How does the novel use irony to critique migration?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks how irony is used to critique migration. Irony means a gap between what is expected and what actually happens. So we need the option that shows a contrast between expectation and reality.

Step 2: Explain the concept In literature, situational irony occurs when the outcome is the opposite of what a character or reader expects. Novels about migration (for example, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah, a common JAMB literature reference) often show characters leaving Nigeria with high hopes of success, only to face racism, underemployment, loneliness, and identity struggles abroad.

Step 3: Evaluate each option

• A. It shows how people regret leaving Nigeria. Regret may be present for some characters, but this does not describe irony. It is also too narrow, since many characters do not simply regret leaving.
• B. It portrays Nigerian schools as superior to foreign institutions. This is about education, not migration, and it has nothing to do with irony.
• C. It contrasts the excitement of moving abroad with the struggles people face when they get there. This is the gap between expectation (a dream life abroad) and reality (hardship). That is exactly irony, and it directly critiques the idea of migration as an easy path to success.
• D. It portrays that migration is always a failure. The word "always" is too absolute. Novels usually show a mixture of outcomes, so this overgeneralizes.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is C.

Exam tip: When a literature question mentions irony, look for the option describing a contrast between expectation and reality. Also be wary of extreme words like "always" or "never" in options, since they are usually wrong.