JAMB Yoruba 2017
Questions & Answers

Distractor check: Ìyàtọ̀ le wà fún àwọn tó rò pé ó ń sọ nípa àkókò tàbí ibi nítorí àìye yé ìtumọ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ náà. Reasoning to the answer: Níwọ̀ kez ìtumọ̀ 'ọ̀rọ̀ àpọ́n' tọ́ka sí ipò ẹni tí kò ní ọmọ nínú àwùjọ bíi 'àgàn', ó jẹmọ́ ìpín náà tààrà. Kí ni ìdí tí a fi ń pe ọ̀rọ̀ kan ní 'ọ̀rọ̀ àpọ́n' ní èdè Yorùbá? Ó ń sọ nípa ẹni tí kò lọ́mọ. Common mistake: Gbígbà pé ọ̀rọ̀ àpọ́n ní í ṣe pẹ̀lú ìrísí ara tàbí àkókò.

Distractor check: 'Ọba' tàbí 'sọ̀rọ̀' le jẹ́ àṣìṣe fún àwọn akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ tí kò mọ ìtumọ̀ gbolohùn náà dáadáa. Reasoning to the answer: Níwọ́n ìgbà tí ó ń fi ìwà tabi àpẹẹrẹ bí ọba ṣe ń sọ̀rọ̀ hàn pẹ̀lú ìrẹ̀lẹ̀, ọ̀rọ̀ 'pẹ̀lẹ́' ni ó ń ṣe iṣẹ́ àpèjúwe. Nínú gbólóhùn 'Ọba náà ń sọ̀rọ̀ pẹ̀lẹ́,' pẹ̀lẹ́ ni orúkọ ọ̀rọ̀ àpèjúwe. Common mistake: Ddàrú orúkọ tí ó ń ṣe ìṣe pẹ̀lú ọ̀rọ̀ tí ó ń ṣàpèjúwe rẹ̀.

Distractor check: Àwọn ọmọ ile-iwọ̀ le rò pé ó ń sọ nípa bí a ṣe ń lé adìyẹ lọ́sàn-án nítorí ìtumọ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ pẹlẹbẹ. Reasoning to the answer: Níwọ́n bí òwe náà ti kọ́ wa pé kí a má ṣe fi nǹkan pàtàkì sílẹ̀ fún nǹkan tíkòní ìyè, ó tọ́ka sí ìwà ìṣọ́ra. Kí ni ìtumọ̀ òwe 'A kì í fi ẹ̀tẹ̀ sílẹ̀ kí a máa lé adìyẹ'? Èèyàn kì í fi nǹkan pàtàkì sílẹ̀ kí ó lé nǹkan tí kò wúlò. Common mistake: Gbígbà pé òwe yìí ní í ṣe tààrà pẹ̀lú ọ̀ràn ẹran tàbí sísọdẹ.

Distractor check: Àwọn aṣìṣe bíi 'Cinq' tàbí 'Quatre' le wáyé fún àwọn tí kò mọ àwọn nọ́ńbà Faransé dáadáa. Reasoning to the answer: Níwọ́n ìgbà tí nọ́ńbà 'mẹ́fà' jẹ́ 'six' ní èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì, bákan náà ni ó jẹ́ 'six' ní èdè Faransé. Mo rí àga mẹ́fà, 'six' ni nọ́ńbà 'mẹ́fà' ní èdè Faransé. Common mistake: Dáru nọ́ńbà márùn-ún àti mẹ́fà ní èdè àlejò.

Distractor check: Àwọn kan le yan 'àga' tàbí 'ìbùsùn' nípa àṣìṣe bí irinṣẹ́ ìdáná. Reasoning to the answer: Níwọ́n ìgbà tí a ti mọ̀ pé ìnṣẹ́ ìbílẹ̀ tí a fi ń sè oúnjẹ lórí iná ni ìkòkò adágún, òun nìkan ni ó yẹ nínú àṣàyàn. Èwo ni orúkọ irinṣẹ́ tí a máa ń lò fún ìdáná ìbílẹ̀? Ìkòkò adágún. Common mistake: Yíyàn ohun èlò ilé tí kò ní í ṣe pẹ̀lú ìdáná oúnjẹ.

Distractor check: Ẹni tí ó ní ìwà rere le jẹ́ àṣìṣe pẹ̀lú ìtumọ̀ àwọn orúkọ rere mìíràn nínú àṣà Yorùbá. Reasoning to the answer: Níwọ́n ìgbà tí ọmọ tí ó máa ń bọ̀ wá tàbí kú lẹ́ẹ̀kọ̀ọ̀kan jẹ́ ẹnì tí a mọ̀ sí àbíkú, àbáyọ tọ́ka sí irú ẹni bẹ́ẹ̀. Kí ni ìtumọ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ 'àbáyọ' nínú ìṣe ìbílẹ̀ Yorùbá? Ènìyàn tí ó máa ń bọ̀ wá. Common mistake: Gbígbà pé àbáyọ jẹ́ orúkọ fún ènìyàn tí ó ní agbára nìkan.

Distractor check: A student might choose A (Tútù) assuming weather feels cool, but the phrase specifically points to thermal heat rather than cold. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because the verb 'ru' indicates that the weather is becoming hot or surging with warmth at the present moment. Common mistake: Confusing atmospheric warmth with cool weather conditions.

Distractor check: One might mistakenly pick C (Ejò) thinking of general wildlife folklore, but serpents do not carry this specific cultural significance. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because the elephant (Erin) serves as a symbol of progress due to its strength, physical stature, and distinct position within Yoruba tradition. Common mistake: Overlooking the specific cultural attributes associated with the elephant's size and power.

Distractor check: A learner might select D (Ènìyàn tí ó máa ń ṣe ìṣòwò) by misinterpreting traditional societal roles. Reasoning to the answer: Option C is correct because 'àwíyé' designates an individual who speaks the truth or possesses truthful knowledge within traditional practices. Common mistake: Equating traditional titles with commercial or merchant roles.

Distractor check: Option C (Agbára àti ìgboyà) might look attractive since folktales feature dramatic challenges, but brute force is not the tortoise's primary trait. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because Tortoise (Ìjápa) tales illustrate cleverness and trickery, as the character continuously utilizes his wits to achieve success. Common mistake: Confusing physical strength with intellectual cunning in folktale analysis.

Distractor check: Option A (Ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀) could be chosen by someone guessing common edible produce, but plantains are unrelated to this specific seasoning. Reasoning to the answer: Option C is correct because the locust bean (Èso ìrú), also called 'ògìrì,' is an essential fruit processed for soup preparation in Yoruba culture. Common mistake: Failing to connect local seed ingredients with traditional soup condiments.

Distractor check: Option A (Ènìyàn tí ó ní ìwà rere) might be incorrectly picked as an opposite, but the prefix refers to intellect rather than morality. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because 'àìlọ́gbọ́n' points to a person lacking knowledge or the practical sense required to execute tasks. Common mistake: Mistaking a lack of wisdom or knowledge for a negative moral behavior.

Distractor check: Students often lean toward D (Ògún) because of his prominence as a deity, but Ogun governs iron and war rather than commerce. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because Aje is the specific deity of commerce, recognized as the owner of wealth and prosperity for traders. Common mistake: Mixing up the portfolios of traditional Yoruba deities, particularly confusing wealth with war or craftsmanship.

Distractor check: Option D (Ìkọkọ) might seem plausible if a student associates items generally found in shrines, but it is not the primary ritual identifier listed here. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because beads (ìlẹ̀kẹ̀) function as an essential material for deity worship, serving as a sign of spiritual devotion and identity. Common mistake: Overlooking personal ritual ornaments in favor of general household vessels.

Distractor check: Option A (Ìdúró ní ìbíkí) might be guessed due to the physical root of the word, but it misses the spiritual context entirely. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because 'ìdálẹ̀' indicates reverence or worship directed toward deities within indigenous practices. Common mistake: Translating ritual vocabulary literally instead of recognizing its religious context.

Distractor check: Option D (Ìdáná tí wọ́n ń ṣe) could be chosen by misinterpreting domestic actions, but food preparation is unrelated here. Reasoning to the answer: Option C is correct because 'àṣàrò' means that individuals are engaging in deep thought or contemplating a matter over a period of time. Common mistake: Confusing meditative thought processes with physical chores.

Distractor check: Option A (Ológbò) is a domestic pet and would never fit traditional sacrificial rites. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because the antelope or bushbuck (Àdùbà) is utilized for sacrifice due to its behavioral characteristics and symbolism of cooperation. Common mistake: Failing to identify specific wild fauna traditionally designated for ritual offerings.

Distractor check: Option C (Ọmọ tí ó jẹ́ ọba) might be selected by confusing mystical children with royalty, but nobility has nothing to do with this term. Reasoning to the answer: Option A is correct because 'àbíkú' denotes a child who repeatedly dies and returns to be born by the same mother. Common mistake: Misinterpreting cyclical infant mortality beliefs as royal lineage.

Distractor check: Option C (Láti lọ ṣe ìṣòwò) is a tempting guess for someone assuming a character journeys for economic gain, but Fagunwa's heroes seek higher pursuits. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because Aláwìíyé traveled into the forest explicitly to acquire knowledge and power to become wise and strong. Common mistake: Assuming mythological forest quests are undertaken for ordinary commercial purposes.

Distractor check: Option D (Ọ̀rọ̀ tí ó ń sọ nípa ìṣe) might be picked by confusing descriptive adjectives with action verbs. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because a descriptive word ('ọ̀rọ̀ àpèjúwe') qualifies things by detailing attributes such as measurement, appearance, or behavior. Common mistake: Confusing descriptive modifiers with grammatical action markers.

Distractor check: Option A (Ìgbà òjò) is the exact opposite climatic period, making it a natural contrast distractor. Reasoning to the answer: Option C is correct because 'ìgbà kọ́rọ̀' represents the dry season phase when the ground becomes parched in the absence of rainfall. Common mistake: Confusing specific sub-seasons of dryness with the general rainy period.

Distractor check: Option C (Ojú kan kì í rí ọjà) uses matching vocabulary words from the proverb to trick hasty readers. Reasoning to the answer: Option D is correct because the proverb teaches that tasks require collaboration, meaning no single person can run a market or shoulder an entire enterprise alone. Common mistake: Falling for literal word-matching instead of interpreting the collaborative moral of the proverb.

Distractor check: Option C (Ṣàngó) is widely known, which leads students to mistakenly attribute all natural forces to the thunder god. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because Yemọja is the aquatic deity who governs rivers, oceans, and all bodies of water. Common mistake: Attributing water governance to thunder or creation deities.

Distractor check: Option A (Ìlẹ̀kẹ̀) is mentioned in other cultural contexts, tempting students to link all traditional artifacts to it. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because the ballot box (àpótí ìdìbò) serves as the primary device utilized for casting votes during political exercises. Common mistake: Confusing traditional cultural items with modern political voting equipment.

Distractor check: Option A (Ìtàn tí ó jẹ́ òtítọ́) might be chosen by assuming folktales carry historical factual weight. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because an 'àlọ́' is a fictional tale featuring talking animals designed to teach moral lessons. Common mistake: Treating symbolic animal fables as literal historical accounts.

Distractor check: Option D (Àjàní) sounds like a common personal name, making it a plausible distractor for casual readers. Reasoning to the answer: Option A is correct because Àkàrà-ògùn is the heroic protagonist of 'Ọgbójú Ọdẹ' who drives the plot forward within the mystical forest. Common mistake: Mixing up fictional protagonist names in classic Yoruba literature.

Distractor check: Option A (Àwọn ènìyàn tí ó jẹ́ ọmọ ìlú) broadens the definition to citizens at large, ignoring familial bonds. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because 'ìdílé' specifically refers to individuals connected by blood ties, forming an immediate family or lineage. Common mistake: Broadening family units to mean entire community populations.

Distractor check: Option A (Ọtí) causes physical distress, but it is a substance rather than a disease causing bodily weakness. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because fever (ìbà) is an illness that triggers body weakness, aches, and fatigue. Common mistake: Confusing consumable substances with pathological health conditions.

Distractor check: Option A (Ènìyàn tí ó máa ń kọ ìwé) is a tempting literal translation based on the presence of 'wé' or writing. Reasoning to the answer: Option B is correct because an 'àkùkọ̀wé' is an oral tradition expert who recites folktales and proverbs to impart wisdom. Common mistake: Translating compound traditional titles literally as modern book authors.

Distractor check: Option B (Ìwà òkùnkùn) sounds descriptive of bad behavior, but it alters the literal meaning of the base word. Reasoning to the answer: Option C is correct because 'àìtọ́' indicates that the child is exhibiting behavior that is improper or unacceptable. Common mistake: Substituting synonyms that sound dramatic instead of using the exact negation of correctness.

Distractor check: Option B (Ìsìn Ìgbàgbọ́) represents a major foreign-introduced religion and does not center on indigenous deities. Reasoning to the answer: Option A is correct because Traditional Religion (Ìsìn Ìbílẹ̀) is the belief system directly connected to deity worship and ancestral customs in Yorubaland. Common mistake: Confusing indigenous spiritual systems with revealed world religions.

Distractor check: A student might lean toward 'Lẹ́ẹ̀kọ̀ọ̀kan' by literal association, but options like 'Lọ́pọ̀lọpọ̀' or 'Pọ̀' could mistakenly suggest quantity rather than sequence. Reasoning to the answer: To grasp the meaning of 'ọ̀kọ̀ọ̀kan' within 'Wọ́n ń lọ ọ̀kọ̀ọ̀kan', one must look at how individuals are moving, which indicates that they are going successively, one after the other. Common mistake: Confusing individual distribution or sequence with large quantities.

Distractor check: Words like 'Irin' or 'Òkúta' might seem like physical objects used around a kitchen setting, leading to an incorrect choice. Reasoning to the answer: Cooking ingredients such as soups and herbal remedies ('àgbo') rely on plant parts, specifically leaves, which are botanical components of trees utilized in culinary preparations. Common mistake: Selecting cooking utensils or materials instead of the actual organic plant part utilized for cooking.

Distractor check: Options such as 'Ìgbéyàwó' or 'Ìsìnkú' represent specific traditional ceremonies, which can trick a student into thinking 'ààtò' means a particular ritual event rather than a general concept. Reasoning to the answer: In traditional Yoruba practices, the term 'ààtò' points broadly toward directional guidelines or a traditional systematic arrangement for carrying out activities. Common mistake: Equating the term with a specific ceremony like a funeral or wedding instead of its broader meaning of arrangement or guideline.

Distractor check: Names like 'Àkàrà-ògùn' are prominent in related literary works, making it a tempting guess for students who mix up the heroic figures across Yoruba texts. Reasoning to the answer: Within the text 'Ìrìnkèrindò Nínú Igbó Ẹlẹ́gbẹ̀yẹ', the central heroic character who actively drives development forward inside the forest is named Ọlọ́wọ́-ayé. Common mistake: Mixing up the primary hero with characters from other popular Yoruba literary texts.

Distractor check: A student might choose 'Ìfẹ́' or 'Ìtara' thinking about emotional states or enthusiasm, but these do not match the cognitive certainty of the phrase. Reasoning to the answer: The expression 'Ó ní ìdánilójú nínú ìṣe rẹ̀' conveys that an individual possesses absolute trust, assurance, and psychological comfort regarding their actions. Common mistake: Confusing certainty or confidence with general emotional affection or enthusiasm.

Distractor check: Fierce animals like 'Ekùn' or 'Ìkookò' are clearly unsuitable, but a student might pause between various birds before selecting. Reasoning to the answer: The dove ('Ẹyẹ àdàbà') serves as a traditional symbol of affection and harmony because it visibly displays peacefulness and unity. Common mistake: Choosing predatory or unrelated animals instead of the universally recognized symbol of peace and affection.

Distractor check: Option A or C might look plausible because they mention children or falling directly, but they miss the contrast intended by the proverb. Reasoning to the answer: The proverb contrasts youth with maturity by noting that a child looks forward to learn from a fall, whereas an elder pauses to reflect analytically on the underlying causes of the mishap. Common mistake: Interpreting the proverb literally as a physical observation about falling rather than a behavioral contrast between youth and experience.

Distractor check: Ṣàngó or Ògún are major deities that students frequently confuse with philosophical or esoteric knowledge systems. Reasoning to the answer: Ọ̀rúnmìlà is recognized as the custodian of destiny and wisdom, deeply tied to the foundational teachings of Ifá. Common mistake: Attributing the deity of wisdom and destiny to warrior or thunder òrìṣàs.

Distractor check: Students might select definitions related to actions or time by confusing nouns with verbs or adverbial elements. Reasoning to the answer: A noun ('ọ̀rọ̀ orúkọ') functions specifically to designate the name of a person, animal, or object, exemplified by words like 'Adé' or 'ìlú'. Common mistake: Mistaking a noun for a verb or a descriptive word.