NECO Civic Education 2013 Past Questions & Answers

Cultism and juvenile delinquency are negative social behaviours that cause harm, violence, and instability in society. Because they are harmful and have no benefits, they are considered 'undesirable'. Consequently, every responsible society must actively work to prevent and stop these activities, meaning they should be 'discouraged'.

Common mistake: A student might mistakenly choose option B or D if they confuse the meaning of 'desirable' (wanted or good) with 'undesirable' (unwanted or bad).

This question tests your understanding of how diseases like HIV/AIDS are transmitted. HIV is spread through specific body fluids, not by eating food like fish and vegetables. The other diseases listed, like Ebola and Typhoid, also have specific transmission methods that are not related to simply consuming these foods, making 'None of the above' the correct answer.

Common mistake: Students may wrongly select option A due to common myths, incorrectly believing that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through food, which is a misconception the curriculum aims to correct.

In a democracy like Nigeria, the government is divided into three arms: the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. The primary or main function of the Legislature, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, is to make laws for the country. While they also perform other roles like monitoring the executive, their most important and fundamental responsibility is law-making.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'monitoring the executive' because oversight is an important legislative duty, but law-making is their fundamental and primary constitutional role.

Drug abuse is the wrong use of drugs, which includes not following a doctor's prescription for legal medicine. In the story, Ejiro was told to take his medicine in a specific way for four days but he did not follow the instructions. By stopping and starting the medication on his own schedule, he was misusing the drug, which is a clear example of drug abuse.

Common mistake: Students might choose 'bad drug administration' because it sounds correct, but 'drug abuse' is the specific Civic Education term for using any drug, including prescribed ones, against medical advice or instructions.

A rigid constitution is a type of constitution that has a special and difficult process for making changes or amendments. This is done to protect the country's laws and prevent the government from changing them too easily. Since the question describes a constitution that is 'difficult to amend', the correct term for it is rigid.

Common mistake: Students may confuse 'rigid' with 'written', thinking that because a constitution is written down in a book, it must be hard to change, but this is not always the case.

Drug abuse is the use of a drug in a way that is not medically approved, such as without a prescription or in the wrong dosage. The question implies that Omonigho's consumption of the tablets was not based on a doctor's instruction, making it a case of drug misuse. Therefore, his action constitutes drug abuse.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'drug trafficking', but trafficking involves the illegal selling and distribution of drugs, whereas abuse is about improperly using them.

Drug abuse is the use of a drug for a non-medical purpose or in a way that is not prescribed by a doctor. Ejiro is not sick and is taking medicine that was prescribed for someone else. This is a classic example of drug abuse because the drug is not being used to treat an illness and it was not prescribed for him.

Common mistake: Students might confuse this with 'drug trafficking', but trafficking is about selling or transporting drugs, while abuse is about improperly using them.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is the government agency responsible for ensuring safety on Nigerian roads. Eating while driving is a form of distracted driving, which is a serious traffic offence because it takes the driver's attention and at least one hand away from controlling the vehicle. This action endangers the driver, the passengers, and other road users, so the FRSC was correct to fine the driver for violating road safety regulations.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose option C because of the real-world health risks associated with bush meat, but the FRSC's role is to enforce traffic laws, not public health guidelines on food.

The correct answer is A. The Ebola virus was introduced to Nigeria in July 2014 by Mr. Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American diplomat. He travelled by air from Liberia to Lagos for a conference while he was already sick, becoming Nigeria's first Ebola case and the source of the subsequent outbreak in the country.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D because monkeys and bats are the natural animal hosts for the Ebola virus, but the question asks specifically how it entered the human population in Nigeria, which was through an infected person.

Fundamental Human Rights are guaranteed to every citizen by the constitution. However, the same constitution allows for these rights to be temporarily limited or suspended during a state of emergency. This is done to give the government special powers to handle a major crisis like war, natural disaster, or widespread civil unrest and restore order for the safety of the nation.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Election period' because of the heavy security presence, but elections actually require the protection of rights like freedom of speech and assembly to be considered free and fair.

The correct answer is C because Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that is spread to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites a person, it passes the parasites into their bloodstream, leading to the illness. The other options are incorrect ways for malaria to be transmitted.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D, confusing the transmission of Malaria with that of other diseases like Ebola, which can be linked to bush meat.

Inflation is the correct answer because it describes a situation where the general price of goods and services rises, and the purchasing power of money falls. This happens when there is too much money in the economy ('plenty of money') chasing too few goods ('not backed by commensurate productive activities'). This excess money supply without an increase in production leads directly to inflation, which is a major challenge to national development.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'deflation' because it is the direct opposite of inflation, and they may get the two economic terms confused.

The correct option is A. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, a dangerous and false rumor spread that drinking or bathing with salt water could cure the virus. As the leader of the country and the highest constituted authority, President Goodluck Jonathan had a duty to maintain public order and safety. He therefore urged Nigerians to ignore this harmful misinformation and listen to official health advice.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'accept', 'welcome', or 'embrace' because they forget that a key role of constituted authorities is to stop the spread of dangerous rumors, not to encourage them.

The correct answer is D because the primary constitutional role of the Nigerian Army is to protect the country's borders and defend it from any external attacks or aggression. This duty is about safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The other options describe the functions of different bodies: the police execute laws, the judiciary interprets them, and overthrowing a government is an illegal act.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option A because the army is sometimes seen helping the police maintain internal order, but their primary constitutional duty is national defense, while the police are primarily responsible for executing civil law.

The correct answer is B. The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 during two simultaneous outbreaks, one of which was in a village near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disease was named after this river, marking its first known appearance in history.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose options A or C because the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak was more recent and widely publicized in Nigeria, but the question specifically asks for the *first* known outbreak.

The correct option is 'National mourning'. Flying the national flag at half-mast is a recognized symbol used by countries, including Nigeria, to show respect and sorrow for the death of an important person or during a time of national tragedy. This act signifies that the nation is in a state of mourning. Other events like Children's day or jubilee celebrations are joyous occasions where the flag would be flown at its full height.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Golden jubilee celebration' because it is also a significant national event, but they forget that flying the flag at half-mast specifically signifies mourning, not celebration.

Traffic lights are important road safety signs used to control the movement of vehicles. The green light is the universal signal that gives drivers permission to proceed or continue their journey through an intersection. The red light means 'stop' before the line, while the yellow light warns drivers to prepare to stop as the light is about to turn red.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Yellow' because they see some drivers speed up to beat the red light, but its correct meaning is to slow down and prepare to stop, not to continue the journey.

Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership and competition in the free market. In this system, businesses and individuals must compete with each other to succeed, and those who are most efficient, innovative, or resourceful are the ones who thrive and make profits. This intense competition is often described as 'survival of the fittest' in an economic context.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Totalistic system' because they associate 'survival of the fittest' with a harsh, oppressive government, but the term here refers to economic competition, which is the hallmark of capitalism.

The Ebola virus is a severe and often deadly disease. For a long time, especially during the major West African outbreak, there was no specific, approved cure available to the public. Medical care focused on managing symptoms and providing supportive care, like fluids, to help the patient's body fight the virus, which is why it was considered to have no known cure.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D, forgetting that Ebola is famous for its severe and very visible physical symptoms like high fever, vomiting, and bleeding.

The correct option is B because the governor's statement is factually wrong. Mineral resources are valuable natural materials like crude oil, coal, or limestone that are found in the earth, not factory-made soft drinks. A governor is a public servant who is expected to know basic facts about their state, including its natural resources, in order to govern effectively and promote development. The governor's answer shows a lack of the knowledge required for his position.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'illiterate' (C), but being wrong about a specific topic does not mean a person cannot read or write; it simply shows ignorance in that particular area.

A governor's main duty is to ensure the economic growth and development of their state. In Nigeria, petroleum is the most important natural resource and the primary source of revenue for the government. By choosing petroleum, a governor is prioritizing the management of this key resource to fund projects like building roads, schools, and hospitals, which all contribute to national development.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D, thinking about general wealth, but a governor's focus should be on managing state resources for public good, not personal financial assets.

Democracy is a system of government where power belongs to the people and everyone is treated equally before the law. When practiced correctly, its core principles, or pillars, like the rule of law and respect for human rights, guarantee fairness for all citizens. This is why a proper democracy ensures equity, justice, and fair play.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'political unrest' if they confuse the challenges of a struggling democracy with the actual goals and outcomes of a well-practiced one.

Political apathy is when citizens have a lack of interest in politics and do not participate in activities like voting. When good and capable citizens refuse to vote, it creates an opportunity for incompetent, corrupt, or unqualified people to get elected into government. This is because they can easily influence the few people who do vote, resulting in the wrong set of people coming into power.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose options like A or D, thinking that less political participation means less conflict, but this ignores the fact that apathy allows bad leaders to take over without being held accountable by the citizens.

Human trafficking is the illegal trade of people for the purpose of exploitation. This exploitation very often involves forcing victims to work against their will in difficult conditions for little or no pay, which is known as forced labour. The other options describe positive activities, which are the opposite of what traffickers do to their victims.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option C, as traffickers often deceive their victims with false promises of skill acquisition and better job opportunities.

Political apathy is the lack of interest or concern in political matters, such as elections and governance. When a large number of people choose not to vote, it shows they are indifferent or unconcerned about who leads them. This behaviour is the classic definition of political apathy.

Common mistake: Some students might confuse this with 'political awareness', but awareness means being informed and engaged, which is the opposite of refusing to vote out of disinterest.