Practice neco model questions vol1 literature_in_english 2018 Past Questions

Question 1 View Details

Read the following excerpt from Wole Soyinka's play *The Lion and the Jewel*: "The drum beats echo through the market, announcing the arrival of Baroka, the chief who believes that the old ways keep the village alive. Yet Sidi, the young belle, dreams of the city lights and the promise of a new life." Based on this passage, which theme is most prominently explored in the play?

A. The struggle between gender roles and societal expectations

Correct B. The tension between tradition and modernity

C. The conflict between individual desire and communal duty

D. The clash of religious beliefs and secular law

Correct Answer: B

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Question 2 View Details

Consider the following description of a Nigerian town: "The streets are lined with mud houses, but a newly erected telegraph office stands beside the market. Traders still barter with cowries while a few young men discuss the latest decree from the British Resident." From these clues, determine the most likely historical period of the setting.

Correct A. Early 20th‑century colonial period (around the 1910s-1920s)

B. Late 19th‑century pre‑colonial era (around the 1880s-1890s)

C. Mid‑20th‑century post‑independence era (around the 1950s-1960s)

D. Early 19th‑century trans‑Saharan trade period (around the 1810s-1820s)

Correct Answer: A

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Question 3 View Details

Examine the following passage from Chinua Achebe's *Things Fall Apart*: "Okonkwo's hand was as steady as a drumbeat, yet his heart trembled like a leaf in a storm; the village elders whispered that the white man's gospel was a sweet poison, promising salvation while stealing the soul of the people." Identify (a) the metaphor, (b) the simile, and (c) the irony present in the passage, and explain how each device contributes to the overall portrayal of cultural clash.

A. Metaphor: "his hand was as steady as a drumbeat"; Simile: "the white man's gospel was a sweet poison"; Irony: the elders whisper about salvation while the village thrives - each device highlights the destructive, conflicted, and paradoxical nature of the cultural clash.

B. Metaphor: "the white man's gospel was a sweet poison"; Simile: "Okonkwo's hand was as steady as a drumbeat"; Irony: the gospel promises salvation yet the villagers reject it - each device highlights the destructive, conflicted, and paradoxical nature of the cultural clash.

C. Metaphor: "the village elders whispered"; Simile: "his heart trembled like a leaf in a storm"; Irony: the white man's gospel is described as sweet but actually bitter - each device highlights the destructive, conflicted, and paradoxical nature of the cultural clash.

Correct D. Metaphor: "the white man's gospel was a sweet poison"; Simile: "his heart trembled like a leaf in a storm"; Irony: the gospel promises salvation but steals the people's soul - each device highlights the destructive, conflicted, and paradoxical nature of the cultural clash.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 4 View Details

In the drama *The Interpreters*, the protagonist struggles between obeying his father's expectations and pursuing his own artistic ambitions. What type of conflict does this represent?

A. Man vs nature

B. Man vs technology

Correct C. Man vs self

D. Man vs society

Correct Answer: C

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Question 5 View Details

The stage direction in *The Lion and the Jewel* reads: "A sudden gust blows the market canopy, scattering dust across the stage as the sun sets, casting long shadows." What mood does this direction primarily create?

A. A mood of calm and contentment

B. A mood of melancholy and nostalgia

C. A mood of excitement and celebration

Correct D. A mood of tension and impending change

Correct Answer: D

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Question 6 View Details

Read the following excerpt from a short story: "The wind whispered through the willows, weaving a waltz of leaves that sang softly over the silent streets." Which stylistic device is chiefly responsible for the musical quality of this sentence?

A. consonance

Correct B. alliteration

C. onomatopoeia

D. assonance

Correct Answer: B

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Question 7 View Details

Two excerpts are given below. Excerpt A: "She stared at the cracked window, the rain tapping a frantic Morse on the glass, and thought—*what if* the world were a single breath?" Excerpt B: "She could not help but feel the weight of the city pressing against her thoughts, the way the streetlights flickered like distant memories, and she wondered whether she would ever find peace." Which narrative technique is employed in Excerpt B, and what point of view does it reflect?

A. direct speech, first-person omniscient

B. interior monologue, second-person

C. stream of consciousness, third-person objective

Correct D. free indirect discourse, third-person limited

Correct Answer: D

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Question 8 View Details

Read the passage: "The clatter of the telegraph machine echoed as Mrs. Adeyemi waited for the carriage to arrive, its wheels turning on the cobblestones of the market street." Based on the clues in the passage, state the most likely decade in which the story is set.

A. 1900s

Correct B. 1910s

C. 1930s

D. 1920s

Correct Answer: B

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Question 9 View Details

When the fire broke out, Kemi rushed into the burning building, ignoring the shouts to stay back, and emerged clutching the frightened child, her hands trembling but her resolve unshaken. Which character trait does this passage most clearly illustrate?

A. indifference

Correct B. courage

C. impulsiveness

D. selfishness

Correct Answer: B

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Question 10 View Details

Consider the following stanza: "Silent thunder roared across the night, A bitter sweet perfume filled the air, Hope's cold fire burned within my soul, Dreams shattered, yet whole." Identify the figure of speech used in line 2 and state its effect in one sentence.

Correct A. oxymoron

B. simile

C. paradox

D. metaphor

Correct Answer: A

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Question 11 View Details

Excerpt A reads: "The sky was a bruised iron, and the wind howled like a wounded beast, rattling the shutters of the abandoned house." Excerpt B reads: "A gentle rain fell, pattering softly on the leaves, while the meadow sighed in quiet contentment." Which excerpt creates a more oppressive mood? Provide the label of the excerpt.

A. Excerpt B

B. Excerpt D

C. Excerpt C

Correct D. Excerpt A

Correct Answer: D

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Question 12 View Details

Read the following numbered lines from a short story: 1. The night wrapped the town in darkness. 2. Shadows crept along the alleys. 3. He could hear his own heartbeat. 4. The streetlamp flickered. 5. A sudden scream pierced the silence. 6. I ran without looking back, my feet pounding the cobblestones. At which line does the narrative perspective shift from third‑person to first‑person?

Correct A. 6

B. 5

C. 1

D. 3

Correct Answer: A

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Question 13 View Details

In a novel, a broken‑mirror motif appears in three consecutive chapters. The numbers of shards described are 4 in Chapter 1, 7 in Chapter 2, and \(x\) in Chapter 3. The symbolic weight of each chapter is defined as (chapter number) × (number of shards). If the total symbolic weight of the three chapters is 100, find the value of \(x\) (give your answer to two decimal places).

Correct A. 27.33

B. 28.33

C. 26.33

D. 27

Correct Answer: A

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Question 14 View Details

The following words are taken from two poems and each is assigned a sentiment score (negative scores indicate negative feeling, positive scores indicate positive feeling).\nPoem X: gloomy (‑2), thunder (‑1), decay (‑2), sorrow (‑3), bleak (‑2), mournful (‑3).\nPoem Y: bright (2), hopeful (3), sunrise (2), laughter (2), bloom (2), gentle (1).\nCalculate the average sentiment score for each poem and state which poem conveys a more melancholic overall mood.

A. Neither poem

B. Poem Y

Correct C. Poem X

D. Both poems equally melancholic

Correct Answer: C

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Question 15 View Details

A prose passage consists of five sentences. The following information is given: - Sentence 3 contains exactly one rhetorical device. - Sentence 1 contains twice as many devices as Sentence 3. - Sentence 4 contains three more devices than Sentence 2. - Sentence 5 contains the same number of devices as Sentence 2. - The total number of rhetorical devices in the whole passage is 15. How many rhetorical devices are present in Sentence 2?

Correct A. 3

B. 2

C. 4

D. 5

Correct Answer: A

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Question 16 View Details

Read the following excerpt from an unseen poem: "The crimson sunrise bleeds across the silent hills,\nwhile the whispering winds chant mournful hymns,\nand the cold stone beneath my feet sighs with ancient grief." Identify three distinct types of imagery employed in the excerpt, explain how each type contributes to the overall mood, and deduce the central theme that the poet conveys through the combined effect of these images.

A. The excerpt uses tactile imagery ("crimson sunrise"), auditory imagery ("whispering winds chant mournful hymns"), and visual imagery ("cold stone ... sighs"). Together they produce a hopeful, uplifting mood, suggesting the theme that nature heals human sorrow.

Correct B. The excerpt uses visual imagery ("crimson sunrise"), auditory imagery ("whispering winds chant mournful hymns"), and tactile imagery ("cold stone ... sighs"). The visual image creates an intense, foreboding atmosphere; the auditory image adds melancholy; the tactile image reinforces desolation. Together they produce an ominous, reflective mood, leading to the theme that human sorrow is inseparable from the eternal cycles of nature.

C. The excerpt uses visual imagery ("crimson sunrise"), auditory imagery ("whispering winds chant mournful hymns"), and gustatory imagery ("cold stone ... sighs"). The visual image creates a calm setting; the auditory image adds a playful rhythm; the gustatory image suggests nourishment, leading to a theme of celebration.

D. The excerpt uses olfactory imagery ("crimson sunrise"), gustatory imagery ("whispering winds chant mournful hymns"), and kinesthetic imagery ("cold stone ... sighs"). The smell creates a soothing atmosphere; the taste adds sweetness; the movement reinforces excitement.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 17 View Details

In the sentence "His ambition was a raging fire that devoured every rational thought," the phrase "a raging fire that devoured every rational thought" is underlined. Identify the figure of speech used in the underlined phrase and explain its effect on the tone of the sentence.

A. Simile; it gives the sentence a gentle, reflective tone by comparing ambition to a fire with the word "like".

Correct B. Metaphor; it gives the sentence an aggressive, warning tone by portraying ambition as a destructive fire that overwhelms reason.

C. Personification; it gives the sentence a humorous tone by attributing human actions to ambition, making it seem playful.

D. Hyperbole; it gives the sentence an exaggerated, triumphant tone by overstating the power of ambition.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 18 View Details

Consider the following two stanzas from an unseen poem: Stanza 1: "Morning mist clings to the meadow,\nsoft as a lover's sigh,\nwhile dew‑kissed petals tremble,\nawaiting the sun's first kiss." Stanza 2: "Night's cold hand drapes the valley,\nsilencing the chorus of crickets,\nand shadows stretch like ink,\nengulfing the world in mute darkness." Compare the imagery in the two stanzas, discuss the shift in sensory focus, and evaluate how this shift influences the poet's perspective on the passage of time.

Correct A. Stanza 1 uses gentle visual and tactile imagery (mist, dew‑kissed petals) and a soft auditory sense, creating a hopeful, renewing mood. Stanza 2 switches to stark visual and tactile imagery (cold hand, shadows like ink) and a silencing auditory sense, producing a final, somber mood. This sensory shift from warmth to cold highlights the poet's view of time as a cyclical alternation of birth and death, emphasizing both renewal and inevitable decline.

B. Both stanzas rely on identical visual imagery, focusing solely on light and darkness, which suggests the poet views time as a linear progression without contrast.

C. The imagery in both stanzas remains consistent, using only auditory cues, so the poet's perspective on time remains unchanged throughout.

D. Stanza 1 emphasizes harsh auditory sounds and bitter tactile sensations, while Stanza 2 introduces gentle visual motifs, indicating a shift from despair to hope.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 19 View Details

Read the following passage: "She walked through the market, her thoughts a tangled web of hopes and doubts, while the vendors shouted their wares, the scent of spices thick in the air." Classify the passage as prose, drama, or poetry, providing a brief justification for your choice.

Correct A. Prose - it is composed of ordinary sentences without line breaks, dialogue, or poetic meter.

B. Poetry - it employs vivid imagery and rhythmic language, which classifies the passage as verse.

C. Drama - the presence of a narrator and descriptive action places the passage in a theatrical script.

D. Poetry - the lack of line breaks and free‑verse structure makes it a poem.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 20 View Details

Consider the excerpt below from a short story: "I could still hear my mother's lullaby as I stepped onto the cracked pavement, the memory flashing like a photograph. Years later, when the city lights flickered, I recalled that melody, realizing it was the only compass that guided my restless heart." Identify two narrative techniques used in the excerpt and explain how each technique deepens the reader's understanding of the protagonist's motivation.

Correct A. The excerpt employs (1) flashback, which reveals the protagonist's childhood memory of the lullaby, indicating that current actions stem from a deep‑seated need for comfort; and (2) symbolism, where the lullaby is called a "compass," showing that the protagonist is motivated by a search for direction and emotional grounding.

B. The excerpt employs (1) imagery, which creates vivid sensory details of the cracked pavement and city lights, suggesting the protagonist's emotional state; and (2) irony, where the comforting lullaby contrasts with the restless heart, implying a contradictory motivation.

C. The excerpt employs (1) foreshadowing, which suggests future events through the mention of city lights, indicating that the protagonist anticipates upcoming challenges; and (2) personification, describing the lullaby as "compass," implying the song can actively guide the character.

D. The excerpt employs (1) alliteration, which repeats consonant sounds to emphasize the mood; and (2) hyperbole, exaggerating the lullaby's influence as the sole source of direction for the protagonist.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 21 View Details

A short story is summarized as follows: (i) A young farmer, Tunde, discovers his crops failing after a sudden drought; (ii) He travels to the neighboring village seeking advice and meets an old herbalist; (iii) The herbalist gives him a sealed pouch and tells him to plant its contents at midnight; (iv) Tunde follows the instruction, and by dawn the fields are lush and the drought lifts. Which numbered event represents the climax of the story?

Correct A. 3

B. 1

C. 4

D. 2

Correct Answer: A

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Question 22 View Details

Consider the following two stanzas of a poem: Stanza 1: "Morning light kisses the meadow, birds sing in golden chorus, hope swells in every heart." Stanza 2: "But the sky cracks, thunder roars, the fields drown in ash, and hope withers." How does the tone shift from the first stanza to the second, and which literary device most clearly signals this shift?

A. From optimistic to tragic; foreshadowing

Correct B. From hopeful to ominous; antithesis

C. From hopeful to bleak; metaphor

D. From calm to chaotic; hyperbole

Correct Answer: B

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Question 23 View Details

In the sentence "The bark was rough, but the dog barked louder than the thunder," what type of ambiguity is present, and what is its effect on the reader?

A. Phonological ambiguity; it creates a pun that distracts from the main idea

Correct B. Lexical ambiguity; it creates humor by playing on the double meaning of "bark"

C. Syntactic ambiguity; it confuses the reader about the subject of the sentence

D. Semantic ambiguity; it leads to misinterpretation of the dog's behavior

Correct Answer: B

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Question 24 View Details

Read the passage: "She watched the caged sparrow flutter against the iron bars, while the river outside flowed free, reflecting the moon's silver path." Which symbol in the passage most strongly represents freedom, and why?

Correct A. The river; because its unrestricted flow contrasts with the caged sparrow, symbolising liberty

B. The caged sparrow; because its desire to escape represents freedom

C. The moon's silver path; because its illumination suggests hope and freedom

D. The iron bars; because they highlight the concept of freedom through contrast

Correct Answer: A

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Question 25 View Details

Excerpt: "I could hear the rain tapping the window, and I thought of the days when we used to dance in the mud. My sister's laughter echoed in my mind, but the empty house seemed to swallow every sound." What is the narrative perspective of the excerpt, and which textual clue indicates this?

A. Third‑person perspective; indicated by the pronoun "he"

B. Second‑person perspective; indicated by the pronoun "you"

Correct C. First‑person perspective; indicated by the pronoun "I"

D. First‑person perspective; indicated by the verb "could"

Correct Answer: C

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