Jamb Literature in English 1990 Past Questions and Answers

Question 16:

• JAMB 1990

This question is based on selected poems from Wole Soyinka (ed.) Poems of Black Africa and D.I. Nwoga (ed.) West African Verse.
As suggested in Agostinho Neto's 'Night', the problems the problem of the blackman today drive mostly from

A. The persistance of a superstitious life style that creates only mystery and terror in an otherwise englightened world
B. A fate that made his skin colour indentical to that of night
C. The lack of a clear sense of direction coupled with years of oppression that weakened his will
D. Too much haste to catch up with the rest of the world as a result of which the basic structures of development are not being properly laid down

Question 17:

• JAMB 1990

This question is based on selected poems from Wole Soyinka (ed.) Poems of Black Africa and D.I. Nwoga (ed.) West African Verse.
...'the hawk will flutter and turn
On its wings and swoop for the mouse,
The dogs will run for the hare,
The hare for its little life.'
These lines from Kwesi Brew's 'The Dry Season' mean that

A. This is a hunting season
B. There is chaos
C. The hare will be killed
D. The hawk and the dogs are strong

Question 18:

• JAMB 1990

This question is based on selected poems from Wole Soyinka (ed.) Poems of Black Africa and D.I. Nwoga (ed.) West African Verse.
'...these white lilies tossed their little heads then
In the moon-steeped ponds;
There was bouncing gaiety in the crisp chirping
Of the cricket in the undergrowth,...
These lines from Kwesi Brew's 'The Executioner's
Dream suggest that

A. Even nature rejoices at human sacrifice
B. Nature is indifferent to man's predicament
C. There is harmony in nature
D. There is a lot of activity in the undergrowth

Question 19:

• JAMB 1990

This question is based on selected poems from Wole Soyinka (ed.) Poems of Black Africa and D.I. Nwoga (ed.) West African Verse.
'The Fulani Creation Story' shows that

A. The world came about by a series of chance happenings
B. The world was created in three days
C. A logic of cause-and-effect underlies all creation
D. Death came into the world when man set himself up as God's rival

Question 20:

• JAMB 1990

This question is based on Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God
'' This madness which they say you have must now begin to know its bounds. You are telling me to go and find cassava for you...''
In view of the speaker's aim, this statement is

A. Ambiguous
B. Hyperbolic
C. Ironic
D. An understatement