Jamb: Past Question Use of English

COMPREHENSION

Read each passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it.

The approach to the University is being restructured to ease the flow of traffic, give better security and provide an appropriate introduction to a seat of higher learning. The Works and Services Complex is also under construction , and we intend to move into the completed {major}part of it within the next few weeks.

All these projects are being executed with an eye to aesthetics, for we recognize the important influence of a beautiful and healthy environment on its inhabitants and feel that a cluster of buildings on a small space such as we have , should be so well designed as to have a beneficial psychological and sociological effect on all members of the community.

I have gone to these lengths to itemize these examples of current development for two main reason. Firstly , to advise you that the road diversions and other physical inconveniences currently being experienced will be on the increase because of intense development activity. We therefore appeal to you to bear with us in full knowledge and consolation that such inconveniences are temporary and will soon yield final tangible results. Secondly, to demonstrate our capacity for executing approved projects with dispatch, and to assure Government that we are up to the task. Indeed, I can assure Government that its ability to disburse funds to us will be more than matched by our capacity to collect and expend them on executing various worthy projects in record time.

From the passage we can gather that

there is not muchconsideration for the health of the inhabitants.

B. there is deliberate effort to inconvenience the

people

buildings are put up anyhow

projects are carried out without approval

the inconveniences suffered by the inhabitants will be for a while.

Unless it can be shown that the money voted for projects can be spent on them in good time.

the development activity will not be intense.

it will not be easy to convince the Government of our executive ability
it will not be difficult to ask Government for funds

our final results will be unreliable.

the road diversions and other inconveniences will continue.

An eye to aesthetics in this passage means

A. regard for space. B. beneficial psychological effects C. regard for health D. consideration for beauty

a cluster of buildings.

In this passage the author tries to explain why

it is necessary to establish the Works and Services Complex in the University.
beauty should not be taken into consideration when building on such a small space as we have

the gateway to the university is being rebuilt

major part of the project should be completed in the next few weeks.
visitors should be debarred from using the gates in the meantime.

Which of these is NOT among the reasons given by the author for enumerating the examples of the current development?

to show that we are capable of executing approved projects.
to convince the Government that we can be trusted with task.
the inconvenience currently being experienced will go on indefinitely.
we are fully aware of the inconveniences being caused but we do not want you to complain.
we have the capacity to complete worthy projects within the scheduled time.



Is work for prisoners a privilege to save them from the demoralizing effects and misery of endless unoccupied hours? Is it something added to a prison sentence to make it harder and more unpleasant, or something, which should have a positive value as part of a system of rehabilitation?

Those magistrates who clung to sentences of hard labour doubtless looked upon strenuous work as an additional punishment. This point of view is widely accepted as right and proper, but it ignores the fact that unwillingness to work is often one of the immediate causes of criminality. To send prisoners back to the outside world, more than ever convinced that labour is an evil to be avoided, is to confirm them in their old way of life.

It has been said that the purpose of prison work in a programme of rehabilitation is twofold: training for work and training by work. The prisoner, that is to say, needs to be trained in habits of industry; but over and above this, he will gain immeasurably if it is possible to rouse in him the consciousness of self-mastery and of purpose that the completion of any worthwhile piece of work can give to the doer. He may find a pride of achievement in something more satisfying, and more socially desirable, than crime. But these things can only come when the work itself has a purpose and demands an effort.

According to the author, some magistrates sentence prisoners to hard labour because.

some prisoners are unwilling to work.

work is a privilege

prisoners need to learn a trade

it is an additional punishment

it is a means of rehabilitation.

Which of these is NOT the purpose of work in a programme of rehabilitation?

training the prisoners to have satisfaction in work.

developing in them a pride in a sense of achievement.

developing in them more satisfaction in work than in crime.

helping them to accelerate their reform and discharge.
training them for work and by work.

The author thinks that strenuous work in prison.

is a privilege for the prisoners

may do more harm than good

is part of their punishment

is a right and proper thing

should be an additional punishment.

What the author is trying to put across in this passage is that

crime does not pay

prisoners should be made to work hard

work is more desirable than crime

life in prison is one of misery.

work in prison without a purpose is bad.

Demoralizing in this passage means

A. deformingB. reformingC. agonizing

D. destructiveE. corrupting.


The Save the Children Fund (SCF) was first started in London on 19th May, 1919 by an English woman --- named Miss Jebb. It is now a worldwide organization, dedicated to helping needy children everywhere. The SCF of Malawi was formed in 1953, under the patronage of His Excellency the Life President Ngawazi Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda.

‘Our job in Malawi is to give those unfortunate children the rights that they are deprived of through no fault of theirs. These are internationally recognized as the ten rights of children and include protection, care, food and accommodation, and relief’, a spokesman for the Fund explained.

One of those who benefited from the help of the Fund is Samuel Mpetechula, a graduate of Chancellor. His sponsorship started in 1967. The SCF of Malawi found him sponsors. They were Mr. and Mrs. Sutton of Australia who paid his school fees and continued to help him financially throughout his University education.

Mr. Mpetechula said, ‘They even built a house for me at home and looked after my family while I was a student. They were really helpful to me, and the thought that there were these sponsors caring for me from thousands of kilometers away from here was an encouragement for me to work hard at college’.

Another important function of the work of the SCF is in the field of nutrition. With the help of the Australian Government, the SCF established two nutrition rehabilitation centers for children; one at Mpemba and another in Mulanje. ‘The object of the centre’, explained Mr. Petre Chimbe, the Executive Secretary of the Fund, ‘is to combat malnutrition in children, by giving them the proper food.’


In Malawi, the ‘Save the Children Fund’ was formed

by an English woman named Miss Jebb in 1919

in 1919 under the patronage of His Excellency the Life President Ngawazi Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda

C. under the patronage of His Excellency the Life President Ngawazi Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda in 1953

in 1953 by a group of social workers headed by Dr. Mbagunda
none of the above.


The ‘Save the Children Fund’ in Malawi helps needy children by
finding families which are willing to adopt the children
finding sponsors for the children’s education and by opening nutrition centers
giving loans and scholarships to students who cannot afford to continue their education
running institutions which give free food

clothing and lodging poor children without parents.

Samuel Mpetechula was able to graduate from Chancellor because

of the financial assistance given to him by his sponsors

his uncle paid his education fees.

he was able to win a scholarship to the university

the SCF subsidized his educational expenses

of the assistance given to him by the Australian Government.


In questions 14 and 15 choose the meaning which best fits the underlined phrases taken from the passage.

Combat malnutrition means

struggle against the easing of the wrong type of food

fight ill health caused by over-feeding

wipe out ignorance

fight to wipe out ill health caused by lack of food

fight against hunger.

Deprived of means

A. spared B. prevented from getting C. robbed of D. unable to take. E. snatched from.



At the time of the troubles in Ireland, a priest said, ‘Man is half beast.’ A diplomat replied, ‘Yes. And the beast is the half I like the best.’ The priest meant that few beasts behave as badly as man when man makes up his mind to behave badly. If you look at the folly and cruelty of today’s world, it is hard to disagree with the diplomat or the priest. But human nature can be changed. Anybody, if that is what they most want to do, can change the most difficult person they know. The art of changing people has been lost in the modern world. That is why the modern world has lost its way.

There are two ways of looking at human nature. One is to make the best of it as it is and assume that it is the raw material of life which cannot be altered. That is what most people in the free world do today. In these circumstances, if you expect the worst, you are seldom disappointed. Faith today has become irrelevant to the everyday needs of so many people in positions of responsibility because they do not expect faith to change men.

Another way of dealing with human nature is to exploit it. All materialists, whether of the right or the left, do this. All over the world vanity, fear, ambition, lust and greed are used to control the life of men; and if the control breaks down, man does not hesitate to use force, or to destroy life. The end, he says, justifies the means and men are only of value in so far as they are a means towards the achievement of his ambition. If they cannot be bribed or forced to play their part, then they must be liquidated.

The priest meant that

man is both beast and human

man could be sores than a beast if he wants to
he liked beasts more than man
he liked both man and beast
really, a man cannot be a beast.

The modern world has lost its way because

it no longer believes in God

ambition has made people greedy

people are no longer interested in one another

the technique of influencing people is no more

people are just too selfish.


What most people do in the free world today is to

leave other people alone

assume that human nature is bad

accept human nature as it is since it is immutable.

attempt to change the world E. leave the world as it is.

Faith today is by and large irrelevant because

nobody thinks it can alter human nature

most people do not believe in God

being in a position of responsibility nullifies the importance of faith
responsible people need not bother about faith

the faithful are very few in the world anyway.

Materialists can be found

in capitalist countries

in communist countries

in less developed countries

among people who do not have neighbours.

all over the world.



Typical Zacharia! Devil-may care and irrevererant as ever. No doubt he was just the same when he was cook to a Greek trader in the town. In fact, I suspect that to him the Reverend Father is just another sort of trader. Conceited ass, thinking himself superior to the Father! And in what is he superior? Success with women, perhaps? Zacharia knows that they all admire him and is always striving for still more admiration. He dresses sharply and walks in a haughty manner that suits his tallness. And then he feeds his pride on the swarms of girls who run after him. It’s maddening to think how little you need to attract them. I remember my mother coming home from market in the town, after selling her vegetables and cocoa. How indignant she was: ‘It’s so shameful,’ she cried, ‘our best-looking and most respectable girls go to town and throw themselves at strangers as ugly as sin, speaking the most outlandish tongues. Men I can scarely look at without shuddering! And why? Just money! Money! Ah, what a world! And my father replied in a buried voice, ‘It’s the times!’ ‘The times!’ shouted mother, ‘can you imagine my child Ann with creatures like those?’

But perhaps the girls who chase Zacharia aren’t drawn by his tallness or his leather shoes. Perhaps they’re only after childish things, a bit of bread or a pot of jam, knowing that he’s a cook. My father often says women are like children in their desires. And after all, I too can boast a little. Plenty of women turn to look at me, especially when I’m dressed all in white! But I’m not vain enough to fuss over a little thing like that. Not like Zacharia, who doesn’t know women are simply children.

Zacharia


A. was the cook of a traderB.

worked for a priest

C. worked for the speaker’s mother D. was a rich man

was a handsome man

Which of the following was NOT a quality of Zacharia’s character?

A. VanityB. Lack of respect for others

C. Humility D. ArroganceE. Insubordination

The girls were apparently attracted to Zacharia by

wealth

the life of the towns

the appearance of the young men

the fact that the young men spoke strange dialects

food.

From the passage we can conclude that the young girls were

A. attractiveB. religiousC. modern

D. easily ledE. indifferent

The speaker’s mother considered that

things were not as good as they used to be

women were foolish

the world was corrupt

the love of money was the root of all evil

it was necessary for attitudes to change.

LEXIS AND STRUCTURE

In Questions 26 to 34 choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined.

The story has to be taken with a grain of salt. This means that

you need some salt to listen to the story.

there is no salt in the story.

the story is questionable

the story is true

you have too much salt in the story.

It is usually hard to change the course of action when one crosses the Rubicon. The underlined expression, as used in this sentence, means to

pass through a place called Rubicon

cross a river called Rubicon

cross a bridge called Rubicon

pass a special test

be irrevocably committed.

The saleman tried to pull the wool over my eyes. This implies that the salesman tried to

force me to buy his goods

offer me cotton wool

make me buy his wool

dupe me

cover my eyes with wool.

Ijeoma counted her chickens before they were hatched. This means that Ijeoma

regarded each egg as a chicken

hatched the eggs prematurely
assumed that her expectations had already been realized
protected her eggs from breaking

insured the eggs.

Solo has resigned his job with the Textile Mills. He doesn’t seem to worry about getting another job. His plans are still quite in the air. This means that his plans are

A. airmailedB. air tightC. uncertain

D. certainE. airborne.

Ike is head over heels in love with Ngozi. This means that

Ike is friendly with Ngozi.

Ike is trying to fall in love with Ngozi.

Ngozi fell on Ike’s heel and both of them fell in love

Ike is madly in love with Ngozi.

none of the above.

The legislator has decided to play second fiddle after he had been walked out of the Assembly for violating basic procedure of the House. This means that the legislator has decided to
oppose every motion in the House

support every motion in the House

condemn every motion

support the lead given by others

become active in the house.

Old customs die hard. This implies that old customs

cause a lot of hardship and death

must be stopped

never die out

cause hardship for younger people

tend to last for a long time.

The convict said he was tire of leading a dog’s life. To lead a dog’s life means to live

A. carelesslyB. in disgraceC. in solitude

D. in miseryE. in poverty.

In Questions 35 to 70 choose the expression or word which best completes each sentence.

After the initial confusion, the Manager’s suggestion brought.... to the depressed investors.

A. a glitter of hope.B. a glimmer of hope.

C. a sparkle of hopeD. a raise of hope

E. a shower of hope.

The farmer has brought the insecticide because he was bent on … the insects in his farm.

A. exterminatingB. estimatingC. extenuating

D. extinguishingE. exemplifying.

The young lady decided to…

do away with the many advices given by her relatives

reject all the advices given by her relatives

reject all the advice given by her relations

take to all the advices given by her relations E. eject all the advices given by her relatives

.

Two ministers found it very difficult to get…in the Cabinet. A. through with each other

by with one another

through with one another

off from each other E. on with each other.

The school Board has placed an order for…

all the furnitures and equipments required in the new schools
all the furniture and equipment required in the new schools
all of the furniture and equipments required in the new schools.

many of the furnitures and equipments required in the new schools.

On his way back the boy ran into a long procession of men, women and children in…

white beautiful exceedingly flowing gowns.

exceedingly flowing white beautiful gowns.

exceedingly beautiful white flowing gowns

white flowing exceedingly beautiful gowns

flowing exceedingly white beautiful gowns.

The proprietors should be blamed for such a deplorable condition in the nursery schools,…

isn’t it? B. shouldn’t they? C. should they?

D. is it?E. shouldn’t it?

I could not believe that our team… the match after being in the lead for most of the match.

A. to loseB. lostC. will be losing

D. losingE. loosen.

The Head of Department is away to Murtala Mohammed Airport and has asked Dr. Haruna to stand ... for him

A. outB. inC. onD. acrossE. about.

The Commission was set up to enquire …. the general conditions of child abuse in such institutions.

A. atB. fromC. afterD. beforeE. into.

We hold that the nation, both in its public and private sectors… the best consultancy service and advice in all

its endeavours.

A. deserveB. is deservingC. deservers

D. are deservingE. richly deserve.

The situation has deteriorated sharply, and relations between the two countries may soon be…

A. removedB. brokenC. withdrawn D. eliminated

E. deferred.

One of the old men… round the lawn three times every evening.

A. use to run B. are use to run C. is used to running D. are used to run E. are used to running.

The problems of Nigeria’s worsening economy seem to have… an immediate solution.

A definedB. defiedC. rejected

D. rewardedE. retained.            
.
This conference is designed to enable delegates… their personal interests with specialists in various fields.
A.to discuss aboutB. discussing C.to

discussD. for discussingE. by discussing.

The car owner does not think about the… of his vehicle and the other payments involved in owning it.

A. transportation.B. depreciationC. calculation

D. appreciationE. association.

The very moment she … her folly, she will come back to apologize.

A. realizedB. is realizingC. will realize

D.has realizedE. realizes.

The lazy candidates suggested that it…

is time we do away with JAMB

was time we do away with JAMB

is time we did away with JAMB

was time we did away with JAMB

is time we are done away with JAMB.

I do not want the light in my room… when I am asleep.

A. turned offB. turn offC. to run out

D. turned out.E. turned in.

I have applied for… on the campus and I am almost certain I shall get it.

A. acommodation B. accommondation C. accommodation D. accomoddation.

E. accommodation.

The dead body of the armed robber has … in the street for three days.

A.laidB. lainC. layedD. liedE. lay.

Candidates who are not accustomed to… fast will find it difficult to finish this paper.

A.writeB. have writtenC. be writing

D. writingE. having written.

Do you mind… another minute or two?

A.to waitB. waitC. waiting

D. having awaited. E. being awaited.

We shall offer a good job to a … to register guests in the Central Hotel.

A.waiterB. watchman C. cashier

D. receptionistE. cleaner.

I’ve lived… this street… ten years.

A. at, sinceB. for, duringC. on, forD. on, from

E. in, for.

North Africa is … than Northern Europe.

A. hotterB. more hotC. more hotterD. the hottest

E. hot.

I… a lot when I was a student. A. used traveling B. was used to travel.
C. used to travel D. used travel
E. was used to traveling.

I wish I … your age.

A.to beB. wereC. to have beenD. would

beE. could be.

I am looking forward to… you

A. seeing B. seeC. have seenD. will seeE. be see.

I can’t offer you another loan. I have… money left in my account.

A. a fewB. a littleC. littleD. fewE. some

I told you you would miss the bus. You … left home earlier.

A. can’t haveB. must haveC. will have

D. should haveE. had to have.

I always prefer the theatre… the cinema.

A. thanB. thenC. on top ofD. beforeE. to.

He acts... he were a manager.

A. likeB. such asC. suchD. asE. as if.

Don’t … the teacher that he… that!

A. tell, saidB. say, tellsC. talk, spoke.

D. speak, talkedE. tell, told.

He is very tired. He really is.. staying up late.

A. getting used toB. not used toC. got used to

D. used toE. being used to.

He has only ordered some lettuce and tea. He ... on a diet. He is a bit too fat.

A. can’t beB. needn’t beC. must be

D. mustn’t beE. shouldn’t be.

In Questions 71 to 74 choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined.

Had she known he was a high-way robber she would not have married him. This means

she married him before she knew he was a robber.

she knew he was a robber when she married him

she did not marry him because she was a robber.

she refused to marry the man when she knew he was a robber.
she was a robber marrying a highway robber.

Jide is being forced to go to Lagos tomorrow. This means that Jide …

A. will go to LagosB. must go to Lagos

C. wishes to go to LagosD. is going to Lagos

goes to Lagos.

It is sheer fantasy to believe that there could never be a miscalculation by any nation that has atomic weapons. Fantasy here means

dream B. hope C. nonsense D. joke E. stupidity.

The ingenious scheme of the robber broke down because of the efficiency of the police officer. Ingenious here means A. suspicious. B. ambitious. C. deceitful D. clever

E. stupid.

In Questions 75 to 77 select the wrongly spelt word.

75.
A. disappointed B. embarassed
C. equipped


D. rhythm
E. restaurant.

76.
A. occurence
B. surprise
C. personnel


D. possess
E. curiosity.



A. quiet B. beleive C. proceed D. precede E. opportunity.

In Questions 78 to 81 fill in the right word/phrase

There is not… sense in what that politician has just said.

A. manyB. plentyC. lot ofD. muchE. big.

He… the book to the library last week.

A has returnedB. had returnedC. was returning

D. returnedE. was to be returning..

The candidate made… at the village square a day before the elections.

A. a sermonB. an addressC. a eulogy

D. a lectureE. a speech.

The policeman was sent to.. the allegation made by the man. A. investigate B. examine C. probe D. enquire E. observe.

In Questions 82 to 86 which of the options expresses the same idea as the one in quotes?

‘To be in the red’ is to be

A. in debt B. rich C. a socialist D. red E. dressed in red.

‘To beat down the price’ is to

A. flog the price B. reduce the price C. beat the salesman D. attack the seller E. control the price.

To ask after a friend’ is to

ask questions about the friend

inquire about the friend’s welfare

go after the friend

like the friend

take after the friend.

‘An open secret’ means

A. a fact that is very secretB. an open matter

C. a secret known to everybodyD. a confidential matter

a secret told in the open air.

‘To put something aside’ is to

put it by one’s side

put it in a side pocket for future use

keep something for some special purpose

keep in safety

protect it.

In Questions 87 to 94 choose the phrase or word which best completes the meaning of each sentence.

One of the… during the football match led to fight between the teams.

A. incidenceB. incidences

C. incidentsD.occasionsE. linesmen.

He used to play tennis, but he doesn’t…

A. as of now B. any longer C. again D. presently E. since.

He was… he had no time to eat.

A. so busy that B. very busy C. very busy that D. too busy that E. busy that.

It had been raining before the match started, …?

A. isn’t it B. hasn’t it. C. hadn’t itD. wasn’t itE. is it.

The mechanic said that he… mend my car before Saturday.

A. can’tB. couldn’tC. can’t be able to

D. couldn’t be able toE. won’t be able to.

There was a fire in the market last week which resulted… a terrible destruction of property.

A. inB. toC. fromD. intoE. with.

At the end of the month we… each other for five years.

A. would knowB. should have known

C. should be knowingD. would have been knowing

used to know.

The body is sensitive to changes in velocity which, if too sudden, …

consciousness may be lost

it may lose consciousness

one may become unconscious

may cause loss of consciousness

may lose consciousness.

Each of Questions 95 to 100 consists of a sentence with a phrase or word underlined. Select the option that best expresses the meaning of the phrase or word underlined.

The thought of his admission to the University keyed Olu up to a state of great excitement.

A stimulated Olu B. ushered Olu C. opened Olu D. frightened Olu E. allowed Olu.

After a careful review of Adamu’s last examination result, the

Principal concluded that his performance left much to be desired.

A was very unsatisfactoryB. was very satisfactory

C. was extremely desirableD. was very brilliant

E. was extremely commendable.

The President stood his ground because the Committee members would not be persuaded to arrive at a compromise on the issue being debated.

A. yielded his positionB. shifted his position

C. maintained his position D. defended his position E. resisted his position.

The take home pay of many workers is such that they can hardly make both ends meet

A. live an honest lifeB. finish their schedule of work

C. keep two jobs at a timeD. live within their income

E. live on both ends.

99.
When kerosene was poured on the fire, the effect
100. It was interesting to observe the likeness between



was
instantaneous
.

the pupil and his teacher.

















A. momentary
B. momentous C. amazing
A. similarity
B. relationship
C. fondness



D. terrifying
E. immediate.
D. affection
E. affinity.








Use of English 1984




COMPREHENSION

Read each passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it.

I

It was summer, early afternoon. Jim ran into the station. The 4.30 train was about to leave. As he ran along the platform he saw a girl just ahead of him. She was young -- about his age. He followed her into a carriage and sat down opposite her. She took out a magazine and was reading it. He took out a book and pretended to do the same. After a minute he looked up and smiled at her. She didn’t smile back but gave him an encouraging look. Both returned to their reading but this time she was pretending too.

He found her attractive and wanted to see her again. But how to arrange it?. He had an idea. He took an old envelope out of his pocket and wrote the following words: ‘Hallo! My number is 123-4567 and my name is Jim. I would very much like to see you again. Ring me at nine.’

The train arrived at the terminal. Without looking at the girl, he handed her the envelope, or rather threw it at her, and jumped off the train.

When he got home he made himself a cup of coffee and wondered… perhaps she was one of those naturally friendly people who smile at everybody. He was listening to the radio when the telephone rang… it was only Umaru. Nine o’clock, then 9;30 and no telephone call from the girl. Feeling miserable he went to bed early.

It was a foggy morning. ‘Hallo, is that Jim? This is Joan.

You…’ It was two minutes past nine.

1.
On the train Jim was



A. reading a book
B. staring at the girl


C. pretending to read
D. looking through a magazine

E. reading a newspaper.

He wanted to see the girl again because

A. it was summerB. she was attractive

C. he wanted to read her magazine D. she smiled at him

they had agreed to meet.

He hoped to arrange a date with her by A. writing a letter to her B. ringing her up

C. waiting at the station D. handing in a short note in a hurry E. sending a telegram.

That evening he had a telephone call from

A.his colleague, UmaruB. the girl he met on the

trainC. the railway authoritiesD. nobody at all

E. Joan.

The source of misunderstanding was

A. his natural shyness B. the station clock being out of order C. the time given by Jim -- 9 o’clock p.m.?

D. the foggy morningE. Jim’s faulty wrist watch.

II

A British electronics manufacturer has built a factory in which quartz crystals can be grown in 3 weeks. The natural growth of quartz takes 3 million years, and very often the crystals are not sufficiently pure to satisfy the precise needs of science. However, the manufactured crystal are exceptionally pure, and this is important because quartz, in transistor, is used in an astonishing number of devices where constant accuracy is required: radio and television transmitters and receivers, space satellites and computers are familiar examples. In order to make artificial quartz, very small pieces of the natural crystal imported from Brazil are placed in long, narrow, steel cylinders. A high pressure and a high temperature are maintained within the cylinders for 3 weeks, and at the end of this time the small fragments have grown to the required weight of one pound. The quartz is then ready to be made into the tiny transistors that have replaced the much larger thermionic valves.

The manufactured crystals have to be pure

because natural quartz is pure

to maintain hygiene in factory work

to satisfy the precise needs of importers.

to satisfy the exact requirements of science.

otherwise they would take 3 million years to grow.

According to the passage, quartz is used

A. only in a few devicesB. in a lot of devices

C. in wrist watchesD. for jewellery

E. for steel cylinders.

Artificial quartz as compared with natural is

A. superior.B. inferiorC. just the same D. varied

limited in use.

Transistors have

helped to produce quartz

made radio and television inaccessible to the working populace
made transmitters and receivers smaller and lighter.

retarded progress in electronics.

made transmitters and receivers bigger and heavier.

Artificial quartz is produced

in Brazil

from tiny transistors

in an astonishing number of devices

with the help of thermionic valves

from natural crystals within steel cylinders.

III

Every artist’s work, unless he be a hermit, creating solely for his own satisfaction and with no need of sales, is to some extent ‘socially conditioned’; he depends upon the approval of his patrons. Social conditioning is of course part of the field of study of the social anthropologist, yet I am not aware that the social conditioning of artists has ever been seriously studied. That such study is needed for the proper appraisal of traditional African art is evident enough when we note the ingenuous assumption, current in many writings on the subject, that the carver’s hand is so closely controlled by the custom of centuries that the credit for any creative imagination which is apparent in his work is due not to him but to the long succession of his predecessors.

Of course, there is an element of trust in this view of the tribal artist as copyist, but it is hardly more valid for the African than for the European artist. In both cases the work of art is the outcome of a dialectic between the informing tradition and the individual genius of the artist, and in both the relative strength of these two forces may vary almost infinitely. To assess the personal ingredient in an African carving is no easy matter, especially if one is confronted with a rare or unique piece in an unfamiliar style; but the considerations involved are much the same as those employed in European art criticism.