Literature-in-English past questions: JAMB UTME 2021

38 objective questions, with answers. Free to read and practise.

Sit this paper

38 questions, one at a time, marked as you go or at the end. No account needed.

1.
A band of singers and dancers in drama who acts as a link between the play and the audience is the
1. A.Chorus
2. B.Clown
3. C.Playwright
4. D.Cast
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C Playwright
2.
A play in which the acts succeed one another without probable or necessary sequence is
1. A.Episodic
2. B.Simple
3. C.Linear
4. D.Convoluted
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A Episodic
3.
A situation where an actor addresses the audience without the other actors hearing him is called
1. A.Soliloquy
2. B.Chorus
3. C.Aside
4. D.Solo
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C Aside
4.
A technique by which a previous scene or action can be recalled in a play to shed light on the present action is
1. A.Climax
2. B.Flashback
3. C.Interlude
4. D.Cathersis
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B Flashback
5.
Criticism is a literary activity which seeks to
1. A.Find faults in a literary work
2. B.Analyze and evaluate a literary work
3. C.compare and contrast novels
4. D.Discover the beauty of a literary work
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B Analyze and evaluate a literary work
6.
From the novel; Animal farm This question is based on George Orwell's Animal Farm. After the expulsion of Snowball from the farm, the truim virate that ran the farm was composed of
1. A.Minimus, Napoleon and Squealer
2. B.Jesse, Napoleon and Bluebell
3. C.Boxer, Old Major and Napoleon
4. D.Squealer, Boxer and Napoleon
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B Jesse, Napoleon and Bluebell
7.
From the novel; Animal farm This question is based on George Orwell's Animal Farm. Old Major ends his speech to the animals with song in order to
1. A.spur them to action
2. B.entertain them
3. C.display his ability to sing
4. D.teach them how to sing an anthem
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A spur them to action
8.
From the novel; Animal farm This question is based on George Orwell's Animal Farm. The message of the novel is that
1. A.capitalism is as bad as communism
2. B.humanism is better than animalism
3. C.communism is better than capitalism
4. D.no society exists where everyone is equal
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D no society exists where everyone is equal
9.
From the novel; Morountodun This question is based on Femi Osofisan's Morountodun. In the play, social change is achieved through
1. A.collectivism
2. B.sectionalism
3. C.individualism
4. D.communism
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A collectivism
10.
From the novel; Morountodun This question is based on Femi Osofisan's Morountodun. The re-enactment of the Moremi legend in the play can be described as
1. A.dramatic epilogue
2. B.dramatic monologue
3. C.role-playing
4. D.flashback
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D flashback
11.
From the novel; Morountodun This question is based on Femi Osofisan's Morountodun. The stage direction at the end of the play reveals
1. A.the actors in a changing room
2. B.Mama Kayode raising the song of hope
3. C.Moremi and Titubi in harsh spotlight
4. D.the Director making a farewell speech
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D the Director making a farewell speech
12.
From the novel; Morountodun This question is based on Femi Osofisan's Morountodun. Titubi joins the farmer's revolt
1. A.to ensure it's success
2. B.as a spy for the establishment
3. C.in pursuit of Marshal
4. D.to defy the police
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C in pursuit of Marshal
13.
From the novel; Selected Poems from: New Poetry from Africa; Poems of Black Africa; A Selection of African Poetry; Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Longman Examination Guides; West African Verse Fletcher's Upon An Honest Man's Fortune achieves its lyrical effect through the use of
1. A.Synecdoche
2. B.Antithesis
3. C.enjambment
4. D.Ballad
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D Ballad
14.
From the novel; Selected Poems from: New Poetry from Africa; Poems of Black Africa; A Selection of African Poetry; Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Longman Examination Guides; West African Verse In Angira's Expelled, the poet persona laments the
1. A.Loss of his property
2. B.Harrowing experiences from the stranger's visit
3. C.presence of the strangers
4. D.Problem of his family and their economic implications
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D Problem of his family and their economic implications
15.
From the novel; Selected Poems from: New Poetry from Africa; Poems of Black Africa; A Selection of African Poetry; Exam Focus: Literature-in-English; Longman Examination Guides; West African Verse Rhythm is achieved in Raleigh's The Soul's Errand through the use of
1. A.Metaphor
2. B.Alliteration
3. C.repetition
4. D.Antithesis
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A Metaphor
16.
From the novel; The Wives' Revolt This question is based on J.P Clark's The Wives Revolt. Characterization in the play is
1. A.economical but effecive
2. B.economical and effective
3. C.elaborate but ineffective
4. D.elaborate and effective
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B economical and effective
17.
From the novel; The Wives' Revolt This question is based on J.P Clark's The Wives Revolt. The highest measure women in the community can take to register their protest is
1. A.take prostitution
2. B.carry out the nude act
3. C.abandon their husbands
4. D.abandon their children
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B carry out the nude act
18.
From the novel; The Wives' Revolt This question is based on J.P Clark's The Wives Revolt. The play is pre occupied with
1. A.the fight by women to keep their goats
2. B.the evil that oil money breeds
3. C.women liberation from males domination
4. D.Women's protest against men's wickedness
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C women liberation from males domination
19.
From the novel; Twelfth Night This question is based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. 'I'll do my best To woo your lady.' What is the sincere desire of the person who made the statement above?
1. A.That she succeeds in winning the love for the master
2. B.That her best is good enough to win affection
3. C.That she herself becomes the beloved
4. D.That she herself wins the love
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C That she herself becomes the beloved
20.
From the novel; Twelfth Night This question is based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. 'She bore a mind that envy could not but call fair' The statement above characterizes
1. A.Maria
2. B.Olivia
3. C.Roderigo
4. D.Viola
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B Olivia
21.
From the novel; Twelfth Night This question is based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. According to the play, the Duke of illyria is fascinated by
1. A.the idea of love
2. B.the food of love
3. C.music
4. D.entertainment
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A the idea of love
22.
From the novel; Twelfth Night This question is based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. DUKE:... Thou know'st no less but all; I have unclasped to thee the book even of my secret soul. What exactly has the Duke unclasped?
1. A.The book of his relationship with Olivia
2. B.The secret of his soul
3. C.The details of his relationship with Viola
4. D.The details of his relationship with Olivia
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B The secret of his soul
23.
From the novel; Twelfth Night This question is based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. The significance of the sub-plot dealing with Feste, Toby and Maria is the expression of life's
1. A.fragility
2. B.pleasure
3. C.comedy
4. D.romance
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A fragility
24.
From the novel; Twelfth Night This question is based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. What would you consider to be the major theme of the play?
1. A.Love at first sight
2. B.Unrequited love
3. C.Illusion and reality
4. D.Humor and Tragedy
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B Unrequited love
25.
From the novel; Witnesses to Tears This question is based on Abubakar Gimba's Witnesses to Tears. In the novel, Al-Amin's initial reservations about his daughter's engagement to Lahab are dormed by
1. A.a premonition of his death
2. B.Lahab's doubtful morality
3. C.Hussaina's immaturity
4. D.his fear of loneliness
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B Lahab's doubtful morality
26.
From the novel; Witnesses to Tears This question is based on Abubakar Gimba's Witnesses to Tears. The novel is largely set in
1. A.Futa Toro
2. B.Sabonville city
3. C.Alligator city
4. D.Nuclear city
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D Nuclear city
27.
From the novel; Witnesses to Tears This question is based on Abubakar Gimba's Witnesses to Tears. The witnesses to the tears in the novel are
1. A.Saahir and Lahab
2. B.Lahab and Hussaina
3. C.Lahab and Sagiir
4. D.Al-Amin and Hussaina
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D Al-Amin and Hussaina
28.
The repetition of a consonant sound in quick succession of sound effect is
1. A.Alliteration
2. B.Pun
3. C.onomatopoeia
4. D.Assonance
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A Alliteration
29.
This question is based on General Literary Principles. 'If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?' Shelly, 'Ode to the West Wind'. The literary device used here is
1. A.an apostrophe
2. B.an allegory
3. C.a poetic license
4. D.a rhetoric
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B an allegory
30.
This question is based on General Literary Principles. 'The woman whose breast I sucked is gone to the worms, 'Oculi, Orphan'. These lines illustrate the use of
1. A.sadism
2. B.sophism
3. C.satire
4. D.euphemism
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D euphemism
31.
This question is based on General Literary Principles. A melodramatic play is based on
1. A.a melodious manipulation of events
2. B.ingredients that mellow down events
3. C.sensational plot and characters
4. D.the playwright's didactic overtones
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C sensational plot and characters
32.
This question is based on General Literary Principles. An elegy is a poem that mourns for the
1. A.deceased
2. B.bereaved
3. C.accused
4. D.king
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A deceased
33.
This question is based on General Literary Principles. In drama, a conspicuous weakness in the character of the protagonist contributing to his downfall is referred to as
1. A.an anagnorisis
2. B.a tragic flaw
3. C.a catharsis
4. D.a catastrophe
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B a tragic flaw
34.
This question is based on General Literary Principles. Persona refers to the
1. A.central character in a play
2. B.voice of the character
3. C.the image a character presents
4. D.the personality of a character
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B voice of the character
35.
This question is based on General Literary Principles. Poems that are not written in meter or regular line length are called
1. A.short verses
2. B.rhythmic verses
3. C.free verses
4. D.irregular verses
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C free verses
36.
This question is based on General Literary Principles. Romantic poetry emphasizes
1. A.the beauty of nature
2. B.intimate relationships
3. C.the love in human nature
4. D.the romance in human aspiration
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A the beauty of nature
37.
This question is based on General Literary Principles. The three main unities in drama are those of
1. A.action, time and place
2. B.time, space and action
3. C.place, time and space
4. D.space, action and time
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B time, space and action
38.
This question is based on General Literary Principles. When two statements or comparisons are apparently contradictory, we have an example of
1. A.irony
2. B.paradox
3. C.contrast
4. D.parallelism
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B paradox

Printing is turned off here to protect the question bank. Get the SmarTest app to study offline.

More free Literature-in-English papers

JAMB Literature-in-English 1978–2019 is in the app

The latest five years of each paper are free here. The SmarTest app has every year we hold, a worked explanation for each answer, and timed mock exams. It works offline.

Get the app

Android, Windows, Mac and Linux