Instruction
In questions 26 to 45, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2401.
The team's performance was abysmal
A
excellent
B
terrible
C
dreadful
D
awful
Correct Answer: A
"Abysmal" means extremely bad; the opposite is "excellent."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2402.
The new manager is very approachable
A
aloof
B
friendly
C
accessible
D
sociable
Correct Answer: A
"Approachable" means friendly and easy to talk to; the opposite is "aloof."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2403.
The politician is known for his volatile temperament
A
calm
B
explosive
C
unstable
D
unpredictable
Correct Answer: A
"Volatile" means explosive or unstable; the opposite is "calm."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2404.
The students were attentive during the lecture
A
inattentive
B
focused
C
alert
D
observant
Correct Answer: A
"Attentive" means paying attention; the opposite is "inattentive."
Instruction
In questions 46 to 65, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2405.
The manager's attitude to the matter was nonchalant
A
indifferent
B
concerned
C
anxious
D
angry
Correct Answer: A
"Nonchalant" means casually indifferent.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2406.
The building was demolished to make way for a new road
A
built
B
destroyed
C
renovated
D
repaired
Correct Answer: B
"Demolished" means pulled down or destroyed.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2407.
The students were asked to disperse by the police
A
gather together
B
scatter in different directions
C
remain in place
D
line up
Correct Answer: B
"Disperse" means to scatter in different directions.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2408.
The politician's speech was full of rhetoric
A
meaningless words
B
eloquent but empty language
C
factual information
D
simple truths
Correct Answer: B
"Rhetoric" refers to grand but often empty language.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2409.
The new teacher's method of teaching is very innovative
A
traditional
B
creative
C
old-fashioned
D
conventional
Correct Answer: B
"Innovative" means creative and new.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2410.
The athlete's performance was remarkable
A
ordinary
B
extraordinary
C
average
D
mediocre
Correct Answer: B
"Remarkable" means extraordinary — worthy of notice.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2411.
The chairman's suggestion was feasible
A
impossible
B
possible
C
difficult
D
impractical
Correct Answer: B
"Feasible" means possible or doable.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2412.
The students were apprehensive about the examination results
A
confident
B
anxious
C
certain
D
reassured
Correct Answer: B
"Apprehensive" means anxious or worried.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2413.
His contribution to the discussion was superfluous
A
necessary
B
unnecessary
C
important
D
relevant
Correct Answer: B
"Superfluous" means more than is needed — unnecessary.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2414.
The government's decision to ban the importation of the product was controversial
A
accepted
B
debatable
C
clear
D
obvious
Correct Answer: B
"Controversial" means causing debate or disagreement.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2415.
His statement was ambiguous
A
clear
B
unclear
C
direct
D
precise
Correct Answer: B
"Ambiguous" means open to more than one interpretation — unclear.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2416.
The company's growth rate has been astronomical
A
small
B
enormous
C
moderate
D
slow
Correct Answer: B
"Astronomical" means extremely large — enormous.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2417.
The new employee was sacked for incompetence
A
promoted
B
dismissed
C
praised
D
transferred
Correct Answer: B
"Sacked" means dismissed from employment.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2418.
The crowd was ecstatic when the team scored the winning goal
A
angry
B
overjoyed
C
disappointed
D
indifferent
Correct Answer: B
"Ecstatic" means extremely happy — overjoyed.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2419.
The teacher's patience with the slow learners was exemplary
A
poor
B
worthy of imitation
C
average
D
unacceptable
Correct Answer: B
"Exemplary" means worthy of imitation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2420.
The problem is intractable
A
easy to solve
B
difficult to solve
C
simple
D
straightforward
Correct Answer: B
"Intractable" means hard to manage or solve.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2421.
The report was meticulous
A
careless
B
very careful and detailed
C
hasty
D
sloppy
Correct Answer: B
"Meticulous" means showing great attention to detail.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2422.
He was oblivious of the danger he was in
A
aware
B
unaware
C
conscious
D
mindful
Correct Answer: B
"Oblivious" means completely unaware.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2423.
The manager's directive was explicit
A
vague
B
clear and direct
C
implied
D
hidden
Correct Answer: B
"Explicit" means clearly stated — clear and direct.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2424.
The new policy was met with vociferous opposition
A
silent
B
loud and forceful
C
mild
D
weak
Correct Answer: B
"Vociferous" means loud and forceful in expression.
Instruction
In questions 66 to 100, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2425.
The two friends .... each other at the market yesterday
A
met
B
meet
C
have met
D
had met
Correct Answer: A
"Yesterday" is finished past time — simple past "met."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2426.
The principal .... the students on the importance of hard work
A
address
B
addresses
C
addressed
D
addressing
Correct Answer: C
Past tense "addressed" fits the narrative.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2427.
If I .... you, I would accept the offer
Correct Answer: C
Second conditional — "If I were you."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2428.
The man .... in this house for ten years before he died
A
lives
B
lived
C
has lived
D
had lived
Correct Answer: D
Past perfect "had lived" for the period before his death.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2429.
The police .... the suspect before he escaped
A
arrested
B
had arrested
C
have arrested
D
has arrested
Correct Answer: B
Past perfect "had arrested" shows the action before another past action (his escape).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2430.
She works harder than ....
Correct Answer: B
The comparison is between subjects — "than I (do)."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2431.
The new teacher as well as the students .... happy about the results
A
are
B
is
C
were
D
have been
Correct Answer: B
"As well as" does not change the subject — "The new teacher... is."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2432.
The man .... stole my car has been arrested
A
which
B
who
C
whose
D
whom
Correct Answer: B
"Who" is the subject pronoun for a person — "who stole my car."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2433.
This is the boy .... father is a doctor
A
who
B
whom
C
whose
D
which
Correct Answer: C
"Whose" indicates possession — "whose father."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2434.
The students .... to the principal about the problem
A
complained
B
complain
C
complaining
D
complaint
Correct Answer: A
Past tense "complained" for a past event.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2435.
The committee .... its report next week
A
submit
B
submits
C
will submit
D
submitted
Correct Answer: C
"Next week" is future — "will submit."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2436.
Neither the teacher nor the students .... present at the meeting
Correct Answer: B
With "neither... nor", the verb agrees with the nearer subject — "students were."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2437.
The manager, together with his assistants .... the report
A
have prepared
B
has prepared
C
are preparing
D
were preparing
Correct Answer: B
"Together with" does not change the subject — "The manager... has prepared."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2438.
Each of the students .... a copy of the book
A
have
B
has
C
are having
D
were having
Correct Answer: B
"Each" is singular — "has."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2439.
Many a student .... failed the examination
A
have
B
has
C
are
D
were
Correct Answer: B
"Many a" takes a singular verb — "has."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2440.
The news .... very disturbing
A
are
B
were
C
is
D
have been
Correct Answer: C
"News" is uncountable and singular — "is."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2441.
Mathematics .... my favourite subject
A
are
B
were
C
is
D
have been
Correct Answer: C
"Mathematics" is treated as singular — "is."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2442.
The police .... investigating the case
A
is
B
are
C
was
D
has been
Correct Answer: B
"Police" is plural — "are."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2443.
The cattle .... grazing in the field
A
is
B
was
C
are
D
has been
Correct Answer: C
"Cattle" is plural — "are."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2444.
Ten kilometres .... a long distance to walk
A
are
B
is
C
were
D
have been
Correct Answer: B
Distances are treated as singular units — "is."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2445.
The woman .... bag was stolen has reported to the police
A
who
B
whom
C
whose
D
which
Correct Answer: C
Possessive "whose" — "whose bag was stolen."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2446.
The car .... was stolen has been recovered
A
who
B
whom
C
whose
D
which
Correct Answer: D
"Which" for a thing — "the car which was stolen."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2447.
The man .... I spoke to yesterday is my uncle
A
who
B
whom
C
whose
D
which
Correct Answer: B
"Whom" as the object of the preposition "to."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2448.
This is the house .... I was born
A
which
B
that
C
where
D
when
Correct Answer: C
"Where" for a place — "the house where I was born."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2449.
The reason .... he came late was that he missed the bus
A
which
B
that
C
why
D
when
Correct Answer: C
"The reason why" is the standard construction.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1996
Q2450.
I will not go .... you apologize
A
unless
B
until
C
if
D
because
Correct Answer: A
"Unless" means "if not" — I will not go if you do not apologize.