JAMB 2019 English Language · Question 70

The student's union leader delivered his speech [extempore]

Question

CHOOSE THE OPTION THAT IS NEAREST IN MEANING TO THE WORD(S) IN BRACKET, FOR QUESTIONS below. The student's union leader delivered his speech [extempore]

  1. A.out-of-hand
  2. B.accurately
  3. C.off the cuff
  4. D.courageously

Answer: C. off the cuff

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Step 1: Analyze the question You are asked to pick the option closest in meaning to the word "extempore" as used in the sentence: The student's union leader delivered his speech extempore.

Step 2: Explain the concept "Extempore" (adverb/adjective) means done or spoken without preparation or notes, on the spur of the moment. It is also called "impromptu" or "ad lib". The related idiom is "off the cuff", which means spontaneously, without rehearsal.

Step 3: Test each option

  • A. out-of-hand: This means uncontrollable (e.g., "the crowd got out of hand") or sometimes "immediately, without consideration" (as in "rejected out of hand"). It is not about unprepared speech, so it is a tempting distractor but wrong.
  • B. accurately: This means correctly and precisely. It has nothing to do with preparation. Wrong.
  • C. off the cuff: This means spontaneously, without preparation. It matches "extempore" exactly. Correct.
  • D. courageously: This means bravely. A speech can be brave, but this does not capture "unprepared". Wrong.

Step 4: Answer The leader gave his speech without preparation, so the nearest meaning is C. off the cuff.

Tip: Link these synonyms together in your memory: extempore = impromptu = ad lib = off the cuff = spur of the moment. Also watch out for "out of hand", which JAMB uses as a distractor because it sounds like "unprepared" but actually means "out of control".

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