In the question below, choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined:
For all he cared, the game was as good as lost.
He did not care if the game was lost
He could not care less if the game was lost
He was almost certain that the game would be lost
He was afraid the game would be lost
Thegame was very good, and he cared very much about losing
Explanation
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Discussions (16)
Option B. "He could not care less if the game was lost" is the option nearest in meaning to the underlined sentence, "For all he cared, the game was as good as lost." This sentence means that the person did not care about the game, and believed that it was already lost. Option B conveys the same idea by saying that he could not care less if the game was lost, indicating a lack of interest or concern about the outcome of the game.
The underlined expression “For all he cared” means he was completely indifferent / it didn’t matter to him at all.
So the sentence means:
👉 He didn’t care whether the game was lost or not.
Now let’s check the options:
A. He did not care if the game was lost – correct in meaning, but plain.
B. He could not care less if the game was lost – ✅ this is the closest in meaning, because it strongly expresses total lack of interest, just like “for all he cared.”
C. He was almost certain that the game would be lost – ❌ about expectation, not care.
D. He was afraid the game would be lost – ❌ opposite meaning.
E. The game was very good, and he cared very much – ❌ completely wrong.
✅ Correct answer: B
Small exam tip ✨:
Idioms often match best with other idioms (“for all he cared” ↔ “could not care less”).
Yhe answer is a. because the meaning of' for all he cares' means one doesnt care at all . I looked it up in the internet
Option B is correct but in option E there is no spacing beween the first two words
The correct option is B. He could not care less if the game was lost.
Explanation
This question tests your understanding of idiomatic expressions and nuance.
"For all he cared": This phrase is used to indicate that someone is completely indifferent or unconcerned about a situation. It suggests a lack of interest in the outcome.
"As good as lost": This means that although the game isn't technically over, the result is practically certain—it is effectively lost.
When you combine them, the sentence implies that the person is indifferent to the fact that defeat is inevitable.
Why other options are incorrect:
C & D: These focus on his certainty or fear regarding the loss. While the game is indeed likely lost, the main point of the underlined phrase is his indifference, not his prediction or his anxiety.
E: This is a literal misinterpretation. The phrase "as good as" does not mean the game was actually "good" in quality; it's a figure of speech for "virtually" or "practically."
JAMB Tip: When you see "For all [someone] cares/cared," look for synonyms like indifference, unconcerned, or couldn't care less.
