An atom of an element X gains two electrons. The symbol of the ion formed is

• A. X⁺
• B. X²⁺
• C. X^2-
• D. X^-

One advantage of cross breeding is that the

• A. offspring resemble the recessive parent
• B. yield of the offspring may not be comparable to those of the parents
• C. offspring performs better than the average of the parents
• D. offspring cannot survive adverse environmental conditions

UNSEEN POETRY AND PROSE

Read the poem and answer the question

Bent-double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we curse through sludge

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,

And towards our distant rest began to trudge,

Men marched asleep, many had lost their boots,

But limped on, blood-shed. All went lame, all blind;

Drunk with fatigue; even deaf to the hoots

Of gas-shells dropping softy behind.

The extract conveys a mood of

• A. dejection
• B. desperation
• C. resentment
• D. resignation

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: The Tempest

Read the extract and answer the question

Thou liest, most ignorant monster! I am in case to justle a constable. Why, thou deboshed fish, thou, was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I today. Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster? (act 111, scene two lines 23-27)

The speaker is

• A. Stephano
• B. Caliban
• C. Trinculo
• D. Adrian

The reaction that takes place in Daniell cell is

• A. direct combination
• B. redox
• C. double decomposition
• D. neutralization

Choose the option that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will correctly fill the gap in the sentence

Atrivial issue often becomes_____ when it is not properly handled.

• A. serious
• B. valuable
• C. ordinary
• D. unbearable

In the question below choose the optionnearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) underlined:The newly elected leader haspledge to ensure better life for the citizens

• A. vowed
• B. agreed
• C. undertaken
• D. undertaking

One of the main features of the Republican Constitution adopted by Nigeria in 1963 was that the

• A. office of the Governor-General was retained
• B. Prime Minister became the Head of State
• C. President became the Head of State
• D. President was responsible to the Queen of England

The fig below shows two similar bulbs X and Y connected to suitable power supply with F as an appropriate fuse rating, if the filament of X breaks then the

• A. Brightness Of Y will reduce
• B. Brightness Of Y will remain constant
• C. Brightness Of Y will increase
• D. fuse F will blow

(a) If \(\frac{\sqrt{5} + 4}{3 - 2\sqrt{5}} - \frac{2 + \sqrt{5}}{4 - 2\sqrt{5}} = a + b\sqrt{5}\), find the values of a and b.

(b)(i) Evaluate : \(\begin{vmatrix} 2 & -1 & 2 \\ 1 & 3 & 4 \\ 1 & 2 & 1 \end{vmatrix}\)

(ii) Using the result in b(i), find, correct to two decimal places, the value of x in the system of equations.

\(2x - y + 2z + 5 = 0\)

\(x + 3y + 4z - 1 = 0\)

\(x + 2y + z + 2 = 0\)