This question is based on "The Life Changer" novel. why did Omar say he passed his SSCE by no means a small feat?

Analyze the question

This is a literature question on the JAMB-recommended novel The Life Changer (Khadija Abubakar Jalli). It asks why Omar described passing his SSCE as "by no means a small feat."

Concept

The phrase "by no means a small feat" means it was a big achievement. In the novel, Omar's circumstances are the key. He is a young man who has been through hardship and a rough academic path, so the claim of achievement is tied to those struggles and not just to the result itself.

Working through the options

• B (failed other subjects but passed maths and English): This is a partial-success explanation. It doesn't fit well with calling the result a great achievement.
• C (registered with a miracle center): Miracle centers are associated with exam malpractice. Omar would not describe a result obtained that way as a proud achievement, so this doesn't fit.
• A (all of the above): This can't be right if B and C are wrong, and they are mutually inconsistent with a proud claim.
• D (passed excellently on his first attempt): This fits the idea of a real achievement. Passing well on the first try, without resits, is something to be proud of.

Caveat on certainty

I can't quote the exact passage from the text to confirm this. My reasoning is based on the logic of the options and on how the phrase is used.

Answer: D. Because he passed excellently on his first attempt.

Exam tip: In literature questions, eliminate options that describe dishonest or partial success when the question uses a phrase of pride like "no small feat." Also be careful with "all of the above" when one of the other options is clearly wrong, because that alone rules it out.