2002 - JAMB English Past Questions and Answers - page 3

21
The passage below has gaps numbered 11 to 20. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap.

  It is business of the scientist to accumulate knowledge about the universe and all that is in it and to find if he is able, common……11…..[A. experiment B. instruments C. approaches D. factors] which underlie and account for the facts that he knows. He chooses when he can, the method of the controlled…….12…..[A. respondent B. experiment C. system D. data]. If he wants to find out the effect of light on growing plants, he takes many plants, as alike as possible. Some he stand in the sun, some in the shade, some in the dark, all the time keeping all other (temperature, moisture, nourishment) the same. In this way, by keeping other variables……..14……[A. constant B. good C. dark D. natural] and by varying the light only, the effect of light on plants can be clearly seen. This …….15…..[A. research B. method C. tool D. rationale] of using ‘controls’ can be applied to a variety of situation and can be used to find the answers to questions as widely different as ‘must moisture be present if…….16….[A. an alloy B. gold C. bar D. iron] is to rust?’ and which variety of beans give the greatest yield in one……17…..[A. climate B. period C. season D. weather]?


  In the course of his……18…..[A. finding B. queries C. experiment D. inquiries], the scientist may find what he thinks is one common explanation for an increasing number of facts the explanation, if it seems consistently to fit the various facts, is called…….19……[A. an antithesis B. a principle C. a thesis D. a hypothesis]. If this continues to stand the test of numerous experiments and remains unshaken, it becomes a……20…..[A. deduction B. law C. notion D. thesis].

In question number 18 above, choose the best option from letters A-D that best completes the gap.
A
findings
B
quries
C
experiment
D
inquries
correct option: c
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22
The passage below has gaps numbered 11 to 20. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap.

  It is business of the scientist to accumulate knowledge about the universe and all that is in it and to find if he is able, common……11…..[A. experiment B. instruments C. approaches D. factors] which underlie and account for the facts that he knows. He chooses when he can, the method of the controlled…….12…..[A. respondent B. experiment C. system D. data]. If he wants to find out the effect of light on growing plants, he takes many plants, as alike as possible. Some he stand in the sun, some in the shade, some in the dark, all the time keeping all other (temperature, moisture, nourishment) the same. In this way, by keeping other variables……..14……[A. constant B. good C. dark D. natural] and by varying the light only, the effect of light on plants can be clearly seen. This …….15…..[A. research B. method C. tool D. rationale] of using ‘controls’ can be applied to a variety of situation and can be used to find the answers to questions as widely different as ‘must moisture be present if…….16….[A. an alloy B. gold C. bar D. iron] is to rust?’ and which variety of beans give the greatest yield in one……17…..[A. climate B. period C. season D. weather]?


  In the course of his……18…..[A. finding B. queries C. experiment D. inquiries], the scientist may find what he thinks is one common explanation for an increasing number of facts the explanation, if it seems consistently to fit the various facts, is called…….19……[A. an antithesis B. a principle C. a thesis D. a hypothesis]. If this continues to stand the test of numerous experiments and remains unshaken, it becomes a……20…..[A. deduction B. law C. notion D. thesis].

In question number 19 above, choose the best option from letters A-D that best completes the gap.
A
an antithesis
B
a principle
C
a thesis
D
a hypothesis
correct option: d
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23
The passage below has gaps numbered 11 to 20. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap.

  It is business of the scientist to accumulate knowledge about the universe and all that is in it and to find if he is able, common……11…..[A. experiment B. instruments C. approaches D. factors] which underlie and account for the facts that he knows. He chooses when he can, the method of the controlled…….12…..[A. respondent B. experiment C. system D. data]. If he wants to find out the effect of light on growing plants, he takes many plants, as alike as possible. Some he stand in the sun, some in the shade, some in the dark, all the time keeping all other (temperature, moisture, nourishment) the same. In this way, by keeping other variables……..14……[A. constant B. good C. dark D. natural] and by varying the light only, the effect of light on plants can be clearly seen. This …….15…..[A. research B. method C. tool D. rationale] of using ‘controls’ can be applied to a variety of situation and can be used to find the answers to questions as widely different as ‘must moisture be present if…….16….[A. an alloy B. gold C. bar D. iron] is to rust?’ and which variety of beans give the greatest yield in one……17…..[A. climate B. period C. season D. weather]?


  In the course of his……18…..[A. finding B. queries C. experiment D. inquiries], the scientist may find what he thinks is one common explanation for an increasing number of facts the explanation, if it seems consistently to fit the various facts, is called…….19……[A. an antithesis B. a principle C. a thesis D. a hypothesis]. If this continues to stand the test of numerous experiments and remains unshaken, it becomes a……20…..[A. deduction B. law C. notion D. thesis].

In question number 20 above, choose the best option from letters A-D that best completes the gap.
A
deduction
B
law
C
notion
D
thesis
correct option: b
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24

  If our thoughts is to be clear and we are to succeed in communicating it to other people, we must have some method of fixing the meaning of the words we use. When we use a word whose meaning is not certain, we may well be asked to define it. There is a usual traditional device for doing this by indicating the class to which whatever is indicated by the term belongs and also other particular property which distinguishes it from all other members of the same class. Thus we may define a whale as a ‘marine animal that spouts’. ‘Marine animals’ in this definition indicates the general class to which the whale belongs and ‘spouts’ indicates the particular property that distinguishes whales from other such marine animals as fishes, seals, jellyfish and lobsters. In the same way, we can define an even number as a finite integer divisible by two or a democracy as a system of government in which the people themselves rule.


  there are other ways, of course of indicating the meaning of words. We may for example, find it hard to make a suitable definition of the word ‘animal’, as we say that an animal is such a thing as a rabbit, dog fish or goat. Similarly, we may say that religion is such a system as Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. This way of indicating the meaning of a term by enumerating examples of what it includes is obviously of limited usefulness. If we indicate our use of the word ‘animal’ as above, our hearers might for example be doubtful whether a sea-anemone or a slug was to be included in the class of animals. It is however, a useful way of supplementing a definition if the definition itself id definite without being easily understandable. Failure of an attempt at definition to serve its purpose may result from giving as distinguishing mark one which either does not belong to all the things the definition id intended to include, or does belong to some members of the same general class which the definition is intended to exclude.

the writer uses the expression 'fixing the meaning of the words we use' to mean
A
using definition to help people communicate their thoughts and argue
B
getting even with the people who always ask for definitions
C
repair the damage done by inadequate definition during communication
D
using definitionto help people build up their vocabulary
correct option: a
Users' Answers & Comments
25

  If our thoughts is to be clear and we are to succeed in communicating it to other people, we must have some method of fixing the meaning of the words we use. When we use a word whose meaning is not certain, we may well be asked to define it. There is a usual traditional device for doing this by indicating the class to which whatever is indicated by the term belongs and also other particular property which distinguishes it from all other members of the same class. Thus we may define a whale as a ‘marine animal that spouts’. ‘Marine animals’ in this definition indicates the general class to which the whale belongs and ‘spouts’ indicates the particular property that distinguishes whales from other such marine animals as fishes, seals, jellyfish and lobsters. In the same way, we can define an even number as a finite integer divisible by two or a democracy as a system of government in which the people themselves rule.


  there are other ways, of course of indicating the meaning of words. We may for example, find it hard to make a suitable definition of the word ‘animal’, as we say that an animal is such a thing as a rabbit, dog fish or goat. Similarly, we may say that religion is such a system as Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. This way of indicating the meaning of a term by enumerating examples of what it includes is obviously of limited usefulness. If we indicate our use of the word ‘animal’ as above, our hearers might for example be doubtful whether a sea-anemone or a slug was to be included in the class of animals. It is however, a useful way of supplementing a definition if the definition itself id definite without being easily understandable. Failure of an attempt at definition to serve its purpose may result from giving as distinguishing mark one which either does not belong to all the things the definition id intended to include, or does belong to some members of the same general class which the definition is intended to exclude.

One of these summarizes the approaches to definition discussed in the passage
A
mentioning the class of a word or object with its specific property
B
indicating the class of a word and mentioning its general property with examples
C
specifying clearly what distinguishes a particular word or object from its traditional group
D
giving general and specific features followed by example of what the object or word includes
correct option: d
Users' Answers & Comments
26

  If our thoughts is to be clear and we are to succeed in communicating it to other people, we must have some method of fixing the meaning of the words we use. When we use a word whose meaning is not certain, we may well be asked to define it. There is a usual traditional device for doing this by indicating the class to which whatever is indicated by the term belongs and also other particular property which distinguishes it from all other members of the same class. Thus we may define a whale as a ‘marine animal that spouts’. ‘Marine animals’ in this definition indicates the general class to which the whale belongs and ‘spouts’ indicates the particular property that distinguishes whales from other such marine animals as fishes, seals, jellyfish and lobsters. In the same way, we can define an even number as a finite integer divisible by two or a democracy as a system of government in which the people themselves rule.


  there are other ways, of course of indicating the meaning of words. We may for example, find it hard to make a suitable definition of the word ‘animal’, as we say that an animal is such a thing as a rabbit, dog fish or goat. Similarly, we may say that religion is such a system as Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. This way of indicating the meaning of a term by enumerating examples of what it includes is obviously of limited usefulness. If we indicate our use of the word ‘animal’ as above, our hearers might for example be doubtful whether a sea-anemone or a slug was to be included in the class of animals. It is however, a useful way of supplementing a definition if the definition itself id definite without being easily understandable. Failure of an attempt at definition to serve its purpose may result from giving as distinguishing mark one which either does not belong to all the things the definition id intended to include, or does belong to some members of the same general class which the definition is intended to exclude.

The expression 'we may well be asked' as used in the passage means
A
we cannot escape being asked
B
the listener is always justified to ask questions
C
it is inconceivable that we will be asked
D
it is quite likely that we will be asked
correct option: d
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27
Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The witness averred that had seen Dosun at the scene of the crime?
A
argued
B
confirmed
C
denied
D
affirmed
correct option: c
Users' Answers & Comments
28

  If our thoughts is to be clear and we are to succeed in communicating it to other people, we must have some method of fixing the meaning of the words we use. When we use a word whose meaning is not certain, we may well be asked to define it. There is a usual traditional device for doing this by indicating the class to which whatever is indicated by the term belongs and also other particular property which distinguishes it from all other members of the same class. Thus we may define a whale as a ‘marine animal that spouts’. ‘Marine animals’ in this definition indicates the general class to which the whale belongs and ‘spouts’ indicates the particular property that distinguishes whales from other such marine animals as fishes, seals, jellyfish and lobsters. In the same way, we can define an even number as a finite integer divisible by two or a democracy as a system of government in which the people themselves rule.


  there are other ways, of course of indicating the meaning of words. We may for example, find it hard to make a suitable definition of the word ‘animal’, as we say that an animal is such a thing as a rabbit, dog fish or goat. Similarly, we may say that religion is such a system as Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. This way of indicating the meaning of a term by enumerating examples of what it includes is obviously of limited usefulness. If we indicate our use of the word ‘animal’ as above, our hearers might for example be doubtful whether a sea-anemone or a slug was to be included in the class of animals. It is however, a useful way of supplementing a definition if the definition itself id definite without being easily understandable. Failure of an attempt at definition to serve its purpose may result from giving as distinguishing mark one which either does not belong to all the things the definition id intended to include, or does belong to some members of the same general class which the definition is intended to exclude.

Which of the following statements can be deduced from the passage?
A
definition aid communication when enumeration is accurately handled
B
accurate definition is invalvable to communication but difficult to achieve
C
every speaker or writer has a method of defining words
D
there are both traditional and modern methods of defining words
correct option: b
Users' Answers & Comments
29
Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The high cost of living these days calls for a lot of frugality?
A
extravagance
B
economy
C
recklessness
D
prudence
correct option: a
Users' Answers & Comments
30

  If our thoughts is to be clear and we are to succeed in communicating it to other people, we must have some method of fixing the meaning of the words we use. When we use a word whose meaning is not certain, we may well be asked to define it. There is a usual traditional device for doing this by indicating the class to which whatever is indicated by the term belongs and also other particular property which distinguishes it from all other members of the same class. Thus we may define a whale as a ‘marine animal that spouts’. ‘Marine animals’ in this definition indicates the general class to which the whale belongs and ‘spouts’ indicates the particular property that distinguishes whales from other such marine animals as fishes, seals, jellyfish and lobsters. In the same way, we can define an even number as a finite integer divisible by two or a democracy as a system of government in which the people themselves rule.


  there are other ways, of course of indicating the meaning of words. We may for example, find it hard to make a suitable definition of the word ‘animal’, as we say that an animal is such a thing as a rabbit, dog fish or goat. Similarly, we may say that religion is such a system as Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. This way of indicating the meaning of a term by enumerating examples of what it includes is obviously of limited usefulness. If we indicate our use of the word ‘animal’ as above, our hearers might for example be doubtful whether a sea-anemone or a slug was to be included in the class of animals. It is however, a useful way of supplementing a definition if the definition itself id definite without being easily understandable. Failure of an attempt at definition to serve its purpose may result from giving as distinguishing mark one which either does not belong to all the things the definition id intended to include, or does belong to some members of the same general class which the definition is intended to exclude.

From the passage, which of these is a disadvantage of defining by enumerating?
A
enumeration always leave doubts in the mind of the speaker
B
the words or objects listed may not all share similar characteristics
C
the property and examples enumerated may not be all inclusive
D
many important members of the group may be left out of the enumeration
correct option: c
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