JAMB 2014 English Language · Question 2

The chairman admires incessant meetings.

Question

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase. The chairman admires incessant meetings.

In the original paper part of this question is underlined. The underline isn't shown here: see the explanation below.

A.Irregular.
B.Unusual.
C.Planned.
D.Constant.

Answer: D. Constant.

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Step 1: Analyze the question The underlined word is incessant, and you need the option closest in meaning to it.

Step 2: Explain the concept Incessant (adjective) means continuing without stopping, or happening again and again without a break. Its root is the Latin cessare ("to cease"), and the prefix in- means "not". So incessant literally means "not ceasing".

Synonyms: constant, continual, unending, ceaseless, persistent.

Step 3: Test each option

A. Irregular: This means not happening at regular times. Incessant is the opposite, because it is continuous. ❌
B. Unusual: This means not common. It says nothing about continuity. ❌
C. Planned: This means arranged in advance. Incessant has nothing to do with planning. ❌
D. Constant: This means continuous, without stopping. ✅

Step 4: Answer "The chairman admires incessant meetings" means he admires meetings that go on constantly, without pause. The answer is **D.

Exam tip 💡 Break the word into parts. In- (not) + cess (stop, as in "cease") tells you the word means "not stopping". Remember: in-cess-ant = "no cease-ing". Other words built the same way include recess and cessation. Well done for tackling this one!

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