JAMB Use of English 1981 past questions and answers

JAMB 1981 Passage B: Launching the Common People's Convention

Max and his friends met to launch a new political party because

1. A.they were intellectuals
2. B.they wanted their courts to adopt Communism
3. C.they thought they could solve their country's problems
4. D.they were expelled from an existing political party
5. E.it was the only way they could combat the corrupt politicians

The only lady in the gathering was

1. A.a total stranger
2. B.a former student of the London School of Economics
3. C.Max's bride to be
4. D.an interloper
5. E.not welcome in the gathering

The speaker ________ to Max's introduction of him

1. A.took exception
2. B.happily adhered
3. C.became attuned
4. D.was agreeable
5. E.was hostile

Would you say that Chief Nanga, according to the people in that gathering was

1. A.a popular politician
2. B.a wealthy man
3. C.an influential man
4. D.a notorious person
5. E.a man of the people

The speaker was attentive to the European because

1. A.he spoke funny English
2. B.he was from an Eastern Bloc country
3. C.what he said and how he said it interested him
4. D.he is normally attentive to Europeans
5. E.courtesy demands that he should be attentive

Which of the following statements is true according to this passage?

1. A.Yoga is foreign and therefore foolish
2. B.To think that Yoga is foreign is foolish
3. C.Yoga is foolish because it is foreign
4. D.Not to take advantage of Yoga on the ground that it is foreign is foolish
5. E.It is foolish to take advantage of foreign practices

Which one of the following in the author's opinion, best completes this statement. The Indians would

1. A.not use electricity because Thomas Edison was an American
2. B.not use electricity because American electricity is inferior to some other kind of electricity
3. C.not use electricity since they can substitute their own Yoga for it
4. D.use electricity because Indians and Americans are friendly people
5. E.use electricity irrespective of who discovered it

The writer dislikes Fakirs because

1. A.Fakirs have gained extraordinary control of their senses
2. B.Fakirs are confused with Yogis
3. C.Fakirs subject their bodies to abnormal conditions, and perform supernatural feats for money
4. D.Fakirs do not practice Yoga
5. E.being a Yogi himself, he is jealous of Fakirs

JAMB 1981 Passage D: Preface to a book on style

According to the author (in this preface) the book is

1. A.the original version of his Cambridge lectures
2. B.a revised version of his Cambridge lectures
3. C.an imitation of his Cambridge lectures
4. D.a negation of his Cambridge lectures
5. E.an authentic version of his Cambridge lectures

The author says that writers on language are

1. A.inclined to be dogmatic
2. B.opposed to dogmatism
3. C.unlikely to be dogmatic
4. D.resolved to be dogmatic
5. E.ready to be dogmatic

In the author's opinion, a book on style

1. A.can do with few examples
2. B.need not have any examples
3. C.is a book on art
4. D.will be ineffectual with many examples
5. E.will be ineffectual with insufficient examples

To write English well, the author says it is helpful to

1. A.be able to write French fairly well
2. B.be able to read French fairly well
3. C.know French thoroughly
4. D.be able to read English well
5. E.do all of the above.

Our understanding of the last sentence in the passage is that we

1. A.can now afford to be insular
2. B.can be insular in future
3. C.cannot afford to be insular
4. D.must never be insular
5. E.must now be more insular

John deserved to pass his examinations because

1. A.the examinations were easy
2. B.he was a brilliant student
3. C.he prepared very well for it
4. D.he was a lucky student
5. E.the examiner was very liberal

You will regard Osman during term time as a student who reads

1. A.all types of books
2. B.always
3. C.all the subjects on the curriculum
4. D.much more than other students
5. E.only the books that are prescribed

Osman couldn't do most of what he had planned for the holidays because

1. A.he thought he would fail
2. B.he was afraid of failure
3. C.waiting for the results made him sick
4. D.his anxiety for the results of the examinations made other activities unattractive to him
5. E.he could not find anything else to do

From the passage, we can see that Osman intends to become

1. A.a very learned man
2. B.the cleverest man in the family
3. C.a lawyer
4. D.the chief magistrate of his district
5. E.a writer of books

Osman became less confident of his results each day but that does not mean that

1. A.he will pass
2. B.he will fail
3. C.he is a coward
4. D.he is hopeless
5. E.he is lazy

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: For their part in the unsuccessful ________ the mutineers were court-martialled

1. A.coopes
2. B.coupes
3. C.coupe
4. D.coup
5. E.coupse.

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: The Chairman ruled the impertinent speaker ________

1. A.according to order
2. B.out of order
3. C.contrary to order
4. D.disorderly
5. E.correctly

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Your approach to the problem is different ________ ours

1. A.as
2. B.like
3. C.from
4. D.because of
5. E.to

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: The way to stop some frivolous publications is to ________ the press

1. A.gag
2. B.shackle
3. C.fetter
4. D.handcuff
5. E.bind

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: They ________ our donation with thanks

1. A.received
2. B.recived
3. C.received
4. D.receved
5. E.receipt

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: You surely want ________ in your tea, don't you?

1. A.all milk
2. B.a milk
3. C.some milk
4. D.every milk
5. E.any milk

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: The exercise must be done ________ possible

1. A.as quick as
2. B.as quicker as
3. C.as quickly as
4. D.as most quick as
5. E.as most quickly as

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: He bought a typewriter with a view ________ to type

1. A.to learning
2. B.to learnt
3. C.to be learning
4. D.to be learnt
5. E.to have learnt

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: It is time we ________ this irresponsible member

1. A.expel
2. B.are to expel
3. C.will expel
4. D.are expelling
5. E.expelled

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Had he known in advance, he ________

1. A.should prepare for the interview
2. B.was going to prepare for the interview
3. C.would have prepared for the interview
4. D.will have been preparing for the interview
5. E.may be preparing for the interview

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: He was reported ________ the policemen

1. A.to be assaulting
2. B.to assault
3. C.assaulting
4. D.to have assaulted
5. E.to have been assaulted

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Peter's ________ a cold upsets our plan

1. A.catches
2. B.will catch
3. C.to catch
4. D.to have caught
5. E.catching

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Although he was invited ________ he was not welcome.

1. A.but
2. B.yet
3. C.so
4. D.since
5. E.because

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: When John reported the incident, the teacher remarked that he ________ a responsible boy.

1. A.was
2. B.is
3. C.will be
4. D.should have been
5. E.is going to be

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: They tried to cash in ________ the people's ignorance

1. A.under
2. B.against
3. C.about
4. D.with
5. E.on

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: A pioneer, he ________ the institution from his own resources.

1. A.found and funded
2. B.founded and funded
3. C.was finding and funding
4. D.had found and funded
5. E.was founding and funding.

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: He passed so well ________ he was awarded a scholarship

1. A.since
2. B.because
3. C.that
4. D.while
5. E.thus

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Government should prevent smugglers ________ their contraband.

1. A.to sell
2. B.to be selling
3. C.from selling
4. D.having sold
5. E.to selling

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: I told him ________ he had no chance

1. A.quite by frankness
2. B.quite frankly
3. C.quite in frankness
4. D.quite being frank
5. E.quite to be frank

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: He looked ________ everyone in authority as an enemy.

1. A.on
2. B.at
3. C.in
4. D.about
5. E.against

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: As ________ of you as can come are welcome.

1. A.each
2. B.any
3. C.many
4. D.more
5. E.most

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: He bade them ________ to his house

1. A.welcomed
2. B.welcome
3. C.to be welcome
4. D.to have been welcome
5. E.welcome

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: If ________ one day we would talk about it for weeks.

1. A.a lion would be coming into this room
2. B.a lion was coming into this room
3. C.a lion came into this room
4. D.a lion is coming into this room
5. E.a lion is going to come into this room

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Excuse me, do you mind ________ I smoke?

1. A.because
2. B.if
3. C.since
4. D.while
5. E.against

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: The house will look all the better ________ this new coat of paint.

1. A.for
2. B.under
3. C.against
4. D.upon
5. E.over.

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Without ________ words he accused him directly of treachery

1. A.amending
2. B.modifying
3. C.mixing
4. D.mincing
5. E.meaning

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: He is easily the ________ of the lot

1. A.brightest
2. B.brighter
3. C.more bright
4. D.most brightest
5. E.most bright

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: I am not attending ________ is my wife.

1. A.whereas
2. B.neither
3. C.either
4. D.but
5. E.since

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Some people think that ________ are potentially a nuisance

1. A.parent in-law
2. B.parents in-law
3. C.parents-in laws
4. D.parent in-laws
5. E.parents ins laws

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Shakespearian ________ are generally the victims of circumstances

1. A.heros
2. B.heres
3. C.heroes
4. D.hero
5. E.heroes

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Asmau, did you see the snapshop of ________ ?

1. A.yourself
2. B.you
3. C.yours
4. D.yourselves
5. E.herself

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: I can't mind the light. I don't know ________ about electricity.

1. A.something
2. B.nothing
3. C.anything
4. D.nobody
5. E.anybody

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: ________ a good film. wasn't it?

1. A.It is
2. B.Was it
3. C.There is
4. D.It was
5. E.There was

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: ________ several bad air-crashes recently.

1. A.There is
2. B.They are
3. C.There were
4. D.There have been
5. E.There are

Fill in the blank spaces with the best of the five options: We left ________ U.S.A, and crossed ________ Atlantic Ocean to ________ Europe

1. A.the/the/-----
2. B.---/---/
3. C.---/---/ the
4. D.the/---/a
5. E.--/an/---

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: There was ________ much noise at night that we couldn't sleep

1. A.such a
2. B.such
3. C.that
4. D.very
5. E.so

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Visitors ________ pass beyond this point. It is forbidden

1. A.needn't
2. B.don't have to
3. C.could not
4. D.cannot
5. E.must not

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: A policeman stopped me and I ________ to the police station.

1. A.was taken
2. B.took
3. C.am taken
4. D.will be taken
5. E.walk

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Have you paid your taxes up to date? The tax collector inquired if ________

1. A.you have paid your taxes up to date
2. B.I had paid my taxes up to date
3. C.I paid my taxes up to date
4. D.have I paid my taxes up to date
5. E.I have paid my taxes up to date

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: 'Do you want me to buy her anything?' She asked Asman. She asked Asman if ________

1. A.she wants her to buy her anything
2. B.you want to buy anything
3. C.she wanted to buy anything
4. D.I wanted her to buy anything
5. E.she wanted her to buy her anything

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: He devoted himself ________ homeless children

1. A.to helping
2. B.to help
3. C.by helping
4. D.with helping
5. E.helping

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Although the problem was simple ________ students were able to solve it.

1. A.little
2. B.small
3. C.few
4. D.a few
5. E.a lot of

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: We talked quietly ________ wake the baby.

1. A.so that not
2. B.in order to
3. C.so as to
4. D.so as not to
5. E.so not

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: These six employees ________ absent from work since New Year's Day.

1. A.are
2. B.have been
3. C.were
4. D.had been
5. E.are being

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: I wish I ________ to swim when I was younger.

1. A.had learnt
2. B.learn
3. C.learnt
4. D.was learning
5. E.have learnt

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: By the end of June, I ________ six examinations this year.

1. A.shall take
2. B.have taken
3. C.shall have taken
4. D.am taking
5. E.took

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: We used to go to that club on Saturday night, ________ ?

1. A.isn't it
2. B.didn't we
3. C.don't we
4. D.aren't we
5. E.used we not

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: It was a blind alley. I could not walk any ________

1. A.far
2. B.farthest
3. C.furthest
4. D.farther
5. E.further

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: After weeks of bargaining they ________ a deal worth millions.

1. A.made up
2. B.turned about
3. C.brought off
4. D.went in
5. E.fell through

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Maimuna wrote to ask if I could put her ________ for the night

1. A.up
2. B.in
3. C.out
4. D.off
5. E.away

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: The policemen stood ________ the man at the corner

1. A.looking
2. B.seeing
3. C.sharing
4. D.glaring
5. E.watching

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: ________ reached 18.7% of the U.S population.

1. A.Employed
2. B.Unemployment
3. C.Employers
4. D.Employees
5. E.Underemployment

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Joe had found a flat, so ________ he will not be sleeping here, even if he still comes for meals.

1. A.lastly
2. B.least
3. C.last
4. D.at last
5. E.at least

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: I was in such a hurry, I didn't have time to ________ 'Hello'

1. A.tell
2. B.speak
3. C.talk
4. D.say
5. E.utter.

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: My younger brother looked ill last night, and was evidently ________ this morning

1. A.worse
2. B.worst
3. C.more ill
4. D.learner
5. E.brighter.

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: The schoolboy screamed loudly when he saw a snake ________ looked terrifying.

1. A.it
2. B.who
3. C.and
4. D.he
5. E.which

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: The guests ________ breakfast by the time the bus arrives.

1. A.are finishing
2. B.have finished
3. C.shall have finished
4. D.had finished
5. E.will have finished.

Fill in the blank spaces with the best of the five options: ________ lawyers enrolled at the Nigerian Bar last year ________ the year.

1. A.As much/as
2. B.Very many/ than
3. C.More / than
4. D.Some/as
5. E.As many/ than

Fill in the blank spaces with the best of the five options: They promised to cause ________ fuss ________ possible

1. A.as little/as
2. B.a little/if
3. C.a few/as
4. D.the least/that
5. E.all the / that

Fill in the blank spaces with the best of the five options: From one's daily experience, one can see that many people have ________ money ________ they really need.

1. A.fewer/ than
2. B.more/ than
3. C.as much/ than
4. D.much/ than
5. E.as little / as

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: Eko Bridge, linking Lagos Island to Surulere, has ________

1. A.many traffic
2. B.numerous vehicles
3. C.uncontrollable traffic
4. D.plenty traffic
5. E.a lot of traffic

Fill in the blank space with the best of the five options: The passenger waited patiently whilst they transferred his ________ from the taxi to the bus.

1. A.properties
2. B.baggages
3. C.luggage
4. D.luggages
5. E.property

Choose the word or phrase which has the nearest meaning to the underlined word or words: He used his savings to bring up his nephew.

1. A.lead
2. B.accompany
3. C.feed
4. D.support
5. E.conduct

Choose the word or phrase which has the nearest meaning to the underlined word or words: Mary is jealous of her sister's success.

1. A.suspicious
2. B.bitter
3. C.careful
4. D.mindful
5. E.envious

Choose the word or phrase which has the nearest meaning to the underlined word or words: Our School prefect is too officious and we all hate him because of his behaviour.

1. A.efficient
2. B.efficacious
3. C.over-zealous
4. D.active
5. E.showy

Choose the word or phrase which has the nearest meaning to the underlined word or words: The President of our Club has sent his regrets. He may be unable to attend the next meeting.

1. A.confusion
2. B.explanations
3. C.anxieties
4. D.unhappiness
5. E.apologies.

Choose the word or phrase which has the nearest meaning to the underlined word or words: Whenever I travel abroad, I always bring, on my return, photographs, postcards and other small items as souvenirs.

1. A.mementoes
2. B.remembrance
3. C.memorials
4. D.memorables
5. E.property

Choose the word or phrase which has the nearest meaning to the underlined word or words: Because our representative in the House of Assembly is an immature and biased politician, he takes a jaundiced view of our social and economic problems

1. A.hazy
2. B.unclear
3. C.prejudiced
4. D.bleak
5. E.bright

Choose the word or phrase which has the nearest meaning to the underlined word or words: His wife for ten years refused point-blank to leave her matrimonial home even when he brought another woman into the house.

1. A.directly
2. B.boldly
3. C.pointedly
4. D.sharply
5. E.bluntly

Choose the word or phrase which has the nearest meaning to the underlined word or words: In some parts of India, people are ostracised simply because of their ancestry.

1. A.abandoned
2. B.shut off from society
3. C.refused education
4. D.rendered unhappy
5. E.hated

Choose the word or phrase which has the nearest meaning to the underlined word or words: We all have both good and bad characteristics. Either is, however, easily manifested in time of crisis.

1. A.demanded
2. B.highlighted
3. C.submerged
4. D.demostrated
5. E.ridiculed

Choose the word or phrase which has the nearest meaning to the underlined word or words: One of the surest ways to ensure good health is to have a wholesome and adequate diet.

1. A.palatable
2. B.mixed
3. C.hygienic
4. D.delicious
5. E.health-giving

Choose the word which is opposite in meaning to the underlined word: The doctor was very gentle with his patients in the examining room.

1. A.harsh
2. B.rude
3. C.rough
4. D.unkind
5. E.callous

Choose the word which is opposite in meaning to the underlined word: James is a disco-addict. He takes his studies rather lightly

1. A.humorously
2. B.gloomily
3. C.tediously
4. D.carefully
5. E.seriously

Choose the word which is opposite in meaning to the underlined word: My cousin is very lazy. He will not take his studies seriously. His future looks quite bleak.

1. A.cloudy
2. B.cheerless
3. C.bright
4. D.huge
5. E.sturdy.