The president said that he found himself between a rock and a hard place when the press said that he has…

Analyze the question

The question asks which option best explains the information in the sentence. The key is the idiom "between a rock and a hard place."

Explain the concept

"Between a rock and a hard place" is an idiom meaning being in a difficult situation where you have to choose between two equally unpleasant or difficult options. It is not about physical rocks or places. It describes a dilemma.

Solution, step by step

1. Identify the idiom: "between a rock and a hard place". It must be read figuratively, not literally.
2. Eliminate the literal options: • A. "Hard places are dangerous for the president" takes the phrase literally. Wrong. • B. "He dreamt that he was abandoned" has nothing to do with the idiom. Wrong. • C. "He thought that hard places were unsafe" is also a literal reading. Wrong.
3. Check option D: "He had a hard decision to make." This matches the meaning of the idiom, since being in a dilemma means facing a difficult choice. It fits the context, where the president is in a tough spot because of the press report.

Answer: D

Exam tip: When a JAMB "best explains" question contains an idiom, reject any option that reads the words literally. The correct answer almost always gives the figurative meaning. Related idioms to learn: "between the devil and the deep blue sea" (same meaning), "bite the bullet" (face something unpleasant bravely), and "break the ice" (start a conversation in an awkward setting).