Q1759.Which of the following is a benefit of using drip irrigation over conventional flood irrigation?
AHigher water use efficiency
BGreater risk of soil salinisation
CRequires larger water volumes
DMore labor-intensive to install
Correct Answer: A
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the plant roots, using less water and reducing evaporation compared to flood irrigation.
Instruction
Read the passage below carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.
As a rule, the Emopa are very brave indeed and are among the few Africans who still hunt lion with the spear. They also kill elephants, not for food but for spear blooding or to prove their manhood. When elephants are located, there is great excitement and fierce competition among the young men. Each tries to be first to blood his spear, the one who does so claims the trophy. No young man is looked upon with favor by the girls until he has won his spurs by killing a dangerous animal.
But as brave as the Emopa are, two fierce man-eaters completely overawed them. This was partly due to the cunning and boldness of the lions, partly to the fact that when hunted, they would always retreat into dense riverine and undergrowth, where it was impossible for man to poise and throw a spear. Superstition had also added its quota to the fear with which they were regarded. It was said that before starting off on a raid the lions would retire to an open sandy place and there make two rows of depressions in the sand with their paws. Then, using twigs as counters, they would play the ancient game of 'baw' (a game of unknown antiquity, which resembles draughts and is played all over Africa). If the omens were good, they would raid a village and claim a victim, if not, they would wait. Another story had it that the lions were the spirits of two 'holy men' who had now come back in this shape to seek their revenge. So strongly was this view held that the local Emopa had petitioned a practicing 'holy man' to come from a great distance to exorcise the spirits. He came with book, bell and candle and charged a fee of a hundred goats but the lions continued their depredations. To add to the legend of the lion's invulnerability, many hunters had tried on previous occasions to kill them and had failed owing to lack of time. This confirmed the Emopa's opinion that lions were supernatural beings and that it was useless to hunt them.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1760.The young men of Emopa would hunt for elephants because
Athey are among the few Africans that hunt lions with a spear
Belephants are dangerous animals
Cno young Emopa attracts a girl's admiration until he has killed a dangerous animal
Dwhen elephants are sighted, there is great excitement and fierce competition among the young men
Correct Answer: C
The passage says "No young man is looked upon with favor by the girls until he has won his spurs by killing a dangerous animal." So the motive for hunting is to gain a girl's admiration.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1761.The legend that the lions were invulnerable was confirmed by the fact that
Athe local Emopa petitioned a holy man to come and exorcise the spirits
Bmany famous hunters had tried without success in the past to kill the lions
Cthe holy man failed in his bid to exorcise the spirits
Dbrave as the Emopa are, the lions completely overawed them
Correct Answer: B
The passage says many hunters tried and failed to kill the lions. That repeated failure confirmed the belief in their invulnerability.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1762.The lions played the game of 'baw' because
Athey wanted to raid a village
Bit was a popular game of unknown antiquity all over Africa
Cthey wanted to decide whether to go on a raid or not
Dif the omens were good, they would raid a village and claim a victim
Correct Answer: C
The passage says the lions played and "if the omens were good, they would raid a village... if not, they would wait." So the game decided whether to raid.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1763.The famous hunters failed to kill the lions because the
Alions were regarded as supernatural beings
Blions were cunning and bold
CEmopa used the spear to hunt for lions
Dhunters did not have enough time
Correct Answer: D
The passage says hunters failed "owing to lack of time" — the lions would retreat to dense undergrowth where a spear could not be thrown.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1764.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a superstitious reason for fearing the lions?
Amany famous hunters had tried and failed to kill the lions
Bthe lions were bold when hunted, they would retreat to where a spear could not be thrown at them
Cthe lions were the spirits of two holy men who came back to seek their revenge
Dthe lions played the ancient game of 'baw' before starting on a raid to determine whether to proceed or wait
Correct Answer: B
The lions retreating to dense undergrowth is a factual observation, not a superstitious belief. A, C, D are superstitious reasons.
Instruction
Read the passage below carefully and answer questions 6 to 10.
By the time a child has reached the age of two years, the psychologist says he is 'self-conscious'. This is not the same as the lay use of the term, although there is a connection. The psychologist means that the child is aware that he is a self and not an extension of his mother. This awareness is shown in such behavioral acts as disobedience and the use of the word 'no' with emphasis, because the child is aware that he does not have to obey parental commands. Parental commands (moral imperative) are given throughout these two years first for the child's own safety e.g. 'Don't touch the fire' and secondly, so that he begins to develop some sense of right and wrong. An adult is able to weigh the consequence of his actions, partly because he has developed a concept or idea of time. The young child lacks this concept and is governed by immediate desires which must be fulfilled. Thus, in some situations, he can be excused for not behaving morally, i.e., making the choice which is 'good' for himself and others. In other situations, he knows what is right and chooses not to do it. Immature adults can also behave in this self-centered way.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1765.The immature adult is like the child because
Ahe has just become self-conscious
Bhe has learnt to use the word 'no'
Che has no concept of time
Dsome of his actions are deliberately irrational
Correct Answer: C
The passage says the child is excused for moral failure because he has no concept of time, and the immature adult behaves the same way — so the parallel is the lack of time concept.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1766.What main difference is mentioned between the child and the adult?
Aage difference
Bweight difference
Ctime difference
Ddevelopmental difference
Correct Answer: D
The main difference is developmental — the adult has developed the concept of time and can weigh consequences; the child has not.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1767.What right has the mother to give orders to the child?
Ashe is the 'owner' of the child
Bshe is stronger than the child
Cshe understands the environment better than the child
Dshe is more self-conscious than the child
Correct Answer: C
The passage says parental commands are for safety (e.g. not touching fire), implying the parent understands the environment and its dangers better than the child.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1768.The two-year old child begins to refuse orders
Ain order to annoy his parents
Bbecause he does not understand them
Cto assert his independence
Dbecause he has just learnt the new word 'no'
Correct Answer: C
The passage says the child uses 'no' with emphasis because he is aware he does not have to obey — he is asserting his independence.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1769.What kind of awareness does the child demonstrate at two?
Athat he does not love his mother
Bconsciousness of all things around him
Cthat he should think of himself alone
Dthat he is different and separate from others
Correct Answer: D
The psychologist defines self-consciousness as the child being aware he is "a self and not an extension of his mother" — awareness of being separate from others.
Instruction
Read the passage below carefully and answer questions 11 to 15.
If we examine the opportunities for education of girls or women in less developed countries, we usually find a dismal picture. In some countries, the ratio of boys to girls in secondary schools is more than seven to one. What happens to the girls? Often, they are kept at home to look after younger siblings and to perform a variety of domestic chores. Their education is not perceived as in any way equal in importance to that of boys. When a non-literate or barely literate girl reaches adolescence, she has little or no qualification for employment, even if her community provides any opportunity for the employment of women. The solution is to get her married as soon as possible, with the inevitable result that she produces children too soon, too often and too late. With no formal education, she is hardly aware that there is any alternative. In a study made in Thailand, it was noted that the literate woman marries later and ceases childbearing earlier than her non-literate counterpart. But the latter is so chained to her household by the necessities of gathering fuel, preparing food and tending children that she is very difficult to reach, even if health services, nutrition, education, maternal and child health centers are available in her community. She does not understand what they are intended to do.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1770.The phrase 'a dismal picture' means
Aa dull show
Ban interesting show
Ca sad situation
Da dreadful appearance
Correct Answer: C
"Dismal" means gloomy or depressing. "A sad situation" captures the negative state described.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1771.According to the writer, most girls in less developed countries are not in school because
Athey refuse to be educated
Bthey prefer getting married and having children
Cthe education of boys is rated higher
Dthe girls have no employment
Correct Answer: C
The passage says the girl's education "is not perceived as in any way equal in importance to that of boys" — boys' education is valued more highly.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1772.The non-literate woman is very difficult to reach because she
Adoes not understand the value of education and health services
Bis too far from the city and from school
Cis not permitted to go out to attend clinics for health services
Dcan only gather fuel and prepare food
Correct Answer: A
The passage says she is "hardly aware that there is any alternative" and "does not understand what they are intended to do."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1773.The phrase 'too late' in the passage implies that the woman
Aought to have started producing children earlier
Bgoes on producing children when she ought to have stopped
Cfails to marry early enough for her to produce children
Dhad all her children at an advanced age
Correct Answer: B
"Too soon, too often and too late" means she starts too early, has too many, and continues into later years when she should have stopped.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1774.The writer emphasizes that in less developed countries,
Athe education of girls is not important
Bthe non-literate woman has some advantage because she has more children
Cthe literate female is a threat to the male in employment
Dthere is a need to give boys and girls equal opportunity in education
Correct Answer: D
The passage shows girls are denied equal education and argues for its value — implying equal opportunity should be given.
Instruction
Read the passage below carefully and answer questions 16 to 20.
The importance of the code theory in education lies in the fact that the school system requires the use of an elaborated code but not all students have access to it. The importance of this theory to sociology lies in the fact that the differential access to the elaborated code does not occur randomly but rather is controlled by the class system. Lower working-class urban children tend to have a restricted code. Middle-class children possess both a restricted and an elaborated code. The two groups enter into different types of relationship and learn to express themselves in different ways through language. They do not use language for the same functions, some of which it seems are necessary for the school situation. When the lower working-class child is expected implicitly to exploit language for functions, he normally does not express verbally, a discontinuity is created between his home and his school environment. He has learned to verbalize certain range of meanings in his home and when he enters school, another range of meaning is required. There is then a very subtle but nonetheless very real, sense in which what is taught is personally irrelevant for this child. The school system does not talk to him. Middle class children possessing both codes experience no such discontinuity. They can use languages for these functions required by the school.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1775.An appropriate title for this passage is
Alanguage and education
Beducation and sociology
Ccodes and sociology
Dcodes and education
Correct Answer: D
The passage is about the code theory (restricted/elaborated codes) and its educational implications — hence "codes and education."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1776.The groups of children mentioned as examples in the passage are
Arural and urban working-class and middle-class
Burban working-class and rural middle-class
Curban working-class and rural and urban middle-class
Durban middle-class and rural and urban working-class
Correct Answer: C
The passage mentions "lower working-class urban children" and "middle-class children" (urban and rural).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1777.'Restricted code' and 'elaborated code' are
Asynonyms
Bhomonyms
Ccontradictions
Dantonyms
Correct Answer: D
They represent opposite forms of language use — restricted is limited, elaborated is broad.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1778.It can be assumed reasonably that language has
Aonly one code
Btwo codes
Cthree codes
Dthree codes, two used for education
Correct Answer: B
The passage mentions only two codes — restricted and elaborated.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1779.'The school system does not talk to him' means that the
Ateachers do not talk to him
Bteachers talk to him differently from the way other pupils do
Cheadmaster and teachers do not talk to him
Dteachers talk to him differently from the way he is talked to at home
Correct Answer: D
The phrase means the language used at school does not connect with the child's home language, creating a disconnect.
Instruction
Read the passage below carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.
This passage sums up the problems peculiar to the book trade, making it different from any other trade — the problem of selection and the problem of sticking. How is the bookseller to tell what, in an enormous output, will prove saleable before the full weight of unsold items affects the balance of his business and how is he at the same time to hold a stock large enough to enable the public to choose freely? He may seek to escape from this dilemma by becoming the passive sales representative of large publishing houses or distribution networks but he is then no longer a bookseller. He may take refuge in the sale of items to a restricted circle of customers but he thereby cuts himself off from all that is vital in his trade and dooms himself to mediocrity and stagnation. On the other hand, he may protect his business from the danger of idle stock by speculating on the latest publication but this is a dangerous game in that it implies a constantly changing clientele: readers remain faithful to their own discoveries and failure to follow up a book, an author or a type of literature means dismissing the public responsible for their success.
This brings us back to the fact that books are indefinable. The story is told of a certain country with a great many generals where it was decided to present a rare and valuable edition of an old book to a general about to retire. The old soldier looked at the volume and remarked, 'A book? What's the point? I've already got one!'
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1780.Books are different from other goods because
Acustomers for the book trade are much restricted
Bbooks are not manufactured but printed
Cone cannot tell so easily which books will prove saleable
Dbooks can be kept in stock much longer than other goods
Correct Answer: C
The passage opens by identifying the "problem of selection" as peculiar to the book trade — you cannot easily predict what will sell.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1781.The problem of selection in the book trade involves
Aholding a stock large enough for the public to choose from
Bdetermining which books will sell fast
Cbeing a sales representative of large publishing houses
Dbeing able to review the latest publications
Correct Answer: B
The "problem of selection" means determining which books will sell — matching the "problem of sticking" (holding enough stock).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1782.How many solutions to the bookseller's problems are offered in this passage?
Atwo
Bthree
Cfour
Dfive
Correct Answer: B
The passage lists three options: becoming a passive sales representative; selling to a restricted circle; speculating on the latest publication.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1783.Of the solutions proposed for the bookseller's problems, how many are actually positive?
Atwo
Bthree
Cfour
Dnone
Correct Answer: D
Each solution is presented only to show its limitation — none are truly positive.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1784.The story of the old soldier and a book in the passage is an illustration of the point that
Athe general had already got a book
Ba book is of interest only to those to whom that book means something
Csoldiers do not like the book trade because a book is enough for a general
Dbooksellers face a real dilemma because of a constantly changing clientele
Correct Answer: B
The general's reply shows he sees no value in another book — the value of a book depends entirely on the individual reader.
Instruction
In question 26, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1785.The new leader hands out an olive branch
Asues for peace
Bgives out branches of the olive tree
Cchallenges his opponents to a fight
Dblesses his congregation
Correct Answer: A
"To hand out an olive branch" is an idiom meaning to make an offer of peace.
Instruction
In questions 27 to 35, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1786.Lola was agitated when the sad news of her mother's accident was broken to her
Aexcited
Bcalm
Cuncontrollable
Dunreasonable
Correct Answer: B
"Agitated" means disturbed or upset; its opposite is "calm."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1787.Though his parents' poverty placed many obstacles in his path as a young man, Olu succeeded at last.
Ahurdles
Badvantages
Ctemptations
Ddiversions
Correct Answer: B
"Obstacles" are hindrances; the opposite is "advantages."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1788.Binta sobbed by the door because she had lost her mother's precious necklace
Acried
Bsmiled
Cwept
Dlaughed
Correct Answer: B
"Sobbed" means cried noisily; the opposite is "smiled."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1789.The president took exception to the ignoble role the young man played in the matter
Ahonorable
Bembarrassing
Cdishonorable
Dextraordinary
Correct Answer: A
"Ignoble" means dishonourable; the opposite is "honourable."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1790.The man who had been seriously ill was convalescing at a sea-side resort
Aregaining health
Bdeteriorating in health
Crecuperating
Drelaxing
Correct Answer: B
"Convalescing" means recovering health; the opposite is "deteriorating in health."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1791.For millions of years, the world's resources have remained boundless
Aunlimited
Bscarce
Cindomitable
Dlimited
Correct Answer: D
"Boundless" means without limits; the opposite is "limited."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1792.It seems fashionable, in some quarters today, to decry examinations and the ability to pass them
Aextol
Babuse
Centreat
Ddiscourage
Correct Answer: A
"Decry" means to criticize; the opposite is "extol" (to praise).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1793.Ogedengbe was an intrepid fighter for human freedom and dignity
Atimid
Bhalf-hearted
Cfearless
Dundaunted
Correct Answer: A
"Intrepid" means fearless; the opposite is "timid."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1794.The difference between the experimental procedures was imperceptible to me
Anegligible
Bsignificant
Cobvious
Dobscure
Correct Answer: C
"Imperceptible" means not noticeable; the opposite is "obvious."
Instruction
In questions 36 to 55, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1795.His antipathy to religious ideas makes him unpopular
Aremedy
Bconsciousness
Chostility
Dreceptiveness
Correct Answer: C
"Antipathy" means strong dislike; the nearest meaning is "hostility."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1796.The boss told the man to let sleeping dogs lie
Anot to look for trouble
Bnot to disturb other people
Clet the dogs sleep well
Dlet the trouble begin
Correct Answer: A
The idiom "let sleeping dogs lie" means to avoid stirring up old troubles.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1797.The fact that Ruth has inherited her late husband's house is cold comfort to her
Aappropriate comfort
Binadequate comfort
Cno comfort at all
Dwet comfort
Correct Answer: B
"Cold comfort" means poor or inadequate consolation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1798.The headmaster decided to make good his promise to the students
Afulfil
Bimprove
Ccomplete
Drealize
Correct Answer: A
"Make good a promise" means to fulfil it.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1799.The advertisement served as a smoke screen for the activities of the company
Aa camouflage
Ba protection
Can enhancement
Dan exchange
Correct Answer: A
"Smoke screen" means something used to disguise or conceal — a camouflage.