JAMB 2019 English Language · Question 89

Choose the one nearest in meaning to the word(s) in bracket Justice is difficult to enforce because people are unwilling to accept any loss of [sovereignty]

Options

  1. A.positing
  2. B.leadership
  3. C.autonomy
  4. D.kingdom

Answer: C. autonomy

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Step 1: Analyze the question You need the word closest in meaning to "sovereignty" as used in the sentence: people are unwilling to accept any loss of sovereignty.

Step 2: Explain the concept Sovereignty means supreme power or authority, especially the right of a state or group to govern itself without outside control. Related ideas are independence, self-rule and autonomy.

Step 3: Test each option

  • A. positing: this means putting forward an idea or assumption. It has nothing to do with power or authority.
  • B. leadership: this is related, but it means guiding or heading a group. Sovereignty is about supreme authority and freedom from outside control, not about leading others.
  • C. autonomy: this means self-governance and independence. It matches the core meaning of sovereignty.
  • D. kingdom: this is a territory ruled by a king or queen. It is a place, not the abstract idea of self-rule.

Step 4: Check in context "Justice is difficult to enforce because people are unwilling to accept any loss of autonomy." This makes sense. For example, nations resist international courts because they don't want to give up self-rule.

Answer: C. autonomy

Exam tip: For "nearest in meaning" questions, break the word down and test each option in the sentence. Words like sovereign (supreme ruler, independent) and autonomous (self-governing) belong to the same family of ideas. Also avoid options that name a place (kingdom) or a role (leadership) when the word is an abstract concept.

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