JAMB 2014 English Language · Question 77

They accused him of fomenting political unrest.

Question

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase. They accused him of fomenting political unrest.

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

A.Guiding.
B.Inciting.
C.Discouraging.
D.Preventing.

Answer: B. Inciting.

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: You need the word closest in meaning to "fomenting" in the sentence "They accused him of fomenting political unrest."

Explain the concept: To foment means to stir up, instigate, or encourage trouble or rebellion. It nearly always has a negative sense, and it is often used with words like unrest, rebellion, violence, discord, and trouble.

Step-by-step solution:

Look at the context: "accused him of..." tells us that what he did was wrong or harmful.
"Political unrest" is a bad situation, so the word must mean causing or promoting it.
Check each option: • A. Guiding: means leading or directing in a helpful way. It does not suggest stirring up trouble, so it is wrong. • B. Inciting: means provoking or stirring people into action, especially trouble. This matches fomenting. • C. Discouraging: means the opposite, trying to hold something back. It is wrong. • D. Preventing: means stopping something from happening. You would not be accused of that, so it is wrong.

Answer: The correct option is B. Inciting.

Tip: Link foment with ferment, like a pot bubbling and stirring up. Both suggest stirring up activity. Whenever you see "foment," think "stir up trouble." Words like instigate, provoke, incite, and agitate are its close relatives, and JAMB often tests such synonyms.

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