Correct Answer: D. comfort

Correct Answer: C. became suspicious

Explanation

Smelt rat implies becoming suspicious

Correct Answer: A. stimulated Olu

Explanation

It was quite interesting to spend the last long vacation among the Idoma people of Benue-plateau region of the t country. I went to Otukpo, to be precise, to spend my holiday with my friend, Adinoyi. The fact is that I enjoyed every bit of my stay in Otukpo because everyday, I was exposed to a different culture, tradition and ways of life of some people quite different from mine.

Benue-Plateau region, prior to my visit to Otukpo, had been just a mere geographical region on the Nigerian socio-political map. In fact, the first idea I had about the culture and belief of the Idoma people came to me through my intimate friendship with Adinoyi. But then, it had remained abstract until I had the opportunity to travel with him to Otukpo during the last holiday.

I had a whiff of the people's culture and tradition the first day Adinoyi and I got to Otukpo. Our journey from Lagos to otukpo took the whole day as we started off on the journey very early in the morning and got there around 10.00 pm in the night. Immediately, we got there, I was introduced to the people living in the neighbouring huts surrounding Adinoyi's parents. Soon after the introduction, adults and small children who had gathered listening to moonlight tales came around the but Where I was and they started singing and dancing welcoming me into their midst. I was surprised at the spontaneous outburst of songs and dancing but my friend told me that it was how the Idoma people welcome their special guest. I was fascinated by the hospitality of the people which I later discovered was part of their life. It was their tradition to make their guests comfortable by providing all convenience for the guests. Despite the fact that we got to Otukpo late in the night, sumptuous meal was prepared for me and I had to eat sitting among the villagers. This happened every time I had to eat. They justified this act of eating among a large crowd of people as a demonstration of the spirit of communality.

Another custom of the people that fascinated me is their belief in hardwork. My hosts believe that a guest should be regarded as a guest for two days after which he would be invited to go to the farm with them. I found this custom very interesting. On the third day of my stay among the people, I had to go to the farm with my friend's father and I worked in his farm with the traditional hoe of the Idoma people called 'Abele'.

Their mode of dressing is very simple and fascinating. Their young girls and women go about in simple garments made from heavy local fabrics similar to Ghana's 'kente. The men put across their bodies wrappers usually of white stripes on black background and tie the wrapper in knot on their right shoulders. This mode of dressing always leaves half of their chest bare which they claim is a display of their manliness. The old men and adults among them usually complement their dressing with a walking stick, On the bodies of the young ladies and women, there are tattoos which they regard as embellishment to their beauty.

In terms of courtesy, the Idoma people cannot be found wanting. They stoop and squat to greet each other and in one greeting, they would ask about the welfare of everything that one has, including one's pets. This always takes some of your time and the people will squat and stoop in greetings every time they see you in a day.

The most interesting aspect of their life is that an Idoma adult male has to demonstrate his capability to protect his spouse. His manliness will be put to task during the traditional marriage rite. He is flogged on his bare body by a team of strong men until there are lacerations of sore caused by the strokes of cams he receives on his body. The suitor's ability to withstand the flogging will demonstrate his ability to protect his spouse.

I so much love the tradition. custom and the way of life of my hosts that at the end of my stay in Otukpo. I had to shed tears when the departing entertainment was being staged in my honour at the town's arena.

Correct Answer: A. His weakness is women

Explanation

Ikeja Senior High School,

G.R.A. Ikeja,

22nd May. 2005

The Commissioner,

Ministry of Labour and Productivity,

Alausa.

Dear Sir.

EVILS OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE

Recently, you will notice that there has been a lot of discussions in the media on the evils of unemployment in the country. The effect of unemployment in the country has started to affect Lagos State negatively. This is not surprising because the state is cosmopolitan in nature with several people entering the state on daily basis.

I would like to highlight at least three of these evils and later suggest ways of tackling them. Increase in crime wave j is the first evil of unemployment in the state. Many people resorted to crime when they could not get job though they j came to the state with the aim of securing one. Several people living in rural areas believe that there are jobs in Lagos, so they enter the state with this erroneous belief at the back of their minds. However, they turn to crime when they could not secure employment. This has been the reason the rate of violent crimes is so alarming in the state. Armed robbery and other violent crimes are committed in the broad daylight.

In addition to this, many children drop out of schools. These children are exposed to money ventures too early in life. The serious implication of this is that they constitute nuisance and danger to other Lagosians as they grow old. They become urchins (area boys and girls) and terror to passers-by on our streets as while girls eventually become prostitutes littering Lagos streets.

Furthermore the large spate of violence in and around the state is another evil of unemployment. In some parts of the state recently there are cases of public violence in our motor garages as motor park touts unleash terror and violence on one another. thereby disturbing the public peace Several innocent Lagosians lose their lives and several other not go to their places of work each time these miscreants go on rampage.

In order to make the state habitable for people the issue of unemployment must be urgently addressed. As a commissioner for labour, it would be appreciated, if you could use your office to establish small-scale industries where people can be employed. You could also use your influence to convince the government to give loans to the teeming unemployed Nigerians who are living in the state. so that they can be able to practise their trade. I suggests this because many people learn one trade or the other but because there is no money they could not establish themselves in business. The loan given out to the unemployed should attract low interest.

Apart from this your ministry could establish vocational centres where those who want to learn a trade can enroll to learn one trade or the other. This will make them to be self-employed after learning a trade. The ministry should also assist them to establish a business after their training.

Yours faithfully.

Signature

Nduka Oluchi

Correct Answer: A. dislike each other

Correct Answer: C. Ore

Correct Answer: A. a camouflage

Correct Answer: B. train them