English is the study of the English language. The goal is to improve communication skills by practicing listening, speaking, reading, writing, and understanding language rules like pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.
Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
The conference is biennial.
Options:IF economists were a bit more modest, they would admit that no one knows exactly how many Nigerians there are. The National population Bureau estimated that there would be 116 million in 1986, but this figure was derived from projections based on the much disputed figures of the 1963 census, using an annual population growth rate that was at best a guess work. Notwithstanding that the margin of error could be as large as a plus 20 million; economists have still felt confident to speak of Nigeria’s per capita income, birth and mortality rates literacy rate and so on, as if they were quoting precise figures.
So much Nigerians is determined on the basis of the population that the lack of accurate figures has a significantly adverse effect on policies. One obviously affected area is development planning, which for the lack of reliable data, frequently looks like an exercise in futility. An example of what happens is the country’s Universal Primary Education (UPE) scheme launched in 1976. Policy makers had expected, on the basis of the 1975/76 primary school enrolment of just fewer than 5 million, that they would not have to cope with much more than 6 million school children in the first year. But the enrolment in 1976/77 turned out to be 8.4 million rising to 10.1 million the following year. The unanticipated cost of catering for the large number was the main cause of the collapse of that worth scheme after only four years.
Population also plays an important role in revenue allocation, specifically in the sharing of the states’ portion of the Federation Account, some percentage of which is based on population or population-related factors. Because of the contentious nature of the subject, the compromise has been to estimate based on the 1963 census figures, even when such a move produces ridiculous situations. It is for all these reasons that the Babangida Administration’s effort to ascertain the nation’s population is such a worthwhile venture.
Precise national population figures are required in order to Options:Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.
Match
Options:In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:
The economic situation in the country is obviously gloomy
Options:In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
I know that your friend will not accept the proposal _____
Options:The passage below has gaps numbered 11 to 20. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap.
A prepared speech is not easy to deliver, especially if it is not written by the presenter. -11- [A. Quantum B. document C. free D. manuscript] delivery is one in which the speech has been written out word from word and is read to -12- [A. an audience B. a congregation C. a conference D. a gathering]. this kind of delivery is usually reserved for very -13-[A. genuine B. impromptu C. guaranteed D. formal] occasions when exact wording is -14-[A. reportive B. conclusive C. speculative D. critical] such as the State of the Union Address or speeches before the United Nations General -15-[A. Assembly B. Audience C. Organisation D. Negotiation]. The primary advantage is that the speech may be highly-16-[A. advanced B. analogous C. discreet D. polished] in terms of word choice, turns of phrase, and development of ideals. The main disadvantage is that this type of delivery is difficult to do well. Reading aloud with meaningful -17-[A. vocal B. bifocal C. anticipatory D. profuse] inflection requires the speaker to be very familiar with the text. If not, the words will come out in a choppy, expressionless way. Such poor delivery could destroy any -18-[A. decisive B. positive C. interactive D. restrictive] effects created by the carefully chosen -19-[A. dialect B. rhetoric C. slang D. language] . Lack of familiarity with the -20-[A. text B. context C. exchange D. note] could also prevent the speaker from maintaining eye contact with the people being addressed.
In question number 14 above, choose the best option from letters A - D that best completes the gap. Options:After many weary weeks of matching . Nzinga and her attendants arrived at the white wall of Luanda. The guards at the city gates led them through the winding streets and up to the governor’s palace. A pompous courtier, sweating and dirty in his thick clothes ordered them to wait amongst a crowd of people who had come to beg favours of the governor.
Nzinga waited patiently, ignoring this insult to her royal dignity. She knew that her chance would come. The hot sun beat down on the white walls of the palace, yet Nzinga stood straight and proud as the crowd of Portuguese merchants mopped their sweating faces with damp lace handkerchiefs.
Much later the courtier came back. He knocked on the floor with his staff, and then announced in a loud voice, ‘His Excellency Joao Correia de Souza, the Governor in Angola of His Most Royal and Catholic Majesty, the king of Portugal’. The tired soldiers stood to attention and the courtiers and merchants bowed.
Nzinga became very impatient. Was she to stand here like a servant all day, waiting for this man to make up his mind to hear her? She stepped forward, walked into the middle of the room and faced the governor. The guards and the courtiers were so amazed that they could o nothing but gasp in amazement at this boldness. ‘Well, ‘murmured one of the merchants to his neighbor. ‘Now she will learn what trouble is! Don Joao will be very angry. It is an insult to his dignity’. ‘What do you mean by this, asked the governor when he had recovered from his surprise. ‘Who are you? Come, woman, state your business!’
But Nzinga was not afraid. In a clear, calm voice she answered him. ‘My first business is a chair,’ she said. The governor laughed. ‘What do you mean?’ he asked. ‘You are seated, ‘she replied, ‘And you are only a governor, a slave of your king. I am a princess and men do not sit where I stand. I will state my business seated!’
But Nzinga had learnt the strength of her enemy. She knew that she was already winning this contest of wills. E
Whatever happens now, this man would not think that she has been sent by a beaten people to beg favours. Without another word, she turned and made a sign to her maid. When the girl came to her, Nzinga ordered her to kneel down. Then, with a flash or triumph in her eyes, Nzinga sat down on the girl’s back, Nzinga got her treaty. Pride in herself and in her people had saved the day for the Mbundu.
What was the first insult to the princess' dignity? Options: