The federal Government has … child trafficking?

Analyze the question: The sentence says the Federal Government has __ child trafficking. We need a verb that fits the idea of making something illegal or banning it.

Explain the concept: This is a question on commonly confused words (lexis).

• Postulated means to suggest or assume something as a basis for reasoning (e.g., "He postulated a new theory").
• Projected means to plan or estimate, or to throw or display something forward (e.g., "projected growth").
• Prescribed means to recommend or order something to be taken or followed (e.g., "the doctor prescribed drugs"; "prescribed textbooks").
• Proscribed means to forbid, ban, or condemn something by law.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Child trafficking is a crime and is harmful, so the government would act against it.
2. The sentence needs a word meaning "banned" or "outlawed."
3. Postulated and projected make no sense here, since the government does not "suggest" or "plan" child trafficking.
4. Prescribed sounds similar, but it means to order or recommend, which would wrongly suggest the government is recommending child trafficking.
5. Proscribed means banned or outlawed, which fits perfectly.

Correct sentence: The Federal Government has proscribed child trafficking.

Answer: D. proscribed.

Exam tip: Remember the pair PRO-scribe vs PRE-scribe:

• Proscribe: think "prohibit" because both start with "pro," so it means to ban.
• Prescribe: think "prescription," a doctor's order to follow.

Words that look alike are a favourite JAMB trap, so always check the meaning against the context.