WAEC 2020 English Language · Question 132

You will need to commit the formula … memory.

Question

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences. You will need to commit the formula________memory.

A.to
B.in
C.for
D.by

Answer: A. to

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The sentence is "You will need to commit the formula ____ memory." We need the preposition that correctly completes the idiom.

Explain the concept: "Commit something to memory" is a fixed idiom (a collocation) meaning to learn something so well that you can recall it without notes. The verb commit takes the preposition to in this idiom, as in:

commit a poem to memory
commit a name to memory

Test each option:

A. to: "commit the formula to memory" is correct and idiomatic.
B. in: "commit the formula in memory" is not standard usage.
C. for: "commit the formula for memory" does not express the idea of memorizing.
D. by: "commit the formula by memory" is wrong. "By memory" would suggest the method, as in "recite by memory", and even that is normally "from memory" or "by heart".

Answer: The correct sentence is: You will need to commit the formula to memory. This is option A.

Exam tip: Many WASSCE and JAMB "fill in the blank" questions test idioms and fixed prepositions. Learn them as whole phrases, such as commit to memory, learn by heart, take for granted and in charge of. Don't try to reason out the preposition each time.

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