Comprehension/Summary - Jamb English Language Past Questions and Answers

Question 546:

• JAMB 2003

  When man evolved a conscience, his basic relationship with the other animals began to change. Until then, they were broadly divided into those which ate him when they got the chance, and a third group which completed with him for food, or was otherwise a nuisance to him in the business of keeping alive.
  In the primitive situation, man was, therefore, basically against Nature but, as the battle was progressively won, conscience crept in: the awareness of responsibility, and a failure to meet it, produced feelings of guilt. Those who live in cities and need no longer do battle against Nature are nowadays most actively for Nature. At this time, something like a thousand kinds of animals (vertebrate animals) can be in danger of would hardly justify the extermination of a giant reptile whose family has existed for 200 million years. Leopards are in jeopardy because of the fashion for their skins. As they get rare, the prices rise and as leopard skin coats become more expensive, the demand increases. No species can long survive the price of #60,000 which a half-grown baby leopard now carries on its skin. And crocodiles, the longest surviving reptiles, are now dwindling alarmingly as a result of the fashion in crocodile skin for ladies ‘handbags and men’s shoes.
  The human population explosion spreads mankind across the land surfaces of the earth at an alarming rate. There will be twice as many of us are dead. Does this mean no room for wild animals? Of course not. With ingenuity and forethought, a place can be kept for them. To destroy their habitat is as unnecessary as it would be to pull down a great cathedral in order to grow potatoes on the site. A campaign to save what remains is the concern of a new kind of Noah’s Ark- the World Wildlife Fund. It does not believe that all is lost.


The sentence There will be twice as many of us before of us are deed means

A. The population growth rate will double before our death
B. Mankind is fast spreading across the earth
C. Some increase in human and animal population growth rates
D. Many of us will die as a result of population explosion

Question 547:

• JAMB 2003

  When man evolved a conscience, his basic relationship with the other animals began to change. Until then, they were broadly divided into those which ate him when they got the chance, and a third group which completed with him for food, or was otherwise a nuisance to him in the business of keeping alive.
  In the primitive situation, man was, therefore, basically against Nature but, as the battle was progressively won, conscience crept in: the awareness of responsibility, and a failure to meet it, produced feelings of guilt. Those who live in cities and need no longer do battle against Nature are nowadays most actively for Nature. At this time, something like a thousand kinds of animals (vertebrate animals) can be in danger of would hardly justify the extermination of a giant reptile whose family has existed for 200 million years. Leopards are in jeopardy because of the fashion for their skins. As they get rare, the prices rise and as leopard skin coats become more expensive, the demand increases. No species can long survive the price of #60,000 which a half-grown baby leopard now carries on its skin. And crocodiles, the longest surviving reptiles, are now dwindling alarmingly as a result of the fashion in crocodile skin for ladies ‘handbags and men’s shoes.
  The human population explosion spreads mankind across the land surfaces of the earth at an alarming rate. There will be twice as many of us are dead. Does this mean no room for wild animals? Of course not. With ingenuity and forethought, a place can be kept for them. To destroy their habitat is as unnecessary as it would be to pull down a great cathedral in order to grow potatoes on the site. A campaign to save what remains is the concern of a new kind of Noah’s Ark- the World Wildlife Fund. It does not believe that all is lost.


The expression when evolved a conscience means when

A. Man acquired new habits
B. Man developed an awareness of right and wrong
C. Man became a critical creature
D. Man's intellect improved tremendously

Question 548:

• JAMB 2003

  When man evolved a conscience, his basic relationship with the other animals began to change. Until then, they were broadly divided into those which ate him when they got the chance, and a third group which completed with him for food, or was otherwise a nuisance to him in the business of keeping alive.
  In the primitive situation, man was, therefore, basically against Nature but, as the battle was progressively won, conscience crept in: the awareness of responsibility, and a failure to meet it, produced feelings of guilt. Those who live in cities and need no longer do battle against Nature are nowadays most actively for Nature. At this time, something like a thousand kinds of animals (vertebrate animals) can be in danger of would hardly justify the extermination of a giant reptile whose family has existed for 200 million years. Leopards are in jeopardy because of the fashion for their skins. As they get rare, the prices rise and as leopard skin coats become more expensive, the demand increases. No species can long survive the price of #60,000 which a half-grown baby leopard now carries on its skin. And crocodiles, the longest surviving reptiles, are now dwindling alarmingly as a result of the fashion in crocodile skin for ladies ‘handbags and men’s shoes.
  The human population explosion spreads mankind across the land surfaces of the earth at an alarming rate. There will be twice as many of us are dead. Does this mean no room for wild animals? Of course not. With ingenuity and forethought, a place can be kept for them. To destroy their habitat is as unnecessary as it would be to pull down a great cathedral in order to grow potatoes on the site. A campaign to save what remains is the concern of a new kind of Noah’s Ark- the World Wildlife Fund. It does not believe that all is lost.


From the passage, the attitude of the writer can be described as

A. Optimistic
B. Indifferent
C. Pessimistic
D. Partial

Question 549:

• JAMB 2003

  When man evolved a conscience, his basic relationship with the other animals began to change. Until then, they were broadly divided into those which ate him when they got the chance, and a third group which completed with him for food, or was otherwise a nuisance to him in the business of keeping alive.
  In the primitive situation, man was, therefore, basically against Nature but, as the battle was progressively won, conscience crept in: the awareness of responsibility, and a failure to meet it, produced feelings of guilt. Those who live in cities and need no longer do battle against Nature are nowadays most actively for Nature. At this time, something like a thousand kinds of animals (vertebrate animals) can be in danger of would hardly justify the extermination of a giant reptile whose family has existed for 200 million years. Leopards are in jeopardy because of the fashion for their skins. As they get rare, the prices rise and as leopard skin coats become more expensive, the demand increases. No species can long survive the price of #60,000 which a half-grown baby leopard now carries on its skin. And crocodiles, the longest surviving reptiles, are now dwindling alarmingly as a result of the fashion in crocodile skin for ladies ‘handbags and men’s shoes.
  The human population explosion spreads mankind across the land surfaces of the earth at an alarming rate. There will be twice as many of us are dead. Does this mean no room for wild animals? Of course not. With ingenuity and forethought, a place can be kept for them. To destroy their habitat is as unnecessary as it would be to pull down a great cathedral in order to grow potatoes on the site. A campaign to save what remains is the concern of a new kind of Noah’s Ark- the World Wildlife Fund. It does not believe that all is lost.


The basic causes of the elimination of certain animals from the earth include

A. Man's penchant for meat and sale of animals for meat and hides
B. Man's decision to live in cities and the development of large farmlands
C. A deliberate battle against Nature and the quest for leopard skin
D. Extensive killing of animals and the fast disappearance of their favourable habitats

Question 550:

• JAMB 2003

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. A prepared speech is not easy to deliver, especially if it is not written by the presenter. -11- [A. Quantum B. document C. free D. manuscript] delivery is one in which the speech has been written out word from word and is read to -12- [A. an audience B. a congregation C. a conference D. a gathering]. this kind of delivery is usually reserved for very -13-[A. genuine B. impromptu C. guaranteed D. formal] occasions when exact wording is -14-[A. reportive B. conclusive C. speculative D. critical] such as the State of the Union Address or speeches before the United Nations General -15-[A. Assembly B. Audience C. Organisation D. Negotiation]. The primary advantage is that the speech may be highly-16-[A. advanced B. analogous C. discreet D. polished] in terms of word choice, turns of phrase, and development of ideals. The main disadvantage is that this type of delivery is difficult to do well. Reading aloud with meaningful -17-[A. vocal B. bifocal C. anticipatory D. profuse] inflection requires the speaker to be very familiar with the text. If not, the words will come out in a choppy, expressionless way. Such poor delivery could destroy any -18- [A. decisive B. positive C. interactive D. restrictive] effects created by the carefully chosen -19- [A. dialect B. rhetoric C. slang D. language] . Lack of familiarity with the -20- [A. text B. context C. exchange D. note] could also prevent the speaker from maintaining eye contact with the people being addressed.


In question number 11 above, choose the best option from letters A - D that best completes the gap.

A. Quantum
B. Document
C. Free
D. Manuscript