JAMB Literature in English 1979 past questions and answers

The dominant feeling in Leopold Sedar Senghor's 'In Memoriam' is

1. A.happiness
2. B.nostalgia
3. C.sadness
4. D.despair
5. E.hatred.

'Exposition' in a play means

1. A.the initial unfolding of the necessary background of the play
2. B.its climax
3. C.the marriage of the hero and heroine
4. D.the untangling of the plot
5. E.the private speech of a character.

A novel can be described as

1. A.a narration of facts
2. B.a story
3. C.a brief description of a concept or point of view
4. D.an extended prose narrative covering a wide range of characters and experience
5. E.a narration of an incident.

A good plot must possess

1. A.many exciting events
2. B.good, interesting characters
3. C.a pleasant setting
4. D.intrigue
5. E.a single, complete, and ordered action.

Pick out the odd one

1. A.Metaphor
2. B.Characterization
3. C.Personification
4. D.Rhythm
5. E.Simile.

Events in The Concubine are dominated by

1. A.Ihuoma
2. B.Emenike
3. C.the Sea God
4. D.supernatural elements
5. E.Ekwueme.

In 'Come Away, My Love' Kariuki deals with the problems of

1. A.love in the abstract
2. B.reflections on shop windows
3. C.the music of the piano
4. D.love between people of different races
5. E.the light from the candle.

Although the following statement is not a direct quotation from any of the books, it serves as an aid to identifying characters that appear in the works. Read it carefully and say which character is likely to make it. How could I have succumbed to the pressures of the corrupt society? I thought I would be a successful social reformer but now I am as bad as those I criticize

1. A.Ihuoma
2. B.Tom
3. C.Clara
4. D.Emenike
5. E.Obi Okonkwo.

The difference between tragedy and comedy is

1. A.that tragedy contains soliloquies, but comedy does not
2. B.that comedy contains disguise, but tragedy does not
3. C.that tragedy is imaginative, but comedy is not
4. D.that comedy deals with love, but tragedy does not
5. E.none of the above.

A play is drama because

1. A.it contains characters
2. B.it does not contain any story
3. C.it cannot be read silently
4. D.it can be acted on the stage
5. E.it is written in verse.

The central theme of Shakespeare's As You Like It is

1. A.wrestling
2. B.disguise
3. C.forest life
4. D.disagreement between brothers
5. E.the nature of true love.

Which of the following statements is true of Shakespeare's Macbeth?

1. A.Macbeth is a wicked woman who does not love her husband
2. B.The Birnam wood actually moved
3. C.The tragedy of Macbeth is caused by Macbeth's ambition and some other factors
4. D.Macbeth is the only cause of his own tragedy
5. E.The witches have only good news for Macbeth.

One of the following is a mark of good poetry

1. A.An interesting story
2. B.Imaginative use of language
3. C.Realistic characterization
4. D.Flashback
5. E.Audience participation.

In Night of Seine, the word 'dark' in 'listen to our dark blood beat' is used

1. A.biologically
2. B.scientifically
3. C.figuratively
4. D.literally
5. E.sociologically.

'Streamside Exchange' primarily shows J.P. Clark's interest in

1. A.birds
2. B.children
3. C.trade
4. D.rivers
5. E.destiny.

Kalu Uka's 'Earth to Earth' is about one of the following:

1. A.death
2. B.urine
3. C.flowers
4. D.Goddess of Earth
5. E.love.

Dennis Brutus' 'A Troubadour I Traverse' is on the following:

1. A.a poem of resistance against oppression
2. B.a poem about a lost lover
3. C.a poem about a journey of exploration
4. D.a poem of satisfaction with one's society
5. E.none of the above.

In 'The Vultures', the 'vultures's are

1. A.birds of prey
2. B.African hunters
3. C.colonial masters
4. D.vampires
5. E.sacrificial animals.

In 'The Duel', the line 'And the swords clicked and scrapped, and the onsets sped' indicates

1. A.the depth of their fatigue
2. B.the loftiness of their hopes
3. C.the abjectness of their fears
4. D.the fervour of their prayers
5. E.the fierceness of the fight.

'The Choirmaster's Burial' shows man's

1. A.gratitude
2. B.ingratitude
3. C.devotion
4. D.spinelessness
5. E.courage.

In 'Wild Grapes', the narrator says 'You see me celebrate two birthdays, And give myself out as two different age's because

1. A.she is reincarnated
2. B.she has first declared a false age
3. C.the incident of the poem begins a new chapter in her life
4. D.the grapes are wilder than herself
5. E.the grapes are older than herself.

'Strange Meeting' reveals the absurdity of

1. A.cowardice
2. B.love
3. C.hatred
4. D.war
5. E.friendship.

Romeo and Juliet 'O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name' Juliet makes this statement because

1. A.she hates Romeo
2. B.she hates Romeo's father
3. C.she is anxious to marry Romeo
4. D.she finds the name Romeo unromantic
5. E.she wants Romeo to bear a particular name.

From A Raisin' in the Sun

'a dream' in this speech refers to

1. A.a liquor store
2. B.a prosperous academic career
3. C.a political career
4. D.a family estate in Clybourne Park
5. E.a film industry.

In 'The Mesh', the poet 'lingered over the choice' because

1. A.he had quarrelled with the lady
2. B.he is not yet sure of the lady's love
3. C.he is not yet sure of his love for the lady
4. D.the lady is not beautiful
5. E.the lady is too possessive.

Wigwe has come to Ihuoma in order to

1. A.marry her clandestinely
2. B.gain her consent before informing the relations
3. C.persuade her to marry his own son
4. D.dissuade her from marrying his own son
5. E.inquire about her health.

In 'The Executioner's Dream', the first line 'I dream I saw an eye, a pretty eye' is

1. A.ironical
2. B.complimentary
3. C.exclamatory
4. D.rhetorical
5. E.interrogatory.

In Birago Diop's 'Vanity', these two lines 'Sad complaining voices of beggars Who indeed will hear them without laughter?' contain

1. A.an exaggeration
2. B.a hyperbole
3. C.a paradox
4. D.an understatement
5. E.an illogicality.

In 'Telephone Conversation', the tone of the question 'You mean–like plain or milk chocolate?' is

1. A.sarcastic
2. B.complimentary
3. C.admissive
4. D.pleading
5. E.commanding.

In 'Night', Soyinka describes night as

1. A.horrifying
2. B.terrifying
3. C.protective
4. D.soothing
5. E.both protective and terrifying.

Modern African Stories In Alex la Guma's A Matter of Taste, it is a matter of taste to eat exactly what you want because

1. A.that is your own favourite choice
2. B.you can afford it
3. C.friends can always get it for you
4. D.you can always have it as bonus at work
5. E.your taste is always available.

Prose extract (Question 38)

By using details, the author of the above passage makes the scene

1. A.monotonous
2. B.unattractive
3. C.realistic
4. D.bewildering
5. E.strange.

In Kossoh Town Boy, the hero presents his father as

1. A.tyrannical
2. B.despotic
3. C.strict
4. D.weak
5. E.selfish.

Kontiki Expedition demonstrates human

1. A.rashness
2. B.wastefulness
3. C.tactlessness
4. D.courage
5. E.recklessness.

Mtchali's 'Nightfall in Soweto' is about one of the following:

1. A.moonlight play at night
2. B.disease that attacks the body
3. C.a man fighting against a dangerous animal
4. D.an animal attacking a helpless man
5. E.a wicked man oppressing a helpless man.

Point out the odd item in this list

1. A.Romeo and Juliet
2. B.Ozidi
3. C.Tom Sawyer
4. D.A Raisin in the Sun
5. E.Kongi's Harvest.

Verse extract (Question 44)

The author of these lines is

1. A.W.B. Yeats
2. B.Chinua Achebe
3. C.Thomas Hardy
4. D.T.S. Eliot
5. E.G. Okara.

Peter Abraham's Mine Boy is about one of the following:

1. A.oppression through labour
2. B.the dignity of labour
3. C.happy childhood
4. D.conflict of culture
5. E.none of the above.

From 'Portrait'

The tone of this passage may be described as

1. A.solemn
2. B.self-mocking
3. C.dead earnest
4. D.serious
5. E.angry.

Our attitude to the hero of George Eliot's Sill Marner is one of

1. A.contempt
2. B.fear
3. C.sympathy
4. D.hatred
5. E.none of the above.

Kenneth Kaunda's Zambia Shall Be Free is a non-fictional work because

1. A.it is about politics
2. B.it has no characters
3. C.it evokes no feelings
4. D.it is not written by a novelist
5. E.it deals with real life events.

Verse extract (Question 49)

The theme of these lines is

1. A.the falling of leaves
2. B.the ground on which leaves fall
3. C.man as a farmer
4. D.the power of death over every life
5. E.the flight of birds in certain seasons.

The author of this passage creates in the reader

1. A.disbelief
2. B.a feeling of nostalgia
3. C.a feeling of lighthearted relaxation
4. D.suspense
5. E.unconcern.