Question 44
NECO
•
2017
•
LITERATURE_IN_ENGLISH
•
objective
Read the following passage from a Nigerian novel:
"The market square thrummed with the clamor of traders, yet beneath the laughter lay a current of desperation. A mother haggled for rice, her eyes darting to the distant silhouette of the colonial governor's mansion, where the new tax edicts were being drafted. The air smelled of spices and fear."
Identify the central theme of the passage and explain how the author uses (i) imagery and (ii) juxtaposition to develop this theme.
Answer Options
A.
Theme: the romantic love between a trader and a colonial officer. The author uses tender auditory imagery of market chatter and juxtaposes the intimate whispers with the imposing governor's mansion, underscoring the personal connection across social divides.
B.
Theme: the celebration of cultural diversity in colonial Nigeria. The author uses bright visual imagery of market colors and juxtaposes the festive atmosphere with the distant governor's mansion, emphasizing harmony between tradition and colonial rule.
C.
Theme: the resilience of Nigerian wildlife amidst urbanization. The author uses animal imagery of birds and juxtaposes the natural sounds with the market's clamor, highlighting the coexistence of nature and commerce.
Correct Answer
D.
Theme: the struggle of ordinary Nigerians under colonial economic oppression. The author uses vivid sensory imagery (sounds of the market, smell of spices and fear) to bring the scene to life, and juxtaposes the bustling market with the distant governor's mansion and new tax edicts, highlighting the hidden tension between daily survival and colonial exploitation.
Correct Answer
D
Correct Option:
Theme: the struggle of ordinary Nigerians under colonial economic oppression. The author uses vivid sensory imagery (sounds of the market, smell of spices and fear) to bring the scene to life, and juxtaposes the bustling market with the distant governor's mansion and new tax edicts, highlighting the hidden tension between daily survival and colonial exploitation.
About This Question
This is
Neco
2017
Literature In English
Question 44.
It is one of the
objective
questions from the
2017
Neco
Literature In English
examination.
Difficulty level:
Medium
.