WAEC 2013 English Language · Question 73

Hard drugs are detrimental to health.

Question

From the words lettered A to D below,choose the word or groups of words that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence. Hard drugs are detrimental to health.

In the original paper part of this question is underlined. The underline isn't shown here: see the explanation below.

A.paramount
B.ineffective
C.necessary
D.harmful

Answer: D. harmful

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Step 1: Analyze the question You are asked to find the word closest in meaning to detrimental in the sentence: "Hard drugs are detrimental to health."

Step 2: Explain the concept "Detrimental" is an adjective meaning causing harm or damage. It often appears with the preposition "to" (detrimental to health, detrimental to progress). The related noun is "detriment," meaning harm or damage.

Step 3: Test each option

A. paramount means of the highest importance. Hard drugs are not "of highest importance to health," so this does not fit.
B. ineffective means not producing the desired result. This is about failure, not harm, so it does not fit.
C. necessary means required or needed. This is the opposite of what the sentence means.
D. harmful means causing damage or injury. Substituting it gives: "Hard drugs are harmful to health." This fits perfectly and keeps the meaning.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is D. harmful.

Step 5: Tip Link detrimental with detriment, which sounds like "destroy" or "damage." Other close synonyms to remember are damaging, injurious, adverse, and hurtful. In the exam, substitute each option into the sentence and see which one keeps the original meaning.

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