2021 - JAMB Literature Past Questions and Answers - page 3

21

Questions 25 - 30 are based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

'She bore a mind that envy could not but call fair' The statement above characterizes 

A

Maria

B

Olivia

C

Roderigo

D

Viola

correct option: b

Olivia. Option B

The statement "She bore a mind that envy could not but call fair" characterizes Olivia as a woman with a beautiful and attractive mind, or inner self, that even those who are envious of her cannot help but admire.

This suggests that Olivia is not only physically beautiful, but also possesses qualities such as intelligence, kindness, and grace that are highly desirable and worthy of admiration.

Additionally, the use of the word "envy" implies that Olivia's beauty and inner qualities are not only admirable but also somewhat rare, making her stand out from others. The statement helps to establish Olivia as a complex and admirable character in the play.

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22

According to the play, the Duke of Illyria is fascinated by 

A

the idea of love

B

the food of love

C

music

D

entertainment

correct option: a

Option A. The idea of love. 

In the play "Twelfth Night," the Duke of Illyria, Orsino, is initially portrayed as a man deeply in love with Lady Olivia. He spends much of the play expressing his love for her and attempting to win her affection, often through grand declarations of love and romantic poetry and music.

However, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that the Duke's fascination with love is not rooted in his feelings for Olivia specifically, but rather in the idea of being in love itself. He is enamored with the idea of being in love and the romantic feelings it evokes, and seems to be less concerned with the person he is in love with.

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23

DUKE:... Thou know'st no less but all; I have unclasped to thee the book even of my secret soul. What exactly has the Duke unclasped? 

A

The book of his relationship with Olivia

B

The secret of his soul

C

The details of his relationship with Viola

D

The details of his relationship with Olivia

correct option: d

Option D. The details of his relationship with Olivia. 

Duke Orsino is infatuated with the idea of love and is deeply in love with Olivia, a noblewoman who has recently lost her brother. The Duke unclasped the details of his relationship with Olivia to Cesario. He sends his servant, Cesario, to deliver messages of love to Olivia on his behalf, but she is not interested in him. 

Despite this, the Duke continues to send Cesario to deliver more messages and even asks him to help him win her love. However, his efforts are in vain as Olivia is more interested in Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise.

Throughout the play, the Duke's relationship with Olivia is characterized by his persistent attempts to win her love and his disappointment when she is not interested in him. He is fascinated by the idea of love and is unable to see that Olivia is not in love with him.

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24

'I'll do my best
To woo your lady.'
What is the sincere desire of the person who made the statement above?

A

That she succeeds in winning the love for the master

B

That her best is good enough to win affection

C

That she herself becomes the beloved

D

That she herself wins the love

correct option: c

Option C. That she herself becomes the beloved. 

The sincere desire of the person who made the statement "I'll do my best, to woo your lady" is That she herself becomes the beloved. 

The statement suggests that the speaker is willing to put in effort and effort to gain the lady's favor, and that they hope to ultimately be successful in "wooing" her, or winning her over. The statement implies that the person wants to establish a romantic relationship with the lady.

However, to become the wife of Duke Orsino is the sincere desire of the person who made the statement. 

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25

The significance of the sub-plot dealing with Feste, Toby and Maria is the expression of life's

A

fragility

B

pleasure

C

comedy

D

romance

correct option: a

Option A. Fragility

The sub-plot dealing with Feste, Toby, and Maria serves as a contrast to the main plot and highlights the themes of deception and disguise. The sub-plot centers around the characters' attempts to deceive and manipulate one another for their own gain, particularly Toby and Andrew's attempts to trick Malvolio.

Overall, the sub-plot of Feste, Toby, and Maria serves to comment on the themes of deception and disguise in the main plot and highlights the fragility of social relationships. The characters' actions and interactions serve as a reminder of the dangers of manipulation and deception in human relationships.

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26

What would you consider to be the major theme of the play?

A

Love at first sight

B

Unrequited love

C

Illusion and reality

D

Humor and Tragedy

correct option: b

Option B. Unrequited love

In the play "Twelfth Night," unrequited love is a major theme that is explored through the experiences of several characters.

The Duke of Illyria, Orsino, is infatuated with Lady Olivia, but she is not interested in him. Instead, she is in love with the Duke's messenger, Cesario, who is actually a woman named Viola, disguised as a man.

Viola, meanwhile, is in love with Orsino, but cannot reveal her true identity to him. Similarly, Sir Andrew is in love with Olivia, but she does not reciprocate his feelings. All of these characters are depicted as suffering from unrequited love, and their experiences serve to highlight the pain and frustration that comes from loving someone who does not love you in return.

Additionally, the play also explores the theme of disguise, and how it can complicate and affect the characters' ability to express and act on their love.

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27

Questions 31 - 33 are based on Abubakar Gimba's Witnesses to Tears.

In the novel, Al-Amin's initial reservations about his daughter's engagement to Lahab are dormed by

A

a premonition of his death

B

Lahab's doubtful morality

C

Hussaina's immaturity

D

his fear of loneliness

correct option: b

Option B. Lahab's doubtful morality.

Al-Amin had an image of Lahab as a young man who understands the values of modesty, uprightness, discipline and honesty. But he had a negative thought about Lahab because of his doubtful morality such as corruption and giving of bribe. 

And this is the reason of Al-Amin initial reservations about his daughter's engagement to Lahab. 

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28

The witnesses to the tears in the novel are 

A

Saahir and Lahab

B

Lahab and Hussaina

C

Lahab and Sagiir

D

Al-Amin and Hussaina

correct option: d

Option D. Al-Amin and Hussaina

According to the play, Al-amin despite being upright and has good moral values died very soon after the marriage of his daughter to Lahab. Also, Hussaina's life ends in tragedy at the end of the play. Al-Amin and Husaina are the perfect example of witnesses of tears. 

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29

The novel is largely set in 

A
Futa Toro
B
Sabonville city
C
Alligator city
D
Nuclear city
correct option: a
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30

Questions 34 - 37 are based on George Orwell's Animal Farm.

Old Major ends his speech to the animals with song in order to 

A

spur them to action

B

entertain them

C

display his ability to sing

D

teach them how to sing an anthem

correct option: a

Option A. spur them to action

Old Major ends his speech to the animals with a song (Beasts of England) in order to inspire the animals and to give them a sense of unity and purpose. 

The song serves as an anthem for the rebellion and a unifying force for the animals. It also gives them a sense of hope and the idea of a better future, which is something that the animals never had before.

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