Instruction
In questions 26 to 40, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3851.
Okon's company took a hit last year
A
His company improved last year
B
His company made a huge success last year
C
His company was badly damaged last year
D
His company was established last year
Correct Answer: C
"Took a hit" — suffered damage/loss.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3852.
My eldest son who is in Lagos is studying English
A
Only my son is in Lagos studying English
B
My only son is in Lagos studying English
C
One of my sons is in Lagos studying English
D
My sons are in Lagos but one is studying English
Correct Answer: C
Non-restrictive clause implies more than one son — one is in Lagos.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3853.
If I went to the village I would visit the king
A
if I go to the village I would visit the king
B
I did not go to the village and I did not visit the king
C
All the times I went to the village I also visited the king
D
I will visit the king when I go to the village
Correct Answer: B
Second conditional implies the opposite — he did not go.
Instruction
In questions 36 to 50, choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3854.
The warring communities were coerced into negotiating a settlement
A
driven
B
compelled
C
persuaded
D
pressured
Correct Answer: C
"Coerced" — forced; the opposite is "persuaded."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3855.
His father served as a mercenary in the army
A
preacher
B
regular
C
recruit
D
officer
Correct Answer: B
"Mercenary" — a hired soldier; the opposite is "regular" (official soldier).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3856.
Jummai is cruel to her husband
A
harsh
B
brutal
C
passionate
D
ferocious
Correct Answer: C
"Cruel" — unkind; the opposite is "passionate" (loving).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3857.
The teacher who beat the student was treated with mercy
A
disrespect
B
contempt
C
vengeance
D
kindness
Correct Answer: C
"Mercy" — leniency; the opposite is "vengeance."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3858.
His wife hates his garrulous attitude
A
outspoken
B
unfriendly
C
reticent
D
thoughtful
Correct Answer: C
"Garrulous" — talkative; the opposite is "reticent" (silent).
Instruction
In questions 41 to 55, choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3859.
'Agoshito is a callow youth', said the teacher
A
an ignorant
B
an experienced
C
an idle
D
an organized
Correct Answer: B
"Callow" — inexperienced; the opposite is "experienced."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3860.
What you are asking me to do is herculean task
A
a strenuous
B
a demanding
C
a lovely
D
an easy
Correct Answer: D
"Herculean" — extremely difficult; the opposite is "easy."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3861.
Nkechi was a novice when she was first employed
A
manager
B
clerk
C
supervisor
D
professional
Correct Answer: D
"Novice" — beginner; the opposite is "professional."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3862.
'I do not trust him', he said, in a rare moment of candor
A
reproach
B
dishonesty
C
frankness
D
fairness
Correct Answer: B
"Candor" — honesty; the opposite is "dishonesty."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3863.
Mrs. Akunilo looks anemic today
A
strange
B
sick
C
weak
D
strong
Correct Answer: D
"Anemic" — weak; the opposite is "strong."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3864.
It is inconceivable that the son shone in the night
A
credible
B
unthinkable
C
impossible
D
contestable
Correct Answer: A
"Inconceivable" — impossible to imagine; the opposite is "credible."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3865.
She only gives a superficial impression of warmth and friendliness
A
a strong
B
a fake
C
deep
D
an unrealistic
Correct Answer: C
"Superficial" — shallow; the opposite is "deep."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3866.
As a prudent businessman, Adeyi does not leave anything to chance.
A
frugal
B
shrewd
C
careless
D
unsuccessful
Correct Answer: C
"Prudent" — careful; the opposite is "careless."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3867.
His antipathy affected the growth of his business
A
hatred
B
receptiveness
C
loyalty
D
hostility
Correct Answer: B
"Antipathy" — dislike; the opposite is "receptiveness."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3868.
Okonkwo's lethal right foot was magic in the football match
A
weak
B
wicked
C
fat
D
harmless
Correct Answer: D
"Lethal" — deadly; the opposite is "harmless."
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
2011
Q3869.
Since its inception in 1983, the newspaper has attracted thousands of readers
A
renaissance
B
coming
C
commencement
D
publication
Correct Answer: C
"Inception" — beginning/commencement.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3870.
Mrs. Asio wanted her sister to stop being so detached
A
friendly
B
careless
C
indifferent
D
passionate
Correct Answer: C
"Detached" — indifferent/uninvolved.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3871.
Lantana dwelt in a ruined cottage on the hillside
A
sat
B
worked
C
slept
D
lived
Correct Answer: D
"Dwelt" — lived.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3872.
The mistake brought the show to an ignominious end
A
a good
B
a palatable
C
a disgraceful
D
a satisfactory
Correct Answer: C
"Ignominious" — shameful/disgraceful.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3873.
He compliments me on my way of doing things
A
complements
B
imitates
C
disgusts
D
praises
Correct Answer: D
"Compliments" — praises.
Instruction
In questions 56 to 65, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3874.
The girl is angry with her friend who had ensnared her into this relationship
A
tricked
B
encourage
C
forced
D
enslaved
Correct Answer: A
"Ensnared" — trapped/tricked.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3875.
Their new house was roofed with corrugated sheets
A
folded
B
iron
C
aluminum
D
corrupted
Correct Answer: B
"Corrugated iron sheets" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3876.
The stockbroker said it was an astute move to sell the shares then
A
a bad
B
a shrewd
C
an unprofitable
D
an insincere
Correct Answer: B
"Astute" — shrewd/clever.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3877.
The principal described Oche as the most tactful person he had ever worked with
A
passionate
B
discreet
C
hard-working
D
innovative
Correct Answer: B
"Tactful" — discreet/diplomatic.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3878.
The old woman is suffering from dementia
A
lucidity
B
senility
C
insanity
D
sagacity
Correct Answer: B
"Dementia" — senility (mental decline in old age).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3879.
Some drugs have a deleterious effect on a child's development
A
debilitating
B
helpful
C
harmful
D
healing
Correct Answer: C
"Deleterious" — harmful.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3880.
Fila has always been described as belligerent
A
beautiful
B
attractive
C
combative
D
innocent
Correct Answer: C
"Belligerent" — aggressive/combative.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3881.
Laraba saw a forlorn little figure sitting outside the class
A
wise and intelligent
B
lonely and unhappy
C
smart and healthy
D
short and ugly
Correct Answer: B
"Forlorn" — sad and lonely.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3882.
The circular supersedes all previous correspondence on the matter
A
supports
B
displaces
C
eliminates
D
circumvents
Correct Answer: B
"Supersedes" — replaces/displaces.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3883.
Her problem was exacerbated by the loss of her father
A
exaggerated
B
solved
C
aggravated
D
infuriated
Correct Answer: C
"Exacerbated" — made worse/aggravated.
Instruction
In questions 66 to 85, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3884.
When his car tyre .... on the way, he did not know what to do.
A
has burst
B
had burst
C
bursted
D
burst
Correct Answer: D
Past tense of "burst" is "burst" — unchanged.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3885.
Lami's father .... as a gardener when he was young, but now he is a driver.
A
had been working
B
use to work
C
has worked
D
used to work
Correct Answer: D
"Used to work" — past habit.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3886.
.... he switches on the light, the shadow disappears?
A
Whenever
B
Expect
C
Since
D
Until
Correct Answer: A
"Whenever" — every time.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3887.
The policemen became suspicious as the hoodlums .... in their office?
A
ferreted
B
ferretted
C
ferreted about
D
ferretted about
Correct Answer: C
"Ferreted about" — searched around suspiciously.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3888.
It is important that you clear the refuse in front of your house every ....
A
fourtnight
B
firtnight
C
fourthnight
D
fortnight
Correct Answer: D
Correct spelling is "fortnight" (two weeks).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3889.
Suara needn't come with us, ....?
A
does she
B
will she
C
can she
D
need she
Correct Answer: D
Tag for "needn't" is "need she?"
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3890.
Unoka .... the whole house to find his missing wristwatch
A
scourged
B
scoured
C
scored
D
scouted
Correct Answer: B
"Scoured" — searched thoroughly.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3891.
Ife asked me ....
A
what time it was
B
what is it by my time
C
what time is it
D
what time it is
Correct Answer: A
Reported speech — indirect question with normal word order.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3892.
There are many ways to kill a rat, so we should be .... in our approach to the task ahead of us
A
ecletic
B
eclectic
C
eclektic
D
eclectik
Correct Answer: B
Correct spelling is "eclectic."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3893.
Audu took these actions purely .... his own career
A
on furtherance of
B
in furtherance of
C
to furtherance in
D
in furtherance with
Correct Answer: B
"In furtherance of" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3894.
Here is Mr. Odumusu who teaches English .... in our school
A
pronuntiation
B
pronounciation
C
pronunciation
D
pronountiation
Correct Answer: C
Correct spelling is "pronunciation."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3895.
Instead of ...., she lied
A
pleading
B
her to plead
C
her pleading
D
plead
Correct Answer: A
"Instead of pleading" — gerund after "instead of."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3896.
Of the three girls, Uka is the ....
A
so much notorious
B
notorious
C
naughty
D
naughtiest
Correct Answer: D
Superlative — "naughtiest" for three.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3897.
I wonder how he will .... being absent from school for a long time.
A
make in
B
make up
C
make off
D
make out
Correct Answer: B
"Make up" — compensate for.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3898.
Please sit on the ....
A
carier
B
career
C
carrier
D
carrear
Correct Answer: C
Correct spelling is "carrier."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3899.
I want to .... this chance to acquaint you the latest development
A
size
B
seize
C
sieze
D
cease
Correct Answer: B
"Seize this chance" — grab the opportunity.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2011
Q3900.
Getting a well-paid job nowadays is an .... task
A
utmost
B
upbeat
C
uphill
D
upfield
Correct Answer: C
"Uphill task" — difficult task.