2017 - JAMB English Past Questions and Answers - page 9

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The word bootless means ineffectual, useless of a task or undertaking, while the answer worthwhile means worth the time, effort spent
Bootless explains that the errand was useless while worthwhile explains it was the effort, which is also synonymous to the word useful

The painting being beautifully faced could also be described as a good deceptive replica, which means there is almost no difference in the fake painting and the original.

The preposition 'in' is used to indicate interest or feeling

When the word 'being' is used in a past continuous tense, as it is in the above question, it means the action is happening sow or was happening before, in or continual manner, just like in the answer, the principal was writing the letter

It is trying the impossible
The idiomatic expression 'knocking your hand against a brick wall' means to attempt continuously and fruitlessly to accomplish some task or achieve some goal that is or seems ultimately hopeless, more like it is impossible

"Being" can be used as a gerund, a word that acts like a noun and looks like a verb.Being is the verb, boy is the noun.

The word doting was italicized in the question . It means to be extremely and uncritically fond to someone, to love dearly while loving means feeling or showing love and affection