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JAMB Use of English 2001 past questions and answers

97 questions. Try each one, then open the answer to check yourself and read the explanation.

Question 1

Comprehension
JAMB 2001 Passage I: The advent of the motor car
By 1910, the motor car was plainly conquering the highway. The private car was now part of every rich man's establishment, although its price made it as yet an impossible luxury for most of the middle class. But for the adventuresome youth, there was the motor cycle, a fearsome invention producing accidents and ear-splitting noises. Already, the dignified carriages and smart pony-traps were beginning to disappear from the roads, and coachmen and grooms, unless mechanically minded, were finding it more difficult to make a living.

The roads, which had gone to sleep since the coming of the railway, now awoke to feverish activity. Cars and motor cycles dashed along them at speeds which rivalled those of the express trains, and the lorry began to appear. Therefore, the road system was compelled to adapt itself to a volume and speed of traffic for which it had never been intended. Its complete adaptation was impossible, but the road surface was easily transformed and, during the early years of the century, the dustiness and greasiness of the highways were lessened by tar-spraying. To widen and straighten the roads and get rid of blind corners and every steep gradient were tasks which had scarcely been tackled before 1914. The situation was worst of all in towns where not only was any large scheme of road widening usually out of the question, but also where crowding and danger were all too frequently increased by the short-sighted eagerness of town authorities in laying down tramlines.

Yet it was not only the road system that was in need of readjustment; the nervous system of those who used and dwelt by the road suffered. The noises caused by the conversion of the roads into speedways called for a corresponding tightening up of the nerves; and especially in the towns, the pedestrian who wished to preserve life and limb was compelled to keep his attention continually on the stretch, to practise himself in estimates of the speed of approaching vehicles and to run or jump for his life if he ventured off the pavement.

Adapted from Rachel Carson: The Advent of the Motor Car

One of the following statements can be deduced from the passage.

  1. A.People no longer used trains with the advent of cars and lorries
  2. B.Significant improvement occurred in road transport since the advent of motor cars, lorries and motorcycles
  3. C.Human society was static without the express speed of cars and motorcycles
  4. D.Society would be better of without the chaotic volume and speed of motor cars, lorries and motorcycles
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (Significant improvement occurred in road transport since the advent of motor cars, lorries and motorcycles)

Explanation

The passage describes how the roads 'awoke to feverish activity' and were tarred and improved once cars, motorcycles and lorries came, so road transport clearly improved.

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Question 2

Comprehension

From the passage, it is obvious that

  1. A.motor cars were mere luxuries which many people tried desperately to acquire
  2. B.the motor car was invented before the express trains
  3. C.the train was the fastest means of transport before the motor car and the lorry
  4. D.the motor car and the lorry came to displace the train traffic
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (the train was the fastest means of transport before the motor car and the lorry)

Explanation

Cars on the newly busy roads 'rivalled' the express trains in speed. That shows the express train had been the fastest means of transport until the motor car and the lorry came.

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Question 3

Comprehension

The writer seems to suggest that

  1. A.the roads that existed were dormant
  2. B.coachmen and grooms were not mechanically minded
  3. C.there were no roads before the advent of cars and motorcycles and so people had to be mechanically minded
  4. D.the volume and speed of traffic on the roads increased with the advent of cars, motorcycles and lorries.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (the volume and speed of traffic on the roads increased with the advent of cars, motorcycles and lorries.)

Explanation

The writer says the road system had to adapt to 'a volume and speed of traffic for which it had never been intended', which shows traffic grew in amount and speed with the new vehicles.

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Question 4

Comprehension

The writer uses the expression unless mechanically minded to refer to

  1. A.coachmen and grooms adaptable to the new technology
  2. B.coachmen and grooms who chose to become mechanics
  3. C.town authorities laying down tramlines
  4. D.those amenable to change and development.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (coachmen and grooms adaptable to the new technology)

Explanation

Coachmen and grooms were losing their living 'unless mechanically minded', meaning only those who could adapt to the new machines would still find work.

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Question 5

Comprehension

The statement By 1910, the motor car was plainly conquering the highway means that

  1. A.by 1910 many people knew how to drive motor cars
  2. B.the motor car was invented in 1910
  3. C.highway codes for motor cars came into effect by 1910
  4. D.by 1910 motor cars became common sight on the highways.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (by 1910 motor cars became common sight on the highways.)

Explanation

'Conquering the highway' means taking over the roads, so by 1910 cars had become a common sight on the highways.

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Question 6

Comprehension
JAMB 2001 Passage II: Checking and coding survey data (cloze, gaps 6–15)
Before any detailed analysis begins, the first thing to do with the raw data is to check through the field record books and questionnaires for any ...6... [A. records B. events C. odds D. mistakes], inconsistencies and incompleteness. In some cases, it may be possible to correct any discovered shortcomings. When it is not possible to carry out these ...7... [A. plans B. possibilities C. corrections D. expectations], In most scientific ...8... [A. experiments B. data C. conclusion D. questionnaires] such revisits are clearly impossible. This is true of many surveys too. A road traffic survey ...9... [A. conducted B. experimented C. classified D. precoded] to find out the amount and frequency of daily traffic between two towns cannot be expected to be ...10... [A. reproducible B. undertaken C. observed D. produced]. There is no way of going back to check whether the number of vehicles reported for any particular hour is correct or not. With open-ended questions the ...11... [A. methods B. responses C. errors D. conclusions] have to be classified into relatively small number of groups. The process of classifying answers and of sometimes identifying them by number and letter is called ...12... [A. recording B. recoding C. encoding D. coding]. When closed-ended questions are used, it is possible to code all the possible answers before they are actually received. This is called ...13... [A. precoding B. coding C. encoding D. recoding]. What is done, a check through the answers for proper classification, numbering and lettering is still called for at this stage. This whole process of checking through questionnaires and notebooks is called ...14... [A. editing B. posting C. listing D. auditing]. Collected data will eventually have to be used in drawing ...15... [A. references B. examples C. conclusions D. analogies] and writing a report about the population from which it came.

Passage II, gap 6: Before any detailed analysis begins, the first thing to do with the raw data is to check through the field record books and questionnaires for any ________ (6), inconsistencies and incompleteness.

  1. A.records
  2. B.events
  3. C.odds
  4. D.mistakes
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (mistakes)

Explanation

The checking is meant to find errors; 'mistakes' fits with 'inconsistencies and incompleteness'.

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Question 7

Comprehension

Passage II, gap 7: In some cases, it may be possible to correct any discovered shortcomings. When it is not possible to carry out these ________ (7), …

  1. A.plans
  2. B.possibilities
  3. C.corrections
  4. D.expectations
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (corrections)

Explanation

The previous sentence talks about correcting shortcomings, so 'these corrections' refers back to it.

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Question 8

Comprehension

Passage II, gap 8: In most scientific ________ (8) such revisits are clearly impossible.

  1. A.experiments
  2. B.data
  3. C.conclusion
  4. D.questionnaires
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (experiments)

Explanation

An experiment happens once under set conditions and cannot simply be revisited, so 'scientific experiments' fits.

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Question 9

Comprehension

Passage II, gap 9: A road traffic survey ________ (9) to find out the amount and frequency of daily traffic between two towns cannot be expected to be ________ (10).

  1. A.conducted
  2. B.experimented
  3. C.classified
  4. D.precoded
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (conducted)

Explanation

A survey is 'conducted' (carried out); the other words do not collocate with 'survey' here.

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Question 10

Comprehension

Passage II, gap 10: A road traffic survey conducted to find out the amount and frequency of daily traffic between two towns cannot be expected to be ________ (10). There is no way of going back to check whether the number of vehicles reported for any particular hour is correct or not.

  1. A.reproducible
  2. B.undertaken
  3. C.observed
  4. D.produced
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (reproducible)

Explanation

Yesterday's traffic cannot be counted again, so the survey cannot be repeated exactly: it is not 'reproducible'.

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Question 11

Comprehension

Passage II, gap 11: With open-ended questions the ________ (11) have to be classified into relatively small number of groups.

  1. A.methods
  2. B.responses
  3. C.errors
  4. D.conclusions
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (responses)

Explanation

Open-ended questions produce answers (responses) in many forms, and these must be grouped.

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Question 12

Comprehension

Passage II, gap 12: The process of classifying answers and of sometimes identifying them by number and letter is called ________ (12).

  1. A.recording
  2. B.recoding
  3. C.encoding
  4. D.coding
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (coding)

Explanation

In survey research, giving answers number or letter labels is called coding; that is why coding them in advance is called precoding in the next sentence.

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Question 13

Comprehension

Passage II, gap 13: When closed-ended questions are used, it is possible to code all the possible answers before they are actually received. This is called ________ (13).

  1. A.precoding
  2. B.coding
  3. C.encoding
  4. D.recoding
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (precoding)

Explanation

Coding answers before they are received is 'pre-coding' ('pre' means before).

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Question 14

Comprehension

Passage II, gap 14: This whole process of checking through questionnaires and notebooks is called ________ (14).

  1. A.editing
  2. B.posting
  3. C.listing
  4. D.auditing
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (editing)

Explanation

Checking data for mistakes and correcting it before analysis is called editing.

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Question 15

Comprehension

Passage II, gap 15: Collected data will eventually have to be used in drawing ________ (15) and writing a report about the population from which it came.

  1. A.references
  2. B.examples
  3. C.conclusions
  4. D.analogies
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (conclusions)

Explanation

We 'draw conclusions' from data; it is the fixed collocation and the purpose of analysis.

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Question 16

Comprehension
JAMB 2001 Passage III: The near-death experience
It is possible to have a glimpse of life after death. Man has always believed in an afterlife, but only today do we have scientific reports of people who seem to have experienced the sensation of dying but lived to tell about it. Ongoing research is documenting hundreds of cases each year of the near-death experience (NDE), and scientists think they are finding a clearly identifiable pattern: usually a man is dying and, as he reaches the point of greatest physical distress, he hears himself pronounced dead by his doctor. He begins to hear an uncomfortable noise, a loud ringing or buzzing, and at the same time feels himself moving very rapidly through a long dark tunnel. After this he suddenly finds himself outside of his own physical body, but still in the immediate physical environment, and he sees his own body from a distance, as though he is a spectator. He watches the resuscitation attempt from this unusual vantage point and is in a state of emotional upheaval.

After a while, he collects himself and becomes more accustomed to his odd condition. He notices that he still has a 'body', but one of a very different nature and with very different powers from the physical body he has left behind. Soon after, things begin to happen. Others come to meet and to help him. He glimpses the spirits of relatives and friends who have already died, and a loving, warm spirit of a kind he has never encountered before — a being of light — appears before him. This being asks him a question, non-verbally, to make him evaluate his life — and helps him along by showing him a panoramic instantaneous playback of the major events of his life. Then he finds that he must go back to the earth, that the time for his death has not yet come. At this point he resists, for by now he is taken up with his experiences in the afterlife and does not want to return. He is overwhelmed by intense feelings of joy, love and peace. Despite his attitude, though, he somehow reunites with his physical body and lives.

That the man was shown a panoramic instantaneous playback of the major events of his life suggests that

  1. A.he has to assess his deeds in life
  2. B.there are video machines in the world beyond
  3. C.he needs to see the difference between his past life and his new life
  4. D.he needs to be entertained to take his mind away from the noise around him.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (he has to assess his deeds in life)

Explanation

The being of light shows him his life to help him 'evaluate his life', so he is meant to assess what he did.

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Question 17

Comprehension

The NDE man appears to be a spectator in the flurry of activities around him because

  1. A.he is moving rapidly through a long dark tunnel
  2. B.his new 'body' would not allow him to participate
  3. C.he can only watch as the events unfold
  4. D.he is now a dead man.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (he can only watch as the events unfold)

Explanation

He sees his body from a distance and 'watches the resuscitation attempt', so he can only look on as things happen.

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Question 18

Comprehension

According to the passage, scientific evidence has made it possible

  1. A.for the dead to return and tell their experiences
  2. B.to make conjectures about what happens after death
  3. C.to know a little about what happens in the world of the dead
  4. D.for one to experience the sensation of dying and living again
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (to know a little about what happens in the world of the dead)

Explanation

Science now has reports from people who came close to death and lived to describe it. These give 'a glimpse of life after death', so we can know a little about what happens in the world of the dead.

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Question 19

Comprehension

A suitable title for the passage is

  1. A.a glimpse into the world of the dead
  2. B.the sensation of death and the afterlife
  3. C.research into the lives of the dead
  4. D.visions of an afterlife
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (a glimpse into the world of the dead)

Explanation

The passage opens by saying 'It is possible to have a glimpse of life after death' and then describes what is seen, so A sums it up.

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Question 20

Comprehension

The expression as he reaches the point of greatest physical distress, as used in the passage, means when

  1. A.the man's system finally collapses
  2. B.his condition seems to get worse
  3. C.his doctor is ready to pronounce him dead
  4. D.the sick man finally stops breathing.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (the man's system finally collapses)

Explanation

The 'point of greatest physical distress' is the moment his body can no longer cope, right before he is pronounced dead, i.e. when his system collapses.

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Question 21

Comprehension
JAMB 2001 Passage IV: Dialect, accent and the standard language
The emergence of a standard dialect produces the phenomenon known as 'accent' which is quite different from dialect. In the process of learning a foreign language, it is normal to transfer the patterns of an indigenous language to those of the foreign language. With time, however, those of form and most of those of orthography and phonology gradually get eliminated. This is because these can easily be identified and corrected. They are easy to correct because they do not involve patterns of muscular movement. It is also necessary to correct them because otherwise they could seriously impair intelligibility.

With phonetic patterns, on the other hand, there is a great deal of intelligibility tolerance because muscular patterns are involved, thus making corrections difficult when observed. Besides, phonetic patterns do not impair intelligibility much. Hence the transference of phonetic habits from one language to another is both easier to tolerate and more difficult to avoid than transference at the lexico-grammatical level.

It follows that a speaker who is learning a second dialect does so with an accent since the muscles of his speech organs would have crystallized in response to the phonetics of his native language which he learnt first. The speaker therefore speaks the second dialect with the phonetic features of his native dialect. The learning of a standard language is simply the learning of a second dialect — that which has been standardized.

Members of a language community control at least two dialects and use both dialects in different situations. In the rural areas, the native dialect is used in most situations since there is less movement. Therefore, rural dwellers tend to be parochial and maintain the homogeneity of their dialect. In the urban community, on the other hand, there is more demand on the standard dialect than on the rural one. This is because people from different regions converge here. In order to ensure mutual intelligibility resulting from the pressure of communication, a great deal of demand is made on the standard dialect which now becomes the lingua franca amongst them.

The word those, as used in the passage, refers to

  1. A.forms of orthography and phonology
  2. B.patterns of an indigenous language
  3. C.foreign languages
  4. D.indigenous languages
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (patterns of an indigenous language)

Explanation

The sentence before talks about transferring 'the patterns of an indigenous language'; 'those of form' means the patterns of form, so 'those' replaces 'patterns'.

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Question 22

Comprehension

Phonetic patterns allow for intelligibility tolerance because

  1. A.they are involved and difficult to avoid
  2. B.they involve muscular patterns which later crystallize
  3. C.they give rise to the phenomenon of accent which is easy to tolerate
  4. D.transference is both difficult to avoid and easy to tolerate
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (they involve muscular patterns which later crystallize)

Explanation

The writer says listeners tolerate phonetic differences because speech sounds depend on muscle patterns, which become fixed (crystallize) from the first language learnt and are hard to correct.

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Question 24

Comprehension

An appropriate title for this passage is

  1. A.The quest for a lingua franca
  2. B.The emergence of a standard language
  3. C.The phenomenon of accent
  4. D.members of a language community
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (The emergence of a standard language)

Explanation

The passage begins with the emergence of a standard dialect and explains how it is learnt and how it becomes the lingua franca, so B covers the whole passage.

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Question 25

Comprehension

Members of a language community control at least two dialects because

  1. A.there is little demand for the indigenous dialects
  2. B.the convergence of people from disparate regions results in the pressure of communication
  3. C.they want a lingua franca which is produced by mutual intelligibility
  4. D.they are made up of both rural and urban dwellers
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (the convergence of people from disparate regions results in the pressure of communication)

Explanation

In towns people from different regions meet, and the need to understand one another pushes them to use the standard dialect as well as their own.

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Question 26

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: I cannot understand why Ali should serve in that moribund administration

  1. A.oppressive
  2. B.prodigal
  3. C.crumbling
  4. D.purposeless
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (crumbling)

Explanation

'Moribund' means dying or close to collapse, so a moribund administration is a crumbling one.

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Question 27

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: The Conference Centre caters for transients only

  1. A.temporary guests
  2. B.professional
  3. C.permanent guests
  4. D.novices
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (temporary guests)

Explanation

Transients are people who stay only a short time, i.e. temporary guests.

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Question 28

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: The coalescence of the groups created additional problems

  1. A.proscription
  2. B.fighting
  3. C.disbandment
  4. D.union
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (union)

Explanation

To coalesce is to come together into one, so coalescence means union.

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Question 29

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the phrase in italics: As the triumphant rebels were returning to their base, they met with a serious reverse

  1. A.a defeat
  2. B.an enemy
  3. C.an army
  4. D.a victory
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (a defeat)

Explanation

A reverse is a setback in battle, so a serious reverse is a defeat.

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Question 30

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: The village girl wore sumptuous clothes

  1. A.faded-looking
  2. B.cheap
  3. C.expensive
  4. D.loose-fitting
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (expensive)

Explanation

Sumptuous means rich and costly-looking, so sumptuous clothes are expensive.

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Question 31

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the phrase in italics: Any chief executive of an organisation would find radical changes blocked at every turn

  1. A.developments
  2. B.ideas
  3. C.suggestions
  4. D.innovations
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (innovations)

Explanation

Radical changes are completely new ways of doing things, which is what innovations are.

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Question 32

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: Ugo has often been described as belligerent

  1. A.attractive
  2. B.patient
  3. C.innocent
  4. D.combative
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (combative)

Explanation

A belligerent person is aggressive and ready to fight, i.e. combative.

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Question 33

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: The men were tardy in offering help

  1. A.brave
  2. B.generous
  3. C.slow
  4. D.quick
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (slow)

Explanation

Tardy means late or slow to act.

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Question 34

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: Funmi is just being facetious about her marrying a soldier

  1. A.unserious
  2. B.crazy
  3. C.serious
  4. D.unfaithful
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (unserious)

Explanation

Being facetious means joking about something that should be treated seriously, so she is being unserious.

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Question 35

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: The professor discussed a number of abstruse topics

  1. A.esoteric
  2. B.relevant
  3. C.irrelevant
  4. D.useful
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (esoteric)

Explanation

Abstruse means hard to understand, known only to a few; esoteric has the same meaning.

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Question 36

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: Bose was angry because her friend called her a pilferer

  1. A.hypocrite
  2. B.thief
  3. C.criminal
  4. D.liar
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (thief)

Explanation

To pilfer is to steal small things, so a pilferer is a thief.

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Question 37

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: While the hooligans exchanged blows, we looked complacently

  1. A.dejectedly
  2. B.sorrowfully
  3. C.questioningly
  4. D.contentedly
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (contentedly)

Explanation

Complacently means in a self-satisfied, unconcerned way, which is closest to contentedly.

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Question 38

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: Tade became timorous when she was asked to give the valedictory speech

  1. A.excited
  2. B.nervous
  3. C.aggressive
  4. D.happy
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (nervous)

Explanation

Timorous means fearful or lacking confidence, i.e. nervous.

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Question 39

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in italics: The player kept on gamely to the end of the match

  1. A.amateurishly
  2. B.skilfully
  3. C.courageously
  4. D.stubbornly
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (courageously)

Explanation

To do something gamely is to do it bravely and with determination despite difficulty.

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Question 40

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the phrase in italics: Art lies in cherishing the initiative and creative power of each person

  1. A.potential
  2. B.strength
  3. C.gift
  4. D.mind
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (potential)

Explanation

Creative power here is each person's ability to create, their potential.

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Question 41

Sentence Interpretation

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence: Oche's chief idiosyncrasy is a passion for pounded yam

  1. A.Oche's chief hates pounded yam
  2. B.Oche hates pounded yam
  3. C.Oche has a penchant for pounded yam
  4. D.Oche's chief likes pounded yam
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (Oche has a penchant for pounded yam)

Explanation

An idiosyncrasy is a personal habit; 'Oche's chief idiosyncrasy' is Oche's main habit, which is a strong liking (penchant) for pounded yam.

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Question 42

Sentence Interpretation

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence: You must not attend the end-of-year party

  1. A.It is not necessary that you attend the party
  2. B.It is necessary that you do not attend the party
  3. C.You do not have to decide whether to attend the party or not
  4. D.You have to decide whether to attend the party or not.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (It is necessary that you do not attend the party)

Explanation

'Must not' is a prohibition: it is necessary that you stay away. 'Not necessary' (A) would be 'need not'.

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Question 43

Sentence Interpretation

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence: The man reasoned that there ought to be a limit to sycophancy

  1. A.there can be no favour beyond a reasonable point
  2. B.sycophants need not talk all the time
  3. C.people should know when not to use flattery
  4. D.sycophants should know when to grant people's requests
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (people should know when not to use flattery)

Explanation

Sycophancy is excessive flattery of powerful people, so a limit to it means people should know when to stop flattering.

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Question 44

Sentence Interpretation

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence: Adawo is an imp

  1. A.Adawo behaves queerly
  2. B.Adawo behaves decently
  3. C.Adawo bahaves differently
  4. D.Adawo behaves badly
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (Adawo behaves badly)

Explanation

An imp is a mischievous, naughty person, so Adawo behaves badly.

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Question 45

Sentence Interpretation

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence: The solution lies in choosing between various negative alternatives

  1. A.the solution can be found in one of negative options
  2. B.the solution lies in choosing between the positive and the negative
  3. C.the solutions are many
  4. D.the solution is a negative one
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (the solution can be found in one of negative options)

Explanation

All the choices are negative, so the solution must be one of those negative options.

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Question 46

Word Stress

Identify the word that has the stress on the first syllable.

  1. A.resist
  2. B.salon
  3. C.confirm
  4. D.intact
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (salon)

Explanation

SAlon is stressed on the first syllable; reSIST, conFIRM and inTACT are stressed on the second.

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Question 47

Word Stress

Identify the word that has the stress on the first syllable.

  1. A.competent
  2. B.misread
  3. C.resign
  4. D.compel
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (competent)

Explanation

COMpetent is stressed on the first syllable; misREAD, reSIGN and comPEL are stressed on the second.

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Question 48

Vowels

Choose the word that does not have the same vowel sound as the others.

  1. A.toil
  2. B.rejoice
  3. C.enjoy
  4. D.log
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (log)

Explanation

Toil, rejoice and enjoy have the diphthong /ɔɪ/; log has the short vowel /ɒ/.

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Question 49

Vowels

Choose the word that does not have the same vowel sound as the others.

  1. A.key
  2. B.wind
  3. C.even
  4. D.people
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (wind)

Explanation

Key, even and people have the long vowel /iː/; wind (moving air) has the short /ɪ/.

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Question 50

Vowels

Choose the word that does not have the same vowel sound as the others.

  1. A.granite
  2. B.die
  3. C.rice
  4. D.fight
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (granite)

Explanation

Die, rice and fight have /aɪ/; the 'i' in granite is the short /ɪ/.

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Question 51

Vowels

Choose the word that does not have the same vowel sound as the others.

  1. A.bale
  2. B.saint
  3. C.plait
  4. D.gate
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (plait)

Explanation

Bale, saint and gate have /eɪ/; plait is pronounced /plæt/.

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Question 52

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: The lecture seemed interminable

  1. A.unending
  2. B.boring
  3. C.interesting
  4. D.brief
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (brief)

Explanation

Interminable means seeming to go on forever; the opposite is brief.

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Question 53

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the phrase in italics: Had I known about their plan much earlier I would have nipped it in the bud

  1. A.stopped it
  2. B.initiated it
  3. C.squashed it
  4. D.promoted it
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (promoted it)

Explanation

To nip something in the bud is to stop it early; the opposite is to promote or encourage it.

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Question 54

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: What a harmless thought he has!

  1. A.pernicious
  2. B.pertinent
  3. C.pleasant
  4. D.perfect
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (pernicious)

Explanation

Pernicious means very harmful, which is the opposite of harmless.

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Question 55

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: The town was all agog at his unexpected return

  1. A.on fire
  2. B.excited
  3. C.unexcited
  4. D.surprised
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (unexcited)

Explanation

Agog means eager and excited, so the opposite is unexcited.

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Question 56

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: The teacher taught the rudiments of Chemistry to the first grade

  1. A.elements
  2. B.theories
  3. C.fundamentals
  4. D.basics
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (theories)

Explanation

Rudiments are the simple basics of a subject; elements, fundamentals and basics all mean the same, so theories (more advanced ideas) is the only contrast.

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Question 57

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: In his naivety he believed all the stories his friend told him

  1. A.artlessnes
  2. B.stupidity
  3. C.friendliness
  4. D.incredulity
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (incredulity)

Explanation

Naivety makes a person believe everything; incredulity means refusing to believe, so it is the opposite.

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Question 58

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: The journalist's write-up contained a plethora of detail

  1. A.shortage
  2. B.simplicity
  3. C.complexity
  4. D.spectrum
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (shortage)

Explanation

A plethora is too much of something; the opposite is a shortage.

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Question 59

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the phrase in italics: Amina's performance in the examination surpassed my expectations

  1. A.was disappointing
  2. B.lacked merit
  3. C.was extraordinarily good
  4. D.amazed everyone
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (was disappointing)

Explanation

To surpass expectations is to do better than expected; the opposite is to fall short, i.e. to be disappointing.

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Question 60

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: As these boys never act in public, the police are now worried about their convert activities

  1. A.ignoble
  2. B.evil
  3. C.open
  4. D.cryptic
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (open)

Explanation

'Convert' here is a misprint for covert, meaning secret (the boys never act in public); the opposite of secret is open.

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Question 61

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: It is inconceivable that the rat devoured the cat

  1. A.contestable
  2. B.incomprehensible
  3. C.credible
  4. D.unimaginable
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (credible)

Explanation

Inconceivable means impossible to believe or imagine; credible means believable, the opposite.

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Question 62

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: In the latter part of his life, the famous soldier showed signs of youthfulness

  1. A.energy
  2. B.senility
  3. C.bravery
  4. D.vitality
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (senility)

Explanation

Youthfulness is the energy of youth; senility is the mental and physical weakness of old age, its opposite.

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Question 63

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: There is much apathy towards reading among students nowadays

  1. A.enthusiasm
  2. B.indecision
  3. C.disinclination
  4. D.indifference
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (enthusiasm)

Explanation

Apathy is lack of interest; enthusiasm is strong interest, the opposite.

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Question 64

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: Some equatorial areas have a sultry climate

  1. A.a hot
  2. B.an inclement
  3. C.a temperate
  4. D.a stable
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (a temperate)

Explanation

A sultry climate is uncomfortably hot and humid; a temperate climate is mild, the opposite.

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Question 65

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: All wondered why the principal was ambivalent about the students' future

  1. A.anxious
  2. B.inconsiderate
  3. C.ambitious
  4. D.decisive
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (decisive)

Explanation

Being ambivalent means being unable to decide between two feelings; the opposite is being decisive.

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Question 66

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: Updating the Board's brochure is an arduous task

  1. A.an easy
  2. B.an annual
  3. C.a regular
  4. D.a difficult
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (an easy)

Explanation

Arduous means hard and tiring; the opposite is easy.

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Question 67

Word Stress

Identify the word that has a different stress pattern from the others.

  1. A.classroom
  2. B.programme
  3. C.July
  4. D.brother
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (July)

Explanation

CLASSroom, PROgramme and BROther are stressed on the first syllable, but juLY is stressed on the second.

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Question 68

Word Stress

Identify the word that has a different stress pattern from the others.

  1. A.temperamental
  2. B.administrative
  3. C.circulation
  4. D.consideration
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (administrative)

Explanation

temperaMENtal, circuLAtion and consideRAtion are stressed on the syllable before the last; adMINistrative is stressed on its second syllable.

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Question 69

Consonants

Choose the word that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the underlined letters: Church

  1. A.feature
  2. B.chauffeur
  3. C.ocean
  4. D.machine
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (feature)

Explanation

The 'ch' in church is /tʃ/; the 't' in feature is also /tʃ/, while chauffeur, ocean and machine have /ʃ/.

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Question 70

Consonants

Choose the word that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the underlined letter: Sure

  1. A.cheer
  2. B.cheap
  3. C.charlatan
  4. D.church
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (charlatan)

Explanation

The 's' in sure is /ʃ/; the 'ch' in charlatan is also /ʃ/, while cheer, cheap and church have /tʃ/.

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Question 71

Consonants

Choose the word that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the underlined letter: Past

  1. A.wrestle
  2. B.preached
  3. C.castle
  4. D.pasture
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (preached)

Explanation

The 't' in past is /t/. In preached the '-ed' ending is pronounced /t/; the t is silent in wrestle and castle, and in pasture it is /tʃ/.

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Question 72

Consonants

Choose the word that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the underlined letters: Thank

  1. A.though
  2. B.thought
  3. C.Thames
  4. D.Thomas
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (thought)

Explanation

The 'th' in thank is /θ/, as in thought; though has /ð/, and Thames and Thomas have /t/.

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Question 73

Emphatic Stress and Intonation

The word in capital letters has an emphatic stress. Choose the option that best fits the expression in the sentence: YOUR sister should come with us tomorrow

  1. A.Should your brother come with us tomorrow?
  2. B.Should our brother come with us tomorrow?
  3. C.Should Ado's sister come with us tomorrow?
  4. D.Should my sister come with us tomorrow?
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (Should my sister come with us tomorrow?)

Explanation

Stressing YOUR answers a question about whose sister should come, as in 'Should Ado's sister come?'.

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Question 74

Emphatic Stress and Intonation

The word in capital letters has an emphatic stress. Choose the option that best fits the expression in the sentence: My neighbour BRUISED his thigh while playing football

  1. A.Did your neighbour break his leg while playing tennis?
  2. B.Did your neighbour fracture his thigh while playing football?
  3. C.Was your neighbour involved in an accident?
  4. D.Did your neighbour play football yesterday?
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (Did your neighbour fracture his thigh while playing football?)

Explanation

Stressing BRUISED corrects the kind of injury, so it answers 'Did he fracture his thigh?'.

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Question 75

Emphatic Stress and Intonation

The word in capital letters has an emphatic stress. Choose the option that best fits the expression in the sentence: They FLEW to Abuja.

  1. A.Did they go to Abuja by road?
  2. B.Did they fly to Jos?
  3. C.How will they get to Abuja?
  4. D.Where did they fly to?
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (Did they go to Abuja by road?)

Explanation

Stressing FLEW corrects the way they travelled, so it answers 'Did they go by road?'.

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Question 76

Vocabulary in Context

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: I do not think any sane person would have acted in such a ________ manner

  1. A.rational
  2. B.composed
  3. C.secret
  4. D.cruel
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (cruel)

Explanation

A sane person would not act cruelly; 'rational' and 'composed' are how sane people do act, so they make no sense here.

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Question 77

Concord

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: Neither Agbo nor his parents ________ the meetings now.

  1. A.attended
  2. B.attend
  3. C.has attended
  4. D.attends
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (attend)

Explanation

With 'neither…nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject, 'parents' (plural), and 'now' needs the present tense: attend.

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Question 78

Vocabulary in Context

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: Modern dancing has become rather scientific and so requires ________

  1. A.bizarre costuming
  2. B.some choreographic skill
  3. C.immense instrumentation
  4. D.a rapping voice
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (some choreographic skill)

Explanation

Choreography is the planning of dance movements; if dancing is 'scientific' it needs choreographic skill.

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Question 79

Tenses

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: Had he considered his public image carefully, he ________ for his opponent in the election.

  1. A.might have stood aside
  2. B.would have stepped aside
  3. C.should have stepped down
  4. D.would have stood down
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (would have stepped aside)

Explanation

'Had he considered…' is a past (third) conditional, so the result is 'would have + past participle'. To step aside for someone is to give way so that they can take your place.

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Question 80

Concord

Fill the gaps with the most appropriate option: The government which ________ recruiting ________ workers suddenly stopped doing so.

  1. A.are/its
  2. B.was/its
  3. C.is/their
  4. D.were/their
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (was/its)

Explanation

'Government' is treated as one body here, so it takes 'was' and 'its', and the past tense matches 'stopped'.

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Question 81

Verb Forms

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: Of course we all saw the culprit ________ and hit the man on the head

  1. A.approached
  2. B.approaching
  3. C.approach
  4. D.approaches
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (approach)

Explanation

After verbs of perception like 'see', a completed action takes the bare infinitive: we saw him approach and hit the man.

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Question 82

Vocabulary in Context

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: A child that shows mature characteristics at an early age may be described as ________

  1. A.preconceived
  2. B.premature
  3. C.ingenuous
  4. D.precocious
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (precocious)

Explanation

A precocious child shows abilities or behaviour normally seen only in older people.

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Question 83

Vocabulary in Context

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: The Company Director showed the contractor a ________ of the proposed office complex

  1. A.prototype
  2. B.photograph
  3. C.microfilm
  4. D.photocopy
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (prototype)

Explanation

The complex is only proposed, so it cannot be photographed; a prototype is a first model of something to be built.

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Question 84

Conjunctions

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: ________ you come early to the new house, clean up my flat

  1. A.While
  2. B.By chance
  3. C.Should
  4. D.Should in case
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (Should)

Explanation

'Should you come early' is an inverted form of 'If you come early'; 'Should in case' doubles the meaning and is wrong.

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Question 85

Verb Forms

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: This imposing edifice, ________ a fortune to build

  1. A.had costed
  2. B.have cost
  3. C.costed
  4. D.cost
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (cost)

Explanation

The past tense of 'cost' (meaning to have a price) is 'cost', not 'costed', and 'edifice' is singular so 'have cost' is wrong.

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Question 86

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: They let him go in ________ to his age

  1. A.respect
  2. B.regard
  3. C.disregard
  4. D.consideration
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (consideration)

Explanation

They released him out of thought for his age; 'in consideration' expresses taking his age into account.

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Question 87

Vocabulary in Context

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: Some scientists are trying to ________ human beings in their laboratories

  1. A.imitate
  2. B.replicate
  3. C.implicate
  4. D.fabricate
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (replicate)

Explanation

To replicate is to make an exact copy, as in cloning human beings.

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Question 88

Question Tags

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: He does not seem to know how to solve the problem ________?

  1. A.does not he
  2. B.does he not
  3. C.does he
  4. D.doesn't he
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (does he)

Explanation

A negative statement takes a positive question tag: 'He does not seem…, does he?'

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Question 89

Verb Forms

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: These villagers ________ to grow rice

  1. A.used
  2. B.are used
  3. C.were used
  4. D.use
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (used)

Explanation

'Used to' + verb describes a past habit: they used to grow rice. 'Are used to' would need 'growing'.

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Question 90

Vocabulary in Context

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: Ade tried to ________ all memory of his dead father.

  1. A.recall
  2. B.obstruct
  3. C.obliterate
  4. D.eulogize
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (obliterate)

Explanation

'All memory' is the object of wiping out; obliterate means to destroy completely.

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Question 91

Adjectives and Adverbs

Fill the gaps with the most appropriate option: The weather is probably ________ appealing for people who live in Jos ________ for foreigners

  1. A.as much /as
  2. B.more /as
  3. C.no less/than
  4. D.at least as/but
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C (no less/than)

Explanation

A comparison with 'less' must be completed by 'than', so 'no less appealing … than' is correct; the other pairs do not fit together.

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Question 92

Vocabulary in Context

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: The meeting was called to ________ divergent views on the subject of a national conference.

  1. A.reconcile
  2. B.recommend
  3. C.re-present
  4. D.reconstitute
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (reconcile)

Explanation

Divergent views are views that differ; a meeting would try to reconcile (bring together) them.

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Question 93

Vocabulary in Context

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: The police came early enough to ________ the bomb planted by the rioters

  1. A.diffuse
  2. B.insulate
  3. C.detonate
  4. D.defuse
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (defuse)

Explanation

To defuse a bomb is to remove its fuse so that it cannot explode; 'diffuse' means to spread out.

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Question 94

Verb Forms

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: ________ told of his impending arrival, I worked hard to make his short stay very comfortable

  1. A.Have being
  2. B.Having been
  3. C.Have I been
  4. D.Having been
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (Having been)

Explanation

'Having been told' is a perfect passive participle phrase that shows the telling happened before the action in the main clause.

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Question 95

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: More ________ to your elbow as you campaign for press freedom

  1. A.power
  2. B.effort
  3. C.grease
  4. D.energy
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (power)

Explanation

'More power to your elbow' is an idiom for wishing someone success in what they are doing.

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Question 96

Vocabulary in Context

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: When Ajike met her ________ husband at the party, she felt like reconciling with him

  1. A.estranged
  2. B.[unreadable]
  3. C.carring
  4. D.loving
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A (estranged)

Explanation

You reconcile with someone you have become separated from; an estranged husband is one who no longer lives with his wife.

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Question 97

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option: They had to ________ the generator when the electricity failed

  1. A.light up
  2. B.fall back on
  3. C.switch on
  4. D.resort to
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D (resort to)

Explanation

To resort to something is to use it because the normal option has failed; the generator was used because the electricity failed.

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Question 99

Concord

Fill the gaps with the most appropriate option: Three quarters of the hostel ________ been painted and three quarters of the students ________ moved in.

  1. A.has/has
  2. B.has/have
  3. C.have/has
  4. D.have/have
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B (has/have)

Explanation

'Three quarters of' takes the number of the noun after it: the hostel is one thing (has), the students are many (have).

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