Omar's achievement was by no means a small feat. This means that?

Analyze the question

The sentence is "Omar's achievement was by no means a small feat." You are asked what it means. The key phrase is "by no means".

Explain the concept

"By no means" means "not at all" or "in no way." So "by no means a small feat" means "definitely not a small feat." This is a double negative idea:

• "by no means" = not at all
• "small feat" = easy or minor achievement

Together they mean the achievement was big, impressive, and difficult to accomplish.

Step-by-step solution

1. Identify the key phrase: "by no means" = in no way.
2. Apply it to "a small feat": the achievement was in no way small.
3. Rewrite it: Omar's achievement was a great or difficult accomplishment.
4. Check each option: • A. Omar's achievement was difficult. This matches. A feat that is not small is a major, difficult one. • B. His accomplishment was small. This is the opposite of the sentence. • C. Not as difficult as it seems. This suggests it was easier than it looks, which contradicts the sentence. • D. His accomplishment was not by a small feat. This is awkward and ungrammatical, and it does not express the meaning clearly.

Answer: Option A is correct.

Exam tip

Watch for phrases like "by no means," "in no way," "not at all," and "far from." They all negate whatever follows. If something is "by no means easy," it is very difficult. If it is "by no means small," it is large. In JAMB, eliminate any option that reverses the meaning first.