Instruction
In questions 31 to 40, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3651.
He was injured by a friendly fire.
A
He was wounded in a war by a friend of his who fired a shot mistakenly
B
He was injured by a gun shot that was fired by a friend
C
He was hit in a war by a war weapon fired by his own side
D
It was a war and he was hit by a bomb fired by an unknown soldier
Correct Answer: C
"Friendly fire" — a military term for fire from one's own side.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3652.
Kola visits us on occasions, and I don't like that.
A
I do not like Kola because he visits us only when an event is being celebrated
B
I hate the fact that Kola only visits us when something is being celebrated
C
That Kola does not visit us often is something I object to
D
Kola seldom visits us and that is because he is a fair-weather friend
Correct Answer: C
"On occasions" means occasionally — the speaker objects to his infrequent visits.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3653.
At the time I arrived, Olu was lying in third place.
A
Olu's third position coincided with my arrival
B
When I arrived, Olu was sleeping in the space reserved for him
C
It was a competition and Olu was in third position when I arrived
D
On my arrival at the competition, Olu went to sleep
Correct Answer: C
"Lying in third place" — positioned third in a race.
Instruction
In questions 36 to 50, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3654.
We had difficulty eating the meat because it was leathery.
A
bitter
B
stringy
C
tough
D
tender
Correct Answer: D
"Leathery" means tough; the opposite is "tender."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3655.
The boy is too indolent to do well at school.
A
intelligent
B
industrious
C
inactive
D
slothful
Correct Answer: B
"Indolent" means lazy; the opposite is "industrious."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3656.
Salasi's tremendous effort has yielded results.
A
absolute
B
insignificant
C
unimpressive
D
a gregarious
Correct Answer: B
"Tremendous" means enormous; the opposite is "insignificant."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3657.
The computerized service of the new bank is heart-warming.
A
absolute
B
insignificant
C
unimaginable
D
prohibitive
Correct Answer: A
"Heart-warming" means pleasing; closest opposite here is "prohibitive" (deterrent).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3658.
Life has become a misery for many owing to the harsh economic condition in the country.
A
drudgery
B
ridicule
C
ritual
D
comfort
Correct Answer: D
"Misery" — suffering; the opposite is "comfort."
Instruction
In questions 41 to 55, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3659.
The company director has a vivacious personality.
A
a positive
B
an unmanageable
C
an unimpressive
D
a gregarious
Correct Answer: C
"Vivacious" — lively; the opposite is "unimpressive."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3660.
Young people have a penchant for fast cars.
A
likeness
B
passion
C
madness
D
dislike
Correct Answer: D
"Penchant" — liking; the opposite is "dislike."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3661.
Most of the latest actions are militant in nature.
A
commanding
B
civil
C
zealous
D
passionate
Correct Answer: B
"Militant" — aggressive; the opposite is "civil."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3662.
His ideas sounded quite palatable yet they were jettisoned by the group.
A
accepted
B
dumped
C
denied
D
criticized
Correct Answer: A
"Palatable" — acceptable; the opposite is "unacceptable."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3663.
The compulsory leave made her feel listless.
A
restful
B
great
C
fat
D
energetic
Correct Answer: D
"Listless" — lacking energy; the opposite is "energetic."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3664.
'A novel is an embellished falsehood', said the teacher.
A
enriched
B
exaggerate
C
adorned
D
obliterated
Correct Answer: D
"Embellished" — adorned/exaggerated; the opposite is "obliterated" (erased).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3665.
I have had enough of your impudence.
A
politeness
B
incivility
C
arrogance
D
boldness
Correct Answer: A
"Impudence" — rudeness; the opposite is "politeness."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3666.
We were collectively responsible for keeping the machine in good shape.
A
jointly
B
severally
C
dutifully
D
socially
Correct Answer: B
"Collectively" — together; the opposite is "severally" (individually).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3667.
His comment was not printable.
A
punishable
B
suitable
C
offensive
D
unfair
Correct Answer: B
"Printable" — suitable for print; the opposite is "offensive."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3668.
Curiously, he escaped unhurt.
A
interestingly
B
unsurprisingly
C
annoyingly
D
unusually
Correct Answer: B
"Curiously" — surprisingly; the opposite is "unsurprisingly."
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
2009
Q3669.
Agwube's explanation of her poor performance at the examination only begged the question.
A
delayed her punishment
B
sounded quite convincing
C
did not address the issue
D
over flogged the matter
Correct Answer: C
"Begged the question" — evaded the main issue.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3670.
We have every need to preserve some of our national monuments for posterity.
A
prosperity
B
future
C
national pride
D
collective gain
Correct Answer: B
"Posterity" — future generations.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3671.
He commands the confidence and respect of all his subordinates.
A
request
B
enjoins
C
enforces
D
conjures
Correct Answer: B
"Commands" here means "enjoins" — calls for/earns.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3672.
The president has mapped out some many laudable projects to embark upon.
A
laughable
B
good
C
praiseworthy
D
valuable
Correct Answer: C
"Laudable" — praiseworthy.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3673.
Adamu's father is a stern man.
A
wicked
B
strict
C
playful
D
conservative
Correct Answer: B
"Stern" — strict and serious.
Instruction
In questions 56 to 70, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3674.
Nobody knew the source of the altercation between the couple.
A
alter ego
B
quarrel
C
deep love
D
wealth
Correct Answer: B
"Altercation" — a quarrel.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3675.
His poetry is said to be inscrutable.
A
ludicrous
B
unlearnable
C
inseparable
D
mysterious
Correct Answer: D
"Inscrutable" — difficult to understand.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3676.
Hers was a specious argument about the government of the day.
A
misleading
B
precious
C
spacious
D
true
Correct Answer: A
"Specious" — superficially plausible but misleading.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3677.
The Lagos bus conductor wore his professional livery.
A
badge
B
shoe
C
uniform
D
cap
Correct Answer: C
"Livery" — a distinctive uniform.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3678.
If Joy hadn't been tripped up halfway through the race, she would have come first.
A
discouraged
B
disqualified
C
interrupted
D
exhausted
Correct Answer: C
"Tripped up" — obstructed/interrupted.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3679.
There must be something sinister about her late arrival.
A
reasonable
B
joyful
C
hopeful
D
ominous
Correct Answer: D
"Sinister" — suggesting evil; ominous.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3680.
The unification of the country has brought about great technological advancement.
A
restoration
B
agreement
C
cohesion
D
stability
Correct Answer: C
"Unification" — bringing together; cohesion.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3681.
His amnesia has affected his career.
A
loss of focus
B
loss of sight
C
loss of memory
D
loss of direction
Correct Answer: C
"Amnesia" — loss of memory.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3682.
Idris' forbearance endeared him to us.
A
hard work
B
patience
C
wisdom
D
good manners
Correct Answer: B
"Forbearance" — patient self-control.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3683.
They hated the police and, by implication, me.
A
extension
B
inference
C
examination
D
application
Correct Answer: B
"By implication" — by inference.
Instruction
In questions 66 to 100, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3684.
He is really very mean. He .... not lend me the money I wanted.
A
should
B
could
C
would
D
won't
Correct Answer: C
"Would not lend" — refused to lend.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3685.
When the cashier told him to join the queue, he considered it .... his dignity.
A
a drawback to
B
an affront on
C
withdrawal from
D
a strain on
Correct Answer: B
"An affront on his dignity" — an insult to his dignity.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3686.
If anyone greets you, it is only polite to return .... greeting.
A
your
B
their
C
anyone's
D
one's
Correct Answer: A
"Return your greeting" — matches "you."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3687.
Amina lives .... campus.
A
in the
B
on
C
at the
D
inside
Correct Answer: B
"Lives on campus" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3688.
An acceptance of the offer would be a departure from the several rejections that ....
A
had taken place
B
have taken place
C
will take place
D
took place
Correct Answer: A
Past perfect "had taken place" — earlier than the acceptance.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3689.
The .... part of a new book is often written by a more experienced writer than the author.
A
foreward
B
foreword
C
forward
D
forword
Correct Answer: B
"Foreword" — the correct spelling for an introductory section.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3690.
The officer acted in .... the instructions.
A
accorance by
B
accordance to
C
accordance of
D
accordance with
Correct Answer: D
"In accordance with" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3691.
The bomb was ....
A
detonated
B
dismantled
C
deactivated
D
depleted
Correct Answer: C
"Deactivated" — made inactive. Best for the passive construction.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3692.
If you want to succeed in life, don't be envious .... other people's achievement.
Correct Answer: A
"Envious of" — the standard collocation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3693.
They are taught to value honour .... their lives.
A
from
B
in
C
than
D
above
Correct Answer: D
"Value honour above their lives" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3694.
I missed the match though it was shown on television on two .... nights.
A
concurrent
B
consistent
C
concrete
D
consecutive
Correct Answer: D
"Consecutive nights" — one after another.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3695.
The company paid some money to Abu to .... him for losses he suffered during the accident.
A
indemnity
B
condole with
C
settle
D
recompense
Correct Answer: D
"Recompense" — compensate for loss.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3696.
Our plan for the trip fell .... when the rich man did not give us a life ....
A
off / boat
B
through / line
C
down / jacket
D
in / help
Correct Answer: B
"Fell through" (failed) and "life line" (financial support).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3697.
Government has frowned upon politicians who are out to .... wealth.
A
gain
B
amass
C
steal
D
waste
Correct Answer: B
"Amass wealth" — accumulate it (usually dishonestly).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3698.
You are just the hat on ....?
A
don't you
B
isn't it
C
aren't you
D
not so
Correct Answer: C
Tag for "you are" — "aren't you?"
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3699.
He was determined to .... all position into submission.
A
push
B
cow
C
box
D
pound
Correct Answer: B
"Cow into submission" — intimidate.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2009
Q3700.
I tried to discourage him, but he persisted .... revealing the secret of his son.
Correct Answer: B
"Persisted in" — the standard collocation.