JAMB Yoruba 2021
Questions & Answers

Àpapọ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ 'ọkùnrin' ni 'àwọn ọkùnrin' nítorí pé ó ń tọ́ka sí ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ èèyàn tí wọ́n jẹ́ ọkùnrin. Ọ̀rọ̀ orúkọ yìí ni a máa ń lò láti sọ nípa àwùjọ tàbí àwọn akọ ní ìdíyelé. Common mistake: Àṣìṣe wọ́pọ̀ ni láti lo àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ àpọ̀ nìkan láìsí àfikún àwọn tó tọ́.

Rẹwà jẹ́ ọ̀rọ̀ tí ó ń ṣàpèjúwe ẹwà nítorí pé ó ń sọ nípa ìrísí tí ó dára tàbí tí ó wúni lórí. A máa ń lò ó gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọ̀rọ̀ àpèjúwe láti fi ìríni tí ó wuni hàn. Common mistake: Àṣìṣe wọ́pọ̀ ni láti darapọ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ àpèjúwe ẹ̀wà mọ́ àwọn ìṣe tàbí agbára bíi líle.

Òwe náà 'Àkùkọ̀ kì í kọ nígbà ọjọ́' ń sọ nípa ṣíṣe nǹkan ní àkókò tí ó tọ́ tàbí ní ìgbà rẹ̀. Ìtumọ̀ rẹ̀ fi hàn pé àkókò kọ̀ọ̀kan ní ìṣe tirẹ̀, gẹ́gẹ́ bí àkùkọ̀ ti kì í kọ ní ọ̀sán yàtọ̀ sí àkókò owúrọ̀ rẹ̀. Common mistake: Àṣìṣe wọ́pọ̀ ni láti túmọ̀ òwe náà ní tààràtà gẹ́gẹ́ bí ẹ̀ranko kàkà kí a wá ìtumọ̀ ìjìnlẹ̀ rẹ̀.

Nọ́ńbà 'mẹ́rin' ní èdè Yorùbá wá báamu pẹ̀lú 'four' ní èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì, tí ó ń tọ́ka sí iye àwọn nǹkan mẹ́rin tí a kà. Ìtumọ̀ yìí ṣe kedere fún ìdámọ̀ iye nǹkan ní èdè méjèèjì. Common mistake: Àṣìṣe wọ́pọ̀ ni láti dàpọ̀ mẹ́rin (four) mọ́ mẹ́ta (three) tàbí márùn-ún (five).

Distractor check: A student might mistakenly choose option A (Àṣọ) or D (Ìbùsùn), assuming they are common household items, but neither is used for cooking. Reasoning to the answer: Ikọkọ serves as an essential kitchen utensil in traditional Yoruba homes, specifically employed for preparing meals such as yam or soup. Common mistake: Confusing general household furniture or clothing with actual culinary tools.

Distractor check: A student might select option A (Ìbínú) or B (Ìfẹ́) because they represent strong emotions, much like gratitude. Reasoning to the answer: Ìdúpẹ́ refers to appreciation or acknowledging a good deed done by someone, acting as a virtue that demonstrates thankfulness within Yoruba society. Common mistake: Mistaking emotional states of anger or affection for the specific act of showing gratitude.

Distractor check: Options A (Ń rọ̀) and B (Ń wọ̀) might look plausible because they describe celestial movements like setting or descending. Reasoning to the answer: The word 'tàn' in this context indicates that a star is shining its light in the sky, which typically happens during the night hours. Common mistake: Confusing the physical movement of setting with the emission of light.

Distractor check: Students could mistakenly pick option D (Màlúù) or A (Erin) thinking of large animals generally, but these lack feathers. Reasoning to the answer: An 'ẹyẹ' is classified as a feathered animal because it possesses feathers enabling it to fly, distinguishing it from non-flying animals. Common mistake: Failing to distinguish between mammals and feathered flying creatures.

Distractor check: Option A (Ìmẹ́lẹ́) or C (Ìbẹ̀rù) might be chosen if a student confuses eagerness with laziness or fear. Reasoning to the answer: Ìháragàgà points directly to eagerness or the effort to undertake tasks with passion and enthusiasm, reflecting a hardworking attitude. Common mistake: Confusing active excitement and drive with negative traits like fear or sluggishness.

Distractor check: A student might incorrectly choose option A (Kọ) or C (Wò) by confusing the act of reading with writing or merely looking. Reasoning to the answer: In this context, 'ka' means the person comprehends and understands the written contents inside a book through proper reading. Common mistake: Confusing the active comprehension of text with the separate acts of writing or viewing.

Distractor check: Options like B (Ewé) or C (Òkúta) might be picked if a student misunderstands farm produce classifications. Reasoning to the answer: Iṣu is a cultivated crop harvested for food, such as sweet yam or pounded yam, making it a prominent edible harvest in Yoruba culture. Common mistake: Mistaking non-food elements or general vegetation for edible tubers.

Distractor check: Option A (Ìbànújẹ́) or D (Ìdààmú) might be mistakenly chosen as they represent emotional opposites or distress. Reasoning to the answer: Ìtẹ́lọ́rùn points to joy or happiness experienced regarding a situation, action, or achievement, serving as a positive emotional state that demonstrates contentment. Common mistake: Confusing contentment and joy with distress or sadness.

Distractor check: Option A (Tútù) is a common distractor because weather conditions often shift between hot and cold. Reasoning to the answer: The term 'pọ́n' here indicates that the weather is growing hot or turbulent, which typically causes wood to dry or react. Common mistake: Confusing hot weather descriptions with cool climatic conditions.

Distractor check: A student might mistakenly select option A (Àga) or D (Ìbùsùn), thinking of household furniture instead of musical equipment. Reasoning to the answer: Gángan is a musical instrument utilized to produce pleasant sounds, functioning as an important drum beaten with a stick during Yoruba celebrations. Common mistake: Confusing furniture items with traditional percussion instruments.

Distractor check: Option A (Ìwà ibi) might be selected by a student who mistakes good character for bad behavior. Reasoning to the answer: Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́ points to good behavior or pleasant conduct that radiates humility and respect, earning praise in Yoruba society. Common mistake: Confusing polite and virtuous behavior with negative conduct.

Distractor check: Options A (Ń sùn) or B (Ń sáré) might be chosen if a student misinterprets bodily movements at a gathering. Reasoning to the answer: The word 'jó' here specifies that people are entertaining themselves or dancing to music, an activity usually performed during celebrations or joyful occasions to express happiness. Common mistake: Confusing dancing with running or sleeping.

Distractor check: Options A (Adìyẹ) or B (Ewúrẹ́) are familiar because they are common domestic animals, but they do not live in the wild. Reasoning to the answer: Ìgalà is a wild animal found naturally within forests, clearly differentiating it from domesticated creatures like chickens or cats. Common mistake: Failing to distinguish between domestic livestock/pets and genuine wildlife.

Distractor check: Option A (Ìgbéraga) is the exact opposite, making it a tempting wrong choice for students who misread the term. Reasoning to the answer: Ìrẹ̀lẹ̀ indicates humility or an attitude devoid of arrogance, embodying respect and meekness, which is an admired virtue. Common mistake: Confusing humility with pride.

Distractor check: Option B (Gbígbóná) might be picked because spicy food often feels hot in temperature as well. Reasoning to the answer: The term 'kíkan' in this sentence specifies that the food is heavily spiced with pepper, leaving a hot sensation in the mouth regarding its flavor profile. Common mistake: Confusing physical heat with hot pepper spiciness.

Distractor check: Options A (Erùpẹ̀) or D (Omi) might be guessed if a student confuses tree anatomy with basic environmental elements. Reasoning to the answer: Ẹka is a specific botanical part that sprouts outward from a tree limb and grows alongside leaves, forming a vital component of a tree. Common mistake: Mistaking soil or water for physical parts of a tree.