Practice neco literature_in_english 2023 Past Questions

Question 1 View Details

Read the excerpt: "The market bustled with vendors shouting, children darting between stalls, and the air thick with the scent of fried plantains." In this passage, the word "bustled" most nearly means which of the following? Provide the single best synonym.

A. calm

B. quiet

Correct C. busy

D. still

Correct Answer: C

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Question 2 View Details

Consider the passage: "Under the dim lantern light of a thatched hut, the year was 1925, and the rain hammered the red earth of the northern village of Kogi." Identify the time period (year) and the specific location (village and region) described in the excerpt.

A. Year 1925; the village of Kogi in southern Nigeria

B. Year 1915; the village of Kogi in northern Nigeria

C. Year 1930; the village of Kogi in northern Nigeria

Correct D. Year 1925; the village of Kogi in northern Nigeria

Correct Answer: D

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Question 3 View Details

Read the two lines of poetry: "The river sings a silver lullaby, / While moonlight drapes the hills in velvet hush." Identify two poetic devices employed in these lines and briefly explain how each contributes to the overall effect.

Correct A. Personification and Imagery; personification animates nature, imagery creates vivid sensory pictures.

B. Alliteration and Metaphor; alliteration repeats consonant sounds, metaphor compares unlike entities.

C. Simile and Onomatopoeia; simile uses "like" to compare, onomatopoeia imitates sounds.

D. Rhyme and Hyperbole; rhyme creates end‑sound patterns, hyperbole exaggerates for effect.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 4 View Details

In the following excerpt, "Ada stared at the torn photograph, remembering the promises she made to her father, yet the new law forbade her from continuing the family trade," what is the primary type of conflict depicted? State the conflict type and justify your choice with reference to the passage.

A. Man vs Technology; Ada struggles with the new machinery introduced by the law.

B. Man vs Self; Ada's internal doubts about her abilities create the tension.

Correct C. Man vs Society (or Man vs Law); Ada's personal goal conflicts with the new law.

D. Man vs Fate; Ada feels powerless against destiny rather than the law.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 5 View Details

Define the literary device "metonymy" and give one original example that could appear in a Nigerian literary work.

A. Metonymy is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things using "like" or "as"; e.g., "The Lagos skyline welcomed the traders" (where "skyline" is compared to a welcoming host).

B. Metonymy is a figure of speech that gives human qualities to non-human objects; e.g., "The Lagos skyline welcomed the traders" (where "skyline" is personified).

Correct C. Metonymy is a figure of speech that substitutes the name of an attribute or related object for the thing itself; e.g., "The Lagos skyline welcomed the traders" (where "skyline" means the city of Lagos).

D. Metonymy is a figure of speech that uses a part of something to represent the whole; e.g., "The Lagos skyline welcomed the traders" (where "skyline" stands for the city's architecture).

Correct Answer: C

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Question 6 View Details

Read the excerpt from Chinua Achebe's *Things Fall Apart*: "Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages for his wrestling prowess. He was a man of great stature, and his fame rested on his achievements in the arena." Identify the dominant character trait that Okonkwo displays in this passage and cite two specific textual clues that support your identification.

A. Okonkwo is aggressive; the passage mentions his wrestling prowess and his great stature, suggesting he relies on physical force rather than reputation.

B. Okonkwo is compassionate; the passage describes his concern for others' well‑being through his wrestling victories and stature, showing empathy.

C. Okonkwo is humble; the passage highlights his modest achievements and lack of concern for fame, indicating a low self‑esteem.

Correct D. Okonkwo is proud; the passage shows his fame depends on his wrestling achievements and his great stature, both indicating a strong concern for personal reputation.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 7 View Details

Consider the following 14‑line poem: "When summer's blaze begins to fade,\ The golden fields turn amber, slow;\ A whisper rides the evening shade,\ And night prepares its gentle glow.\ The river sings a silver hymn,\ Its waters mirror stars above;\ The world, in twilight, feels so dim,\ Yet hope persists in quiet love.\ Now sudden winds of change arise,\ The clouds disperse, the sky turns clear;\ The heart, once bound by old disguise,\ Finds strength to cast aside its fear.\ Thus time, relentless, moves us on,\ And we must greet the breaking dawn." (a) State the poem's formal type and its rhyme scheme. (b) Determine the metrical pattern of line 5. (c) Explain how the turn (volta) at line 9 contributes to the overall theme of fleeting time.

A. It is a Petrarchan sonnet with rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA CDC D; line 5 is in trochaic tetrameter; the volta at line 9 introduces a hopeful resolution, emphasizing continuity rather than fleeting time.

B. It is a Shakespearean sonnet with rhyme scheme ABAB CDC D EFE FGG; line 5 is in iambic pentameter; the volta at line 9 merely repeats earlier imagery, adding no thematic shift.

C. It is a Spenserian sonnet with rhyme scheme ABAB BCBC CDCD; line 5 is in iambic hexameter; the volta at line 9 changes the tone to melancholy, underscoring the permanence of memory.

Correct D. It is a Shakespearean sonnet with rhyme scheme ABAB CDC D EFE FGG; line 5 is in iambic pentameter; the volta at line 9 shifts from calm description to active change, highlighting the fleeting nature of time and the need to embrace renewal.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 8 View Details

Read the excerpt from Wole Soyinka's *The Lion and the Jewel*, Act 2, where Lakunle says, "I will not marry you unless you abandon your traditional dress and learn to read and write," while later in the same scene he refuses to give Sidi a gift because he claims he cannot afford it. Identify the dramatic technique illustrated by this contradiction and discuss its effect on the audience's perception of Lakunle's character.

A. The passage employs dramatic foreshadowing; the audience anticipates Lakunle's eventual redemption, which casts him as a hopeful reformer rather than a hypocrite.

Correct B. The passage uses dramatic irony; the audience sees Lakunle's hypocrisy, which makes him appear pretentious and self‑serving rather than genuinely progressive.

C. The passage relies on character exposition; the audience learns about Lakunle's modern ideals, which presents him as progressive and sincere rather than self‑serving.

D. The passage uses situational irony; the audience sees Lakunle's generosity, which makes him appear compassionate and altruistic rather than pretentious.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 9 View Details

Two poems are given below. **Poem A (William Blake, "The Tyger")**\ "Tyger! Tyger! burning bright\ In the forests of the night;\ What immortal hand or eye\ Could frame thy fearful shape?" **Poem B (Niyi Osundare, "The River")**\ "The river runs, a silver thread,\ Carving valleys, whispering dead;\ Its waters hold both life and loss,\ A mirror where the past is tossed." Compare how each poet uses visual imagery to develop a central idea in the poem. In your answer, identify the dominant image in each poem, explain its symbolic meaning, and show how the juxtaposition of the two images deepens the reader's understanding of creation versus destruction.

A. Poem A's dominant image is the Tyger's eyes, symbolising human curiosity; Poem B's dominant image is the river's banks, symbolising confinement. Their juxtaposition emphasizes freedom versus restriction rather than creation versus destruction.

B. Poem A's dominant image is the burning Tyger, symbolising gentle innocence; Poem B's dominant image is the silver river, symbolising stagnant stagnation. The contrast suggests that creation is always peaceful, ignoring destruction.

C. Poem A's dominant image is the night forest, symbolising darkness; Poem B's dominant image is the river's flow, symbolising endless time. The comparison highlights temporal change instead of the themes of creation and destruction.

Correct D. Poem A's dominant image is the blazing Tyger, symbolising awe‑inspiring, potentially destructive creation; Poem B's dominant image is the silver river, symbolising continual creation that also carries loss. Placing the fierce, static Tyger against the fluid, evolving river shows that creation can be both magnificent and perilous, highlighting the intertwined themes of creation and destruction.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 10 View Details

Read the following excerpts. **Excerpt 1 - Chinua Achebe, *Things Fall Apart***\ "Okonkwo was a man of action, a man of war. He was a man who had never taken a wife's advice. He was a man who feared failure and despised weakness." **Excerpt 2 - Joseph Conrad, *Heart of Darkness***\ "The wilderness was a place where the light of civilization seemed to die, and the darkness of the human heart was laid bare. The narrator watches as the European's greed turns the forest into a nightmare." Compare the narrative perspective employed in each excerpt and evaluate how the chosen perspective influences the portrayal of colonial impact in the two works.

A. Excerpt 1 is told through an omniscient narrator focusing on tribal customs, whereas Excerpt 2 uses a limited third‑person perspective centered on the European protagonist, reducing the moral scope of colonial criticism.

Correct B. Excerpt 1 uses a third‑person limited perspective focused on Okonkwo, which personalises the colonial threat and highlights African agency; Excerpt 2 uses a third‑person omniscient narrator that offers a broader, moral critique of European greed. The limited view in Achebe's work creates empathy for the individual African experience, whereas Conrad's omniscient stance presents colonialism as a universal moral failing.

C. Both excerpts are narrated in third‑person omniscient perspective, which equally emphasizes the internal motivations of African characters and the external forces of colonialism.

D. Excerpt 1 uses a first‑person narrator who recounts Okonkwo's thoughts, while Excerpt 2 employs a second‑person voice that directly addresses the reader, making the colonial critique more personal.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 11 View Details

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows. "Ada had always loved the quiet rhythm of her village, where the sunrise painted the thatched roofs gold and the market bustled with familiar faces. When her family moved to Lagos, the towering skyscrapers and endless traffic overwhelmed her. At first she tried to blend in, abandoning the songs her mother sang each evening. One rainy night, she heard a distant drumbeat that reminded her of the village festivals. She followed the sound to a small community centre where elders gathered to celebrate their heritage. Listening to the drums, Ada felt a surge of pride in her roots and realized she could honour her culture while thriving in the city." Question: Based on the passage, state the central theme of the excerpt.

A. The challenges of adapting to new technology in a modern city.

B. The excitement of exploring urban nightlife and opportunities.

Correct C. The importance of preserving cultural identity amidst urban modernization.

D. The conflict between traditional values and personal ambition.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 12 View Details

The story unfolds as follows: A. In 1995, Chike returns to his hometown after a decade abroad. B. As a child in 1985, Chike watches his father plant mango trees. C. In 2005, Chike opens a school on the land where the mango trees now shade the playground. D. In 1990, during his university years, Chike writes letters home describing his longing for home. Question: Arrange the events (A, B, C, D) in the order they actually occurred in the character's life.

A. B, D, C, A

B. B, A, D, C

C. D, B, A, C

Correct D. B, D, A, C

Correct Answer: D

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Question 13 View Details

Read the poem below and answer the three parts that follow. Silent streets at dusk, the lanterns sigh softly, Shadows stretch like verses left unsaid still, A lone gull cries, its echo a goodbye, Waves retreat, unveiling silver thread soft, The moon, a waning coin, watches cold still, While memories drift on wind's wing silently, In every breath, a story yet untold, And night folds the world in trembling softly. (a) Identify the dominant type of imagery used in the poem and explain its effect on the reader. (b) State the metrical pattern of the poem. (c) Discuss how the poet uses the identified imagery and meter to convey a sense of loss.

A. The poem relies on visual imagery but its meter is iambic trimeter (six-syllable lines) and the steady beat produces a sense of excitement, not melancholy, so it does not convey loss.

Correct B. The poem relies mainly on visual imagery—descriptions of lanterns, shadows, moon, night—that creates a melancholy atmosphere. It is written in iambic pentameter (ten‑syllable lines with an unstressed‑stressed pattern). The steady meter gives a calm, inevitable rhythm while the fading visual images of light and sound suggest things slipping away, together producing a strong sense of loss.

C. The poem primarily uses auditory imagery (sounds of gulls, waves, and whispers) creating a lively atmosphere. It is written in trochaic tetrameter (four stressed-unstressed feet per line). The rhythmic drive emphasizes energy rather than loss.

D. The dominant imagery is tactile, describing the feel of cold night air and smooth silver threads, and the poem is written in free verse with no regular meter. The lack of a set rhythm suggests instability rather than a feeling of loss.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 14 View Details

Consider the following excerpt from a novel: "When the old house's windows shattered, shards glittered like fallen stars across the dusty floor. The river beyond the garden ran red that evening, its surface reflecting the burning sunset." Identify two symbols in the passage and explain how each contributes to the overall theme of loss and renewal.

A. The windows' shards are a metaphor for scattered hopes, and the red river stands for wealth and prosperity. Their juxtaposition points to a theme of material success overcoming hardship.

B. The shattered windows symbolize the destruction of the present, indicating that the characters cannot move forward. The red river represents danger and blood, implying that the setting is hostile. Together they highlight a theme of inevitable tragedy.

C. The broken windows represent the characters' inner turmoil, while the red river signifies the passage of time. Their combined effect suggests that time heals all wounds, focusing on the theme of healing.

Correct D. The shattered windows symbolize the broken past and the fragility of memory, yet their glitter hints at the possibility of rebuilding. The red river symbolizes pain and loss but, as a flowing body of water, also suggests renewal and the continuation of life. Together they underscore the theme that loss can lead to renewal.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 15 View Details

Read the paragraph below. "The wind whispered secrets through the ancient trees, while the moon smiled down on the weary traveler. His heart was a drum, beating fierce against the silence of the night, and his hope shone as bright as the first morning star." List three distinct figures of speech used in the paragraph and classify each (e.g., personification, metaphor, simile).

A. Personification: "His heart was a drum"; Metaphor: "The wind whispered secrets"; Simile: "His hope shone as bright as the first morning star".

B. Personification: "The wind whispered secrets"; Simile: "His heart was a drum"; Metaphor: "His hope shone as bright as the first morning star".

C. Metaphor: "The wind whispered secrets"; Simile: "His heart was a drum"; Personification: "His hope shone as bright as the first morning star".

Correct D. Personification: "The wind whispered secrets"; Metaphor: "His heart was a drum"; Simile: "His hope shone as bright as the first morning star".

Correct Answer: D

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Question 16 View Details

Read the following excerpt from a short story: "The night air hung heavy, a blanket of silence that pressed against the shutters. Each breath seemed to echo, a reminder of the emptiness that had settled over the village after the fire. Even the stars appeared dim, as if mourning the loss of the once‑bright hearths." Identify the overall tone of the passage and name the textual feature that most strongly signals this tone.

A. Suspenseful tone; the ominous diction (words such as "dark", "whisper", "threat", "danger") signals it.

B. Romantic tone; the sensual imagery (words such as "soft", "glow", "embrace", "tender") signals it.

Correct C. Melancholic tone; the mournful diction (words such as "heavy", "silence", "emptiness", "dim", "mourning") signals it.

D. Joyful tone; the celebratory diction (words such as "bright", "laughter", "warmth", "sparkle") signals it.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 17 View Details

Which literary genre is characterised by a structured plot with exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution, and typically involves a conflict between characters?

A. Poetry

B. Novel

C. Short story

Correct D. Drama

Correct Answer: D

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Question 18 View Details

Two prose works are being compared: Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" (African) and James Joyce's "Ulysses" (Non‑African). Both employ a narrative technique that presents a character's thoughts in a continuous flow without conventional punctuation. Identify this technique and explain one way its effect differs between the two works.

A. Free indirect discourse; in Achebe it emphasizes oral tradition, while in Joyce it highlights urban modernity.

B. Narrative omniscience; in Achebe it portrays collective destiny, while in Joyce it depicts personal alienation.

C. Interior monologue; in Achebe it underscores tribal hierarchy, while in Joyce it accentuates psychological depth.

Correct D. Stream‑of‑consciousness; in Achebe it reinforces communal memory, while in Joyce it foregrounds individual fragmentation.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 19 View Details

A poet describes a moonlit garden where "the lilies whisper secrets to the wind" and "shadows dance in silver ribbons". What is the predominant mood created by these images, and how does the setting contribute to that mood?

A. A joyful, celebratory mood; the garden's bright moonlight and lively lilies inspire happiness and festivity.

B. A nostalgic, wistful mood; the garden evokes memories of past evenings, with the lilies recalling distant times and shadows hinting at longing.

Correct C. A serene, contemplative mood; the quiet moonlit garden with gentle, whispering lilies and dancing shadows creates tranquility and subtle mystery.

D. A tense, foreboding mood; the moonlit garden feels ominous as the lilies seem to scream and the shadows loom menacingly.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 20 View Details

In the sentence "She walked into the room, a storm of confidence breaking the silence of doubt," which stylistic device is employed, and what is its purpose in the context?

Correct A. Antithesis; it contrasts "storm of confidence" with "silence of doubt" to emphasize the sudden shift from doubt to confidence.

B. Metaphor; it compares confidence to a storm to illustrate intensity.

C. Alliteration; it repeats the initial consonant sounds to create a rhythmic effect.

D. Personification; it attributes human qualities to the storm of confidence.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 21 View Details

Identify the literary device used in the sentence: "The night was a black blanket, smothering the village in silence."

A. hyperbole

Correct B. metaphor

C. simile

D. personification

Correct Answer: B

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Question 22 View Details

Read the excerpt: "She stared at the wilted roses, their petals curling like tired soldiers retreating from battle. The garden, once a riot of colour, now whispered of abandonment." (a) State the overall tone of the passage. (b) Identify the theme suggested by the passage. (c) Explain how the simile contributes to the tone.

Correct A. a) Melancholic; b) Theme of decay and loss; c) The simile links the wilting roses to exhausted soldiers, reinforcing the sense of weariness and sadness, thereby strengthening the melancholic tone.

B. a) Indifferent; b) Theme of nature's indifference; c) The simile portrays the roses as soldiers retreating, highlighting a detached observation that leads to an indifferent tone.

C. a) Joyful; b) Theme of renewal and hope; c) The simile compares the roses to soldiers, suggesting bravery that brightens the mood, thus creating an uplifting tone.

D. a) Nostalgic; b) Theme of childhood memories; c) The simile equates the roses with soldiers marching, evoking a sense of adventure that adds a nostalgic tone.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 23 View Details

In the novel *Things Fall Apart*, the characters Okonkwo and Nwoye represent opposing attitudes toward tradition. Explain how each character illustrates the theme of tradition versus change.

A. Okonkwo's indecisiveness about customs and Nwoye's firm commitment to tradition illustrate a harmonious blend rather than conflict.

B. Okonkwo embraces modern ideas, whereas Nwoye clings strictly to ancestral customs, highlighting a reversal of the tradition versus change theme.

C. Both Okonkwo and Nwoye reject tradition entirely, preferring to adopt colonial influences, which underscores the novel's focus on cultural abandonment.

Correct D. Okonkwo exemplifies rigid adherence to traditional customs, while Nwoye's curiosity about new beliefs shows openness to change; together they dramatize the conflict between tradition and change.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 24 View Details

Consider the stanza: "In the market's clamor, voices rise like sparrows, each seeking a crumb of hope; yet the sun sets on empty stalls, leaving shadows to barter for dreams." What central theme does this stanza convey?

A. The theme of nature's cycles and renewal.

B. The theme of love and romantic longing.

C. The theme of bustling commerce and community spirit.

Correct D. The theme of poverty and unfulfilled aspirations.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 25 View Details

A short story follows this sequence: (1) The protagonist discovers a hidden diary, (2) She confronts her estranged brother, (3) She learns a family secret, (4) She decides to leave the town. Which event represents the climax of the plot?

A. She learns a family secret.

B. She discovers a hidden diary.

C. She decides to leave the town.

Correct D. She confronts her estranged brother.

Correct Answer: D

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