Instruction
In questions 26 to 45, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2101.
We have found that cassava is a sine qua non item in our industry
A
useful
B
indispensable
C
useless
D
dispensable
Correct Answer: B
"Sine qua non" means indispensable — absolutely essential.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2102.
Science may be a complicated area of learning, but its teaching needs to be demystified
A
simplified
B
twisted
C
made difficult
D
distorted
Correct Answer: A
"Demystified" means made simpler and easier to understand.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2103.
Surveying the sky in the quiet of the night gives me an ethereal feeling
A
human
B
earthly
C
mundane
D
commonplace
Correct Answer: B
"Ethereal" means heavenly — the opposite is earthly.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2104.
The awareness of mortality has always imposed some restraint on man's excesses
A
celestial
B
eternity
C
continuity
D
inexistence
Correct Answer: B
"Mortality" means being subject to death — the opposite is eternity.
Instruction
In questions 46 to 50, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2105.
The decision we have taken is irrevocable
A
responsible
B
irresponsible
C
reversible
D
irreversible
Correct Answer: C
"Irrevocable" means cannot be changed; the opposite is "reversible."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2106.
The lawyer pointed out a discrepancy in the two stories
A
similarity
B
gap
C
falsehood
D
difference
Correct Answer: D
"Discrepancy" means a difference; the near meaning is "difference" (though the question is phrased oddly).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2107.
Their high level of dishonesty has made that department infamous in the entire secretariat
A
reputable
B
notorious
C
unpopular
D
acceptable
Correct Answer: A
"Infamous" means having a bad reputation; the opposite is "reputable."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2108.
When Uche wouldn't come to quickly enough, the principal rushed him to the hospital
A
revive
B
pass out
C
arrive
D
come up
Correct Answer: A
"Come to" means regain consciousness — revive.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2109.
The governor's action is out of tune with the declarations of his party
A
in disagreement
B
in line
C
out of touch
D
in touch
Correct Answer: B
"Out of tune with" means not in agreement; the opposite is "in line" (with).
Instruction
In questions 51 to 65, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2110.
Ator led a dog's life for twenty years he stayed in the United Kingdom
A
lived a dirty life
B
was promiscuous
C
was domesticated
D
led an unhappy and troubled life
Correct Answer: D
"Led a dog's life" means lived in misery and hardship.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2111.
The chief's brother was a complete nonentity
A
upstart
B
vagabond
C
riff-raff
D
person of inexperience
Correct Answer: D
"Nonentity" means a person of no importance — one without standing.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2112.
The principal warned us against burning the candle at both sides
A
being careless with candles
B
wearing ourselves out
C
being too generous
D
disloyalty
Correct Answer: B
"Burning the candle at both ends" means exhausting oneself by too much activity.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2113.
Biola decided to give the task everything he had
A
all his money
B
all his time
C
complete attention
D
complete attendance
Correct Answer: C
"Everything he had" in this context means full attention and effort.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2114.
The result of the election would have been different if some people had not been disfranchised
A
disfavored
B
banned from contesting
C
allowed to rig
D
prevented from voting
Correct Answer: D
"Disfranchised" means deprived of the right to vote.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2115.
We enjoyed the story but it sounds larger than life
A
too long and unsubstantiated
B
a little watery and lifeless
C
completely untrue
D
somewhat unusual
Correct Answer: A
"Larger than life" means exaggerated, beyond normal credibility.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2116.
Olu might visit London next summer
A
could
B
should
C
will
D
can
Correct Answer: A
"Might" expresses possibility — "could" captures the same.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2117.
General Murtala Muhammed excelled in deeds of prowess
A
warfare
B
politics
C
courage
D
eloquence
Correct Answer: C
"Prowess" means great bravery or skill, especially in battle — courage.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2118.
The teacher's face broke into incredulous smile when he heard Adamu's reason for coming late
A
irritating
B
artificial
C
unbelievable
D
irresponsible
Correct Answer: C
"Incredulous" means unable or unwilling to believe — unbelievable.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2119.
Recreation is important in contemporary civilization
A
leisure
B
treasure
C
Freedom
D
pleasure
Correct Answer: A
"Recreation" means leisure activities — relaxation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2120.
He won most of his fight because of his unorthodox style
A
crude
B
dishonest
C
aggressive
D
unconventional
Correct Answer: D
"Unorthodox" means contrary to what is usual — unconventional.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2121.
Jide says he read in the papers that our uncle has been declared a persona non grata by the French government
A
unwelcome guest
B
impersonator
C
ungrateful person
D
unofficial guest
Correct Answer: A
"Persona non grata" means an unwelcome person (especially a diplomat).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2122.
The vice chancellor, who is a stickler of rules, refused the request by the students
A
a puritan
B
a pedanist
C
disciplinarian
D
an idealist
Correct Answer: C
A stickler for rules is someone strict about enforcing them — a disciplinarian.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2123.
The town looked deserted but we moved in with trepidation
A
confidence
B
surprise
C
hesitation
D
fear
Correct Answer: D
"Trepidation" means fear or anxiety about the future.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2124.
I have no respect for individuals who are too ....
A
compliance
B
compliant
C
compliable
D
complicated
Correct Answer: B
"Compliant" (adjective) is correct — too yielding/obedient.
Instruction
In questions 66 to 100, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2125.
The policemen who were to keep watch connived .... the robber's escape
Correct Answer: A
"Connive with" is the correct collocation — conspiring with someone.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2126.
Kaka is .... to acquire knowledge, but also eager to display it
A
not only anxious
B
anxious not only
C
not only that she is anxious
D
anxious
Correct Answer: A
"Not only anxious to acquire... but also eager to display" — the "not only...but also" construction is parallel.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2127.
Wudu will not come .... she is asked
A
after
B
provided
C
unless
D
because
Correct Answer: C
"Unless" = if not. She will not come if she is not asked.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2128.
You must forbid .... coming
A
he's
B
that he is
C
him for
D
his
Correct Answer: D
Before a gerund ("coming"), use the possessive — "his coming."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2129.
Oche should leave for New York on Friday .... being equal
A
all the things
B
all other things
C
other things
D
other things all
Correct Answer: B
"All other things being equal" is the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2130.
The woman warned her daughter not to .... with bad boys
A
move
B
be moving
C
be keeping company
D
keep company
Correct Answer: D
"Keep company with" is the idiomatic expression.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2131.
Ali is crying because his mother was killed in a .... accident
A
motor
B
traffic
C
motor vehicle
D
road
Correct Answer: D
"Road accident" is the standard collocation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2132.
Otokpa is not very bold. He's not .... a rough life
A
cut up for
B
cut for
C
cut off for
D
cut out for
Correct Answer: D
"Cut out for" means suited to — he is not suited to a rough life.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2133.
Some of the food .... spoilt
Correct Answer: A
"Food" is uncountable — singular verb "is." ("Some of the food is spoilt.")
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2134.
They spent the last holiday with their ....
A
sister in-law
B
sisters-in-law
C
sisters-in-laws
D
sisters-in-law
Correct Answer: B
Plural of "sister-in-law" is "sisters-in-law" (noun changes, not the modifier).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2135.
You should not need .... twice
A
to tell
B
telling
C
tell
D
to have been told
Correct Answer: B
"Need telling" — the gerund after "need" expresses passive necessity.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2136.
The .... discouraged me from reading it
A
story's lengths
B
length of the story
C
story length
D
stories length
Correct Answer: B
"The length of the story" is the correct noun phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2137.
When the teacher asked him to join the queue outside, he considered it .... to his dignity
A
an attack
B
an insolence
C
an affront
D
a disrespect
Correct Answer: C
"An affront to one's dignity" — an insult or offence to dignity.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2138.
When he joined the staff of the school, he had various duties .... to him
A
detailed
B
assigned
C
prescribed
D
enlisted
Correct Answer: B
"Duties assigned to him" — allocated.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2139.
The secretary was blamed .... the untidy state of the office
A
for
B
about
C
over
D
on
Correct Answer: A
"Blamed for" is the standard collocation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2140.
After a long talk with the police, Baba confessed his guilt and so the other boys with whom he was accused were ....
A
vindicated
B
consoled
C
convinced
D
exonerated
Correct Answer: D
"Exonerated" means cleared of blame — the other boys were freed from accusation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2141.
You think she hasn't got any friends? Of course, she's got ....
A
many more
B
quite much
C
quite a few
D
few
Correct Answer: C
"Quite a few" means a fair number — the speaker is contradicting the assumption.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2142.
He moved out of the house because the landlord and his wife were always fighting ....
A
them selves
B
theirselves
C
each other
D
one another
Correct Answer: C
"Each other" for two people (landlord and wife).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2143.
The vermin on his body .... hideous
A
makes the lunatic look
B
make the lunatic look
C
makes the lunatic to look
D
make the lunatic to look
Correct Answer: A
"Vermin" is singular in form — "makes the lunatic look" (no "to").
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2144.
Do you think all .... not enough to help the investigator?
A
these information is
B
this information are
C
this information is
D
these information are
Correct Answer: C
"Information" is uncountable — "this information is."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2145.
Do you prefer .... my rickety car?
A
going on foot to taking
B
to go on foot to taking
C
going on foot than taking
D
to go on foot than to take
Correct Answer: B
"Prefer to go... to taking" — "prefer X to Y" with parallel structure.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2146.
No sooner .... to fall
A
did we set out when the rain had started
B
had we set out than the rain started
C
were we setting out than the rain started
D
we had set out when the rain started
Correct Answer: B
"No sooner had... than" is the fixed construction.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2147.
The company was charged with a .... of contract
A
negligence
B
violation
C
disregard
D
breach
Correct Answer: D
"Breach of contract" is the legal term.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2148.
The army ran short of ....
A
arm and ammunitions
B
arms and ammunitions
C
arms and ammunition
D
arm and ammunition
Correct Answer: C
"Arms and ammunition" — arms is plural, ammunition is uncountable.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2149.
The helpless .... our sympathy
A
require
B
requires
C
does require
D
do requires
Correct Answer: A
"The helpless" is plural — "require."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1993
Q2150.
My brother got married to a woman with .... manners
A
gorgeous
B
exquisite
C
decent
D
attractive
Correct Answer: C
"Decent manners" is the standard collocation.