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
Q1801.
The judge always takes a hardline on such issues
A
complex stand
B
simple stand
C
uncompromising stand
D
difficult stand
Correct Answer: C
"Hardline" means a firm, uncompromising position.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1802.
The case was dismissed for want of evidence
A
for want of facts
B
for lack of opinions
C
for insufficient discussions
D
for lack of proof
Correct Answer: D
"Evidence" in a legal context means proof.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1803.
The term has become indomitable quite recently
A
incorrigible
B
disobedient
C
unconquerable
D
unruly
Correct Answer: C
"Indomitable" means unconquerable.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1804.
The flock suddenly became restive after midday
A
quiet
B
submissive
C
disorderly
D
fidgety
Correct Answer: D
"Restive" means restless or impatient — fidgety.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1805.
The reaction underscores the point I was making
A
reveals
B
proves wrong
C
emphasizes
D
justifies
Correct Answer: C
"Underscores" means emphasizes.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1806.
What he received from the visitors was invaluable
A
priceless
B
worthless
C
valueless
D
costly
Correct Answer: A
"Invaluable" means extremely valuable — priceless.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1807.
The potential resources of the university should be fully exploited
A
important
B
latent
C
effective
D
abundant
Correct Answer: B
"Potential" means existing but not yet developed — latent.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1808.
Tom's aberrant behaviour attracted attention.
A
rascally
B
selfish
C
heady
D
abnormal
Correct Answer: D
"Aberrant" means deviating from normal — abnormal.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1809.
A number of people impersonating tax-officials were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate this morning
A
arranged
B
paraded
C
moved
D
brought
Correct Answer: D
"Arraigned" means brought before a court to answer a charge.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1810.
Ngozi spoke to her father quite candidly on her proposed marriage
A
rudely
B
faithfully
C
frankly
D
respectfully
Correct Answer: C
"Candidly" means honestly and directly — frankly.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1811.
The secretary was advised to put on a cheerful disposition whenever the manager arrives
A
a good dress
B
a smiling face
C
a happy look
D
good make-up
Correct Answer: C
"Cheerful disposition" here means a happy appearance — a happy look.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1812.
The cereal is fortified with multivitamins
A
enriched
B
prepared
C
endowed
D
mixed
Correct Answer: A
"Fortified" means strengthened or enriched, especially with added nutrients.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1813.
The lawyer told the court some unsavory details about the case
A
unworthy
B
unintelligible
C
unpleasant
D
uninteresting
Correct Answer: C
"Unsavory" means unpleasant or disagreeable.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1814.
The professor's thesis was the precursor of nuclear studies
A
preliminary
B
climax
C
developer
D
forerunner
Correct Answer: D
"Precursor" means something that comes before and signals what follows — a forerunner.
Instruction
In questions 56 to 100, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1815.
Why do you worry about such .... matters?
A
insignificant
B
significant
C
non-significant
D
unsignificant
Correct Answer: A
The speaker questions why the person worries about unimportant matters — "insignificant."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1816.
It was difficult to .... a man walking on the moon two centuries ago
A
contrive
B
perceive
C
conceive
D
imagine
Correct Answer: C
"Conceive" means to form an idea of — the standard collocation is "conceive of a man walking."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1817.
This section of the test will .... questions on set passages
A
consist
B
comprise of
C
contain
D
carry
Correct Answer: C
"Contain" means to include. "Comprise of" is grammatically wrong; "consist" needs "of."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1818.
Animals in .... behave differently from animals living in the natural habitat
A
prison
B
bondage
C
captivity
D
slavery
Correct Answer: C
"In captivity" is the standard phrase for animals kept by humans.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1819.
After months of tedious climbing, the team reached the .... of the mountain
A
end
B
summit
C
height
D
terminal
Correct Answer: B
"Summit" is the standard term for the top of a mountain.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1820.
After Jerry had made the bed, he .... on it
A
layed
B
laid
C
lied
D
lay
Correct Answer: D
Past tense of "lie" (to recline) is "lay." "Laid" needs a direct object.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1821.
Knowledge of figures of speech as well as idioms and lexical items .... in this section
A
is tested
B
have been tested
C
are tested
D
were tested
Correct Answer: A
Subject is "Knowledge" (singular). "As well as..." does not change the number.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1822.
The buildings damaged by the rainstorm .... schools, hospitals and private houses
A
included
B
include
C
were included
D
was including
Correct Answer: A
The event is past and "buildings" is plural — past plural "included."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1823.
I would have been off to see Biola at Festac Town by the time you .... tomorrow
A
returned
B
return
C
are returning
D
would return
Correct Answer: B
Future time clause after "by the time" takes present simple — "return."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1824.
The lecturer said that we .... be able to finish the next chapter this evening
A
must
B
can
C
shall
D
should
Correct Answer: D
Reported speech with a modal of expectation — "should" fits.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1825.
If you want a successful marriage, you .... pray for it
A
have better
B
better
C
had better
D
would better
Correct Answer: C
Fixed idiom "had better" meaning "would be wise to."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1826.
I could have agreed with your action if I .... not .... you promised to increase the worker's salaries
A
have/heard
B
had/heard
C
were/hearing
D
was/hearing
Correct Answer: B
Third conditional — past perfect "had... heard" required after "if."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1827.
The chemistry teacher seized the girl's comic .... during the laboratory work
A
which she had been reading
B
which she has been reading
C
which she had read
D
which she is reading
Correct Answer: A
Past perfect continuous — reading was ongoing before the seizure.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1828.
He .... during the whole of last month
A
was sick
B
has been sick
C
had been sick
D
had sicken
Correct Answer: A
"Last month" is finished past time; use simple past.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1829.
Ladies and gentlemen, our guest speaker, Dr. Oni .... also, a resident doctor at the teaching hospital.
A
who is
B
which is
C
who was
D
is
Correct Answer: D
Main clause needs the verb "is" after the appositive.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1830.
We are not surprised he was not elected; every one of his constituents .... that he is unreliable
A
know
B
knows
C
will know
D
do know
Correct Answer: B
"Every one" is singular — "knows."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1831.
I have the .... of meeting him
A
previlege
B
privilege
C
previledge
D
priviledge
Correct Answer: B
Correct spelling is "privilege."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1832.
The pastor said 'lay .... your hearts to God'
A
bier
B
bear
C
bare
D
bar
Correct Answer: C
"Lay bare" means to reveal or expose.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1833.
Now, I am used .... bread without butter.
A
to eat
B
in eating
C
of eating
D
to eating
Correct Answer: D
"Used to" (accustomed to) takes a gerund — "to eating."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1834.
Dan and Tina met on the ship and greeted ....
A
one another
B
themselves
C
each other
D
their selves
Correct Answer: C
"Each other" is used for two people.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1835.
One can no longer take for granted today what .... enjoyed in the university some years ago, can ....?
A
you/you
B
one/one
C
he/he
D
one/you
Correct Answer: B
The sentence starts with "One" — consistency requires "one... one."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1836.
Attention has shifted to the teaching of science nowadays .... the usefulness of the Arts
A
in spite of
B
not minding
C
oblivious to
D
forgetting
Correct Answer: C
Structure implies the Arts are being ignored — "oblivious to" fits.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1837.
.... to help him, being the only person in the vicinity.
A
it was not possible
B
There was no one
C
He had no nobody
D
No person was around
Correct Answer: B
Existential "There was no one to help him."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1838.
I heard that Kayode's car was stolen last night. It .... be true because I saw him .... it, this morning.
A
should not/driving
B
should not/drive
C
cannot/drive
D
cannot/driving
Correct Answer: D
"Cannot be true" expresses impossibility. "Saw him driving" uses -ing after verbs of perception.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1839.
The competitor who .... earlier on has started .... again
A
fainted/to run
B
had fainted/to run
C
fainted/running
D
fainted/on running
Correct Answer: B
Past perfect "had fainted" shows the earlier faint; "started to run" takes infinitive.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1840.
A number of teachers in secondary schools are not so well disposed to .... these days, .... they?
A
teach/aren't
B
teaching/are
C
teach/do
D
teach/are
Correct Answer: B
"Well disposed to" takes a gerund — "to teaching." Tag for "are not" is positive: "are they?"
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1841.
If it had rained, we would have had to postpone the concert. It didn't rain, so ....
A
we won't have to
B
we would have had to
C
we wouldn't have to
D
we didn't have to
Correct Answer: D
Since it did not rain, no postponement — "we didn't have to."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1842.
.... all probability, the train will arrive today
Correct Answer: A
Fixed phrase "In all probability."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1843.
We cannot explain his objection .... the new law
Correct Answer: D
"Objection to" is the standard collocation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1844.
Silk materials ought to be prohibited .... being brought into the country
Correct Answer: C
"Prohibited from" is the correct preposition.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1845.
The answers to the questions were discussed .... the students
A
between
B
by
C
for
D
to
Correct Answer: B
Passive construction — the agent is introduced by "by."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1846.
I can always depend .... my father for my survival.
Correct Answer: A
"Depend on" is the standard collocation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1847.
The point .... the story is that he is the man's son
Correct Answer: B
"The point of the story" is the standard expression.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1848.
The Director is .... pains to ensure the success of the programme.
Correct Answer: B
Fixed expression "at pains to."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1849.
Bola broke .... when he heard the news of the arrest of his twin brother
Correct Answer: D
"Broke down" means collapsed emotionally.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1990
Q1850.
Yemi said 'I'm coming' to her friend Biola who was waiting for her instead of saying ....
A
wait for me in a moment
B
I will come
C
I'll be with you in a moment
D
I'll come now
Correct Answer: C
"I'll be with you in a moment" is the standard idiomatic form.