This question is based on Chukwuemeka Ike's The Potter's Wheel. In their preparation for the masquerade, David…

Analyze the question: The question asks why David and his friends agreed to be extra careful in their dealings with Samuel while preparing their masquerade. Being "cautious" with someone usually means you fear he will find out something or use something against you.

Concept: In a masquerade, the identity of the masquerader, the costume, and the performance plans are all closely guarded secrets. A rival or a crafty person would want to discover them, and he might use tricks to do so.

Working through the options:

• A. Try his tricks on them to know their secrets. This fits. Secrecy is central to masquerade preparation, so caution around a crafty person makes sense.
• B. Prepare well ahead of them. Another group's early preparation would be a reason to hurry, not to be cautious in dealing with him.
• C. Put them to shame. This is an outcome, not something that calls for guarded dealings.
• D. Force them to dance with the masquerade. This is unlikely and doesn't connect to the idea of caution.

I'm working from the context of the question rather than a verbatim recollection of the scene. For a text question like this, it helps to recall who Samuel is and what his role is in the plot.

Tip: In JAMB literature questions, ask yourself what the situation naturally calls for. Words like "caution" and "careful" usually point to a threat such as spying, deceit, or trickery, rather than to a competitive advantage or a mere inconvenience.