Instruction
In questions 26 to 35, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3751.
Uche is full of himself.
A
He is conceited
B
He is complete
C
He is a rich man
D
He is careful
Correct Answer: A
"Full of himself" — conceited.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3752.
As debutantes in that tournament, the Super Eagles were up against their first opponents by three goals to nil.
A
The Super Eagles were playing in the tournament for the first time, but they won their match by three goals to nothing
B
Though the Super Eagles were rated as the weakest side in the tournament, they won their first match by three goals to nil
C
Even though the Super Eagles were playing without some of their stars, they won their match by three goals to nil
D
As the best trackers in the match, the Super Eagles easily defeated their opponents by three goals to nothing
Correct Answer: A
"Debutantes" — first-timers, and they won 3-0.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3753.
The woman was mournful as her husband was found dead drunk.
A
She was sad because her husband was absolutely drunk
B
She was apprehensive that her husband would drink as soon as he recovered from drunken stupor
C
She was sad because her husband was drunk and always as helpless as a dead man
D
She was mourning because her husband drank and died
Correct Answer: A
"Dead drunk" — completely drunk, not actually dead.
Instruction
In questions 36 to 50, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3754.
I am optimistic about the interview though it was a mind-bending exercise
A
an enervating
B
a debilitating
C
a difficult
D
an easy
Correct Answer: D
"Mind-bending" — very difficult; the opposite is "an easy."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3755.
The trader was amused by the cut-throat rush for the goods
A
worrisome
B
strange
C
lackluster
D
mad
Correct Answer: C
"Cut-throat" — fierce; the opposite is "lackluster."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3756.
The teacher said that Ali's essay was full of many redundant details
A
unexplained
B
strange
C
necessary
D
useful
Correct Answer: C
"Redundant" — unnecessary; the opposite is "necessary."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3757.
His father surmounted the myriad of obstacles on his way
A
most
B
few
C
all
D
many
Correct Answer: B
"Myriad" — countless; the opposite is "few."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3758.
Her ingenuous smile drew our attention
A
witty
B
naive
C
clever
D
arrogant
Correct Answer: C
"Ingenuous" — innocent/naive; the opposite is "clever."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3759.
Ndeni gave a flawless speech at the party
A
a wonderful
B
a careless
C
an interesting
D
an imperfect
Correct Answer: D
"Flawless" — perfect; the opposite is "imperfect."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3760.
Beneath Ado's gruff exterior, he's really very kind-hearted
A
nice
B
harsh
C
rough
D
gentle
Correct Answer: D
"Gruff" — rough/harsh; the opposite is "gentle."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3761.
The captain says sports is being debased by commercial sponsorship
A
localized
B
perverted
C
elevated
D
overvalued
Correct Answer: C
"Debased" — lowered; the opposite is "elevated."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3762.
Governing a country is not always as straightforward as people sometimes imagine
A
complicated
B
troublesome
C
untoward
D
irksome
Correct Answer: A
"Straightforward" — simple; the opposite is "complicated."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3763.
The crowd was very receptive to the speaker's suggestion
A
disobedient
B
discrepancy
C
compromise
D
agreement
Correct Answer: A
"Receptive" — willing; the closest opposite here is "disobedient."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3764.
There was a general acquiescence on the new drug law
A
resistance
B
discrepancy
C
compromise
D
agreement
Correct Answer: A
"Acquiescence" — agreement; the opposite is "resistance."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3765.
Aisha seems to feel ambivalent about her future
A
decisive
B
anxious
C
ambitious
D
inconsiderate
Correct Answer: A
"Ambivalent" — having mixed feelings; the opposite is "decisive."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3766.
The report of the committee contained a plethora of details
A
shortage
B
simplicity
C
multitude
D
spectrum
Correct Answer: A
"Plethora" — excess; the opposite is "shortage."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3767.
The weather was still very heavy and sultry
A
wintry and shadowy
B
cold and friendly
C
cloudy and thundery
D
hot and uncomfortable
Correct Answer: B
"Sultry" — hot and humid; the opposite is "cold and friendly."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3768.
Ada gave her husband a look that made words superfluous
A
redundant
B
spurious
C
unnecessary
D
scanty
Correct Answer: C
"Superfluous" — unnecessary; the opposite is "necessary" (C "unnecessary" is close but the key marks C).
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
2010
Q3769.
A political impasse does not offer the best opportunity for merrymaking?
A
manifesto
B
party
C
gridlock
D
rally
Correct Answer: C
"Impasse" — deadlock/gridlock.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3770.
We were all enthusiastic as we awaited the result of the election?
A
bemused
B
agitated
C
elated
D
nervous
Correct Answer: C
"Enthusiastic" — elated/keen.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3771.
The uniform makes the guards look absurd?
A
dirty
B
smart
C
sensible
D
ridiculous
Correct Answer: D
"Absurd" — ridiculous.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3772.
The law is often tardy in reacting to changing attitudes?
A
quick
B
slow
C
exclusive
D
generous
Correct Answer: B
"Tardy" — slow.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3773.
Isa and Ilu ate sumptuous meals on their brother's wedding day?
A
expensive
B
foreign
C
insipid
D
cheap
Correct Answer: A
"Sumptuous" — lavish/expensive.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3774.
Kaltume crouched over the papers on her desk?
A
wrote on
B
stood on
C
walked over
D
bent over
Correct Answer: D
"Crouched over" — bent over.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3775.
The panacea for a country's economic mess lies in systematic planning and hard work
A
cure
B
foresight
C
hope
D
trouble
Correct Answer: A
"Panacea" — a cure-all solution.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3776.
Thousands of workers have been victims of retrenchment since the military came back to power?
A
unemployment
B
trench mentality
C
suffering
D
increase in penury
Correct Answer: A
"Retrenchment" — dismissal from work → unemployment.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3777.
The principal gave his speech offhand at the sports meeting?
A
calmly
B
beautifully
C
unconcerned
D
unprepared
Correct Answer: D
"Offhand" — without preparation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3778.
Jankoli was dressed in an old assortment of clothes?
A
avalanche
B
homogeneity
C
sameness
D
mélange
Correct Answer: D
"Assortment" — mélange (mixture).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3779.
The director's remark was extremely apposite to the issue being discussed?
A
appropriate
B
inconsequential
C
emphatic
D
adequate
Correct Answer: A
"Apposite" — appropriate/relevant.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3780.
The director's remark was extremely opposite to the issue being discussed?
A
appropriate
B
inconsequential
C
emphatic
D
adequate
Correct Answer: B
"Opposite to" — contrary to the issue; irrelevant.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3781.
Her reputation is without a blemish?
A
struggle
B
problem
C
fault
D
blessing
Correct Answer: C
"Blemish" — a fault/flaw.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3782.
Ugo's is eligible for the post of secretary?
A
nominated
B
invited
C
qualified
D
intelligent
Correct Answer: C
"Eligible" — qualified.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3783.
This is an abridged version of No Longer at Ease?
A
an outdated
B
an enlarged
C
an illustrated
D
a shortened
Correct Answer: D
"Abridged" — shortened.
Instruction
In questions 66 to 84, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3784.
Lemoti .... as a painter, but also as a sculptor
A
is gifted only not
B
is only not gifted
C
is gifted not only
D
is only gifted
Correct Answer: C
"Not only... but also" — "is gifted not only as a painter."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3785.
He can recall the important dates in the nation's history, it is interesting to listen as he rattles ....
Correct Answer: A
"Rattles off" — recites quickly.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3786.
Last Monday his father asked me, ....?
A
if I had come some days before
B
if I had come the day before
C
did you come yesterday
D
had I come yesterday
Correct Answer: B
Reported speech — "if I had come the day before."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3787.
The boy told his mother ....
A
that was the girl he told her about
B
that was the girl I told you about her
C
that was the girl I told her about
D
that is the girl he told her about
Correct Answer: A
Reported speech — "that was the girl he told her about."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3788.
His wife was badly injured in the fracas, but I think she will pull ....
A
up
B
over
C
through
D
back
Correct Answer: C
"Pull through" — survive/recover.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3789.
A wide range of options .... made available to students in their final year last year?
Correct Answer: B
"A wide range of options" is treated as plural here — "were made."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3790.
One of the women who .... in the premises .... been ordered to quit?
A
sells / have
B
sell / has
C
sell / have
D
sells / has
Correct Answer: B
"One of the women who sell" — the "who" refers to "women" (plural), but "one" (singular) takes "has been."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3791.
The new trade agreement should facilitate ....
A
more economic rapid growth
B
economic more rapid growth
C
rapid economic more growth
D
more rapid economic growth
Correct Answer: D
Adjective order — "more rapid economic growth."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3792.
The principal said that he was pleased .... my effort
Correct Answer: C
"Pleased with" — the standard collocation.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3793.
Paper is made .... woodpulp
Correct Answer: C
"Made from" — when the material changes form (wood → paper).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3794.
Long after everyone .... the hall, Obi still sat inside
A
left
B
is leaving
C
has left
D
had left
Correct Answer: D
Past perfect "had left" — earlier than "sat."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3795.
They are the .... dresses
A
baby's
B
baby
C
babies
D
babais
Correct Answer: A
"Baby's dresses" — the possessive.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3796.
The politician was sent .... exile
Correct Answer: B
"Sent into exile" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3797.
When we looked up, we .... the plane some miles away?
A
site
B
cited
C
sited
D
sighted
Correct Answer: D
"Sighted" — saw.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3798.
Vital .... is still spread .... word of mouth in most villages in Africa?
A
information / from
B
information / with
C
information / by
D
information / through
Correct Answer: D
"Information... through word of mouth."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3799.
Western education is one of the .... child trafficking
A
legacies
B
evidence
C
remnants
D
inheritance
Correct Answer: C
"Remnants of child trafficking" — the surviving trace.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2010
Q3800.
The federal Government has .... child trafficking
A
postulated
B
projected
C
prescribed
D
proscribed
Correct Answer: D
"Proscribed" — banned/prohibited.