WAEC 2019 English Language · Question 77

Street traders often try to palm their customers off with faulty goods. This means that street traders

Question

Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for each sentence. Street traders often try to palm their customers off with faulty goods. This means that street traders

  1. A.trick customers into buying faulty goods
  2. B.assist customers in choosing perfect items
  3. C.ask for a lot of money for faulty goods
  4. D.are ready to swap faulty items for good ones

Answer: A. trick customers into buying faulty goods

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The question tests your understanding of the phrasal verb "palm off" in the sentence: "Street traders often try to palm their customers off with faulty goods."

Explain the concept: To palm someone off with something means to deceive them into accepting or buying something of poor quality or no value, usually by trickery. Think of someone secretly "slipping" a bad item into your palm.

Example: "He palmed me off with a fake watch." means he tricked me into taking a fake watch.

Step-by-step solution:

  • A. trick customers into buying faulty goods: This matches the meaning of "palm off", which is deception to get someone to accept bad goods. ✔
  • B. assist customers in choosing perfect items: This is the opposite, because the traders are selling faulty goods, not helping customers get perfect ones. ✘
  • C. ask for a lot of money for faulty goods: This is about overpricing, but "palm off" is about deceiving, not about price. ✘
  • D. are ready to swap faulty items for good ones: This suggests honesty and exchange, which is not what the idiom means. ✘

Correct answer: A. Street traders trick customers into buying faulty goods.

Exam tip: For idiom and phrasal verb questions, look at the tone of the sentence. Words like often try to and faulty goods signal something negative or dishonest. Eliminate the options that sound helpful or honest. Also remember related phrases: palm off = deceive with something worthless, fob off = similar meaning.

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