JAMB 2010 English Language · Question 39

As debutants in that tournament, the super eagles were up against their first opponents by three goals to nil?

Question

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence. As debutants in that tournament, the super eagles were up against their first opponents by three goals to nil?

A.The Super Eagles were playing in the tournament for the first time, but they won their match by three goals to nothing
B.Though the Super Eagles were rated as the weakest side in the tournament, they won their first match by three goals to nil
C.Even though the Super Eagles were playing without some of their stars, they won their match by three goals to nil
D.As the best trackers inthe match, the Super Eagles easily defeated their opponents by three goals to nothing

Answer: A. The Super Eagles were playing in the tournament for the first time, but they won their match by three goals to nothing

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "As debutants in that tournament, the Super Eagles were up against their first opponents by three goals to nil." You need the option that best matches its meaning.

Explain the concept

"Debutants" are people or teams appearing in a competition for the first time.
"Up against ... by three goals to nil" is loosely worded. In context it means the Eagles were leading their first opponents 3-0. This is also why the question needs the option that conveys a win by three goals to nothing.
"Nil" means zero (nothing).

Step-by-step solution

"As debutants" means it was their first time in the tournament. Only option A mentions this ("playing in the tournament for the first time").
"Three goals to nil" means 3-0 in the Eagles' favour. Option A gives "won their match by three goals to nothing," which matches.
Check the others: • B says they were "rated as the weakest side." The sentence never says this. • C says they played "without some of their stars." The sentence gives no such information. • D says they were "the best trackers" and won "easily." This is not stated either, and "trackers" makes no sense here.

Answer

Option A is the only one that keeps both pieces of information in the sentence: the Eagles were debutants (first-time participants), and the scoreline was 3-0.

Tip

In "best explains the information" questions, find the key words in the sentence (here "debutants" and "three goals to nil") and eliminate any option that adds ideas not in the sentence, such as "weakest side" or "without some stars."

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.