JAMB 2012 English Language · Question 74

Answer the following question below and select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the…

Question

Answer the following question below and select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence. Hardworking students must not have a finger in every pie at school.

  1. A.Hardworking students must not have a role to play in most activities in the school
  2. B.Only hardworking students must participate in all activities in the school
  3. C.Hardworking students do not participate in all activities in the school
  4. D.Hardworking students must ask others to participate in school activities

Answer: A. Hardworking students must not have a role to play in most activities in the school

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question

The sentence uses the idiom "to have a finger in every pie," which means to be involved in many different activities or affairs, often too many. The sentence says hardworking students "must not" do this, so it is advising against over-involvement.

Explain the concept

An idiom's meaning can't be worked out from its individual words. "A finger in every pie" doesn't literally mean touching pies. It means participating in everything. "Must not" expresses a prohibition or strong advice.

Step-by-step solution

Meaning of the sentence: Hardworking students should not get involved in every activity at school.

Now test each option:

  • A. "Must not have a role to play in most activities in the school." This keeps the prohibition ("must not") and the idea of being involved in many or most activities. It matches the sentence best.
  • B. "Only hardworking students must participate in all activities." This reverses the meaning. It is a command to participate, not a prohibition.
  • C. "Hardworking students do not participate in all activities." This is a statement of fact, not a prohibition. It loses the force of "must not."
  • D. "Must ask others to participate." This introduces an idea that is not in the sentence.

Evaluating the options carefully

Option C is close in that it says they don't take part in all activities. But it describes what they do, whereas the original sentence says what they must not do. Option A keeps the prohibition, so it is the better match.

Answer: A

Tip: For idiom questions, first translate the idiom into plain English ("have a finger in every pie" = "be involved in everything"). Then check that the option keeps the same force: "must not" means a prohibition, not a description. Eliminate options that reverse the meaning or add new ideas.

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