The policies of this government favour the elite rather than the …

Step 1: Analyze the question The sentence says the government's policies favour "the elite rather than the __." We need the word that is the best opposite of "elite" and also fits the gap grammatically and logically. (The underlined word isn't marked in the text, but it is clearly "elite.")

Step 2: Explain the concept "Elite" means a small, privileged, powerful, or wealthy group in society. Its natural opposite is the ordinary people, the large majority without special privilege, which is what "the masses" means.

Step 3: Test each option

• A. masses: The common people, the large majority. This is the direct contrast to a small privileged group. "The elite rather than the masses" is also a very common collocation.
• B. oppressed: This describes people who are treated unjustly. It is a condition, not the natural opposite of "elite." Not every non-elite person is oppressed.
• C. public: This is too general. The elite are also part of the public, so it is not a true opposite.
• D. unemployed: This is a specific group, defined by employment status. Elite and unemployed do not form a direct antonym pair.

Step 4: Answer The best choice is A. masses. It is the closest opposite of "elite" and fits the sentence perfectly.

Tip: In antonym questions, think of the group-level opposite. Elite (few, privileged) → masses (many, ordinary). Also remember the pair "the elite and the masses," because it appears often in JAMB English.