO-to-graph' has stress on syllable 1; 'pho-TOG-ra-phy' has stress on syllable 2; 'pho-to-GRAPH-ic' has stress on syllable 3.
Capitalized syllables denote the primary stress location in standard JAMB Oral English conventions.
2
Analyze how suffix additions alter syllable stress counting from the end of the word.
Adding '-y' makes the word four syllables long with stress on the antepenultimate syllable (-TOG-). Adding '-ic' places stress on the syllable immediately preceding it, which is the penultimate syllable (-GRAPH-).
Suffixes like '-y' and '-ic' exert predictable phonological influence on stress placement in English derivatives.

Key Concept

Suffix-induced stress shifts in derivative multisyllabic words
Question 2530Question →

Complete the following sentence by writing the word 'record' with its primary stressed syllable in uppercase letters and syllables separated by a hyphen.

Fill in the blanks below

The musician entered the studio to her new album.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

re-CORD
In English stress patterns, two-syllable words that function as verbs take primary accentuation on the second syllable. Therefore, when used as a verb in this sentence, the correct representation is 're-CORD'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the grammatical category of the target word 'record' in the sentence context.
The word follows the infinitive particle 'to', functioning as a verb.
Identifying the part of speech is necessary because disyllabic words like 'record' shift stress based on grammatical function.
2
Apply stress placement rules for disyllabic noun-verb pairs.
Disyllabic verbs typically carry primary stress on the second syllable (re-CORD), whereas disyllabic nouns carry primary stress on the first syllable (RE-cord).
Because 'record' acts as a verb in this context, the stress must be placed on the second syllable.

Key Concept

Grammatical Category Stress Shift in Disyllabic Words
Question 2531Question →

Complete the statement by identifying the silent consonant letter present in each of the specified words.

Fill in the blanks below

In standard Received Pronunciation, the word 'sword' contains the silent consonant letter , whereas the word 'condemn' features the silent consonant letter .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The silent consonant letter in 'sword' is 'w', and the silent consonant letter in 'condemn' is 'n'.
In standard Received Pronunciation (RP), the word 'sword' is pronounced /sɔːd/, making the letter 'w' unarticulated (silent). In the word 'condemn', pronounced /kənˈdɛm/, the final letter 'n' in the '-mn' sequence is silent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the phonetic transcription of the first target word 'sword'.
The phonetic transcription is /sɔːd/. The letter 'w' is unarticulated/silent.
In standard English pronunciation, the consonant letter 'w' following 's' in 'sword' is not pronounced.
2
Analyze the phonetic transcription of the second target word 'condemn'.
The phonetic transcription is /kənˈdɛm/. The terminal letter 'n' is unarticulated/silent.
When the letter combination '-mn' occurs at the end of a root word in English phonology, the final letter 'n' remains silent.

Key Concept

Identification of silent consonants in English words
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2532Question →

In Received Pronunciation (RP) English, intonation plays a crucial role in altering the pragmatic meaning of utterances. Consider the statement-form sentence: "You are coming with us tomorrow." If this sentence is uttered with a pitch rise starting on the syllable "-mor-" and continuing to the end of the word ("tomorrow"), which of the following correctly identifies the intonation pattern used and the speaker's intention?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: A rising intonation tune, converting the declarative sentence into a question to express doubt, surprise, or seek confirmation.

Answer

The intonation used is a rising intonation tune, which transforms the syntactically declarative sentence into a question seeking confirmation or expressing surprise.
The correct answer accurately recognizes that a upward pitch movement on the final nucleus of a declarative sentence constitutes a rising tune. In English intonation rules, using a rising pitch pattern on a statement structure changes its communicative function from asserting a fact to asking for confirmation or expressing surprise.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the pitch movement described in the stem.
The stem describes a pitch rise on the nucleus syllable '-mor-' extending to the end of 'tomorrow'. This defines a rising tune (↗).
Intonation tunes are categorized based on the movement of pitch on the tonic/nuclear syllable.
2
Determine the grammatical structure versus its prosodic realization.
Syntactically, 'You are coming with us tomorrow' is a declarative statement. Prosodically, applying a rising tune converts it function-wise into a Yes/No (polar or echo) question.
In English phonology, declarative sentences spoken with a rising tune act as questions seeking verification or showing doubt/surprise.
3
Evaluate the options to match both the tune identification and its pragmatic interpretation.
The correct selection identifies the tune as rising and its intent as expressing doubt, surprise, or seeking confirmation.
Falling tunes are reserved for standard statements and commands, whereas rising tunes on statements convey non-finality, inquiry, or confirmation requests.

Key Concept

Functions of Falling vs. Rising Tunes in English Intonation
Question 2533Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the appropriate subordinating conjunction that introduces the hypothetical clause of manner.

Fill in the blanks below

The presiding magistrate questioned the defense witness he were himself an active accomplice to the crime.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The blank is correctly filled by 'as though' or 'as if'.
The expression 'as though' (or 'as if') correctly introduces an adverbial clause of manner expressing a hypothetical scenario, which properly agrees with the past subjunctive verb 'were'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the relationship between the main clause and the subordinate clause.
The subordinate clause describes the manner in which the questioning took place while presenting an unfulfilled/hypothetical condition indicated by the subjunctive verb 'were'.
The use of the past subjunctive 'were' after a singular subject ('he') signals an imaginary or contrary-to-fact manner clause.
2
Select the appropriate conjunction introducing hypothetical manner.
The complex subordinating conjunctions 'as though' and 'as if' introduce clauses of hypothetical manner requiring subjunctive mood alignment.
Conjunctions of simple cause ('because'), real concession ('although'), or time ('when') do not license the past subjunctive 'were' in this context.

Key Concept

Conjunctions of Manner and Subjunctive Clause Structure
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2534Question →

Complete the statement below by filling in the correct phonetic symbol representing the consonant sound produced by the underlined letter(s).

Fill in the blanks below

In the word 'exaggerate', the letter 'x' is phonetically realized as the voiced consonant sequence .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The phonetic realization of the letter 'x' in 'exaggerate' is the consonant sound sequence /ɡz/.
In the word 'exaggerate', the letter 'x' represents the voiced consonant cluster /ɡz/ because it occurs immediately before an accented vowel sound.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the phonetic transcription of the target word 'exaggerate'.
The word 'exaggerate' is transcribed phonetically as /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/.
Determining the correct IPA transcription reveals the exact consonant sound cluster produced.
2
Analyze the sound pattern rule for orthographic 'x'.
When 'x' precedes a stressed vowel sound (as in 'exaggerate', 'examine', or 'exert'), it produces the voiced cluster /ɡz/.
The voicing assimilates to the surrounding voiced vowel sounds, contrasting with voiceless environments where 'x' is pronounced /ks/.

Key Concept

Phonetic Realization of Orthographic 'x'
Question 2535Question →

Complete the sentence by filling in each blank with the correct syllabified form of the word 'attribute', using UPPERCASE letters to indicate the primary stressed syllable (e.g., AT-tri-bute or at-TRIB-ute).

Fill in the blanks below

Scholars often the anonymous manuscript to a sixteenth-century monk, noting that humility was a defining of his order.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The first blank requires 'at-TRIB-ute' because the word functions as a verb with primary stress on the second syllable, while the second blank requires 'AT-tri-bute' because the word functions as a noun with primary stress on the first syllable.
The trisyllabic word 'attribute' follows the grammatical stress shift rule. As a verb in the first blank ('often attribute'), the primary stress falls on the second syllable (/əˈtrɪb.juːt/), represented as 'at-TRIB-ute'. As a noun in the second blank ('defining attribute'), primary stress shifts to the first syllable (/ˈæt.rɪ.bjuːt/), represented as 'AT-tri-bute'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the syntactic role and stress pattern of 'attribute' in the first blank.
In the clause 'Scholars often {{blank_1}} the anonymous manuscript...', the word acts as a verb meaning to ascribe authorship or origin.
In standard English phonology, trisyllabic words of this category shift primary stress to the second syllable when functioning as verbs (/əˈtrɪb.juːt/), yielding 'at-TRIB-ute'.
2
Determine the syntactic role and stress pattern of 'attribute' in the second blank.
In the phrase 'a defining {{blank_2}} of his order', the word functions as a noun meaning a characteristic feature or quality.
When functioning as a noun, 'attribute' shifts its primary accentuation to the initial syllable (/ˈæt.rɪ.bjuːt/), yielding 'AT-tri-bute'.

Key Concept

Grammatical Category Stress Shift in Polysyllabic Words
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 2536Question →

Complete the contrastive question by supplying the word that correctly challenges the stressed element in the given statement.

Fill in the blanks below

Statement: The lead geologist VOLUNTARILY surveyed the remote volcanic crater last month.

Contrastive Question: Did the lead geologist survey the remote volcanic crater last month?
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The word required to fill the blank is 'reluctantly' (or another antonymous adverb such as 'involuntarily' or 'compulsorily'), which directly contrasts with the emphasized word 'VOLUNTARILY'.
In Oral English emphatic stress conventions, capitalizing 'VOLUNTARILY' indicates that contrastive focus is placed specifically on the manner in which the surveying was done. To elicit this emphatic statement, the contrastive question must introduce an opposing adverb (such as 'reluctantly' or 'involuntarily') in place of the stressed word while keeping the subject, verb predicate, direct object, and temporal modifier completely unchanged.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word receiving emphatic stress in the statement.
The capitalized word is 'VOLUNTARILY', an adverb of manner.
Emphatic stress isolates the specific piece of information being emphasized or contrasted in an utterance.
2
Determine the required function of the contrastive question.
The question must query or contradict ONLY the manner of action expressed by 'VOLUNTARILY' while keeping all other sentence components identical.
In emphatic stress, the correct context-eliciting question differs from the statement solely at the point of emphasis.
3
Select an appropriate contrasting lexical item for the blank.
Substituting 'reluctantly' (or 'involuntarily') creates an exact contrastive question that elicits the response statement.
Asking whether the action was done reluctantly prompts the emphatic response that it was performed VOLUNTARILY.

Key Concept

Emphatic stress places contrastive focus on a single element of a sentence. The correct contrastive question challenges only that capitalized element using an opposing term while retaining all other syntactic and lexical components.
Question 2537Question →

In Bolaji Abdullahi's prescribed novel *Sweet Sixteen*, what is the primary structural function of Mr. Bello's character in driving the narrative forward?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: He acts as a paternal mentor and moral catalyst whose structured discussions and birthday letters frame the protagonist's transition into young adulthood.

Answer

Mr. Bello serves as a paternal mentor and moral catalyst whose structured discussions and birthday letters frame the protagonist's transition into young adulthood.
The correct answer accurately captures Mr. Bello's pivotal role in *Sweet Sixteen*. As Aliya's father, he operates as a wise, approachable mentor whose present of a personalized book and open conversations about sensitive adolescent topics guide her cognitive and moral development.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the major character referenced and recall his core interactions within the text.
Mr. Bello is the protagonist Aliya's father in *Sweet Sixteen*.
Character role analysis requires establishing the character's central relationship to the main plot and protagonist.
2
Analyze how Mr. Bello's actions influence the overall thematic structure of the novel.
On Aliya's sixteenth birthday, Mr. Bello presents her with a gift letter titled 'Letter to My Daughter' and engages her in candid discussions about body image, relationships, sexuality, self-esteem, and faith.
His discussions serve as the primary framework through which the novel delivers its core educational and coming-of-age messages.
3
Evaluate the option choices against Mr. Bello's established narrative function.
The statement describing him as a paternal mentor and moral catalyst accurately reflects his major role in guiding Aliya into adulthood.
He is neither antagonistic nor a peripheral narrator, making the mentorship description the only correct role analysis.

Key Concept

Major Character Function and Role Analysis
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 2538Question →

Among the options provided, which word forms an exact phonetic rhyme with phlegm?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: gem

Answer

The word 'gem' forms an exact phonetic rhyme with 'phlegm'.
The word 'phlegm' has the phonetic transcription /flɛm/, where the letter 'g' is silent. The word 'gem' has the phonetic transcription /dʒɛm/. Both words end with the identical sound sequence /-ɛm/, making them a perfect phonetic rhyme pair regardless of their spelling differences.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription of the target word.
The target word 'phlegm' is pronounced /flɛm/, with a silent 'g' and ending in the sound sequence /-ɛm/.
Accurate sound matching in Oral English depends on phonetic transcription rather than orthographic spelling.
2
Transcribe the options and compare their end rhyme sound sequences.
'flame' is /fleɪm/, 'gleam' is /ɡliːm/, 'gem' is /dʒɛm/, and 'phylum' is /ˈfaɪ.ləm/.
The correct rhyming word must match both the nucleus vowel /ɛ/ and the coda consonant /m/.
3
Identify the word that shares the exact /-ɛm/ termination sound.
'gem' (/dʒɛm/) matches 'phlegm' (/flɛm/) perfectly.
Both words terminate in the identical phoneme cluster /-ɛm/.

Key Concept

Phonetic End Rhyme and Silent Letters
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 2539Question →

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with the grammatically correct modifier.

Fill in the blanks below

During the prolonged drought, clean drinking water became so that the municipal authority had to introduce strict rationing measures.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct modifier to fill in the blank is 'scarce'.
The word 'scarce' is an adjective that functions as a subject complement following the linking verb 'became'. It correctly describes the condition of the subject 'clean drinking water'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the verb governing the predicate complement in the sentence.
The verb is 'became', which is a linking verb (copula).
Linking verbs connect the subject to a subject complement rather than showing physical or mental action.
2
Determine whether an adjective or an adverb is required following the linking verb.
An adjective is required to modify the noun subject 'clean drinking water'.
Subject complements following linking verbs must be adjectives, not adverbs.
3
Select the correct adjective form.
'Scarce' is the adjective form meaning insufficient for demand.
Using the adverb form 'scarcely' after a linking verb is grammatically incorrect because adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, whereas linking verbs require an adjective complement.

Key Concept

Adjective vs. Adverb Usage with Linking Verbs
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2540Question →

Consider the following statement in which one word is printed in capital letters to show emphatic stress:

"The environmental scientist RIGOROUSLY tested the water samples from the polluted river."

Which of the following questions is the appropriate contrastive query for the statement above?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Did the environmental scientist carelessly test the water samples from the polluted river?

Answer

Did the environmental scientist carelessly test the water samples from the polluted river?
The correct query asks whether the environmental scientist 'carelessly' tested the water samples because it directly contrasts the capitalized word 'RIGOROUSLY' while keeping all other elements of the statement unchanged.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word carrying emphatic stress in the sentence.
The word printed in capital letters is 'RIGOROUSLY', indicating contrastive emphasis on the manner in which the action was performed.
Emphatic stress is used to highlight or correct a specific element of a sentence during dialogue.
2
Select the question that contradicts ONLY the capitalized word while retaining all other sentence components.
The query asking if the scientist 'carelessly' tested the samples directly contrasts 'RIGOROUSLY' without altering the subject, action, or object.
In standard JAMB UTME emphatic stress items, the correct eliciting question differs strictly at the point of emphasis.

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Focus
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