2020 - JAMB English Past Questions & Answers - page 1

1

Theatre in the recent past used to be a very popular art in traditional African society. It used to be a point of intersection where members of the community not only come to entertain themselves, 'but join heads together'. In the traditional context of African drama, therefore, theatre was popular and respectable institution which preserved the people's culture and tradition. Theatre was popular with the people because it emphasized community participation, peace and progress. The presentations focused on the people's lives, their aspirations, fears, and hopes. But today, the situation is different. Theatre is becoming very unpopular.

 

Africa of the present age is pre-occupied with many problems yearning for immediate solutions. The continent is facing hydra-head challenges - challenges on the political, social, and economic scenes. In a world where Science and Technology are seen as the solutions to these problems, little attention is paid to the arts. Literature generally, and drama in particular is often rated very low on the utility-scale. Many Africa today look at drama and theatre as a mere thing of fun, a joke so to say.

 

Elitism is another barrier that militates against the appreciation of theatre as a communal art. Folk theatre is appreciated by a negligible number of people, contemporary focus is on literary theatre. Unfortunately, literary theatre only pretends to serve the interest of its society while in reality, it has a foreign audience in mind. The use of European and American theatrical conventions by our academic playwrights can bear witness to this anomaly.

 

The popularity of the literary African theatre is further marred by the medium of communication as most literary dramas in Africa are written in foreign languages which are not understood by many Africans. The question often asked is whether the artist should climb down to the level of his community of stay at his exalted height and wait for the community to gradually move up to him.

 

 

Theatre was popular in Africa because__________

A
was traditional and simple in nature
B
dealt with the political, social, and economic problems of the society
C
was a source of fun
D
was communal and reflected the common concerns of the people
CORRECT OPTION: d

Theatre helps to improve communal living and progress. By providing room for entertainments and interaction for the community.

2

Use the passage in question 1 to answer this question.

One of the reasons why theatre is unpopular in modern Africa is that it_________

A

is regarded as not being of much use

B

only deals with culture and tradition

C

lacks scientific and academic bases

D

is always funny and looked down upon

CORRECT OPTION: a

Theatre is becoming unpopular in modern Africa because it is believed to have very little use because Africa has more pressing problems than what theatre can solve.

3

Use the passage in question 1 to answer this question.

In the passage, the term "theatre" and "drama" are used _______
A

differently

B

concurrently

C

interchangeably

D

sparingly

CORRECT OPTION: c

Theatre and drama are used interchangeably on the passage. 

4

Use the passage in question 1 to answer this question.

One of the arguments in the passage is that academic playwrights_______

A

express themselves only in foreign languages

B

serve as a catalyst in the society's appreciation of theatre

C

work against the common man's appreciation of theatre

D

make theatre popular in traditional societies

CORRECT OPTION: a

***

Paragraphs 3 and 4 tell us about the use of European and American theatrical convention as well as the use of foreign languages by African academic playwright. 

5

Use the passage in question 1 to answer this question.

By the expression "climb down", the author implies that modern playwrights should _______

A

be simplistic in the use of language

B

not move up

C

use language that is most appreciated by the people

D

wait for the community to catch up with them

CORRECT OPTION: a

'climb down' as used in the passage implies to descend in the use of language to be understandable by the common man'

6

The financing of the university will always be a vexatious problem not only because of the need for it to maintain a level of independence that allows for the thriving of intellectual pursuit but also for the size of the funding that is required to maintain an acceptable level of infrastructure in a modern university. The experience of the Nigerian university in recent years has, in this regard, been almost alarming. The funding levels requited constitute sufficient reasons for diversifying the sources. Even if the government was in a position on its own to meet all of the university's financial requirements, I consider it desirable that every effort be made to reduce such contribution in the interest of university autonomy. I also hold the view that the university should seek to become dependent, in a substantial way, on funds generated from within. In other words, the sources of funding the university should be diversified as much as possible. Based on this principle, ·we can identify four sources - government, industry, students, and individual philanthropists. I must add quickly that each source has its own set of problems in its continuous interaction with the university, which ought to be addressed here.

 

Of all the four major sources of financing university education mentioned above, contribution through fees from the students involves intricate issues of special concern If government gives as an expression of its obligation to promote the general welfare of society if industry gives in order to enhance its chances of procurement of needed human information and material resources, as well as enhance its social responsibility if the general public gives as an indication of voluntary support for a worthy social cause, students (and by inference, their parents) should give in order to purchase an economic good for meeting their own felt need in the expectation that they will be satisfied with the product purchased.

[Adapted from Onosode, GO: 'The politics of Managing People, Prospects and Poverty: The Role of the University, 1990 OAU Convocation}

It is important for university to be independent so that they can________

A

attract funds from industries

B

determine their goals

C

be left to expand without any hindrances

D

carry out effective research

CORRECT OPTION: c

Paragraph one of the passage talks about the need for universities to maintain a level of independence that enables them to thrive for intellectual pursuit. The passage also emphasizes the need for University autonomy, that is, the need to expand and function independently.

7

Use the passage in question 6 above to answer this question.

The writer advocates for multiple sources of university funding in order to ______

A

enhance university autonomy

B

reduce dependence on the government

C

ensure that the numerous needs of the universities are met

D

maintain acceptable levels of infrastructural development

CORRECT OPTION: a

Paragraph one of the passage tells us the writer considers it desirable that effort be made to reduce the government contributions in the interest of University autonomy irrespective of whether or not the government was in a position to meet all of the university's financial requirements.

8

Use the passage in question 6 above to answer this question.

The expression "intricate issues of special concern" means________

A

important policy statements

B

interwoven topics of significance

C

complex matters requiring careful thoughts

D

knotty problems that concern everybody

CORRECT OPTION: c

Another word(synonym) for Intricate means 'complex' 

9

Use the passage in question 6 above to answer this question.

The word "diversified" as used in the passage means_________

A

differentiated

B

varied

C

diffused

D

widened

CORRECT OPTION: d

Based on the passage, diversified suggests the need for the sources of university funding to broaden and not be limited to a particular source.

10

Use the passage in question 6 above to answer this question.

The source of the university funding emphasized in the passage is________

A

government

B

industry

C

the general public

D

students

CORRECT OPTION: a

According to the passage, the government is an exemplary source for university funding.

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