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JAMB Use of English 2018 past questions and answers

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

Question 1

Comprehension
JAMB 2018 Passage I: Building and destroying a tower
In order to approach the problem of anxiety in play, let us consider the activity of building and destroying a tower. Many a mother thinks that her little son is in a ‘destructive stage’ or even has a ‘destructive personality’ because after building a big, big tower, the boy cannot follow her advice to leave the tower for Daddy to see, but instead must kick it and make it collapse. The almost manic pleasure with which children watch the collapse in a second of the product of long play-labour has puzzled many, especially since the child does not appreciate it at all if his tower falls by accident or by a helpful uncle’s hand. He, the builder, must destroy it himself. This game, I should think, arises from the not so distant experience of sudden falls at the very time when standing upright on wobbly legs afforded a new and fascinating perspective on existence. The child who consequently learns to make a tower ‘stand up’ enjoys causing the same tower to waver and collapse; in addition to the active mastery over a previously passive event, it makes one feel stronger to know that there is somebody weaker — and towers, unlike little sister, can’t cry and call, ‘Mummy!’

According to this passage, it gives the child great pleasure

  1. A.for Daddy to see the tower he has built
  2. B.to destroy the tower himself
  3. C.to see his tower accidentally destroyed
  4. D.to be helped to destroy the tower
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Answer: B (to destroy the tower himself)

Explanation

The passage says the builder must destroy the tower himself; he does not enjoy it if it falls by accident or someone else knocks it down.

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Question 2

Comprehension

What other feeling does the child derive from the fall of his tower apart from pleasure?

  1. A.Strength
  2. B.Anxiety
  3. C.Pity
  4. D.Depression
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Answer: A (Strength)

Explanation

The writer says knocking the tower down 'makes one feel stronger', so the child also feels strength.

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Question 3

Comprehension

How does the author try to explain this ‘destructive stage’?

  1. A.It is the last stage in child development
  2. B.The child wants to displease his parents
  3. C.It grows out of the child’s recent experiences of sudden falls
  4. D.The child is just going through a destructive stage
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Answer: C (It grows out of the child’s recent experiences of sudden falls)

Explanation

The author says the game 'arises from the not so distant experience of sudden falls' when the child was learning to stand.

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Question 4

Comprehension

The expression ‘must kick it and make it collapse’ in this context means

  1. A.is forced to kick it and demolish it
  2. B.is obliged to kick it and make it collapse
  3. C.cannot resist the urge to demolish it
  4. D.ought to kick it and make it collapse
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Answer: C (cannot resist the urge to demolish it)

Explanation

Nobody forces the boy; 'must' here shows a strong inner urge he cannot hold back.

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Question 5

Comprehension

In the passage ‘manic pleasure’ means

  1. A.wicked pleasure
  2. B.childish pleasure
  3. C.unlimited pleasure
  4. D.human pleasure
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Answer: C (unlimited pleasure)

Explanation

'Manic' describes wild, excessive excitement, so 'manic pleasure' is pleasure without limit.

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Question 15

Vocabulary in Context

Choose the option that best completes the gap: Whereever the leader went people struggled to catch a ________ of him

  1. A.glimpse
  2. B.look
  3. C.view
  4. D.picture
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Answer: A (glimpse)

Explanation

The fixed expression is 'catch a glimpse of', meaning to see someone briefly.

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Question 16

Tenses

Choose the option that best completes the gap: Mrs. Okoro ________ in this school since 1975

  1. A.taught
  2. B.has been teaching
  3. C.was teaching
  4. D.is teaching
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Answer: B (has been teaching)

Explanation

'Since 1975' shows an action that started in the past and continues now, so the present perfect continuous 'has been teaching' fits.

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Question 17

Vocabulary in Context

Choose the option that best completes the gap: I was seriously disappointed when the ________ between the two teams ended in a goaless draw

  1. A.march
  2. B.marsh
  3. C.match
  4. D.martch
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Answer: C (match)

Explanation

A game between two teams is a 'match'.

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Question 18

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Choose the option that best completes the gap: The young man looked carefully at the long document, but he couldn’t make ________ what it meant

  1. A.up
  2. B.out
  3. C.off
  4. D.through
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Answer: B (out)

Explanation

To 'make out' means to understand or work out the meaning of something.

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Question 19

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Choose the option that best completes the gap: While the worshippers closed their eyes in prayer, a thief made ________ with the collection

  1. A.away
  2. B.up
  3. C.by
  4. D.through
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Answer: A (away)

Explanation

To 'make away with' something means to steal it and escape.

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Question 20

Vocabulary in Context

Choose the option that best completes the gap: If you keep playing with this door handle, it will get ________

  1. A.loose
  2. B.lose
  3. C.loosed
  4. D.loosing
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Answer: A (loose)

Explanation

'Loose' is the adjective meaning not firmly fixed; 'lose' is a verb meaning to misplace.

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Question 22

Sentence Interpretation

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined: For all he cared, the game was as good as lost

  1. A.He did not care if the game as lost
  2. B.He could not care less if the game was lost
  3. C.He was almost certain that the game would be lost
  4. D.He was afriad the game would be lost.
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Answer: A (He did not care if the game as lost)

Explanation

'For all he cared' means he did not care about the outcome, so the sentence says he did not mind if the game was lost.

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Question 24

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined: Ayodeji is an ardent supporter of education for the child

  1. A.cogent
  2. B.a passionate
  3. C.an ignorant
  4. D.an optimistic
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Answer: B (a passionate)

Explanation

'Ardent' means very enthusiastic or passionate.

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Question 25

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined: The exhibition was an eye opener to all

  1. A.style
  2. B.examination
  3. C.dispatch
  4. D.display
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Answer: D (display)

Explanation

An exhibition is a public display of things for people to see.

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Question 26

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined: As a journalist, Bola has always had a nose for stories

  1. A.an instinct
  2. B.a command
  3. C.soft comment
  4. D.cynical statement
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Answer: A (an instinct)

Explanation

To have 'a nose for' something means to have a natural instinct for finding it.

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Question 27

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined: Nwankwo was on the verge of signing a two-year contract with the club

  1. A.brink
  2. B.summit
  3. C.height
  4. D.shore
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Answer: A (brink)

Explanation

'On the verge of' and 'on the brink of' both mean just about to do something.

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Question 29

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined: The new ruler is big-hearted in his dealing with the people

  1. A.proud
  2. B.cruel
  3. C.soft
  4. D.generous
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Answer: D (generous)

Explanation

A big-hearted person is kind and generous.

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Question 30

Synonyms

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined: The essay topic is nebulous

  1. A.distinct
  2. B.incorrect
  3. C.vague
  4. D.clear
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Answer: C (vague)

Explanation

'Nebulous' means unclear or vague.

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Question 38

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: Our principal took exception to the ignoble role the teacher played in the matter

  1. A.embarrasing
  2. B.honourable
  3. C.extraordinary
  4. D.dishonourable
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Answer: B (honourable)

Explanation

'Ignoble' means shameful or dishonourable; its opposite is honourable.

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Question 41

Antonyms

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in italics: This card entitles you to attend the film show

  1. A.disqualifies
  2. B.discourages
  3. C.disenchants
  4. D.satisfies
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Answer: A (disqualifies)

Explanation

To entitle is to give someone the right to do something; to disqualify takes that right away.

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