JAMB Use of English 1982 past questions and answers

According to the passage, Nigeria used to be the world's biggest producer of

1. A.groundnuts
2. B.palm oil
3. C.rubber
4. D.groundnuts and columbite
5. E.palm kernels, groundnuts and cocoa.

Select the statement supported by the passage.

1. A.Ghana produced more cocoa than Nigeria
2. B.Oil palm and timber were Nigeria's most important exports
3. C.The most important industry in Nigeria was the livestock industry
4. D.Nigerian forests covered 310, 800 square kilometres and produced about 1..32 million cubic metres of timber a year
5. E.Oil palms and rubber trees are always grown in plantations.

Indicate which statement is not supported by the passage.

1. A.Columbite and groundnuts were Nigeria's most important exports
2. B.In 1968 814,400 tonnes of palm kernels were exported.
3. C.Nigeria supplied more than half the world's palm oil
4. D.Timber constituted a major export in Nigeria
5. E.'Moroccan leather' is incorrectly named.

Timber can be made into

1. A.columbite
2. B.plywood sheets
3. C.hides
4. D.leather
5. E.concrete floors

JAMB 1982 Passage III: The palm-wine tapper and the soldiers

The narrator is a

1. A.farmer
2. B.tapper
3. C.wanderer
4. D.copper
5. E.friend of the soldiers

The soldiers had come to

1. A.visit the man
2. B.drink his palm wine
3. C.tell him about the war
4. D.force him into the army
5. E.warn him about the enemies

The army was short of personnel because the soldiers

1. A.were looking for new recruits
2. B.had lost the war
3. C.has suffered heavy losses
4. D.could not find people willing to sign on
5. E.had to recruit twenty men that day

The man would have sent his boy in the primary school to the army to show that

1. A.he supported the war effort
2. B.he wasn't afraid to fight
3. C.the war concerned everybody alive
4. D.the war could still be won
5. E.his first son's death meant nothing to him

From the man's concluding statement, you can infer that

1. A.the war had to be brought to an end
2. B.old men should not fight
3. C.whistles should be blown
4. D.only young men should fight.
5. E.war is immoral

What was the first insult to the princess' dignity?

1. A.Being greeted by a pompous courtier, sweating and dirty.
2. B.Being ordered to wait amongst a crowd of people
3. C.Not being given a lace handkerchief to mop for face
4. D.Staying surrounded by tired soldiers and merchants
5. E.The courtier mistakenly thinking she had come to beg favours of the Governor.

Who did Nzinga want to see?

1. A.The Governor of Africa
2. B.The King of Portugal
3. C.Luanda
4. D.Joao de Souza
5. E.The Royal Majesty

Why did Nzinga became very impatient? Because

1. A.she was made to wait to see the governor
2. B.she had to wait to the rear, instead of the middle of the room
3. C.she was told she was an insult to Don Joao's dignity
4. D.she was not offered a chair
5. E.men were sitting in her presence

Why were the courtiers amazed?

1. A.None of them would have dared to speak to the Governor like she did
2. B.Nzinga made the governor too surprised to speak
3. C.Nzinga showed she feared nobody
4. D.Because Nzinga wanted to sit down
5. E.Because Nzinga dared to sit down in the presence of the governor

This story shows that

1. A.the legend of Queen Nzinga is true
2. B.Nzinga was brazen
3. C.Nzinga was a proud and fearless woman
4. D.Nzinga knew how to act and peak in front of colonialists
5. E.the Mbundu people were proud to make Nzinga a queen after this incident.

From this passage it is clear that Professor Ikin

1. A.loves his wife very dearly
2. B.doesn't value what his wife says
3. C.hates his wife
4. D.does not trust his wife
5. E.is not a serious man

Dr. Okoro cannot be seen as a threat to Professor Ikin because

1. A.he is very junior to Professor Ikin in the university hierarchy
2. B.because a cow does not take notice of a fly perching on its back
3. C.Professor Ikin is old enough to be Dr. Okoro's father
4. D.a Doctor is inferior to a Professor
5. E.they do not teach the same subject.

Professor Ikin is hopeful of advancement because

1. A.he is much older than Dr. Okoro
2. B.Dr. Wilson is retiring
3. C.he is influential in the Provisional Council
4. D.he received prior information of his possible appointment as Vice - Chancellor
5. E.he is a Professor.

Despite the fact that the Americans like Dr. Okoro, he may not be made a Senior lecturer because

1. A.the Americans are not influential
2. B.Professor Ikin is opposed to him
3. C.there will be opposition from all quarters
4. D.he would be judged by his qualifications
5. E.he may be considered inexperienced

The Americans are displeased with Professor Ikin because

1. A.he hates Dr. Okoro
2. B.he does not like his wife
3. C.they see him as not sufficiently, academically qualified
4. D.they only like people who worship them
5. E.they are at the helm of affairs at Songhai

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Monisola is sure to pass in September. She________ hard since the beginning of this term.

1. A.had been working
2. B.was working
3. C.is working
4. D.would work
5. E.has been working

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Will you know if that dog is ________? He has lost a brown and black one.

1. A.Adebowale's
2. B.Adebowales'
3. C.Adebowale's own
4. D.the Adebowales
5. E.the Adebowale's

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: The old shoemaker at the corner of our street is ________ so I hope you will patronize him.

1. A.mine shoemaker
2. B.a tight friend
3. C.a good customer
4. D.my customer
5. E.a close friend

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: The students in my junior class seem to have performed________ they did last year

1. A.as brilliant as
2. B.more brilliant than
3. C.as brilliantly
4. D.brilliant than
5. E.same brilliant as

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: After the 1980 Ogunpa floods, our association received many letters from those adversely affected and we resolved to ________

1. A.assist them
2. B.invite them
3. C.respond them
4. D.pity them
5. E.query them

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Jane and Jarawa love________ very much

1. A.themselves
2. B.each other
3. C.one another
4. D.theirselves
5. E.each others

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: I shall travel to Lagos by________ next week.

1. A.air or with lorry
2. B.aircraft or by road
3. C.airways or by bus
4. D.air or by road
5. E.flight or by bus.

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: You can never get________ with stealing the presidential jet. You will be caught

1. A.by
2. B.away
3. C.bye
4. D.free
5. E.scot free

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: She got into trouble because she refused to listen to the ________ given by her friends and relatives

1. A.many of the advice
2. B.series of advices
3. C.pieces of advices
4. D.advice
5. E.lots of advices

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: The armed robber stabbed the driver________ the back.

1. A.in
2. B.on
3. C.at
4. D.inside
5. E.by

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: I________ him before he came into the room

1. A.have seen
2. B.have not
3. C.used to see
4. D.see
5. E.had seen

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: I am disappointed________ the ways you conducted yourself at the party.

1. A.by
2. B.for
3. C.due to
4. D.at
5. E.according to

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: You can go on; I ________ what you are saying.

1. A.am understanding
2. B.may be understanding
3. C.was understanding
4. D.will be understanding
5. E.understand

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: When we were coming back from the picnic last Friday, there________ on Eko Bridge.

1. A.were many traffics
2. B.was much traffic
3. C.were plenty traffic
4. D.were losts of traffic
5. E.was a few traffic

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: I have refused to give him my pen because I don't want him to________ it again

1. A.loss
2. B.loose
3. C.lose
4. D.lost
5. E.lend.

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: We were all delighted when the beautiful lady in our house________ a bouncing baby boy.

1. A.delivered
2. B.born
3. C.brought forth
4. D.gave birth to
5. E.gave bath to

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Always remember to________ the lights before leaving the room

1. A.put off
2. B.blow out
3. C.off
4. D.put out
5. E.switch off

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: I'm sorry I can't go to the theatre with you as I have________ to do.

1. A.many works
2. B.a work
3. C.plenty work
4. D.much work
5. E.lots and lots of works

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: The wicked boy threw a stone at the bird smashing________ two legs.

1. A.its
2. B.it's
3. C.it
4. D.is
5. E.its'

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: When the policemen received________ about the hide-out of the armed robbers, they went there in full force to arrest them.

1. A.full informations
2. B.all the necessary informations
3. C.some informations
4. D.an information
5. E.full information

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: On such an important________ all the guests were expected to be at their best.

1. A.occassion
2. B.occasion
3. C.ocassion
4. D.ocasion
5. E.occasion

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Chike, who plays in the first eleven, is an expert________ dribbling.

1. A.for
2. B.by
3. C.at
4. D.with
5. E.on

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Musa asked Asmau what she________ since, he last saw her.

1. A.has been doing
2. B.had been doing
3. C.has done
4. D.was doing
5. E.might be doing

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: The violent storm that occurred on Easter Monday destroyed many houses and caused ________ in Lagos generally.

1. A.heavy damages
2. B.much damage
3. C.several damages
4. D.plenty damage
5. E.many damages

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Would you mind________ the door, please?

1. A.to shut
2. B.to be shutting
3. C.shutting
4. D.to have been shutting
5. E.to have shut

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: The angry woman shouted and cursed in language________ shocking for words.

1. A.very
2. B.far
3. C.so
4. D.quite
5. E.too

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: The evidence of all the accused persons________ by the judge sitting at No 2 Assizes last week.

1. A.were disbelieved
2. B.was disbelieved
3. C.is disbelieved
4. D.are disbelieved
5. E.has been disbelieved

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: There are puddles in the road. It________

1. A.rains
2. B.will be raining
3. C.had to rain
4. D.must rain
5. E.must have been raining.

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: By next June he________ four novels.

1. A.will write
2. B.is writing
3. C.will have written
4. D.had written
5. E.has written

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Do come tonight, but don't expect me to speak to you because I________ an interesting programme on television when you arrive.

1. A.am watching
2. B.watch
3. C.watched
4. D.shall be watching
5. E.have watched

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: ________ any good films lately?

1. A.You would like to see
2. B.Have you seen
3. C.Are you going to see
4. D.Would you see
5. E.You are seeing

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: His hair needs________

1. A.to cut
2. B.to have cut
3. C.being cut
4. D.to be cutting
5. E.cutting

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: ________ fewer strikes since the profit-sharing schemes were introduced.

1. A.There have been
2. B.There are
3. C.There were
4. D.There are going to be
5. E.There was

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Everybody hates________ kept waiting

1. A.be
2. B.being
3. C.to be
4. D.for being
5. E.in being

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: I am not used to ________on the left.

1. A.drive
2. B.having driven
3. C.driving
4. D.have driven
5. E.being driving

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: What made you________ that ?

1. A.have said
2. B.to say
3. C.saying
4. D.said
5. E.say

F: Can I clean this old engine in the sitting room?
T: I would rather________ it in the garage.

1. A.you cleaned
2. B.you are cleaning
3. C.you clean
4. D.you will clean
5. E.didn't clean.

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Radium________ Maria Sklodowska Curie.

1. A.discovered
2. B.is discovering
3. C.has discovered
4. D.was discovered by
5. E.had been discovered by

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: His English was so good that he________ for an Englishman

1. A.took
2. B.is taken
3. C.was taken
4. D.has taken
5. E.is taking

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: If you________ me that you had run out of petrol, I would have given you some.

1. A.were to tell
2. B.tell
3. C.have told
4. D.would tell
5. E.had told

X: How do you want to be paid________ in cash or by cheque?
Y: They asked him________ in cash or by cheque

1. A.how he wanted to be paid
2. B.whether he wanted to be paid
3. C.how he wants the money
4. D.how to pay
5. E.how did he want to be paid

S: I translated the story into Hausa for him.
T: You________ have translated. He knows Hausa very well.

1. A.mustn't
2. B.needn't
3. C.can't
4. D.wouldn't
5. E.couldn't

Can you buy African souvenirs in any other shops?
OR:________ can you buy African souvenirs?

1. A.What place
2. B.Which place
3. C.Where
4. D.Where else
5. E.Wherever

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Put________ your watch, it is half an hour fast

1. A.away
2. B.up
3. C.on
4. D.forward
5. E.back

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: You look very tired, a cup of tea will________ you some good!

1. A.make
2. B.do
3. C.give
4. D.set
5. E.put

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: When he was knocked on the head, he fell to the ground________

1. A.collapsed
2. B.fainted
3. C.unconscious
4. D.conscious
5. E.noisily

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: There was a loud bang________ we thought it was the television, but it wasn't.

1. A.at last
2. B.at first
3. C.at least
4. D.at the moment
5. E.at present

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: Plans for a rise in production________ throught when a strike started

1. A.went
2. B.came
3. C.set
4. D.carried
5. E.fell

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: She used to be very untidy but she has grown________ is now.

1. A.out of
2. B.from
3. C.without
4. D.away with
5. E.by

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: In the past 20 years, many patients________by the doctors in the specialist hospital.

1. A.are treated
2. B.were loved to treat
3. C.have been treated
4. D.treated
5. E.have treated

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: The catering manageress saw to it that the morning meal________by 07.00 hours every day

1. A.is prepared
2. B.used to prepare
3. C.has been prepared
4. D.was prepared
5. E.used to be prepared

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: It________ so hard that all the cars have stopped moving.

1. A.rains
2. B.will rain
3. C.is raining
4. D.was raining
5. E.might rain

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: When next I come to see you, you________ in your new home.

1. A.are already living
2. B.will already be living
3. C.will already live
4. D.will have lived
5. E.have already been living

Choose the most appropriate option to fill the gap: ________to your birthday party in September?

1. A.may I come
2. B.Will I come
3. C.Would I come
4. D.Might I come
5. E.Shall I come

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): The minister hit on a plan to retain his post after many months of lobbying

1. A.beat a plan
2. B.drew up a plan
3. C.discovered a plan
4. D.selected a plan
5. E.designed a plan

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): The students decided to go without breakfast in order to save money for the needy. They decided to

1. A.travel and leave their breakfast at home
2. B.go outside for breakfast
3. C.go for lunch rather than breakfast
4. D.forgo breakfast
5. E.reject breakfast.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): Ekwensi's account with the Naira Bank is in the red His account

1. A.was written in red ink
2. B.is overdrawn
3. C.is in danger
4. D.is special
5. E.is heavy

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): He is travelling tomorrow .

1. A.He may travel tomorrow
2. B.He will travel tomorrow
3. C.He has to travel tomorrow
4. D.He should travel tomorrow
5. E.He can travel tomorrow

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): He should be able to do it alone.

1. A.He would be able to do it alone
2. B.He ought to be able to do it alone
3. C.He may be able to do it alone
4. D.He has to be able to do its alone
5. E.He will do it alone

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): He will smoke continuously when he is depressed.

1. A.He smokes continuously whenever he is depressed
2. B.He intends to smoke continuously whenever he is depressed
3. C.He wishes to smoke continuously when he is depressed.
4. D.He may smoke continuously when he is depressed
5. E.He can smoke continuously whenever he is depressed

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): Shade is to come home tomorrow.

1. A.Shade is planning to come home tomorrow
2. B.Shade may come home tomorrow
3. C.Shade wants to come home tomorrow
4. D.Shade is expected to come home tomorrow
5. E.Shade wishes to come home tomorrow.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): John must be happy today .

1. A.I am sure John is happy today
2. B.John is happy today
3. C.I hope John is happy today
4. D.It is possible John is happy today
5. E.John may be happy today

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): You can talk to her.

1. A.You are permitted to talk to her
2. B.You must talk to her
3. C.You might talk to her
4. D.Nothing prevents you from talking to her
5. E.A & D

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): The General promised the soldiers would go back to the barracks

1. A.barricade
2. B.army
3. C.military training school
4. D.soldiers' quarters
5. E.civilian quarters

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): My mother has refused to come to live in Lagos because she prefers the tranquil life in the village to the hurly burly of the city.

1. A.free
2. B.prosperous
3. C.peaceful
4. D.decent
5. E.happy

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): Most of the time my Boss tells cock and bull stories

1. A.costly
2. B.unreasonable
3. C.clever
4. D.untrue
5. E.funny

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): My friend will hate his uncle forever because he left him in the lurch in his hour of need.

1. A.abandoned him
2. B.punished him
3. C.disrespected him
4. D.disinherited him
5. E.despised him

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): When you go to a foreign country to study, you will discover that life is not always a bed of roses.

1. A.as pleasant as one thought
2. B.a bed without roses
3. C.an unmitigated disappointment
4. D.as expected
5. E.uncomfortable

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): A lorry larger than an elephant was stuck on the bridge.

1. A.as large as an elephant
2. B.carrying an elephant
3. C.that looked like an elephant
4. D.with elephantiasis
5. E.of enormous proportions

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): There is an end-of-session party tonight, but Sola hasn't finished her term paper. She's unlikely to come.

1. A.I doubt whether she will come
2. B.She will likely come
3. C.It isn't unlike her to come
4. D.She doesn't like coming to parties
5. E.There is a small possibility that she might come

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s): Never in the history of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few .

1. A.Many people owed much money at the end of the war
2. B.A handful of people saved the lives of a nation
3. C.A few people did a lot of things gratis
4. D.This conflict caused the largest ransom ever demanded
5. E.Very little was owed by anyone to anybody

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word: While most of our recently elected legislators are living a life of affluence and ostentation the vast majority of those who elected them into office are unhappy.

1. A.influence
2. B.pleasure
3. C.poverty
4. D.happiness
5. E.consequence

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word: It is generally believed that misers are not loved by many

1. A.spendthrifts
2. B.spenders
3. C.hoarders
4. D.savers
5. E.thieves

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word: My brother's primary school foundation was solid and this affected his secondary education:

1. A.sound
2. B.sorded
3. C.shaky
4. D.weak
5. E.uneventful

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word: Politicians and holders of political appointments are generally assumed to be cunning:

1. A.kind
2. B.straightforward
3. C.generous
4. D.even handed
5. E.sly