After the sentence below, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that you…

Step 1: Analyze the question The question tests your knowledge of idioms. The phrase "served time" is not meant literally, so you must find its figurative meaning.

Step 2: Explain the concept "To serve time" is an idiom meaning to spend a period in prison as punishment for a crime. It is often used in news reports and everyday speech, for example: "He served five years for armed robbery."

Step 3: Work through the options

• A. always been punctual: This has nothing to do with "serving time". It is only a trap built on the word "time".
• B. been the time keeper: This is another literal trap. "Serving time" does not mean keeping time.
• C. been to prison: This is correct. Serving time means completing a prison sentence.
• D. been a faithful servant: This is a trap built on the word "served". It does not fit the idiom.

Step 4: Answer "Bada has served time" means Bada has been to prison, so the answer is C.

Tip: Idiom questions in WASSCE and JAMB English usually include distractors that take the words literally, such as "time keeper" or "servant". When a phrase sounds odd if taken literally, stop and ask what it means figuratively. Learn common crime and punishment idioms like "serve time", "behind bars" and "do porridge".