JAMB Past Questions

JAMB Literature In English 2005
Questions & Answers

40 questions · Correct answers highlighted · 40 with explanations

40 Total Questions
2005 Exam Year
40 With Explanations
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1
Question 1 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the poor harvest was likely caused by a

A. storm
B. drought
C. pest invasion
D. flood
Explanation

The context of miserable yams suggests drought, which affects crop growth.

2
Question 2 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In the excerpt 'farce, A cursing rogue with a merry... upon that windy place Called Cruachan,' the rhyme scheme is

A. aabb
B. abab
C. bbaa
D. abba
Explanation

Lines 1 and 3 rhyme ('farce'/'place'), lines 2 and 4 rhyme ('crutch'/'much'), yielding abab.

3
Question 3 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s tragic flaw is his

A. pride and fear of weakness
B. love for his family
C. desire for wealth
D. trust in the gods
Explanation

Okonkwo’s fear of weakness drives his tragic decisions.

4
Question 4 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood, Nnu Ego’s greatest desire is to

A. become wealthy
B. bear many children
C. gain independence
D. leave Lagos
Explanation

Nnu Ego’s identity is tied to motherhood.

5
Question 5 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the tragic outcome is due to

A. fate and miscommunication
B. political ambition
C. economic rivalry
D. religious differences
Explanation

Fate and miscommunication, like the undelivered letter, cause tragedy.

6
Question 6 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In J.P. Clark’s Agbor Dancer, the dancer’s movements symbolize

A. cultural pride
B. personal grief
C. social rebellion
D. spiritual emptiness
Explanation

The dancer celebrates her cultural heritage.

7
Question 7 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Donne’s The Sun Rising, the poet addresses the sun as

A. an intrusive busybody
B. a divine creator
C. a symbol of hope
D. a source of warmth
Explanation

The poet mocks the sun for interrupting his love.

8
Question 8 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

A literary work that ridicules human follies is a

A. satire
B. tragedy
C. lyric
D. epic
Explanation

Satire critiques human weaknesses with humor.

9
Question 9 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In 'O Death, where is thy sting?' the figure of speech is

A. apostrophe
B. synecdoche
C. metonymy
D. oxymoron
Explanation

Addressing Death as a person is an apostrophe.

10
Question 10 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In 'My love is like a red, red rose,' the figure of speech is

A. metaphor
B. simile
C. personification
D. oxymoron
Explanation

The comparison using ‘like’ is a simile.

11
Question 11 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Diop’s Africa, the simile 'your blood flows like a river' highlights

A. Africa’s suffering
B. Africa’s vitality
C. Africa’s beauty
D. Africa’s tranquility
Explanation

The simile depicts Africa’s colonial suffering.

12
Question 12 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In 'He’s an open book, but his pages are torn,' the metaphor suggests

A. transparency but damage
B. mystery and complexity
C. learning but arrogance
D. simplicity but boredom
Explanation

The metaphor implies openness with emotional damage.

13
Question 13 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In 'I’ve told you a million times,' the figure of speech is

A. hyperbole
B. metaphor
C. synecdoche
D. irony
Explanation

‘A million times’ is an exaggerated hyperbole.

14
Question 14 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s downfall is due to his

A. fear of weakness
B. love for family
C. trust in gods
D. desire for wealth
Explanation

Fear of weakness leads to Okonkwo’s tragic choices.

15
Question 15 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Romeo and Juliet, the character embodying reckless passion is

A. Romeo
B. Friar Laurence
C. Benvolio
D. Paris
Explanation

Romeo’s impulsive love drives tragedy.

16
Question 16 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Okara’s Piano and Drums, the drums symbolize

A. African tradition
B. Western civilization
C. modern warfare
D. religious rituals
Explanation

Drums represent African heritage.

17
Question 17 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Soyinka’s Telephone Conversation, the landlady’s questions reveal

A. racial prejudice
B. concern for cleanliness
C. curiosity about Africa
D. hospitality
Explanation

Her focus on skin color shows racism.

18
Question 18 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

The structure of Okigbo’s The Passage is

A. free verse with symbolic imagery
B. rhymed quatrains
C. blank verse
D. sonnet form
Explanation

The poem uses free verse for spiritual symbolism.

19
Question 19 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

The moment of greatest emotional intensity in a work is the

A. climax
B. exposition
C. denouement
D. rising action
Explanation

The climax is the peak of tension.

20
Question 20 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In 'He was a lion in the fight, but a lamb at home,' the figures are

A. metaphor and antithesis
B. simile and hyperbole
C. personification and irony
D. alliteration and oxymoron
Explanation

‘Lion’ and ‘lamb’ are metaphors; their contrast is antithesis.

21
Question 21 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Shakespeare’s As You Like It, 'Blow, blow, thou winter wind,' the tone is

A. bitter
B. joyful
C. indifferent
D. optimistic
Explanation

The speaker’s comparison to ingratitude conveys bitterness.

22
Question 22 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

Hints suggesting future events in a story are called

A. flashback
B. foreshadowing
C. irony
D. symbolism
Explanation

Foreshadowing clues future events.

23
Question 23 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

The central idea of a literary work is the

A. plot
B. theme
C. setting
D. tone
Explanation

The theme is the main message.

24
Question 24 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

When the outcome contradicts expectations, it is

A. situational irony
B. dramatic irony
C. verbal irony
D. paradox
Explanation

Situational irony involves unexpected outcomes.

25
Question 25 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

The author’s attitude toward the subject is the

A. mood
B. tone
C. theme
D. point of view
Explanation

Tone reflects the author’s perspective.

26
Question 26 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

Using objects to represent ideas is called

A. irony
B. symbolism
C. allegory
D. metaphor
Explanation

Symbolism conveys deeper meanings via objects.

27
Question 27 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

When the audience knows more than the characters, it is

A. situational irony
B. verbal irony
C. dramatic irony
D. paradox
Explanation

Dramatic irony involves audience knowledge.

28
Question 28 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Things Fall Apart, the primary conflict is between

A. tradition and colonial influence
B. wealth and poverty
C. men and women
D. youth and age
Explanation

The novel depicts Igbo tradition vs. colonialism.

29
Question 29 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Romeo and Juliet, the central theme is

A. love and fate
B. political ambition
C. economic rivalry
D. religious devotion
Explanation

Love and fate drive the tragedy.

30
Question 30 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Wilson’s Fences, Troy Maxson is shaped by

A. racial discrimination
B. military service
C. academic failure
D. religious upbringing
Explanation

Racial barriers fuel Troy’s bitterness.

31
Question 31 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

The central theme of Soyinka’s Telephone Conversation is

A. racial prejudice
B. romantic love
C. technological progress
D. spiritual redemption
Explanation

The poem satirizes racism in a phone call.

32
Question 32 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Donne’s The Sun Rising, the poet’s attitude is

A. mocking and affectionate
B. reverent and spiritual
C. fearful and submissive
D. angry and vengeful
Explanation

The poet playfully mocks the sun.

33
Question 33 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

The imagery in Diop’s Africa emphasizes

A. suffering and resilience
B. peace and tranquility
C. romance and beauty
D. prosperity and growth
Explanation

Imagery portrays colonial oppression and strength.

34
Question 34 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood, the main conflict is

A. tradition vs. modernity
B. wealth vs. poverty
C. men vs. women
D. education vs. ignorance
Explanation

Nnu Ego navigates traditional roles in a modernizing society.

35
Question 35 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Things Fall Apart, the chi concept represents

A. personal destiny
B. village governance
C. economic status
D. physical strength
Explanation

Chi is an individual’s spiritual destiny.

36
Question 36 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence’s role is primarily

A. a manipulator
B. a peacemaker
C. a villain
D. a comic figure
Explanation

The Friar seeks to reconcile the feuding families.

37
Question 37 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Wilson’s Fences, the fence symbolizes

A. protection and division
B. wealth and status
C. freedom and escape
D. love and unity
Explanation

The fence represents Troy’s desire to protect and isolate.

38
Question 38 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Clark’s The Casualties, the poem reflects on

A. war’s devastation
B. romantic loss
C. economic hardship
D. spiritual renewal
Explanation

The poem mourns war’s human toll.

39
Question 39 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman, the central conflict is

A. tradition vs. colonial authority
B. family vs. duty
C. wealth vs. poverty
D. love vs. honor
Explanation

Elesin’s ritual duty clashes with colonial interference.

40
Question 40 of 40
JAMB · Literature In English · 2005

In Donne’s Holy Sonnet 14, the speaker seeks

A. divine intervention
B. worldly success
C. romantic love
D. physical strength
Explanation

The speaker pleads for God’s forceful salvation.

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