Instruction
In questions 42 to 85, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1901.
The sea wave continues to .... the cliff on the west coast constantly
A
impair
B
rub
C
knock
D
erode
Correct Answer: C
"Erode" is the geological term for the gradual wearing away of rock by water.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1902.
The college bus was travelling at high .... when the accidents occurred
A
velocity
B
acceleration
C
rapidity
D
speed
Correct Answer: D
"At high speed" is the standard collocation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1903.
Note that only senior members of staff have the .... of using the toilet upstairs
A
permission
B
occasion
C
privilege
D
habit
Correct Answer: A
"Privilege" is a special right or advantage given to a select group.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1904.
The chief priest will .... the men into the cult today
A
indoctrinate
B
usher
C
convert
D
initiate
Correct Answer: D
"Initiate" is the correct verb for formally admitting someone into a cult or group.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1905.
Jimoh is noted for his .... attitude to his seniors at school
A
receptive
B
respectful
C
respective
D
respectable
Correct Answer: A
"Respectful attitude" is the correct phrase — showing respect to seniors.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1906.
The girl that my brother introduced to us last week is pretty .... ill-mannered
A
and
B
but also
C
as well as
D
respectable
Correct Answer: B
The construction "pretty but also ill-mannered" — "but also" correctly contrasts her prettiness with her bad manners.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1907.
The police report was .... to that of the eye witness
A
contrary
B
inconsistent
C
different
D
congruent
Correct Answer: A
"Contrary to" is the standard phrase — the police report was contrary to the eyewitness's.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1908.
The African extended family system gives security to .... members
A
his
B
her
C
its
D
their
Correct Answer: C
"The African extended family system" is singular — its members. Pronoun must agree.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1909.
I know I .... read more, but I am tired
A
may
B
ought to
C
would
D
could
Correct Answer: C
"I know I ought to read more" — expresses moral obligation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1910.
Insects can become .... to insecticides
A
immunized
B
resistant
C
reticent
D
immobilized
Correct Answer: A
"Resistant to" is the standard phrase — insects become resistant to insecticides.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1911.
The council chairman .... the tension between the villagers and the tax collectors
A
dispersed
B
defused
C
difused
D
disputed
Correct Answer: A
"Defused" means to reduce or remove tension. Key marks A but "defused" (B) is correct.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1912.
If had been told of the matter earlier, I .... there so late
A
would not go
B
should not go
C
will not have gone
D
would not have gone
Correct Answer: A
Third conditional — "would not have gone" is correct.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1913.
Each of the candidates that came late .... to complete ....
A
have/this form
B
are having/these forms
C
have/these forms
D
has/this form
Correct Answer: B
"Each" is singular — "has... this form."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1914.
I wanted to avail myself .... the opportunity of listening to the lecture, but the lecturer failed to turn up
Correct Answer: A
"Avail oneself of" is the standard reflexive construction.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1915.
I would have been surprised if you .... the orange
A
plucked
B
have plucked
C
had plucked
D
did pluck
Correct Answer: D
Conditional perfect — "had plucked" is required after "if" for an unreal past.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1916.
On getting to the seashore, ....
A
it was empty
B
nobody was there
C
people had deserted the place
D
he found nobody there
Correct Answer: D
The subject must match "on getting to the seashore" — it must be a person.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1917.
Little did Tunde realize that his frequent unwarranted reports about me were working .... my advantages
A
in
B
to
C
for
D
against
Correct Answer: C
"Working against my advantages" means acting against my interest.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1918.
The Board has been having .... series of meeting lately
A
some
B
a
C
a lot of
D
many
Correct Answer: C
"A series of" is the standard phrase — "a" is required.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1919.
.... I know, nobody has seen any leopards in this area
A
so far as
B
in as much as
C
provided
D
even as
Correct Answer: C
"So far as I know" is the fixed phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1920.
.... him in the crowd, I would have told you at once
A
if I will see
B
if I saw
C
had I seen
D
should I see
Correct Answer: B
Inverted third conditional — "Had I seen him" is correct.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1921.
Inyang has always been shy to speak ....
A
in public
B
publicly
C
in the public
D
with the public
Correct Answer: A
"In public" is the standard phrase — the opposite of privately.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1922.
.... his uncle helped him or not, he would still not be able to do it
A
although
B
if
C
whether
D
since
Correct Answer: C
"Whether... or not" is the standard construction.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1923.
I have only three tubers of yam .... in the store, I cannot afford to give you any more
A
still
B
outstanding
C
left
D
remainder
Correct Answer: D
"Left" means remaining — only three tubers remain.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1924.
Before the bill could be settled, Chuwang .... all the money
A
has spent
B
will have spent
C
had spent
D
will have spent
Correct Answer: A
The action happened before the bill was settled, so past perfect "had spent" is correct.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1925.
Either the chief of the village or the leader of the farmers .... to be held responsible for the revolt
Correct Answer: A
With "either... or", the verb agrees with the nearer subject — "the leader" (singular) — so "is."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1926.
We must observe that most of the support by other states .... only marginal returns
A
have yielded
B
yield
C
has yielded
D
have yield
Correct Answer: A
"Most of the support" is singular — "has yielded" is correct.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1927.
She asked me whether I .... the letter for her
A
minded to post
B
mind to post
C
minded posting
D
minded to posting
Correct Answer: C
"Mind" takes a gerund — "minded posting."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1928.
The effort made by the principal to get the students to be serious in their studies ....
A
are appreciated
B
will appreciate
C
is to appreciate
D
is appreciated
Correct Answer: D
"The effort" is singular — "is appreciated."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1929.
How I wish I .... my mother's advice
A
had heeded
B
have heeded
C
heed
D
will heed
Correct Answer: B
"I wish" takes past perfect for past regrets — "had heeded."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1930.
Only observers from the Ministry of Works .... allowed into the conference room
A
is
B
are
C
have
D
has been
Correct Answer: D
"Observers" is plural — "are" is correct.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1931.
A panel set up to probe the organization's activities .... yet to sit
A
are
B
is
C
will
D
would
Correct Answer: A
"A panel" is singular — "is yet to sit."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1932.
The school will .... for Easter in another six weeks
A
break off
B
break away
C
break out
D
break up
Correct Answer: B
"Break up" means to close for holidays — schools break up for Easter.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1933.
His power supply was .... from the mains because he did not pay his electricity bill
A
blown out
B
cut off
C
put off
D
put out
Correct Answer: A
"Cut off" means disconnected — the standard phrase for utilities.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1934.
When you've finished using the telephone, please hang ....
Correct Answer: B
"Hang up" means to end a phone call.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1935.
I do not intend to stay long at the function. I only want to ....
A
put in an appearance
B
put up an appearance
C
show up appearance
D
keep up appearance
Correct Answer: A
"Put in an appearance" is the idiom for attending briefly.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1936.
The man rose to an important position as a result of .... hard work
A
sheer
B
cheer
C
share
D
shear
Correct Answer: B
"Sheer hard work" means nothing but hard work.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1937.
Ebun Ojo .... international fame as an actress
A
aquired
B
acquired
C
acquared
D
aqcuried
Correct Answer: A
Correct spelling is "acquired."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1938.
The story on the lost jewel was quite ....
A
unbelievable
B
unbelieveable
C
unbeliveable
D
unbelivable
Correct Answer: C
Correct spelling is "unbelievable."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1939.
The patient is suffering from ....
A
reumatism
B
rheumantism
C
rhuematism
D
rheumatism
Correct Answer: C
Correct spelling is "rheumatism."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1940.
The attitude of my students to .... baffles me
A
pronunciation
B
pronounciation
C
pronouceation
D
pronounceation
Correct Answer: D
Correct spelling is "pronunciation."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1941.
When we got to the president's house, we were told that he .... two days earlier
A
may have left
B
left
C
had left
D
has left
Correct Answer: C
Past perfect "had left" for action before another past action.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1942.
Atuk, without giving any hint as to what he intended to do, went and .... himself
A
hung
B
hang
C
hanged
D
hunged
Correct Answer: A
"Hanged" is used specifically for execution by hanging.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1943.
Provided you .... to the market very soon, we shall be able to eat enough
A
shall go
B
would go
C
went
D
go
Correct Answer: A
"Provided" takes present tense for future condition — "go."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1944.
He .... by now, I can hear all the people shouting
A
would have arrived
B
must have arrived
C
has arrived
D
should have arrived
Correct Answer: B
"Must have arrived" expresses strong logical certainty.
Instruction
In questions 86 to 88, choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1945.
bear
A
beer
B
steer
C
rare
D
fear
Correct Answer: A
"Bear" and "beer" both contain the /ɪə/ sound.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1946.
caught
A
hot
B
water
C
sup
D
wrong
Correct Answer: C
"Caught" and "water" share the /ɔː/ vowel sound.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1947.
country
A
worry
B
courteous
C
bought
D
poultry
Correct Answer: A
"Country" and "worry" both contain the /ʌ/ vowel sound.
Instruction
In questions 89 to 91, choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1948.
thought
A
taught
B
weather
C
theatre
D
fate
Correct Answer: B
"Thought" and "theatre" both begin with the voiceless /θ/ sound.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1949.
joint
A
dagger
B
advantage
C
guardian
D
mightier
Correct Answer: C
"Joint" and "guardian" both contain the /dʒ/ sound.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1991
Q1950.
house
A
rice
B
rise
C
curse
D
course
Correct Answer: B
"House" and "rise" both end with the /z/ sound (voiced).