JAMB 2019 English Language · Question 1

Bolu shall be the M.C. This means that

Options

A.Bolu may be the M.C
B.no one else will be the M.C
C.later in life, Bolu will become an M.C
D.Bolu may not be the M.C

Answer: B. no one else will be the M.C

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question The question tests the use of the modal verb "shall" with a third-person subject (Bolu). In formal English grammar, "shall" with he/she/it/they does not simply express the future. It expresses determination, a promise, a command, or an assurance by the speaker.

Explain the concept

I/we shall is the plain future ("I shall go tomorrow").
He/she/they shall expresses the speaker's determination or a decision ("He shall pay for this", "Bolu shall be the M.C.").

So "Bolu shall be the M.C." means the speaker has decided that Bolu will be the M.C. It is not merely a possibility.

Step-by-step solution

A. "Bolu may be the M.C" expresses possibility, not determination. Wrong.
B. "No one else will be the M.C" says Bolu is the definite choice, so nobody else will take the role. This matches the sense of firm determination. Correct.
C. "Later in life, Bolu will become an M.C" is about a distant future career. This is unrelated.
D. "Bolu may not be the M.C" is the opposite of the sentence's meaning. Wrong.

Answer: The correct option is B.

Tip: When you see shall with he/she/they/it, think "firm decision, promise or command", not "maybe". Options with may or may not are usually distractors, since they express uncertainty.

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