Instruction
In questions 26 to 35, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3951.
He could not speak out because he had a feet of clay.
A
His feet was muddy
B
He was weak and cowardly
C
He was clumsy and lazy
D
He was shy and timid
Correct Answer: B
"Feet of clay" — a weakness of character.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3952.
The player wasted a golden opportunity during the penalty shoot-out.
A
The player first hit the bar
B
The player did not score the shot
C
The player scored the shot that made them win the gold cup
D
Instead of a silver cup, they received the golden one
Correct Answer: B
"Wasted a golden opportunity" — failed to take advantage.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3953.
As far as Abu is concerned, Mero should be given fifty naira at the most.
A
All Abu is saying is that Mero probably deserves more than fifty naira and not less
B
All Abu is concerned with is that Mero should be given nothing more than fifty naira
C
In Abu's estimation, Mero merits not more than fifty naira
D
In Abu's opinion, Mero deserves fifty naira or probably more
Correct Answer: C
"At the most" — not exceeding. C captures it.
Instruction
In questions 36 to 50, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3954.
As an idiot, the boy is weak in class.
A
a deviant
B
an expert
C
a dunce
D
a genius
Correct Answer: D
"Idiot" — foolish person; the opposite is "genius."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3955.
We were shocked by the news that he had lost the money.
A
astonished
B
unconcerned
C
disconcerted
D
surprised
Correct Answer: B
"Shocked" — startled; the opposite is "unconcerned."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3956.
The principal was advised to be flexible on critical issues.
A
livid
B
cautious
C
evasive
D
rigid
Correct Answer: D
"Flexible" — adaptable; the opposite is "rigid."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3957.
Bola always looks sober.
A
excited
B
serious
C
worried
D
hapless
Correct Answer: A
"Sober" — serious and calm; the opposite is "excited."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3958.
Dupe was promoted for her efficiency.
A
ability
B
inconsistency
C
incompetence
D
rudeness
Correct Answer: C
"Efficiency" — competence; the opposite is "incompetence."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3959.
The management wants to consider her reticent behaviour in due course.
A
disapproving
B
disciplinarian
C
contemplative
D
loquacious
Correct Answer: D
"Reticent" — silent; the opposite is "loquacious" (talkative).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3960.
Election processes often become volatile.
A
calm
B
strange
C
sudden
D
latent
Correct Answer: A
"Volatile" — explosive/unstable; the opposite is "calm."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3961.
Oche entered the principal's office in a rather abrasive manner.
A
gentle
B
rude
C
lackadaisical
D
indifferent
Correct Answer: A
"Abrasive" — harsh; the opposite is "gentle."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3962.
Otokpa is a member of the ad hoc committee on stock acquisition.
A
improvised
B
formal
C
temporary
D
fact-finding
Correct Answer: B
"Ad hoc" — temporary; the opposite is "formal" (permanent).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3963.
His gift to the poor was always infinitesimal.
A
large
B
small
C
supportive
D
shameful
Correct Answer: A
"Infinitesimal" — extremely small; the opposite is "large."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3964.
The economist concluded that several factors have been adduced to explain the fall in the birth rate.
A
affirmed
B
diffused
C
mentioned
D
refuted
Correct Answer: D
"Adduced" — brought forward as evidence; the opposite is "refuted."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3965.
The presidential system is an antidote to some political ailments.
A
an answer
B
an inquiry
C
a reply
D
an obstacle
Correct Answer: D
"Antidote" — a remedy; the opposite is "an obstacle."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3966.
Ola thought that her father was very callous.
A
parlous
B
wicked
C
compassionate
D
cheerful
Correct Answer: C
"Callous" — unfeeling; the opposite is "compassionate."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3967.
He was very much respected, though he had no temporal power.
A
spiritual
B
mundane
C
permanent
D
ephemeral
Correct Answer: A
"Temporal" — worldly; the opposite is "spiritual."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3968.
The way the workshop was organized was rather hit-and-miss.
A
systematic
B
hasty
C
slow
D
funny
Correct Answer: A
"Hit-and-miss" — random; the opposite is "systematic."
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
2012
Q3969.
Some men will continue to cause offences until they are given a taste of their own medicine.
A
placated
B
revenged on
C
recompensed for
D
cured
Correct Answer: B
"A taste of their own medicine" — the same treatment they gave others.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3970.
Okibe was rusticated for his derogatory remark about the principal.
A
complimentary
B
unsavoury
C
unwarranted
D
lack-lustre
Correct Answer: B
"Derogatory" — disparaging/unpleasant.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3971.
Justice is difficult to enforce because people are unwilling to accept any loss of sovereignty.
A
autonomy
B
position
C
leadership
D
kingdom
Correct Answer: A
"Sovereignty" — autonomy/self-rule.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3972.
There are still virtuous women in our society today.
A
clever
B
upright
C
devilish
D
intelligent
Correct Answer: B
"Virtuous" — morally upright.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3973.
That type of response is typical of a lazy teacher.
A
symptomatic
B
characteristic
C
universal
D
incontestable
Correct Answer: B
"Typical" — characteristic.
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
2012
Q3974.
Akin is an inveterate gambler.
A
a selfish and self-centered
B
an extremely unlucky but popular
C
an incurable but fearful
D
a long time incorrigible
Correct Answer: D
"Inveterate" — long-established and unlikely to change.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3975.
He was too petrified to give the closing remarks at the conference.
A
frightened
B
agitated
C
delighted
D
happy
Correct Answer: A
"Petrified" — terrified/frightened.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3976.
During a particular time of the day, the road shimmers in the heat.
A
darkens
B
lightens
C
shines
D
beams
Correct Answer: C
"Shimmers" — shines with a wavering light.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3977.
Every human being is vulnerable to communicable diseases.
A
liable
B
lifted
C
immune
D
close
Correct Answer: A
"Vulnerable" — liable/susceptible.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3978.
Mariam looks rather furtive to Shehu.
A
intoxicated
B
unfriendly
C
sad
D
sly
Correct Answer: D
"Furtive" — secretive/sly.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3979.
The student's union leader delivered his speech extempore.
A
out-of-hand
B
off the cuff
C
accurately
D
courageously
Correct Answer: B
"Extempore" — without preparation, off the cuff.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3980.
His story gave us an inkling of what he passed through during the strike.
A
a possible idea
B
a taste
C
a summary
D
the right view
Correct Answer: A
"Inkling" — a slight idea/hint.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3981.
These policies have been espoused by the ruling party.
A
condemned
B
rejected
C
supported
D
outlined
Correct Answer: C
"Espoused" — adopted/supported.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3982.
We must not foreclose reconciliation as the purpose of his trip.
A
exclude
B
consider
C
underestimate
D
forgo
Correct Answer: A
"Foreclose" — rule out/exclude.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3983.
Her findings exploded widely held beliefs about learning.
A
challenged
B
debunked
C
projected
D
confirmed
Correct Answer: B
"Exploded" — disproved/debunked.
Instruction
In questions 66 to 85, choose the option that best completes the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3984.
...., you should put in some effort.
A
However tired you are
B
However tired are you
C
However you are tired
D
However are you tired
Correct Answer: A
"However tired you are" — the standard word order.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3985.
Bola works in ....
A
with a meagre school resources
B
a school with meagre resources
C
school with a meagre resources
D
a resource school meagre with
Correct Answer: B
"A school with meagre resources" — natural word order.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3986.
There are .... I need to buy
A
lot of thing that
B
lots of things that
C
lot of things that
D
lots of thing that
Correct Answer: B
"Lots of things" — plural after "lots of."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3987.
It is generally .... that we should eat less fat and more vegetables
A
agreeing
B
to agreed
C
to agree
D
agreed
Correct Answer: D
"It is generally agreed" — the standard passive.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3988.
Laraba couldn't do it as expected, ....?
A
wasn't she
B
could she
C
didn't she
D
was she
Correct Answer: B
Tag for "couldn't do" — "could she?"
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3989.
A .... seminar was organised by the society
A
two-day
B
two-days
C
two day
D
two days
Correct Answer: A
"A two-day seminar" — compound adjective takes no plural.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3990.
Ado struck Isa with .... blow across his shoulder
A
mightily
B
a mighty
C
mightiest
D
the mightier
Correct Answer: B
"A mighty blow" — adjective before the noun.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3991.
Tunde and Kola were not supposed to attend the party ....?
A
were they
B
wasn't they
C
weren't they
D
isn't they
Correct Answer: A
Tag for "were not supposed to" — "were they?"
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3992.
The two friends agreed .... each other on the issue
Correct Answer: A
"Agreed with each other" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3993.
Abiola is ....
A
uses to wake up early
B
used to waking up early
C
use to wake up early
D
using to wake up early
Correct Answer: B
"Used to waking up" — accustomed to (takes a gerund).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3994.
.... you do, slow down and take your time
A
Whatever
B
However
C
Wherever
D
Whenever
Correct Answer: A
"Whatever you do" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3995.
The allegation was a further source .... embarrassment
Correct Answer: B
"Source of embarrassment" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3996.
The man .... he .... complete the house
A
said / couldn't
B
say / can't
C
said / can't
D
saying / couldn't
Correct Answer: A
"Said he couldn't complete" — reported speech.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3997.
The new manager has .... to his staff
A
a disposition pleasant friendly
B
a pleasant friendly disposition
C
a disposition friendly pleasant
D
a friendly disposition pleasant
Correct Answer: B
Adjective order — "a pleasant friendly disposition."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3998.
My sister plays tennis with ....
Correct Answer: D
"With him" — object pronoun after preposition.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q3999.
'We detest these ....,' declared the woman
A
types of programme
B
type of programmes
C
types of programmes
D
type of programme
Correct Answer: C
"Types of programmes" — plural both sides.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2012
Q4000.
Lima doesn't like working in the dark, ....
A
has she
B
does she
C
will she
D
did she
Correct Answer: B
Tag for "doesn't like" — "does she?"