JAMB 2020 English Language · Question 29

You need to … your points

Question

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences. You need to __________your points

A.expanciate
B.expaciate
C.expatiate
D.expantiate

Answer: C. expatiate

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: This is a spelling (lexis) question. You must pick the correctly spelled word that fits "You need to ____ your points."

Explain the concept: The word is expatiate (verb), meaning to speak or write at length or in detail about a subject. It is usually followed by "on" or "upon" (e.g., "expatiate on a topic"), though in this sentence it is used directly with "points" to mean "elaborate on."

Step-by-step solution:

Check each option for spelling: • A. expanciate is wrong (no such word) • B. expaciate is wrong (missing the "t") • C. expatiate is correct • D. expantiate is wrong (extra "n")

Break the word into syllables to confirm: ex-pa-ti-ate (/ɪkˈspeɪʃieɪt/). There is no "n" and no "c" in it.

Check the meaning in context: "You need to expatiate your points" means you need to explain or elaborate your points in more detail. This fits well.

Answer: The correct option is C. expatiate.

Tip: Remember the word through its parts: EX + PAT + I + ATE. Think of "ex-PAT-iate," and do not confuse it with expatriate (a person living abroad), which has an extra "r". Also, avoid adding "n" or "c" because of the "sh" sound in pronunciation. In JAMB, the "-tiate" ending (like initiate, negotiate) is often spelled with "t" even though it sounds like "sh."

Keep it up! Spelling questions like this are easy marks once you learn the tricky words.

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