Answer the following question below and choose the option that best completes the gap(s) ...........a good leader must have two characteristics

Analyze the question: This is a spelling/lexis question. You need to pick the correctly spelled form of the common idiom meaning "most importantly" or "above all else."

Explain the concept: The idiom is "first and foremost."

• Foremost = fore + most. "Fore" means "front" or "ahead," as in forehead, forefront, foretell. "Most" shows the highest degree.
• So foremost means "at the very front" or "most important."

Solution (checking each option):

• A. "formost" is wrong. It drops the "e" from "fore."
• B. "formust" is wrong. "Must" is not part of the word, and it also drops the "e."
• C. "farmost" is wrong. "Far" is a different word, and no such idiom exists.
• D. "foremost" is correctly spelled and is the standard idiom.

The completed sentence reads: "First and foremost, a good leader must have two characteristics."

Answer: D. first and foremost

Tip: Link the word to its root. Foremost starts with fore, like forehead (the front of your head). If you can spot the "fore" in a word, you will not leave out the "e." JAMB often tests commonly misspelled words, so practise breaking words into their parts.