16 questions. Try each one, then open the answer to check yourself and read the explanation.
Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics: Chidi is naturally taciturn.
Answer: D (lively)
Taciturn means quiet and saying little; of the options, lively (animated and outgoing) is the opposite. Reserved is a synonym.
Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics: James is a disco-addict. He takes his student rather lightly.
Answer: E (seriously)
To take something lightly is to not treat it as important; the opposite is seriously.
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) in italics: Because more reliable evidence is needed to prosecute the case, it is now in abeyance.
Answer: B (suspension)
A case in abeyance is temporarily suspended.
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) in italics: In the olden days, mothers of twins were never accepted as members of the society. They were simply ________
Answer: D (ostracized)
To be ostracized is to be excluded and rejected by one's community, which is what 'never accepted as members of the society' means.
Choose the word(s) or phrase which best fills the gap: ________ he had insufficient qualification, he was denied admission.
Answer: D (as)
'As' here means 'because' and introduces the reason clause.
Choose the word(s) or phrase which best fills the gap: One of the hens we bought __________ ten eggs already.
Answer: D (has laid)
The subject 'one' is singular (has), and the verb 'lay' (produce eggs) has the past participle 'laid'.
Choose the word(s) or phrase which best fills the gap: My friend and classmate _________ present when the girls insulted me.
Answer: C (was)
'My friend and classmate' is one person, so the verb is singular, and the past 'insulted' calls for 'was'.
Indicate the type of sentence which this structure represents: All the students, their lecturers and members of the host community have been advised to live together, peacefully.
Answer: C (Simple)
There is only one finite verb group ('have been advised') with a compound subject, so it is one clause: a simple sentence.
Indicate the type of sentence which this structure represents: I like drinking water and eating food at the appropriate time.
Answer: D (Simple)
There is one subject and one finite verb ('I like'); 'drinking water and eating food' are two gerund phrases joined as the object, so it is a simple sentence.
Indicate the type of sentence which this structure represents: I can do anything because of you.
Answer: A (Simple)
'Because of you' has no verb, so it is a phrase, not a clause; with only one clause the sentence is simple.
Indicate the type of sentence which this structure represents: If she had known, she would have left him alone and chosen another man for the February 14 date.
Answer: C (Complex)
'If she had known' is a subordinate clause and 'she would have left him alone and chosen another man' is one main clause whose subject 'she' does two actions. One main clause plus a subordinate clause makes a complex sentence.
Indicate the grammatical name of the underlined structure: Helping the poor is my obligation
Answer: C (gerundive phrase)
'Helping the poor' is headed by the -ing word 'helping' used as a noun (a gerund), so it is a gerundive phrase acting as subject.
Indicate the grammatical name of the underlined structure: Confused by the students' protest, the University was shut down.
Answer: A (participial phrase)
It is headed by the past participle 'confused' and describes the noun 'the University', so it is a participial phrase.
State the function of the underlined structure: The man who won the last presidential election in Nigeria was Muhammadu Buhari
Answer: C (subject of was)
The whole underlined noun phrase comes before the main verb 'was' and is what the sentence is about, so it is the subject of 'was'.
State the function of the underlined structure: The man whose child you invited is here to see you
Answer: A (modifies “the man”)
'Whose child you invited' is a relative (adjectival) clause that tells us which man, so it modifies 'the man'.
State the function of the underlined structure: Travelling by road is risky
Answer: A (subject of the verb)
'Travelling by road' comes before the verb 'is' and is what is described as risky, so it functions as the subject of the verb.