NECO 2005 English Language · Question 16

This means he should always

Question

Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is the most appropriate interpretation for each of the following statement The man was advised to always watch his tongue whenever he speaks in the public. This means he should always

A.avoid addressing a large crowd
B.be careful about what he said in order not to offend somebody
C.be sincere in his public utterances
D.be specific while addressing many people
E.say only what he was sure of

Answer: B. be careful about what he said in order not to offend somebody

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The question asks for the meaning of the idiom "watch your tongue" in the sentence "The man was advised to always watch his tongue whenever he speaks in public."

Explain the concept: To "watch your tongue" means to be careful about what you say, so that you do not say something rude, offensive, or inappropriate. It is about controlling your words, not about avoiding speech, being truthful, or being precise.

Go through the options:

A. Avoid addressing a large crowd. Wrong. The advice is about how he speaks, not whether he speaks.
B. Be careful about what he said in order not to offend somebody. Correct. This matches the idiom's meaning of careful, tactful speech.
C. Be sincere in his public utterances. Wrong. Sincerity is about honesty, which is not what the idiom means.
D. Be specific while addressing many people. Wrong. Being specific is about clarity, not caution.
E. Say only what he was sure of. Wrong. This is about certainty of facts, whereas the idiom is about avoiding offense or impropriety.

Exam tip: For idioms like this, think of the figurative meaning rather than the literal one. Related expressions include "mind your language" and "hold your tongue" (stay silent). Don't mix them up: "watch your tongue" means speak carefully, while "hold your tongue" means say nothing.

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