Practice neco literature_in_english 2020 Past Questions

Question 1 View Details

Consider the sequence of events in Wole Soyinka's play *The Lion and the Jewel*: (i) Lakunle proposes to build a school in the village; (ii) Baroka convinces the villagers that the school will disturb the sacred drum; (iii) the villagers reject the proposal. Which cultural belief mentioned in event (ii) is the direct reason for the rejection, and what is the immediate consequence for Lakunle's modernising plan?

Correct A. The belief is that the sacred drum must not be disturbed, as it connects the village to ancestral spirits; consequently, Lakunle's plan to build the school is abandoned.

B. The belief is that the sacred drum must be played loudly during festivals, as it wards off evil spirits; consequently, Lakunle's plan to build the school is postponed.

C. The belief is that the sacred drum must be painted red to honor the ancestors, as it symbolizes fertility; consequently, Lakunle's plan to build the school is modified to include a drum hall.

D. The belief is that the sacred drum should be buried with the chief, as it holds his power; consequently, Lakunle's plan to build the school is redirected to a different village.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 2 View Details

Within *The Lion and the Jewel*, the audience learns early that Baroka intends to marry the village belle, yet the characters on stage are unaware of his plan until the climax. Identify the dramatic technique employed, explain how the playwright creates this effect, and state its impact on the audience's perception of Baroka.

A. The technique is direct address; Soyinka creates it by having Baroka speak directly to the audience about his intentions, which makes the audience complicit in his scheming.

B. The technique is a flashback; Soyinka creates it by showing a previous scene of Baroka's marriage plans, which leads the audience to understand his motives earlier than the other characters.

C. The technique is situational irony; Soyinka creates it by having Baroka's plan hidden from the audience as well as the characters, which makes the audience view Baroka as mysterious but not particularly clever.

Correct D. The technique is dramatic irony; Soyinka creates it by revealing Baroka's plan through the narrator while the characters stay unaware, which makes the audience see Baroka as a clever, scheming figure and builds suspense.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 3 View Details

In Chinua Achebe's *Things Fall Apart*, the novel opens with a description of the Igbo village of Umuofia during the annual *Week of Peace*. Explain how this specific setting (time of year, cultural ritual, and geographical isolation) shapes the protagonist's initial worldview, and infer how a later change of setting challenges that worldview.

Correct A. The Week of Peace, with its emphasis on non‑violence and communal ritual, reinforces Okonkwo's belief in personal strength and strict tradition; his exile to the more relaxed Mbanta later undermines that belief, exposing him to a setting where his traditional notions of masculinity are questioned.

B. The Week of Peace, emphasizing silence and prayer, leads Okokwo to reject violence entirely; his exile to the tolerant Umuofia again reinforces his pacifist stance.

C. The Week of Peace, with its focus on agricultural rites, convinces Okonkwo that wealth comes from farming; his move to the coastal trading town of Ibo later proves that commerce, not warfare, defines masculinity.

D. The Week of Peace, highlighting communal harmony, strengthens Okonkwo's respect for collective decision‑making; his relocation to the bustling Lagos later confirms his belief that urban life validates his traditional values.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 4 View Details

The play *The Lion and the Jewel* juxtaposes the characters of Lakunle, who champions Western education, and Baroka, who upholds tradition. From this conflict, derive the central theme of the play, and illustrate how a specific scene (the wrestling match) reinforces this theme.

A. The central theme is the struggle for political power; the wrestling match, where Lakunle's intellectual arguments defeat Baroka's brute force, demonstrates the superiority of progressive ideas over traditional authority.

B. The central theme is the conflict between love and duty; the wrestling match, where Baroka's cunning tactics outwit Lakunle's romantic gestures, highlights the triumph of personal desire over societal expectations.

Correct C. The central theme is the clash between tradition and modernity; the wrestling match, where Baroka's physical strength triumphs over Lakunle's modern arguments, symbolises the endurance of indigenous values against Western influence.

D. The central theme is the reconciliation of tradition and modernity; the wrestling match, where both Baroka and Lakunle cooperate to showcase a harmonious blend of cultures, underscores the possibility of mutual respect.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 5 View Details

Read the following excerpt: "The moon slipped silently behind the hills, casting a silver veil over the sleeping town, while the wind whispered secrets to the rustling leaves." Classify the excerpt as poetry, drama, or prose, and justify your classification in one sentence.

A. Poetry - it contains vivid imagery and rhythmic language, which are hallmarks of poetic composition.

B. Poetry - the use of metaphor and descriptive language classifies it as a poem.

C. Drama - the excerpt features dialogue and stage directions, indicating a dramatic work.

Correct D. Prose - it is presented in continuous narrative sentences without the line breaks, rhyme scheme, or dialogue typical of poetry or drama.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 6 View Details

Read the following excerpt: "The old oak stood alone on the hill, its branches broken by the storm, yet each spring it sprouted fresh leaves, whispering that even shattered hopes can find new life." Identify the central theme of the excerpt.

A. Transformation

B. Perseverance

Correct C. Resilience

D. Hope

Correct Answer: C

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Question 7 View Details

Consider the following 14‑line poem: When winter's chill has frozen all the field (A) The barren earth seems mute, its colors dim (B) Yet hidden roots beneath the frost will yield (A) A sprout that pushes through the icy rim (B) The sun, though shy, begins to paint the sky (C) With amber hues that melt the frosted glaze (D) Each ray a promise that the cold will die (C) And buds awaken in the softened haze (D) But sudden clouds descend, the light retreats (E) The wind now howls, a bitter, sharp rebuke (F) The sprout bends low, its vigor now depletes (E) Yet deep within, a stubborn will rebukes (F) When warmth returns, the sprout will rise anew (G) And claim the spring, its triumph bold and true (G) Identify the poetic form and explain how the turn at line 9 (the volta) influences the poem's meaning.

A. Petrarchan sonnet; the volta at line 9 introduces a shift from optimism to adversity, highlighting the poem's theme of perseverance.

B. Shakespearean sonnet; the volta at line 9 introduces a shift from adversity to optimism, highlighting the poem's theme of perseverance.

Correct C. Shakespearean sonnet; the volta at line 9 introduces a shift from optimism to adversity, highlighting the poem's theme of perseverance.

D. Shakespearean sonnet; the volta at line 9 introduces a shift from optimism to adversity, highlighting the poem's theme of renewal.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 8 View Details

Read the passage: "The market was a riot of colours, yet Maya moved through it as if the world were a stage and she, a reluctant actress. She smiled at the vendor's jokes, but her eyes lingered on the cracked stone of the old fountain, remembering the day her brother vanished there, his laughter swallowed by the water. The crowd's chatter faded, replaced by a hollow echo that seemed to answer her unspoken question: why?" Determine the narrator's attitude toward Maya, citing two textual clues.

Correct A. Sympathetic and melancholic; shown by the description "reluctant actress" and the "hollow echo" that reflects her sorrow.

B. Admiring and hopeful; reflected by the description "reluctant actress" and the "hollow echo" that hints at optimism.

C. Detached and amused; suggested by the phrase "reluctant actress" and the "hollow echo" that implies irony.

D. Critical and indifferent; indicated by the description "reluctant actress" and the "hollow echo" that shows distance.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 9 View Details

Identify the literary genre of the following excerpt: "The thunder cracked, and the hero drew his sword, charging into the storm, his heart beating like a drum as the crowd watched in breathless silence."

A. Drama (stage play)

B. Poem (lyrical verse)

C. Epic (heroic narrative)

Correct D. Short story (narrative prose)

Correct Answer: D

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Question 10 View Details

Examine the passage: "She entered the room, her shoulders slumped, eyes darting to the floor. A faint scar traced the left side of her cheek, and every time she spoke, her voice trembled as if a secret wind rattled the panes of her mind." Identify the type of characterization used and name two techniques evident in the passage.

Correct A. Indirect characterization; techniques: physical description and speech mannerism (trembling voice).

B. Narrative characterization; techniques: symbolic imagery and metaphor.

C. Direct characterization; techniques: internal monologue and foreshadowing.

D. Indirect characterization; techniques: dialogue and setting description.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 11 View Details

State the literary genre of the work titled "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant.

A. Essay

Correct B. Short story

C. Poem

D. Novel

Correct Answer: B

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Question 12 View Details

In a novel, the protagonist Aisha fights against a corrupt school administration that denies scholarships to poor students. Identify the primary type of conflict depicted and explain how it drives the plot.

Correct A. Man vs. society; it creates tension that propels Aisha's actions to challenge the system, leading to the story's climax.

B. Man vs. self; the internal struggle causes Aisha to doubt her abilities, slowing the narrative progression.

C. Man vs. nature; the harsh environment forces Aisha to adapt, shaping the story's resolution.

D. Man vs. technology; the school's reliance on outdated systems creates obstacles that Aisha must overcome.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 13 View Details

The night wrapped the village in a blanket of silence. Identify the figure of speech used and explain its effect on the description.

Correct A. Personification; it gives the night a human‑like ability to wrap, creating vivid imagery and emphasizing the enveloping silence.

B. Metaphor; it likens the night to a blanket, creating a direct comparison that highlights the darkness.

C. Alliteration; it repeats the initial consonant sounds, giving the sentence a musical quality.

D. Simile; it compares the night to a blanket using 'like', which adds vividness to the scene.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 14 View Details

Although the rain poured heavily, the children continued playing in the park, laughing loudly, because they were unaware of the approaching storm. Rewrite the sentence as two simple sentences, preserving the original meaning.

Correct A. The rain poured heavily, but the children continued playing in the park, laughing loudly. They were unaware of the approaching storm.

B. The children continued playing in the park, laughing loudly, although the rain poured heavily. They were unaware of the approaching storm.

C. The rain poured heavily, but the children continued playing in the park. They laughed loudly, unaware of the approaching storm.

D. The rain poured heavily, and the children continued playing in the park, laughing loudly. They were unaware of the approaching storm.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 15 View Details

Read the following excerpt: "The cracked earth sighed under the relentless sun, each furrow a silent prayer for rain. Yet the clouds lingered, aloof, refusing to weep. Still, the farmer's hands, calloused and steady, pressed the seed into the stubborn soil, whispering promises of harvest that the horizon seemed to mock." Based on the excerpt, (a) identify the central theme, (b) describe the tone, and (c) analyse how the author's choice of diction contributes to the theme.

Correct A. Theme: human resilience in the face of adversity. Tone: somber yet determined. Diction: harsh words (cracked, relentless, stubborn) portray the harsh environment, while steady, whispering, promises convey the farmer's perseverance, reinforcing the theme.

B. Theme: the beauty of rural life. Tone: joyful and serene. Diction: gentle imagery (whispering, promises) emphasizes peace, overlooking the struggle depicted.

C. Theme: the futility of human effort against nature. Tone: hopeful and optimistic. Diction: bright, uplifting words (sun, promise) suggest optimism, contradicting the harsh setting.

D. Theme: the conflict between tradition and modernity. Tone: angry and critical. Diction: violent verbs (cracked, sighs) and modern terms create tension, misreading the farmer's perseverance.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 16 View Details

Read the following excerpt from Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart: "Okonkwo was a man of action, a man of war. He never showed any sign of fear. Yet, when the white missionaries arrived, he felt a sudden pang of doubt about the future of his clan." Based on this passage, what is the most plausible reason for Okonkwo's sudden doubt?

A. He is concerned that the missionaries will bring foreign diseases that could spread among his people, endangering the health of his clan.

B. He fears that the missionaries will force him to abandon his warrior duties and adopt a peaceful lifestyle, which would diminish his reputation.

Correct C. He fears that the missionaries will undermine traditional Igbo values and thereby threaten his status and the future of his clan.

D. He worries that the missionaries will introduce new agricultural techniques that could render his farming methods obsolete, threatening his livelihood.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 17 View Details

Identify the poet of the following lines: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both."

A. Langston Hughes

Correct B. Robert Frost

C. Walt Whitman

D. Emily Dickinson

Correct Answer: B

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Question 18 View Details

Consider the two lines from John Keats's "Ode to a Nightingale": "And the sweet voice of the nightingale / lifts the weary heart from its gloom." Which poetic device is employed in the phrase "sweet voice," and how does it affect the poem's mood?

A. Metaphor; it compares the nightingale's song to a sweet voice, deepening the melancholy mood.

Correct B. Alliteration; it gives the line a musical quality that enhances the calm, uplifting mood of the poem.

C. Assonance; it creates a repetitive vowel sound that adds a somber tone to the poem.

D. Personification; it gives the nightingale human qualities, intensifying the emotional tension.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 19 View Details

A brief summary of Guy de Maupassant's short story "The Necklace" is given: Mathilde Loisel, a modest woman, borrows a seemingly expensive necklace for a high‑society ball. She loses it, replaces it with a costly duplicate, and works for ten years to repay the debt, only to discover later that the original necklace was costume jewellery. At which point in the narrative does the climax occur?

A. When Mathilde discovers that the original necklace was costume jewellery.

Correct B. When Mathilde decides to replace the lost necklace with an expensive duplicate.

C. When Mathilde first borrows the necklace for the ball.

D. When Mathilde spends ten years working to repay the debt.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 20 View Details

Read the following excerpt from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby: "In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisper‑soft trees." Identify the stylistic device illustrated by the phrase "blue gardens" and explain how it contributes to the overall tone of the passage.

A. Auditory imagery; the mention of soft rustling creates a calm, soothing atmosphere that adds a tranquil tone to the passage.

B. Symbolic imagery; the phrase represents wealth and decadence, contributing a critical, cynical tone to the narrative.

Correct C. Visual imagery; the unusual colour creates an ethereal, dream‑like quality that adds a wistful, surreal tone to the scene.

D. Metaphor; the comparison of gardens to blue suggests melancholy, giving the passage a somber, reflective tone.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 21 View Details

In the sentence "The night wrapped the village in a thick, black blanket," which literary device is being employed?

Correct A. Personification

B. Metaphor

C. Alliteration

D. Simile

Correct Answer: A

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Question 22 View Details

Excerpt A (African prose): "The rain fell as the old man recited the proverb, ‘When the drum beats, the heart follows.' He remembered his father's voice, the soil beneath his feet, and the market's chatter that morning." Excerpt B (Non‑African prose): "She stared at the cracked photograph, then the scene shifted—she was a child again, running through the alley, the scent of jasmine mixing with the distant siren. The memory surged, then snapped back to the present, where the city lights flickered like fireflies." Which excerpt uses a non‑linear narrative structure, and what is the primary effect of this structure on the development of the central theme of identity?

A. Excerpt A; it creates a fragmented sense of identity by juxtaposing past and present

B. Excerpt A; it emphasizes a linear progression of identity through cultural heritage

Correct C. Excerpt B; it creates a fragmented, evolving sense of identity by juxtaposing past and present

D. Excerpt B; it reinforces a steady, unchanging sense of identity by maintaining a consistent timeline

Correct Answer: C

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Question 23 View Details

In the line "He ran like the wind, swift and unstoppable," which figure of speech is illustrated?

A. Hyperbole

B. Personification

C. Metaphor

Correct D. Simile

Correct Answer: D

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Question 24 View Details

Read the passage: "Mrs. Okafor entered the room, her hands trembling, eyes scanning the empty chairs. She whispered, ‘I have waited for this moment for years,' and the silence that followed seemed to echo her longing." Identify two methods of characterization (one direct, one indirect) used in the passage and explain how each method deepens the reader's understanding of Mrs. Okafor's inner conflict.

A. Direct: the narrator says she whispered ‘I have waited for this moment'; Indirect: trembling hands and scanning eyes - these details suggest excitement rather than inner conflict.

B. Direct: the narrator mentions her eyes scanning the room; Indirect: the silence that follows - these aspects highlight her certainty instead of conflict.

C. Direct: the narrator notes her empty chairs; Indirect: her whispered words and trembling hands - these elements indicate she is indifferent to the situation.

Correct D. Direct: the narrator states she has waited for years; Indirect: trembling hands, scanning eyes, whispered words - these actions show her anxiety and deepen the sense of inner conflict.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 25 View Details

Consider the following stage excerpt: [Stage direction: A dimly lit study. JOHN sits alone, a single lamp casting shadows.] JOHN (soliloquy): "What cruel fate has bound my heart to this silent house? Each night I hear the echo of my own doubts, louder than any storm outside." Identify the dramatic technique used and explain its purpose in revealing the protagonist's dilemma.

A. Monologue; it allows John to address the audience directly, revealing his plans for the house.

B. Aside; it lets John whisper his thoughts to another character, highlighting his secret intentions.

C. Narration; it provides a third‑person summary of John's feelings, clarifying his external actions.

Correct D. Soliloquy; it lets the audience hear John's private thoughts, exposing his inner conflict about staying in the house versus confronting his doubts.

Correct Answer: D

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