Practice neco model questions vol1 literature_in_english 2019 Past Questions

Question 1 View Details

In the play *The Lion and the Jewel*, a critic rates the prominence of three themes on a scale of 1-5 as follows: tradition = (4), modernity = (3), gender roles = (5). The overall thematic weight of a theme is defined as its rating divided by the sum of the three ratings, expressed as a percentage and rounded to the nearest whole number. What is the thematic weight of the theme *gender roles*?

Correct A. 42

B. 45

C. 50

D. 38

Correct Answer: A

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Question 2 View Details

In the prose passage *The Secret Life of an African*, the narrator employs three literary devices: metaphor (\(2\) points), irony (\(3\) points) and foreshadowing (\(4\) points). If the overall impact score is obtained by adding the points for each device and then multiplying the sum by the number of paragraphs in the passage, which is \(4\), what is the impact score?

Correct A. 36

B. 30

C. 24

D. 40

Correct Answer: A

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Question 3 View Details

In *The Lion and the Jewel*, the themes of tradition, modernity and gender roles occur respectively \(18\), \(12\) and \(15\) times. The proportion of a theme is its number of occurrences divided by the total occurrences of the three themes. Express the proportion of the theme *modernity* as a simplified fraction.

A. 2/5

B. 3/10

C. 1/3

Correct D. 4/15

Correct Answer: D

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Question 4 View Details

In *The Lion and the Jewel*, the character Baroka is revealed through 5 actions, 3 dialogues and 2 physical descriptions. If each action contributes twice its count, each dialogue contributes once, and each physical description contributes three times its count to a characterization score, what is Baroka's total characterization score?

Correct A. 19

B. 17

C. 22

D. 14

Correct Answer: A

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Question 5 View Details

In *The Lion and the Jewel*, the playwright uses 12 proverbs containing a total of 66 words, and 8 instances of symbolism, each worth 7 points. The stylistic score is calculated as follows: first find the average number of words per proverb, then multiply this average by the number of proverbs to obtain the proverb points; add to this the total symbolism points (number of instances × 7). What is the final stylistic score?

A. 128

Correct B. 122

C. 100

D. 106

Correct Answer: B

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Question 6 View Details

In the short story "The Hidden Letter", the following three events are described in order: 1. Maya finds an old, sealed envelope in the attic. 2. Maya reads the contents of the letter, which reveal that her grandfather was involved in a wartime rescue. 3. Maya confronts her mother about the family secret. Between events 2 and 3, which single event is most logically required for Maya to be able to confront her mother?

A. Maya discovers that the letter reveals the location of a hidden treasure from the war.

Correct B. Maya discovers that the letter reveals her mother's involvement in the wartime rescue.

C. Maya discovers that the letter reveals her father's involvement in the wartime rescue.

D. Maya discovers that the letter reveals the date the rescue operation took place.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 7 View Details

Consider the following passage: "The city streets glistened like a river of molten gold, while the abandoned factory stood as a skeletal bone under a grey sky." Explain how the juxtaposition of these two images contributes to the overall theme of hope versus decay.

A. The bright, gold‑like streets symbolize nostalgia for the past, whereas the skeletal, grey factory symbolizes future technology; their side‑by‑side placement creates a tension between memory and progress, thereby underscoring the theme of past versus future.

B. The bright, gold‑like streets symbolize wealth and excess, whereas the skeletal, grey factory symbolizes industry; placing them side by side highlights the tension between prosperity and labor, thereby underscoring the theme of wealth versus industry.

C. The bright, gold‑like streets symbolize danger and heat, whereas the skeletal, grey factory symbolizes safety and cold; juxtaposing them forces the reader to notice the contrast between peril and protection, thereby underscoring the theme of danger versus safety.

Correct D. The bright, gold‑like streets symbolize hope and vitality, whereas the skeletal, grey factory symbolizes decay; placing them side by side forces the reader to see the tension between progress and neglect, thereby underscoring the theme of hope versus decay.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 8 View Details

Read the two‑line stanza: "The night draped its velvet over the hills, Stars whispered secrets to the sleeping fields." Identify the poetic device used in the second line, and rewrite the line "The moon rose silently" employing the same device.

Correct A. Personification; The moon rose, breathing a quiet sigh.

B. Alliteration; The moon rose, breathing a quiet sigh.

C. Personification; The moon rose, shining bright.

D. Metaphor; The moon rose, breathing a quiet sigh.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 9 View Details

Excerpt: "I could hear the ticking of the clock as if it were a drumbeat urging me forward, yet the words on the page seemed to mock my every attempt." State the narrator's point of view and the tone, supporting each choice with two textual clues from the excerpt.

Correct A. First‑person point of view; ironic/sarcastic tone. Clues for point of view: "I could hear…", "my every attempt". Clues for tone: the word "mock", and the exaggerated comparison "clock… drumbeat urging me forward".

B. Second-person point of view; ironic tone. Clues for point of view: "you could hear…", "your attempts". Clues for tone: the word "mock", and the exaggerated comparison "clock… drumbeat urging you forward".

C. Third-person point of view; melancholic tone. Clues for point of view: "the narrator…", "his attempts". Clues for tone: the word "sad", and the description "dark clouds".

D. First-person point of view; hopeful tone. Clues for point of view: "I could hear…", "my every attempt". Clues for tone: the word "hope", and the phrase "bright future".

Correct Answer: A

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Question 10 View Details

Story A follows a single incident in a small village, focusing on a pivotal decision made by the protagonist, and is resolved within ten pages. Story B follows the same protagonist over several years, showing his development through multiple sub‑plots and a climax that occurs after a gradual build‑up. Classify Story A and Story B as either a short story or a novella.

Correct A. Story A - short story; Story B - novella.

B. Story A - novella; Story B - short story.

C. Story A - short story; Story B - short story.

D. Story A - novella; Story B - novella.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 11 View Details

Consider Guy de Maupassant's short story "The Necklace". The sequence of events is: (i) Mathilde Loisel envies the wealthier women at a party, (ii) she borrows a necklace from Madame Forestier, (iii) she loses the necklace, (iv) she and her husband replace it with a costly duplicate, (v) ten years later she learns the original was costume jewellery. Which of these events directly precipitates the story's climax?

Correct A. Event (iv) - the replacement of the lost necklace with a costly duplicate.

B. Event (v) - discovering the original was costume jewellery.

C. Event (ii) - borrowing the necklace from Madame Forestier.

D. Event (iii) - the loss of the necklace.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 12 View Details

Read the following excerpt from James Thurber's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". "Walter Mitty, a meek, hen‑pecked husband at the grocery store, imagined himself a daring pilot soaring over the Pacific, dodging enemy fire and receiving medals." Based on this excerpt, which theme is most strongly conveyed? Provide a brief justification.

A. The theme of domestic dissatisfaction - highlighting marital strain.

B. The theme of heroism - celebrating bold deeds and bravery.

Correct C. The theme of escapism - the power of imagination to flee ordinary reality.

D. The theme of adventure - emphasizing thrilling exploits and danger.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 13 View Details

The following two paragraphs are taken from James Thurber's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". Paragraph 1: "He was a timid, nervous man, his hands trembling as he pushed the grocery cart down the aisles. The clerk's voice sounded like a drill sergeant's orders, and he felt his heart pound in his ears." Paragraph 2: "In his mind he was a fearless commander, leading a squadron of fighter planes through a storm of bullets, his voice booming over the radio, his eyes blazing with triumph." What is the overall tone of the passage and how does it shift between the first and second paragraph?

Correct A. It begins with an anxious, oppressive tone and shifts to a bold, heroic (ironic) tone, creating an overall contrast between reality and imagination.

B. It begins with a detached, observational tone and shifts to an angry, confrontational (sarcastic) tone, reflecting a critique of society.

C. It starts with a humorous, light‑hearted tone and moves to a somber, tragic (dramatic) tone, underscoring the story's moral lesson.

D. It opens with a serene, nostalgic tone and transitions to a frantic, chaotic (satirical) tone, emphasizing the character's inner turmoil.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 14 View Details

In Guy de Maupassant's "The Necklace", Mathilde Loisel is described as "a woman of gentle birth, but with a heart that longed for the glitter of high society." She constantly sighs when she looks at elegant dresses in the shop window. Which indirect characterization technique is being employed here?

A. Through the narrator's commentary on her appearance - i.e., authorial intrusion rather than characterization.

Correct B. Through description of her feelings and habitual actions (sighing and yearning) - i.e., indirect characterization by showing her inner desire.

C. Through dialogue she has with the jeweler - i.e., indirect characterization by speech.

D. Through explicit statements about her background - i.e., direct characterization by narration.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 15 View Details

Identify the figure of speech in the line: "The moon smiled down on the quiet lake."

A. Alliteration

Correct B. Personification

C. Simile

D. Metaphor

Correct Answer: B

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Question 16 View Details

Read the excerpt: "The wind howled through the deserted streets as the detective examined the blood‑stained letter, his thoughts racing between clues." Identify the literary genre of this excerpt.

A. Science fiction

B. Romantic poetry

C. Historical fiction

Correct D. Detective fiction

Correct Answer: D

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Question 17 View Details

Consider the passage: "He claimed the city was a garden of delights, yet the streets reeked of rot and the people wore smiles like cracked porcelain—beautiful, but ready to shatter at the slightest touch." State the predominant tone of the passage and cite two textual features that support your answer.

A. Melancholic

B. Optimistic

Correct C. Satirical

D. Tragic

Correct Answer: C

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Question 18 View Details

In the following excerpt the narrator begins in first person and then switches to third person: "I could feel my heart pounding as I stepped onto the stage. The audience watched, waiting for her to speak, unaware of the storm brewing inside her mind." Identify the narrative technique used and explain its effect on the reader's perception of the protagonist.

A. Free indirect discourse (mixed perspective)

Correct B. Shift in focalisation (dual perspective)

C. Stream of consciousness (internal monologue)

D. Unreliable narrator (first-person bias)

Correct Answer: B

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Question 19 View Details

Analyze the sentence: "The moon slipped silently into the night's velvet cloak, stealing the stars' shy glimmer." Identify two language devices employed and explain how each contributes to the overall meaning.

A. Alliteration and assonance

Correct B. Personification and metaphor

C. Imagery and symbolism

D. Simile and hyperbole

Correct Answer: B

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Question 20 View Details

Identify the poetic device in the line: "Whispering winds wove wondrous words."

A. Onomatopoeia

Correct B. Alliteration

C. Assonance

D. Consonance

Correct Answer: B

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Question 21 View Details

Read the following excerpt from an unnamed short story: "The rain hammered the tin roof as I trudged down the narrow lane, the memory of my brother's disappearance flooding my thoughts. I could not tell whether the present sounds were real or merely echoes of that night." Identify the narrative point of view employed in the excerpt and state whether the narrator can be considered reliable.

Correct A. first‑person; unreliable

B. second‑person; unreliable

C. third‑person; reliable

D. first‑person; reliable

Correct Answer: A

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Question 22 View Details

In the novel *Shadows of the River*, the protagonist repeatedly encounters a cracked mirror that reflects a distorted image of herself. Throughout the story, this mirror appears at moments when she makes a major life decision. Explain what the cracked mirror symbolises and indicate which central theme of the novel is reinforced by this symbol.

A. lost innocence; theme of betrayal

Correct B. fractured identity; theme of self‑discovery

C. unrequited love; theme of redemption

D. social alienation; theme of power

Correct Answer: B

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Question 23 View Details

The poem below contains several sensory images: "Silence drapes the night, The wind sighs through the barren trees, A distant drum beats, relentless, Stars flicker like dying candles, Rain taps the window in steady rhythm." a) How many instances of auditory imagery are present in the poem? b) Considering all the imagery, what is the overall mood conveyed?

A. 2; hopeful

Correct B. 3; melancholic

C. 3; joyous

D. 4; tranquil

Correct Answer: B

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Question 24 View Details

A story that is transmitted orally, features talking animals, includes a moral lesson about honesty, and is set in a rural village is best classified as which literary genre?

Correct A. folktale

B. myth

C. fable

D. legend

Correct Answer: A

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Question 25 View Details

The following events occur in a short story in the order given: 1. The hero wakes up with no memory of the previous night. 2. He discovers a mysterious key on the floor. 3. Flashbacks reveal his involvement in a secret society. 4. He uses the key to open a locked box containing incriminating documents. 5. The story ends with him deciding to expose the society. a) What type of plot structure does this story exemplify? (Choose from linear, circular, in medias res, or flashback‑driven.) b) Identify the climax of the story.

A. in medias res; discovering the mysterious key

B. linear; waking up with no memory

C. circular; deciding to expose the society

Correct D. flashback‑driven; opening the locked box

Correct Answer: D

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