JAMB Yoruba 2012
Questions & Answers

Distractor check: Ọ̀rọ̀ tàbí Ọlá le e è jọ ẹni tí kò mọ èdè dáadáa lójú àkọkọ́ nítorí wípé wọ́n jẹ́ ọ̀rọ̀ iyì. Reasoning to the answer: Ọ̀rọ̀ 'òkìkí' tọ́ka sí ògo tàbí orúkọ rere tí ènìyàn ní nítorí ìwà rẹ̀ rere nínú àwùjọ. Common mistake: Àṣìṣe wípé 'òkìkí' túmọ̀ sí ọrọ̀ ajé tàbí ọlá ìdílé pátápátá.

Distractor check: Àyànwálé tàbí Àjàní lè jẹ́ àṣìṣe fún àwọn akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ tí wọ́n dapọ̀ àwọn ohun kikọ inú eré náà. Reasoning to the answer: Tunde Kelani gbé eré 'Ṣaworo Idẹ' kalẹ̀ níbi tí Lápité ti jẹ́ orúkọ ọba tí ó ń jọba ní ìlú Jògbó. Common mistake: Ríro pé Àyànwálé ni ọba nígbà tí ó jẹ́ pé olùṣẹ̀lù tàbí akọrin ni.

Distractor check: Ọ̀pọ̀ le mú 'Bí a ṣe ń ṣe ni a ń rí' nítorí ó jọ mọ́ ìwà. Reasoning to the answer: Òwe gangan tí ó sọ̀ kalẹ̀ ní tààràtà pé ẹni tí ó ṣe rere yóò jẹ èrè rẹ̀ ni a béèrè, èyí tí ó jẹ́ àṣàyàn A. Common mistake: Mímú òwe tí ó jọ mọ́ ọ̀rọ̀ ìwà ṣùgbọ́n tí kò bá ti gbolohun ìbéèrè mu tààràtà.

Distractor check: Ìdòwú tàbí Kéhìndé le fa ìdààmú fún àwọn tí wọ́n mọ̀ nípa ọmọ tí a bí lẹ́yìn ìbejì tàbí tọkọtaya. Reasoning to the answer: Nínú àṣà Yorùbá, a ń pe ọmọ tí a bí nígbà tí ìyá rẹ̀ ń lọ sí òkèé kan ní 'Táyé', ẹni tí ó jẹ́ ọmọ ìbejì àkọ́kọ́. Common mistake: Àṣìṣe pípè ọmọ òkèé ní Kéhìndé tàbí Ìdòwú.

Distractor check: Ọ̀ṣun tàbí Ṣàngó lè jẹ́ àṣìṣe wọ́pọ̀ nítorí wípé wọ́n jẹ́ òrìṣà omi tàbí okun pẹ̀lú. Reasoning to the answer: Yemọja ni a fún ní orúkọ oyè 'Ọba Ọ̀sà' nítorí wípé ó ní ìsopọ̀ pẹ̀lú omi àti wípé òun ni ìyá gbogbo. Common mistake: Ríro pé Ọ̀ṣun ni a ń pè ní Ọba Ọ̀sà dípò Yemọja.

Distractor check: Ọ̀rọ̀ ìṣàpèjúwe le jẹ́ ìṣìnà fún àwọn tí wọ́n ń wá ìtumọ̀ rẹ̀ nínú lítíréṣọ̀. Reasoning to the answer: Ìtàn àtọwọ́dọ́wọ́ tí a ń fi kọ́ni ní ẹ̀kọ́ tàbí tí a fi ń ṣe ìdárayá ni a mọ̀ sí 'àròsọ' nínú èdè Yorùbá. Common mistake: Ddapọ̀ àròsọ mọ́ àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ ìtúpalẹ̀ míràn nínú ìmọ̀ èdè.

Some students might select options like 'Ó lẹ́wà bí òdòdó' or 'Ó ga bí òkè', assuming they represent negative portrayals because they deal with imagery, but those actually illustrate positive or neutral traits. To identify the negative depiction, examine the imagery used for comparison; the phrase 'Ó rẹwà bí ẹlẹ́dẹ̀' qualifies as poor because it likens someone's beauty to a pig, which is not considered a flattering standard of beauty in this context. Common mistake: Confusing flattering natural imagery with derogatory comparisons involving animals.

Students might mistakenly guess names like Adéyẹmí, Ọlátúndé, or Fádípẹ̀, as they are common male names found in Yoruba literature. By identifying the central character connected to the title 'Ìyàwó Alárè', we can determine that Alárè is the specific male figure who marries the Bride in the story. Common mistake: Choosing a familiar traditional name from the options instead of matching the character name directly to the book title.

A student might lean toward 'Ìdùnnú' or 'Ìyìn', thinking the statement refers to public praise or happiness. To uncover the true meaning of 'àbùkù' in the sentence 'Ó ṣe àbùkù sí mi lọ́dọ̀ àwọn ará ìlú', look at how public humiliation functions; it translates to disgrace or open shame shown to someone publicly. Common mistake: Interpreting public attention or remarks as positive praise rather than shameful insults.

A test-taker could mistakenly select Àkànní, Ọlátúndé, or Fádípẹ̀, since these are prominent names featured across various cultural stories. In the text 'Ọmọ Olóòbí', Adéwọlé is specifically designated as the head or leader of the merchants. Common mistake: Guessing a character name from a different story context rather than anchoring to 'Ọmọ Olóòbí'.

One might consider options like 'Ẹnu kò ní ìdí' or 'A kò lè sọ ọ̀rọ̀ tán' because they also reference speech or human communication. However, the direct proverb addressing how spoken words can bring trouble or destruction to a person is 'Ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnu ló ń pa ẹni'. Common mistake: Selecting a general proverb about talking instead of the specific one warning about the fatal consequences of speech.

A student might mix this up with 'Táyé' or 'Kéhìndé', which are the names given to the twins themselves. In Yoruba tradition, the specific name reserved for the child born immediately after a set of twins is 'Ìdòwú'. Common mistake: Confusing the twin names with the specific birth order title that follows them.

A test-taker might guess Ọbàtálá, Èṣù, or Ọ̀rúnmìlà, which are major and well-known deities in Yoruba mythology. The title 'Alágbára Ilẹ̀' specifically belongs to Ògún, due to his immense power as the deity of iron and war. Common mistake: Assigning a prominent title to the most famous deity rather than matching it to Ògún's specific domain.

A student might mistakenly choose options involving analysis or description ('Ọ̀rọ̀ ìtúpalẹ̀' or 'Ọ̀rọ̀ ìṣàpèjúwe') because they sound academic. Breaking down the phrase reveals that 'ẹ̀kọ́ ìtàn' directly refers to the historical record of past events ('Àkọsílẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀lẹ̀ àtijọ'). Common mistake: Mistaking the translation of historical study for general literary analysis.

Students might mistakenly pick 'Ó rẹwà bí àgùntàn' or 'Ó ga bí àpáta', thinking any simile qualifies as a good description. The option 'Ó dára bí òṣùpá' stands out as a genuinely positive depiction because it compares a person's beauty to the pleasing radiance of the moon. Common mistake: Assuming all similes are automatically classified as positive imagery.

One might mistakenly choose names like Ọmọwùnmí, Àlàkẹ́, or Fúnmiláyọ̀, which are common female names found in similar cultural narratives. In the book 'Adùn Ní Ìdẹ', it is specifically Àbẹ̀ní who holds a deep affection for Adùn. Common mistake: Picking a common Yoruba female name without verifying it against the specific book text.

A student could mistakenly choose options like 'Ìkìlọ̀' or 'Ọ̀rọ̀ ìyànjú', assuming the phrase serves as a warning or advice. By evaluating the emotional weight of 'Ọ̀rọ̀ rẹ̀ ti bà mí lọ́kàn', we see that 'ọ̀rọ̀' here denotes a deep conversation, dialogue, or communication that touches the heart. Common mistake: Translating 'ọ̀rọ̀' as a strict warning instead of an impactful conversation.

A student might select 'Ọmọ Ọba Àtìbà' or 'Ọmọ Olúbàdàn', associating them broadly with traditional Yoruba royalty and major towns. The specific praise poetry or oríkì traditionally recognized and widely used for the people of Ìjẹ̀bú is 'Ọmọ Ọba Ògúnṣọ̀'. Common mistake: Attributing royal praise names of other regions to the Ìjẹ̀bú people.

One might lean toward 'Bí a ṣe ń ṣe ni a ń rí' since it also deals with actions and consequences. However, the exact proverb that explicitly states that someone who causes trouble or distress will face its outcome is 'Ẹni tí ó bá ṣe ìdààmú yóò rí èsì rẹ̀'. Common mistake: Confusing general behavioral proverbs with the specific adage about facing the consequences of causing trouble.

A test-taker might select 'Yétúndé' or 'Àbíọ́lá', forgetting the specific gender distinction tied to parental reincarnation names. In Yoruba culture, a child born after the death of their father is named 'Bàbátúndé', which translates to 'father has returned again'. Common mistake: Mixing up paternal and maternal posthumous birth names.