JAMB 2010 English Language · Question 86

The principal said that he was pleased … my effort?

Question

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s). The principal said that he was pleased ...... my effort?

A.on
B.of
C.with
D.about

Answer: C. with

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question

This tests dependent prepositions, meaning which preposition naturally follows a particular adjective. Here the adjective is "pleased."

Explain the concept

The adjective "pleased" is normally followed by with when it refers to a person, thing, or result you are satisfied with:

She was pleased with the results.
The teacher was pleased with his progress.

"Pleased" can also take about when it refers to a piece of news or a situation (e.g., "I'm pleased about your promotion"), and at for a surprise or event. But for judging someone's work, effort, or performance, with is the standard and most natural choice.

Solution

Check each option in the sentence:

A. "pleased on my effort": incorrect, since "pleased on" is not a standard collocation.
B. "pleased of my effort": incorrect, because "of" is never used after "pleased."
C. "pleased with my effort": correct, because it expresses satisfaction with something someone did.
D. "pleased about my effort": "pleased about" is possible with news or events, but it is not the best fit for evaluating an effort.

Answer: C. with

Exam tip

Learn adjective + preposition pairs as fixed phrases:

pleased with, satisfied with, impressed with/by
angry with (a person), angry at/about (a thing)
good at, afraid of, interested in

When you see "pleased/satisfied/impressed" followed by a gap about someone's work or result, think with.

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