Read the passages below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A-E (Nos 1-10)
PASSAGE I

The corona virus disease, populalry referred to as COVID-19, is a deadly disease that maiinly affects the human respiratory track. First discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the exact cause of the disease is not yet known, but it is believed to have been contacted from a certain animal. Since its outbreak in China 2019, the disease has spread to almost every part of the world, claiming thousands of lives and affecting various economic activities. In Nigeria, the disease has impacted negatively and positively on the ecoonomy of the most populous black nation.
The disease had compelled the Federal Government to declare a total lockdown of all economic and social activities, including worship centres. Medical experts had advised that the only way to prevent transmission of the virus from person to person, was for people to maintain physical distancing of at least two metres. This, the government felt, was only possible if all economic and social activities were brought to a halt. As a result, manufacturing and service industries such as schools, banks, hotels, film halls, sporting activities, etc. were all closed down. This brought untold hardship to both employers and employees. Several jobs were lost as companies and organizations were left with no choice than to lay off their workers. A few that maintained theirs placed them on half salaries or no salaries at all.
Also, the lockdown with its attendant hardship compelled the Federal Government to embark on various palliative measures to cushion the hardship faced by citizens. Thus, the economy of the government was over-stretched.
However, we cannot discuss the negative impact of the disease on the economy of Nigeria without mentioning the positive side. The outbreak of the disease necessitated intensive research into various aspects of life, aimed at mitigating hardship brought about by the pandemic. These researches produced good results which led to upgrading of our health facilities.

/θ/

Question details

More from this paper