Practice neco literature_in_english 2017 Past Questions

Question 1 View Details

In a three‑act play, Act I has 4 scenes. Act II has twice as many scenes as Act I, and Act III has three fewer scenes than Act II. In each scene the playwright uses exactly \(2\) asides and \(1\) soliloquy. Additionally, the final scene of the play contains one extra monologue. How many total instances of asides, soliloquies and monologues occur in the whole play?

A. 48

B. 70

C. 51

Correct D. 52

Correct Answer: D

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Question 2 View Details

Which literary device is employed when a writer repeats the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses?

A. Anadiplosis

B. Alliteration

Correct C. Anaphora

D. Epiphora

Correct Answer: C

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Question 3 View Details

In a short prose excerpt the author uses the following adjectives with the tone scores shown: \(\text{bright}=+2\), \(\text{gloomy}=-2\), \(\text{serene}=+1\), \(\text{harsh}=-1\), \(\text{joyful}=+2\), \(\text{bleak}=-2\). The excerpt contains the words bright (twice), gloomy (once), serene (three times), harsh (once), joyful (once) and bleak (twice). Compute the net tone score and state whether the overall tone is Positive, Negative or Neutral.

A. Negative

B. Mixed

C. Neutral

Correct D. Positive

Correct Answer: D

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Question 4 View Details

A short story alternates its narrative perspective between first‑person and third‑person each paragraph. The story consists of 12 paragraphs and begins with a first‑person paragraph. If each first‑person paragraph contains 5 first‑person pronouns and each third‑person paragraph contains 2 third‑person pronouns, how many pronouns are used in total throughout the story?

Correct A. 42

B. 48

C. 36

D. 40

Correct Answer: A

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Question 5 View Details

A comparative study looks at two novels. Novel A (African) has 24 chapters; 1/3 of its chapters focus on cultural identity, and each such chapter contains an average of 12 references to folklore. Novel B (non‑African) has 30 chapters; 0.20 of its chapters focus on cultural identity, and the average number of folklore references per such chapter is unknown. The total number of folklore references across both novels is known to be 480. Assuming the data for Novel A is correct, what average number of folklore references per cultural‑identity chapter must Novel B have to satisfy the total of 480 references?

A. 60

B. 48

Correct C. 64

D. 68

Correct Answer: C

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Question 6 View Details

Read the following excerpt: "The rabbit, who was always late, fell asleep under the mango tree and missed the grand feast. The other animals learned that punctuality brings reward." Which literary genre does this excerpt best represent?

A. Folktale

B. Allegory

Correct C. Fable

D. Myth

Correct Answer: C

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Question 7 View Details

In a short story, Ama wishes to continue the traditional craft of weaving passed down by her ancestors, while her brother Kele insists on abandoning the craft to work in the new oil refinery that the colonial administration has established. Their heated argument centers on the future of their family's livelihood. What type of conflict is primarily depicted in this situation?

A. Man vs technology

B. Man vs nature

Correct C. Man vs society

D. Man vs self

Correct Answer: C

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Question 8 View Details

Consider the following passage from a novel: "The rain hammered the tin roof, each drop a cold reminder of the days that had slipped away. He stared at the empty chair, feeling the weight of every unspoken word that had settled like dust on his heart." Which tone best characterises this passage?

Correct A. Melancholic

B. Reflective

C. Nostalgic

D. Somber

Correct Answer: A

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Question 9 View Details

In the short story, the protagonist repeatedly encounters a cracked mirror in the abandoned house; each time she looks, her reflection is fragmented, and she hears a faint whisper saying, "Who are you?" What does the cracked mirror most likely symbolize in the context of the story?

A. Fragmented memory

B. Hidden secrets

C. Past trauma

Correct D. Loss of identity

Correct Answer: D

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Question 10 View Details

A novel opens with a description of Lagos during the rainy season: the streets are flooded, the air is heavy with humidity, and colonial police patrols enforce curfews that restrict movement. Later, the protagonist decides to leave the city for the countryside. How does the setting most directly influence this decision?

A. The lively street music and bustling commerce make the city appealing, leading the protagonist to consider staying rather than leaving.

Correct B. The oppressive heat, flooding and curfew create a sense of confinement that drives the protagonist to leave the city

C. The presence of friendly colonial officers and a relaxed curfew provide comfort, prompting the protagonist to explore the city further.

D. The mild climate and clear skies reduce any sense of urgency, so the protagonist's departure is motivated solely by personal ambition.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 11 View Details

Read the following passage and state the literary genre it belongs to. "In the bustling market, the merchant boasted that his wares were the finest in the kingdom, while the townsfolk whispered that the only thing finer than his lies were the prices he demanded. The mayor, a man of great integrity, was seen handing out golden coins to the poor, only to later be found hiding them in his own vault." Identify the genre.

A. Fable

B. Allegory

Correct C. Satire

D. Parody

Correct Answer: C

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Question 12 View Details

A short story is described in three sequential events: 1. A young journalist receives an anonymous phone call warning her that a powerful corporation is about to launch a product that will endanger the environment. 2. She investigates and discovers a locked box hidden in the corporation's old warehouse, containing a set of confidential documents. 3. She opens the box, reads the documents, and finds undeniable proof that the corporation has been falsifying safety tests. Which of these events constitutes the climax of the story? Explain the reasoning behind your choice.

Correct A. The journalist opening the box and finding the proof (Event 3).

B. The journalist investigating and discovering the locked box (Event 2).

C. The journalist receiving the anonymous phone call (Event 1).

D. The journalist publishing the story after reading the documents (Event 3).

Correct Answer: A

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Question 13 View Details

Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow. "The cracked earth stretched like a tired old man, his sighs rising as thin wisps of dust. Each sunrise painted the horizon with a promise that never kept its word, yet the farmer's hands, calloused and steady, kept turning the soil, coaxing life from a stubborn ground that seemed to resent every seed." (a) State the central theme of the passage. (b) Identify two literary devices used in the excerpt and explain how each contributes to the development of the theme.

Correct A. Theme: human resilience in the face of adversity. Devices: metaphor (cracked earth as a tired old man) and personification (sunrise making unkept promises); both highlight the harsh environment and the farmer's perseverance.

B. Theme: the beauty of rural life. Devices: personification (earth sighs) and symbolism (sunrise as hope); both portray an idyllic setting.

C. Theme: the futility of human effort against nature. Devices: hyperbole (sunrise promises never kept) and alliteration (soil stubbornly resents); both underscore hopelessness.

D. Theme: the inevitability of nature's cycles. Devices: simile (cracked earth like a tired old man) and imagery (sunrise painting the horizon); both emphasize the natural rhythm rather than human perseverance.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 14 View Details

Consider the sentence: "The night whispered secrets as the moon danced with the clouds, painting the sky with silver sighs." Identify two figures of speech present in the sentence and briefly explain the effect each creates on the reader.

A. Onomatopoeia (whispered, sighs) - creates a sound effect; Metonymy (moon danced) - creates a substitution of related concepts.

B. Hyperbole (the night whispered endless secrets) - creates exaggeration; Personification (painting the sky with silver sighs) - creates vivid imagery.

C. Simile (night whispered like a secret) - creates a direct comparison; Alliteration (moon danced with the clouds) - creates a rhythmic sound pattern.

Correct D. Personification (night whispered, moon danced) - creates intimacy and movement; Metaphor (painting the sky with silver sighs) - creates vivid, tranquil imagery.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 15 View Details

Read the excerpt from a play: MRS. ADAMS (aside): *Little does John know that I have already written his fate.* JOHN (entering, unaware): *Mother, why do you stare at that letter?* MRS. ADAMS (softly): *Just a memory, my son.* Based on the dialogue and stage direction, answer the following: (a) What is the relationship between the two characters? (b) What type of dramatic irony is demonstrated in the scene? (c) Briefly describe the source of tension created by this irony.

A. They are husband and wife; the scene shows situational irony (the audience knows the husband's secret while the wife does not); the tension arises from the audience waiting for the wife to uncover the husband's plan.

B. They are mother and daughter; the scene shows dramatic irony of fate (the audience knows the daughter's destiny while the mother is unaware); the tension is created by the audience expecting the daughter to confront her fate.

C. They are mother and son; the scene shows verbal irony (the mother says one thing while meaning another); the tension stems from the audience sensing the hidden meaning behind the mother's words.

Correct D. They are mother and son; the scene shows dramatic irony of knowledge (the audience knows the mother's secret while John does not); the tension comes from the audience anticipating the moment John discovers his mother's hidden plan.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 16 View Details

Read the passage: "When the market day ended, Kemi lingered by the old baobab, watching the dust settle. The silence that followed the chatter seemed to press against her thoughts, as if the tree itself were listening." Based on the passage, why does Kemi remain by the baobab after the market?

A. She is waiting for her friends to arrive, thinking the baobab is a meeting point.

Correct B. She is seeking a quiet moment of contemplation, using the baobab as a symbol of wisdom.

C. She is trying to hide from a vendor who owes her money, using the baobab as a cover.

D. She believes the baobab will bring good luck for her next trade, so she stays to receive its blessings.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 17 View Details

Two excerpts are given: African prose: "The river whispered the names of ancestors as it surged past the village." Non‑African prose: "The city lights flickered like distant stars, each window a silent story." Which literary device is common to both excerpts, and how does each author employ it to reinforce the theme of memory?

A. Metaphor; the river is compared to a living being to evoke ancestral memory, while the city lights are likened to stars to symbolize the city's aspirations.

B. Alliteration; the repeated 's' sounds in 'river whispered' and 'city lights flickered' emphasize the theme of memory.

Correct C. Personification; the river is personified to convey ancestral memory, while the city lights are personified to suggest the collective memories of the city's residents.

D. Imagery; vivid descriptions of the river and city lights create sensory images that evoke memories of the past.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 18 View Details

A young teacher, Ada, moves to a remote village. She befriends the local children, but clashes with the village chief over modern teaching methods. After a heated argument, the chief's son falls ill, and Ada cares for him, earning the chief's respect. The story ends with Ada being appointed headmistress. Identify the narrative turning point that changes the chief's attitude toward Ada.

Correct A. Ada caring for the chief's son after his illness.

B. Ada presenting a modern curriculum proposal to the village council.

C. Ada organizing a community celebration for the village children.

D. Ada confronting the chief about his traditional teaching methods.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 19 View Details

Read the sentence: "The wind sang through the cracked windows, its voice a mournful lullaby that wrapped the room in shadows." What is the effect of juxtaposing auditory and visual imagery in this sentence?

A. It adds a comedic tone by mixing auditory and visual details, making the scene feel lighthearted.

Correct B. It creates a melancholic atmosphere by blending sound and sight, intensifying the sense of loss and isolation.

C. It underscores the narrative's fast pace by juxtaposing sound and sight, creating a sense of urgency.

D. It emphasizes the physical temperature of the room through the description of wind and shadows, suggesting heat rather than mood.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 20 View Details

Consider the stanza: "Upon the hill where night descends, The moon, a silver lantern, bends, Its pale light drips like honeyed rain, To kiss the earth, a soft refrain." Identify the poetic form used and explain how the metaphor "moon as a silver lantern" contributes to the poem's theme of hope.

A. It is a sestet in iambic tetrameter with an ABABCC rhyme scheme; the metaphor of the moon as a silver lantern conveys isolation, contrasting with the poem's hopeful tone.

Correct B. It is a quatrain in iambic tetrameter with an ABAB rhyme scheme; the metaphor of the moon as a silver lantern portrays the moon as a guiding light, symbolising hope that shines in darkness.

C. It is a quatrain in iambic pentameter with an ABBA rhyme scheme; the metaphor of the moon as a silver lantern represents the fleeting nature of time, not hope.

D. It is a couplet in trochaic tetrameter with an AABB rhyme scheme; the metaphor of the moon as a silver lantern suggests melancholy rather than hope.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 21 View Details

Read the sentence: "He whispered, 'The night is a veil that hides our sins.'" Which literary device does this sentence illustrate?

A. personification

B. simile

Correct C. metaphor

D. hyperbole

Correct Answer: C

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Question 22 View Details

In Henrik Ibsen's drama *A Doll's House*, Nora secretly borrows money to save her husband's health, while Torvald later discovers the loan and reacts with anger, accusing her of betrayal. Explain, in two sentences, what the primary source of the marital conflict is and why it matters to the play's overall message.

A. The conflict originates from Torvald's refusal to accept Nora's artistic ambitions, highlighting the tension between personal aspirations and marital duty; this emphasizes the play's critique of patriarchal control over women's creative expression.

B. The conflict stems from Nora's decision to forge her father's signature, which threatens Torvald's reputation; this incident underscores the play's focus on the consequences of deceit in marital relationships.

C. The conflict is caused by Nora's habit of spending money on luxuries, which leads Torvald to feel emasculated; this illustrates the play's commentary on materialism and power dynamics within marriage.

Correct D. The conflict arises because Nora's secret borrowing challenges the traditional gender roles that demand a wife's financial dependence on her husband; this clash reveals the play's message about the need for individual autonomy against oppressive social norms.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 23 View Details

Both Chinua Achebe's *Things Fall Apart* and F. Scott Fitzgerald's *The Great Gatsby* employ powerful symbols: the river in Achebe's novel and the broken mirror in Fitzgerald's novel. Analyse how each symbol reflects the author's critique of societal change, and state the common underlying theme that links the two symbols.

A. Both symbols represent the inevitability of fate, linking the novels through a theme of predestined tragedy.

B. Both symbols illustrate personal identity crises caused by individual choices, underscoring a common theme of self‑discovery.

Correct C. Both symbols critique the destabilising impact of rapid societal change, highlighting a common theme of cultural disintegration.

D. Both symbols celebrate the resilience of tradition amidst gradual societal evolution, emphasizing a shared theme of cultural continuity.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 24 View Details

Consider the following stanza: "The wind whispers through the pine,\n\nNight's curtain falls, soft and fine,\n\nStars awaken, bright and clear,\n\nDreams arise when dusk is near." Identify the rhyme scheme of this stanza using capital letters (e.g., ABAB).

A. ABAB

Correct B. AABB

C. AAAA

D. ABBA

Correct Answer: B

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Question 25 View Details

Read the excerpt from Wole Soyinka's *The Lion and the Jewel*: "The village council gathers under the ancient baobab, debating whether to preserve the old rites or adopt the new school's teachings. While the elders cling to tradition, the younger men argue for progress." What central theme does this conflict illustrate?

A. The conflict between gender roles and personal identity (social change).

B. The opposition of religious authority versus scientific reasoning (intellectual debate).

C. The struggle between economic development and environmental preservation (sustainable growth).

Correct D. The tension between tradition and modernity (cultural transition).

Correct Answer: D

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