Instruction
In questions 31 to 49, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2701.
The Minister has finally been dropped from the present cabinet because of his ignoble act
A
criminal
B
ignorant
C
honorable
D
selfish
Correct Answer: C
"Ignoble" means dishonourable; the opposite is "honourable."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2702.
There is much indifference in his behavior
A
concern
B
nonchalance
C
willingness
D
inconsistency
Correct Answer: A
"Indifference" means lack of concern; the opposite is "concern."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2703.
Most warring countries end in a state of satiation
A
hunger
B
thirst
C
danger
D
famine
Correct Answer: A
"Satiation" means being fully satisfied; the opposite is "hunger."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2704.
The officer asked for a more temperate assessment of the matter
A
extreme
B
moderate
C
radical
D
humane
Correct Answer: A
"Temperate" means moderate; the opposite is "extreme."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2705.
The lecturers were advised to carry out a cursory survey of Nigerian languages
A
detailed study
B
careful teaching
C
careful description
D
partial consideration
Correct Answer: A
"Cursory" means hasty and superficial; the opposite is "detailed study."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2706.
Musa hates Hadiza for her constant bellicose behaviour
A
violent
B
gentle
C
meet
D
troublesome
Correct Answer: B
"Bellicose" means aggressive; the opposite is "gentle."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2707.
Abdul is fond of his teacher though he sometimes makes derogatory remarks about him
A
unpleasant
B
complimentary
C
expressive
D
inconsiderate
Correct Answer: B
"Derogatory" means disrespectful; the opposite is "complimentary."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2708.
Orinya balances the pail on her head with accustomed ease
A
convincing
B
surprising
C
unwary
D
usual
Correct Answer: B
"Accustomed" means usual; the opposite of an "accustomed" ease would be "surprising" ease.
Instruction
In questions 50 to 64, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2709.
They have tried to circumvent the restriction on the importation of the commodities
A
bypass
B
confront
C
oppose
D
challenge
Correct Answer: A
"Circumvent" means to bypass or find a way around.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2710.
It was surprising how we took to the stranger at once
A
talked so long with
B
introduced ourselves
C
formed a liking for
D
started fighting
Correct Answer: C
"Took to" means formed a liking for.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2711.
The government is not opening up to the unions in the negotiations, it must have something up its sleeve
A
be nursing a hidden agenda
B
be hoping to trap them
C
be hiding a last minute package
D
be intending to dissolve the unions
Correct Answer: A
"Something up its sleeve" means a hidden plan or agenda.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2712.
The College Officer insisted that I show him my credentials before I could be registered
A
papers
B
qualifications
C
testimonials
D
identities
Correct Answer: B
"Credentials" means qualifications.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2713.
Even though there is no obvious riot on the campus, the atmosphere is restive
A
quiet
B
chaotic
C
restless
D
tense
Correct Answer: C
"Restive" means restless or uneasy.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2714.
When he found himself in a difficult situation, he tried to double-talk his way through
A
talk to two people to help him
B
mix up issues to sound nervous
C
mix up facts to confuse people
D
talk twice to gain sympathy
Correct Answer: C
"Double-talk" means to mix up facts to confuse listeners.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2715.
Mr. Dzokoto plays the piano with great dexterity
A
wisdom
B
power
C
force
D
skill
Correct Answer: D
"Dexterity" means skill, especially with the hands.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2716.
Amina said she married a doting husband
A
a loving
B
a fun-loving
C
an uncaring
D
a nagging
Correct Answer: A
"Doting" means showing great love — a loving husband.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2717.
Adamu woke up with a start and took to his heels, claiming that something was on his trail
A
in his food
B
giving him the chase
C
hiding near the bed
D
staring at him
Correct Answer: B
"On his trail" means chasing him.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2718.
The man preaches egalitarianism without matching it up with action
A
salvation
B
dedication
C
kindness
D
equality
Correct Answer: D
"Egalitarianism" means belief in equality.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2719.
The prosecutor was accused of obstructing justice
A
hindering
B
retarding
C
impending
D
interrupting
Correct Answer: A
"Obstructing" means hindering.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2720.
The Federal Government approved a new salary structure as an incentive for the Nigerian workers
A
a reward
B
an encouragement
C
a package
D
an advance
Correct Answer: B
"Incentive" means a motivating encouragement.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2721.
Before embarking on his current research, the professor carried out a feasibility study of the area
A
thorough
B
perfectibility
C
complete
D
practicability
Correct Answer: D
"Feasibility" means practicability — whether it can be done.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2722.
It was a spending spree for all of us when daddy hit the jackpot
A
cashed his cheque
B
received his salary
C
found money in a pot
D
won a lot of money
Correct Answer: D
"Hit the jackpot" means won a large sum of money.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2723.
All the accident victims are bleeding profusely
A
slowly
B
excessively
C
diffusely
D
clearly
Correct Answer: B
"Profusely" means excessively.
Instruction
In questions 65 to 89, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2724.
It was late when we decided to get .... the train
A
off
B
down
C
out of
D
out from
Correct Answer: C
"Get out of the train" is the standard phrase for leaving a train.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2725.
The accident was due to .... driving by the defendant.
A
negligence
B
negligible
C
negligent
D
neglectable
Correct Answer: C
"Negligent driving" — the adjective form is correct before the noun.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2726.
My friend and I have been quarrelling since yesterday and we haven't .... yet.
A
made it out
B
made out
C
made it
D
made it up
Correct Answer: D
"Made it up" means reconciled after a quarrel.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2727.
He is so credulous .... my story about the ghost.
A
to believe
B
that he believes
C
in order to believe
D
since he believes
Correct Answer: B
"So credulous that he believes" — the result construction.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2728.
The group never felt strong enough to act in the open; .... hostility was the hallmark of their resistance
A
covert
B
overt
C
vicious
D
erratic
Correct Answer: A
"Covert hostility" — hidden hostility, matching "never felt strong enough to act in the open."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2729.
The freed robber expressed his gratitude in a .... prayer of thanksgiving.
A
spurious
B
spasmodic
C
spontaneous
D
sporadic
Correct Answer: C
"Spontaneous prayer" — the natural expression of thanks.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2730.
He boasts so much about his high scores and .... at the efforts of others.
A
scorns
B
sneers
C
grins
D
smiles
Correct Answer: B
"Sneers at" is the standard phrase for showing contempt.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2731.
The visitor was very uncomfortable because of his .... nose.
A
runny
B
running
C
watery
D
flowing
Correct Answer: A
"Runny nose" is the standard collocation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2732.
Although the Officer wanted a .... report on the matter, he got .... account.
A
truthful/an uninteresting
B
truthful/an unpleasant
C
genuine/a ridiculous
D
painstaking/a half-hearted
Correct Answer: D
"Painstaking report" (thorough) contrasted with "half-hearted account."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2733.
Immediately I entered the house, I could .... the smell of gas from the kitchen.
A
feel
B
hear
C
detect
D
smell
Correct Answer: D
"Smell the smell" — redundancy is avoided; "smell" is the correct verb.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2734.
I am .... admission to the university this year.
A
seeking on
B
seeking for
C
seeking at
D
seeking
Correct Answer: D
"Seek admission" is transitive — no preposition needed.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2735.
Some robbers are on the prowl, we must be ....
A
alert
B
at alert
C
on the alert
D
for alert
Correct Answer: C
"On the alert" is the standard idiom.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2736.
Mrs. Ojo was one of .... in my village
A
the first two enlightened young ladies
B
the two first enlightened young ladies
C
the two first young enlightened ladies
D
the first two young enlightened ladies
Correct Answer: D
Ordinal order — "first two young enlightened ladies" follows standard adjective order.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2737.
My friend's car has .... to a halt
A
grinded
B
grounded
C
ground
D
grind
Correct Answer: C
"Ground to a halt" — past tense of "grind."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2738.
By twelve midnight, we will be ....
A
air bounded
B
airborne
C
air horned
D
air borne
Correct Answer: B
"Airborne" — the correct spelling.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2739.
The old man's speech had become completely ....
A
incomprehensible
B
uncomprehensive
C
incomprehensive
D
incomprehensible
Correct Answer: A
"Incomprehensible" — the correct spelling, meaning unable to be understood.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2740.
His chances in the games .... seriously jeopardized
A
have been
B
has been
C
have being
D
has being
Correct Answer: A
"Chances" is plural — "have been."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2741.
We found it difficult to identify him as the crowd was .... around him.
A
head to head
B
head above head
C
shoulder from shoulder
D
shoulder to shoulder
Correct Answer: D
"Shoulder to shoulder" — the standard phrase for a tightly packed crowd.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2742.
The principal expressed his .... when the students broke the rules .... and he didn't know how to stop them.
A
anger/everyday
B
frustration/time and again
C
disappointment/understandably
D
powerlessness/occasionally
Correct Answer: B
"Frustration" + "time and again" fits the repeated rule-breaking.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2743.
They were all behaving like a bunch of .... children.
A
quarulous
B
gurrulous
C
gurrullous
D
quarrelous
Correct Answer: A
"Quarrelsome" is the correct spelling.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2744.
Our economic programme is .... commitment to Nigeria's economic growth.
A
deeply root in
B
root in deep
C
rooted in a deep
D
deeply rooted in deep
Correct Answer: C
"Rooted in a deep commitment" — passive construction.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2745.
You would be well .... to listen to what the teacher says.
A
informed
B
advised
C
reminded
D
warned
Correct Answer: B
"Well advised" — the standard phrase meaning strongly recommended.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2746.
Ndem was .... suspended from work because he showed no .... in dealing with the customers
A
love
B
interest
C
character
D
finesse
Correct Answer: B
"Showed no interest in dealing with customers" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2747.
Aggrieved persons are free to seek .... in the court of law.
A
reparation
B
redress
C
consolation
D
acquittal
Correct Answer: B
"Seek redress" — the legal phrase for seeking a remedy.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2748.
After two years of courtship, Jide is finally .... Ngozi next Sunday
A
being married to
B
marrying
C
married to
D
being married by
Correct Answer: B
"Marrying Ngozi" — active voice; "is finally marrying" is correct.
Instruction
In questions 92 to 94, the word in capital letters has an emphatic stress. Choose the option that best fits the expression in the sentence.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2749.
The fire destroyed MANY lives
A
Did the fire destroy the village?
B
Did the fire destroy some houses?
C
Did the fire destroy any lives?
D
Did the fire spare any lives?
Correct Answer: D
The emphasis on MANY contrasts with the question of whether any lives were spared.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
1999
Q2750.
The accused hasn't even been TRIED yet.
A
Was the accused sentenced to life imprisonment?
B
Has the suspect been apprehended?
C
Why hasn't the accused been tried yet?
D
Was the accused handed over to the police?
Correct Answer: A
The emphasis on "TRIED" contrasts with sentencing.