Question 9
ComprehensionJAMB 1986 Passage II: Delinquency
Delinquency describes actions that would not be crimes if performed by adults. If a young person performs one of such actions then he has committed a crime. Delinquency is one of several status offences — offences that can be committed only by people in particular stations of life as determined by age, profession or a person's role in society. For young people such offences include drinking, driving and smoking under age. Usually they are offences only to the extent that they help to preserve some of the good things of life for the exclusive enjoyment of the adult world. Delinquency is therefore a weapon forged in adult minds and directed by adult hands against young people. It is born out of a envy, adult pride and intolerance. If the world changed overnight and the responsibility to make and enforce laws fell on juvenile shoulders, the adults should expect a raw deal in return. Delinquency would than certainly refer only to many of the adult actions now freely committed by them.
If the world changed overnight
- A.there would be more delinquency laws
- B.delinquency would refer to all adult actions
- C.delinquency would no more be a crime
- D.delinquency would also change in meaning
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: D (delinquency would also change in meaning)
Explanation
If young people made the laws, 'delinquency' would then refer to many adult actions, so the word itself would change in meaning. Option B is wrong because the passage says 'many', not 'all'.