JAMB Literature in English 2005 Past Questions

Practice each question, then open it to see the full details.

This question is based on Ahmed Yerima's Attahiru.
To justify the deposition of the Emirs of Bida and Kontagora, the British authorities accuse them of

A.oppression
B.mendacity
C.partiality
D.embezziement
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Ahmed Yerima's Attahiru.
'I wish him luck with his infidel friends But he must remember that there is only one moon at a time, one sun at a time'
The speaker in the passage above is referring to a

A.moon gazer
B.slave raider
C.muezzin
D.usurper
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Ahmed Yerima's Attahiru.
Lord Lugard and the British military find it easy to penetrate the Sokoto Caliphate because the

A.Muslim faithfuls fight with bows and arrows while the British solders use rifles
B.Emir of Zazzau calls the whitemen to save him from the attack of a fellow Muslim, the Emir of Kontagora
C.emirates of Sokoto and Zaria have not been friends since the reign of Caliph Abduirahman
D.emirates are only united to fight the whitemen when it is the turn of Sokoto
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Ahmed Yerima's Attahiru.
Caliph Attahiru's dream about heavy smoke on the battlefield and the ancestors passing the flag of Islam from one head to another serves as

A.a flshback
B.a prophecy
C.foreshadowing
D.a reverie
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Ahmed Yerima's Attahiru.
Madawaki: The whiteman is an uninvited guest to our land, he must observe, not dictate
The statement above is prompted by the

A.abolition of slave trade
B.undermining of caliphal authority
C.introduction of direct rule
D.imposition of taxes
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Claudius, though a murderer, is presented as a character

A.who has a superlative administrative style
B.with a living conscience that torments him
C.to whom past events have no significance
D.with an admirable physical appearance
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
The call made on Hamlet to avenge his father's death makes him

A.purposeful
B.impoverished
C.confused
D.amused
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Hamlet: Suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature.
Here, Hamlet is urging the players to

A.reflect reality
B.be good actors
C.justify their actions
D.be creative on stage
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
The principal function of the play-within-the-play in Hamlet is to

A.amuse Claudius
B.confirm the claim of the ghost
C.divert attention from the main event
D.create some comic relief in the tragedy
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
In The Mouse-trap, the murderer is

A.Claudius
B.Lucianus
C.Gozango
D.Baptista
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Ayi Kwei Armah's Fragments .
The novel suggests that an individual who stays apart from his society will

A.be praised for his action
B.be alienated by his society
C.be broken by his society
D.live a fulfilled life
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Ayi Kwei Armah's Fragments.
The setting of the novel is the

A.traditional Nigerian society
B.post-independence Ghanaian society
C.pre-independence Ghanaian society
D.moder Nigerian society
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Ayi Kwei Armah's Fragments.
Naana's attitude is one of

A.contempt
B.neutrality
C.fulfilment
D.enthusiasm
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
Angel Clare is depicted as

A.a rebellious and self-opinionated character
B.an independent-minded character
C.a fastidious and garrulous character
D.a flirtatious and impulsive young man
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
'Phases' in the novel refers to

A.phases of the moon and their effects on the plot
B.moments of awareness of Tess'misfortune
C.points of conflict between good and evil
D.stages of development in the life of Tess
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
From the tragedy of Tess, it can be said that Thomas Hardy is concerned with the evils of

A.modernization
B.industrialization
C.democratization
D.colonization
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
Angel Clare's ambition in marrying Tess d'Urbervilles is to secure a wife with

A.high social standing
B.great fortune
C.rustic innocence
D.a wide knowledge of the world
E.

Objective

Question 0

This question is based on selected poems from Ker, D. et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.): Poems of Black African; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T.(ds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Umukoro, M. et al (eds.); Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Eruvbetine, A.E. et al (eds.) Longman Examination Guides and Nwoga, D.I. (ed.):West African Verse.
Brutus'A Troubadour I Traverse is inspired by his struggle against

A.injustice
B.capitalism
C.colonialism
D.zealotry
E.

Objective

Question 0
This question is based on selected poems from Ker, D. et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.): Poems of Black African; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T.(ds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Umukoro, M. et al (eds.); Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Eruvbetine, A.E. et al (eds.) Longman Examination Guides and Nwoga, D.I. (ed.):West African Verse
The theme of Wangusa's A Taxi Driver on His Death is
A.the taxi driver's contemplation of the vehicle as the likely cause of his death
B.that a driver's death must surely be caused by his vehicle
C.the danger in the driving profession
D.that roads are death-traps for drivers
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on selected poems from Ker, D. et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.): Poems of Black African; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T.(ds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Umukoro, M. et al (eds.); Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Eruvbetine, A.E. et al (eds.) Longman Examination Guides and Nwoga, D.I. (ed.):West African Verse
J.P Clark's Agbor Dancer portrays
A.a sophisticated dancer
B.a girl attuned to her culture
C.an uncivilized dancer
D.a wild girl
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on selected poems from Ker, D. et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.): Poems of Black African; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T.(ds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Umukoro, M. et al (eds.); Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Eruvbetine, A.E. et al (eds.) Longman Examination Guides and Nwoga, D.I. (ed.):West African Verse
The subject matter of Senghor's I will Pronounce Your Name is
A.Elissa
B.Naett
C.love
D.a nameless girl
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on selected poems from Ker, D. et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.): Poems of Black African; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T.(ds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Umukoro, M. et al (eds.); Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Eruvbetine, A.E. et al (eds.) Longman Examination Guides and Nwoga, D.I. (ed.):West African Verse
The tone of Ofeimun's We Must Learn Again to Fly is that
A.encouragement
B.discouragement
C.disappointment
D.enthusiasm
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on selected poems from Ker, D. et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.): Poems of Black African; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T.(ds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Umukoro, M. et al (eds.); Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Eruvbetine, A.E. et al (eds.) Longman Examination Guides and Nwoga, D.I. (ed.):West African Verse
In Cheney-Coker's Myopia, the myopic ones are the
A.peasants
B.rulers
C.poets
D.traders
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on selected poems from Ker, D. et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.): Poems of Black African; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T.(ds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Umukoro, M. et al (eds.); Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Eruvbetine, A.E. et al (eds.) Longman Examination Guides and Nwoga, D.I. (ed.):West African Verse
The poet-persona in Serenade is
A.boastful
B.arrogant
C.persuasive
D.deceptive
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on selected poems from Ker, D. et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.): Poems of Black African; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T.(ds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Umukoro, M. et al (eds.); Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Eruvbetine, A.E. et al (eds.) Longman Examination Guides and Nwoga, D.I. (ed.):West African Verse
'And the name died before the man.'From the statement above in Houseman's To an Athlate Dying Young, what happens to the athlata?
A.He comes to a disgreaceful end
B.He loses his medial to another
C.He dies eventually
D.He dies prematurely
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on selected poems from Ker, D. et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.): Poems of Black African; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T.(ds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Umukoro, M. et al (eds.); Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Eruvbetine, A.E. et al (eds.) Longman Examination Guides and Nwoga, D.I. (ed.):West African Verse
In Keats'On the Grassihopper and Cricket 'poetry of earth' refers to
A.poetry written about earth
B.songs by grasshopper and cricket
C.poetry written by mother earth
D.songs by birds, grasshoppers and crickets
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on selected poems from Ker, D. et al (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.): Poems of Black African; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T.(ds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Umukoro, M. et al (eds.); Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Eruvbetine, A.E. et al (eds.) Longman Examination Guides and Nwoga, D.I. (ed.):West African Verse
In On His Blindness, Milton uses the experience of his blind state to
A.condemn himself
B.appreciate God
C.abuse God
D.disregard his fellow men
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on General Literary Principles
The predominant use of the third-person pronoun in a novel creates a
A.sense of detachment on the part of the writer
B.sense of detachment on the part of the reader
C.psychological affinity with the characters
D.balance of opinion among the characters
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on General Literary Principles
A poem without a regular rhyme scheme is a
A.traditional poem
B.ballad
C.lyrical poem
D.blank verse
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on General Literary Principles
Aesthetics in literature has to do with the creation of
A.imagery
B.lines
C.beauty
D.themes
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on General Literary Principles
Cast in a play refers to
A.all the actors
B.three of the actors
C.a few of the actors
D.an exclusive social class in the play
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on General Literary Principles
A tragic hero, according to the Aristotelian precept, must be a
A.noble character with hubris
B.lowly character who suddenly stumbles on some fortunes
C.king with deep affection for his subjects
D.central character after whom the play is named
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on General Literary Principles
A careful choice of words dictated by a particular mood or an event refers to
A.regression
B.cadence
C.rhyme
D.tone
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on General Literary Principles
The insertion of material unrelated or distantly related to the insertion of material unrelated or distantly related to the specific subject under discussion in a given work is called
A.digression
B.flashback
C.regression
D.reverie
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on General Literary Principles
When an object is invested with a meaning beyond its immediate reference, it becauses
A.an irony
B.a symbol
C.a subject
D.an epigram
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on General Literary Principles
Unity of time in a tragedy implies that all actions should take place
A.simultaneously
B.intermittently
C.in a single revolution of the sun
D.within the same locale
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on General Literary Principles
A short, carefully phrased expression meant to elicit amusement and surprise is
A.hyperbole
B.limerick
C.tercet
D.wit
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Literary Principles
'History's stammerer when will your memory master the vowels of your father's name?
Niyi Osundare: Waiting Laughter's
The literary device used in the excerpt above is
A.apostrophe
B.rhetorical question
C.pun
D.run-on-line
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Literary Principles
''It is a beauteous evening, calm and free The holy time is quiet as a Nun Breathless with adoration; the broad sun Is sinking down in its tranquility; The gentleness of heaven broods O'er the sea: Listen! the might Being is awake And doth with his eternal motion make A sound like thunder-everlasting'.
W. Wordsworth: It is a Beauteous Evening
The rhyme scheme of the stanza above is
A.cbba cdda
B.bbac ddac
C.ddca bbca
D.abbc addc
E.
Objective

Question 0

This question is based on Literary Principles
'And the promised pleasure will the face of vanished treasure in the face of plundered pound hidden beneath roots of greener grasses in a land far from the masses
The tone of the poem above is

A.optimistic
B.interrogative
C.persuasive
D.pessimistic
E.

Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Literary Principles
The expression 'The ripest is the saddest encounter' is an example of
A.euphemism
B.paradox
C.hyperbole
D.metaphor
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Literary Principles
'My heart is a quiet drum, sometimes it flares like a parched thunder cracking through a damask sky it lifts me in its fired spectacle'.
Cynthia James: Drumology
The imagery in the excerpt above is largely
A.olfactory and visual
B.olfactory and tactile
C.auditory and visual
D.tactile and auditory
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Literary Principles
'If an eagle be imprisoned On the back of a coin And the coin is tossed into the sky
That coin will flutter But the eagle will never fly.'
Henry Dumas: America
The poem above achieves its literary effect through the use of
A.alliteration
B.parallelism
C.repetition
D.solecism
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Literary Principles
''They came on like a whirlwind, and dashed over the line snorting, kicking, squealing in a compact, pie bald tossing mob of bay,brown, grey backs, eyes staring, necks extended, nostrils red,long tails, streaming. As soon as they had leaped upon the road the thick dust flew upwards from under their hoofs, and within six yards of Glorgio only a brown cloud with vague forms of necks and cruppers rolled by, making the soil tremble..
Joseph Conrald: Nostromo
The passage above describes a troop of
A.cows
B.elephants
C.camels
D.horses
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Literary Principles
''She wanted to spit herself. But she checked herself. 'Get dressed,' she said earnestly. 'Get dressed and let's go You known I have a lot of things to do. And if we are going to meet again like this, ...'she slapped the Samson and Deliah.'''
Festus lyayi: Violence
In the passage above, the speaker can described as
A.domineering
B.tyreacherous
C.friendly
D.hungry
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Literary Principles
'Mr. Beckley exploded: I do not come here to ask for a school report on my son. Did you or or did you not savagely attack the child, knowing fully well that his health is most delicate at best of times?
Wole Soyinka: Isara: A Voyage Around Essay
In the excerpt above, Mr. Beckley is trying to
A.put the addressee on the defensive
B.show off to listener
C.provike a fight
D.find out the truth from the addresee
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Literary Principles
Where has my love blow his horn?
The tune of his horn is well-known
Young men of my clan
Have you heard the horn of my love?
Okot P'Bitek: Horn of My Love
The overriding feeling of the persona in this extract is
A.anxiety
B.certainty
C.frustration
D.joy
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Femi Ademiluyi's The New Man.

Brigadier General Johnson's plan to assassinate President Monye is revealed to
A.Biola Denji
B.the SAB superior
C.the President's ADC
D.a friend
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Femi Ademiluyi's The New Man.

In the novel, Asejire refers to a
A.river
B.town
C.farmer
D.cleric
E.
Objective

Question 0
This question is based on Femi Ademiluyi's The New Man.

The mob in the novel is portrayed as
A.a monster and a snake
B.a bad group
C.demonstrators
D.fighters
E.
Objective