Instruction
In questions 26 to 35, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3551.
She wriggled out of her wedding gown
A
She could not take off her gown herself so she was assisted.
B
her dress got torn because of the snake-like pattern
C
No one could have imagined that her dress was so tight
D
It took her some time to remove her close-fitting dress.
Correct Answer: D
"Wriggled out of" — removed with effort.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3552.
Visitors who are observant do not outstay their welcome.
A
All visitors must be alert so as to know when to leave a place.
B
Some visitors know when to leave a place so as to make their hosts happy.
C
Some visitors are unable to know when their hosts do not want them around.
D
All visitors except a few, know when to leave a place.
Correct Answer: B
"Outstay their welcome" — stay too long. The observant leave in time.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3553.
The group had been made a scapegoat during the event.
A
Members of the group had been punished for a sin that they did not commit.
B
Members of the group had been blamed for a sin that they committed.
C
The group had been punished so that no one would commit the sin again.
D
The group had been blamed merely to serve as a deterrent to others.
Correct Answer: A
"Scapegoat" — one blamed for others' wrongdoing.
Instruction
In questions 36 to 50, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3554.
Sola is apathetic about his work.
A
indifferent
B
enthusiastic
C
half-hearted
D
bored
Correct Answer: B
"Apathetic" — lacking interest; the opposite is "enthusiastic."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3555.
The members of the family had a hasty breakfast before starting out on their journey.
A
hurried
B
leisurely
C
tasty
D
nasty
Correct Answer: B
"Hasty" — quick; the opposite is "leisurely."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3556.
The poverty level among the masses is unbearable.
A
arrogance
B
saturation
C
affluence
D
influence
Correct Answer: C
"Poverty" — lack; the opposite is "affluence."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3557.
The chairman was accused of implementing policies that favoured the elite.
A
oppressed
B
executives
C
jobless
D
citizens
Correct Answer: A
"Elite" — the privileged few; the opposite is "oppressed."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3558.
The manager was impressed by the man's eagerness.
A
impatience
B
indifference
C
negligence
D
calmness
Correct Answer: B
"Eagerness" — keen interest; the opposite is "indifference."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3559.
He is known for making threadbare arguments as a scholar.
A
justify
B
baseless
C
empty
D
justifiable
Correct Answer: D
"Threadbare" arguments are weak; the opposite is "justifiable."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3560.
The lecturer's obscure publications counted against him during the promotion exercise.
A
widespread
B
closed
C
circulate
D
restricted
Correct Answer: A
"Obscure" — unknown; the opposite is "widespread."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3561.
The man found his wife physically repellant.
A
attractive
B
fatuous
C
unpleasant
D
flamboyant
Correct Answer: A
"Repellant" — repellent; the opposite is "attractive."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3562.
As an absolute ruler, Adayi brooks no opposition from his subordinates.
A
a despotic dictator
B
a shameless king
C
a benevolent leader
D
a magnanimous democrat
Correct Answer: D
"Absolute ruler" — one with total power; the opposite is a democrat.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3563.
The response to the advertisement has been phenomenal.
A
spiritual
B
frightening
C
unimpressive
D
catastrophic
Correct Answer: C
"Phenomenal" — extraordinary; the opposite is "unimpressive."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3564.
My father lived a spartan life before his death.
A
extravagant
B
peaceful
C
quiet
D
luxurious
Correct Answer: D
"Spartan" — simple and frugal; the opposite is "luxurious."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3565.
Bola's parents went through an acrimonious divorce.
A
a bitter
B
an acrid
C
a sour
D
a peaceful
Correct Answer: D
"Acrimonious" — bitter and hostile; the opposite is "peaceful."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3566.
Iliya's account of the incident is appalling.
A
tasking
B
fascinating
C
horrifying
D
ridiculous
Correct Answer: B
"Appalling" — shocking; the opposite is "fascinating."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3567.
She encapsulated her view of the nature of life in a poem.
A
summed up
B
explained
C
expatiated on
D
reflected
Correct Answer: C
"Encapsulated" — summarized; the opposite is "expatiated on" (expanded at length).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3568.
We were held spellbound by his eloquence.
A
Unimpressed
B
freed
C
deceived
D
unenlightened
Correct Answer: A
"Spellbound" — captivated; the opposite is "unimpressed."
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
2008
Q3569.
We were at a loss to understand why Oli should retract his statement before the Judge.
A
assert
B
repeat
C
withdraw
D
reiterate
Correct Answer: C
"Retract" — withdraw.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3570.
The workers hope to appear before the arbitration panel to resolve the lingering dispute.
A
trial
B
legislative
C
investigative
D
reconciliatory
Correct Answer: D
"Arbitration" — settling disputes between parties.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3571.
He went to the polls in defiance of sound advice and recorded an abysmal performance.
A
surprisingly good
B
disappointingly bad
C
mediocre
D
landslide
Correct Answer: B
"Abysmal" — extremely bad.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3572.
He was not able to withstand the attack from his immediate family.
A
survive
B
overcome
C
match
D
resist
Correct Answer: D
"Withstand" — resist.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3573.
Your effort to bring peace between us is futile because you are biased.
A
convinced
B
clever
C
prejudiced
D
worried
Correct Answer: C
"Biased" — prejudiced.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3574.
Our front door is always kept ajar.
A
locked
B
sealed
C
half-closed
D
permanently open
Correct Answer: C
"Ajar" — slightly open.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3575.
His embroidery was an exacting task for the tailor
A
an unwarranted
B
an exciting
C
a demanding
D
a disturbing
Correct Answer: C
"Exacting" — demanding high effort.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3576.
The students' remonstrances were rebuffed by the authority
A
protests
B
suggestions
C
complaints
D
regrets
Correct Answer: A
"Remonstrances" — strong protests.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3577.
I had to make my way through the throng of people in the church.
A
group
B
crowd
C
gathering
D
theme
Correct Answer: B
"Throng" — large crowd.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3578.
The man's wife has her misgivings about him.
A
fears for
B
distrust of
C
hatred for
D
love for
Correct Answer: B
"Misgivings" — feelings of doubt or suspicion.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3579.
Violent crime is only one of the maladies afflicting modern society
A
damages
B
illnesses
C
wounds
D
crises
Correct Answer: B
"Maladies" — diseases/illnesses (figurative).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3580.
Ade has an aquiline nose.
A
a large and curved nose
B
a wide and straight nose
C
a big and pointed nose
D
a small and attractive nose
Correct Answer: A
"Aquiline" — curved like an eagle's beak.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3581.
Everyone was talking about the camaraderie in the club
A
companionship
B
quarrelsomeness
C
commissioning
D
disunity
Correct Answer: A
"Camaraderie" — friendly fellowship.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3582.
'You're impossible,' she said to me.
A
unreasonable
B
unforgiving
C
daft
D
strong
Correct Answer: A
"Impossible" (as in person) — unreasonable.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3583.
I was being directed by my sixth sense all through the ordeal.
A
intelligence
B
judgement
C
intuition
D
imagination
Correct Answer: C
"Sixth sense" — intuition.
Instruction
In questions 66 to 100, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3584.
They .... wet if they had gone out in the rain
A
would get
B
would have got
C
will have got
D
had got
Correct Answer: B
Third conditional — "would have got wet."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3585.
The students are still .... in the dark regarding the principal's decision
A
very so
B
much too
C
very much
D
much so
Correct Answer: C
"Very much in the dark" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3586.
Either the teacher or the students .... to blame
A
is
B
are
C
has being
D
are being
Correct Answer: B
With "either... or", verb agrees with nearer subject — "students are."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3587.
I will pay my debt ....
A
instalmentaily
B
by instalmentally
C
in instalments
D
in instalmentally
Correct Answer: C
"In instalments" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3588.
You should anticipate and prepare for changes .... in your office
A
that has taken place
B
which takes place
C
taking place
D
that would take place
Correct Answer: C
"Changes taking place" — the participial construction.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3589.
The scholar examined .... of the subject
A
three apart analysis
B
a part-three analysis
C
a three-part analysis
D
three part analysis
Correct Answer: C
"A three-part analysis" — the standard compound.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3590.
The litigants finally opted ....
A
by an out of court
B
in an uut-of-court
C
to an out of court
D
for an out-of-court settlement
Correct Answer: D
"Opted for an out-of-court settlement" — the standard legal phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3591.
She refrained .... smoking
Correct Answer: C
"Refrained from" — the standard collocation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3592.
Birds whistle while bears ....
A
gibber
B
purr
C
growl
D
bellow
Correct Answer: C
"Bears growl" — the standard verb.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3593.
I am not surprised that Zali had a road accident; he was always driving too fast ....?
A
isn't the
B
wasn't he
C
didn't he
D
did he
Correct Answer: B
Tag for "was driving" — "wasn't he?"
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3594.
Oduma had .... enough money to pay the fines so he went to jail for distributing libellous ....
A
no / brochures
B
not / circulars
C
no / publications
D
not / pamphlets
Correct Answer: D
"Not enough money" and "libellous pamphlets."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3595.
The principal said he .... so many visitors that day that he .... exhausted
A
had been having / felt
B
has been having / feels
C
was having / feels
D
is having / felt
Correct Answer: A
Reported past — "had been having" and "felt."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3596.
His mother always reprimands him for being a .... reader of cheap novels
A
vicious
B
veracious
C
vivacious
D
voracious
Correct Answer: D
"Voracious reader" — devouring books.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3597.
Femi has been .... behind in classwork
A
lacking
B
lagging
C
larking
D
lurking
Correct Answer: B
"Lagging behind" — falling behind.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3598.
Judging .... his face, he is not guilty
A
at
B
through
C
with
D
by
Correct Answer: D
"Judging by his face" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3599.
What were the .... served in the restaurant?
A
spices
B
desserts
C
diets
D
condiments
Correct Answer: D
"Condiments" — sauces and seasonings served with food.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2008
Q3600.
She .... her hair .... in the room before we left
A
smoothened / off
B
smoothed / on
C
smoothened / up
D
smoothed / down
Correct Answer: C
"Smoothened up" — tidied up.