Instruction
In questions 31 to 45, choose the option that best completes the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4451.
Had I known you were coming, I .... for you.
A
will wait
B
would have waited
C
shall wait
D
would wait
Correct Answer: B
Third conditional — "would have waited."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4452.
The doctor advised him to .... smoking for his health.
A
put off
B
give up
C
put out
D
put down
Correct Answer: B
"Give up smoking" — the standard phrasal verb.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4453.
The house was .... by the fire last night.
A
razed
B
raised
C
risen
D
rose
Correct Answer: A
"Razed by fire" — the standard phrase for total destruction.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4454.
Neither the teacher nor the students .... present at the meeting.
A
was
B
were
C
is
D
has been
Correct Answer: B
With "neither... nor", the verb agrees with the nearer subject (students) — "were."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4455.
There are many .... in the market.
A
sheep
B
sheeps
C
sheeps
D
sheep
Correct Answer: A
"Sheep" — plural form unchanged.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4456.
I am not used .... on the left side of the road.
A
to drive
B
to driving
C
drive
D
driving
Correct Answer: B
"Used to driving" — accustomed to (takes a gerund).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4457.
The teacher asked the students to .... the passage.
A
look up
B
look over
C
look after
D
look into
Correct Answer: B
"Look over the passage" — review/read it.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4458.
He behaves as if he .... a general manager.
Correct Answer: C
"As if he were" — the subjunctive mood.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4459.
By this time next year, I .... my degree.
A
will complete
B
would complete
C
will have completed
D
have completed
Correct Answer: C
Future perfect — "will have completed."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4460.
The committee .... its report last week.
A
submit
B
submits
C
submitted
D
has submitted
Correct Answer: C
"Last week" — simple past.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4461.
It is high time we .... the meeting.
A
start
B
started
C
starting
D
will start
Correct Answer: B
"It is high time" — takes past subjunctive "started."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4462.
The principal, together with his staff, .... arrived.
A
have
B
has
C
are
D
were
Correct Answer: B
"Together with" doesn't change the subject — "has arrived."
Instruction
In questions 46 to 55, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4463.
The news of the accident was heartbreaking.
A
consoling
B
sad
C
shocking
D
surprising
Correct Answer: A
"Heartbreaking" — causing grief; the opposite is "consoling."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4464.
The manager's decision was arbitrary.
A
reasoned
B
hasty
C
unplanned
D
careless
Correct Answer: A
"Arbitrary" — random/without reason; the opposite is "reasoned."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4465.
His explanation was concise.
A
verbose
B
brief
C
clear
D
detailed
Correct Answer: A
"Concise" — brief; the opposite is "verbose."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4466.
The suspect was reluctant to talk.
A
eager
B
unwilling
C
hesitant
D
afraid
Correct Answer: A
"Reluctant" — unwilling; the opposite is "eager."
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4467.
The chairman was adamant on the matter.
A
flexible
B
firm
C
stubborn
D
rigid
Correct Answer: A
"Adamant" — unyielding; the opposite is "flexible."
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
2017
Q4468.
His speech was terse and to the point.
A
brief
B
long
C
boring
D
elaborate
Correct Answer: A
"Terse" — brief/concise.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4469.
The two countries have signed a pact to end the war.
A
treaty
B
agreement
C
contract
D
pact
Correct Answer: B
"Pact" — agreement (the key marks agreement).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4470.
She was elated by the news of her promotion.
A
overjoyed
B
disappointed
C
surprised
D
upset
Correct Answer: A
"Elated" — overjoyed.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4471.
His illness was terminal.
A
fatal
B
curable
C
minor
D
temporary
Correct Answer: A
"Terminal" — fatal/ending in death.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4472.
The students were attentive during the lecture.
A
observant
B
distracted
C
inattentive
D
lively
Correct Answer: A
"Attentive" — observant/focused.
Instruction
In questions 56 to 85, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) that best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4473.
The student was .... of stealing the book.
A
accused
B
charged
C
blamed
D
convicted
Correct Answer: A
"Accused of" — the standard preposition.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4474.
The teacher .... the class into four groups.
A
shared
B
divided
C
separated
D
split
Correct Answer: D
"Split the class into groups" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4475.
He is the .... of the two brothers.
A
elder
B
older
C
senior
D
oldest
Correct Answer: A
"Elder of the two" — used for siblings.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4476.
The police are .... the case.
A
investigating into
B
investigating
C
investigating on
D
investigating for
Correct Answer: B
"Investigating" — transitive, no preposition needed.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4477.
The children were .... by the story.
A
amused
B
bemused
C
entertained
D
pleased
Correct Answer: C
"Entertained by" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4478.
I .... the film last night.
A
have seen
B
saw
C
had seen
D
see
Correct Answer: B
"Last night" — simple past.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4479.
The rain .... heavily when we arrived.
A
fell
B
was falling
C
has fallen
D
falls
Correct Answer: B
"Was falling" — past continuous for ongoing action.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4480.
He .... his hands before eating.
A
washed
B
has washed
C
washes
D
had washed
Correct Answer: C
Simple present for habit.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4481.
The old man .... his way home.
A
lost
B
loses
C
has lost
D
had lost
Correct Answer: A
Simple past.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4482.
She asked whether I .... the letter.
A
posted
B
have posted
C
had posted
D
post
Correct Answer: C
Reported speech — past perfect.
Instruction
In questions 66 to 85, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) that best fill(s) the gap(s).
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4483.
The man was .... for armed robbery.
A
tried
B
trailed
C
trailed
D
trailed
Correct Answer: A
"Tried for armed robbery" — the standard legal phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4484.
He was .... guilty of the offence.
A
found
B
find
C
founded
D
finding
Correct Answer: A
"Found guilty" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4485.
The judge .... him to five years imprisonment.
A
sentenced
B
convicted
C
charged
D
tried
Correct Answer: A
"Sentenced to imprisonment" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4486.
The witness .... his statement before the court.
A
denied
B
refused
C
rejected
D
refused
Correct Answer: A
"Denied his statement" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4487.
The lawyer .... his client in court.
A
defended
B
protected
C
shielded
D
supported
Correct Answer: A
"Defended his client" — the standard legal phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4488.
The case was .... for lack of evidence.
A
dismissed
B
rejected
C
refused
D
denied
Correct Answer: A
"Case was dismissed" — the standard legal term.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4489.
The accused was .... on bail.
A
granted
B
given
C
released
D
allowed
Correct Answer: A
"Granted bail" — the standard legal phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4490.
The police .... the suspect for questioning.
A
detained
B
arrested
C
captured
D
caught
Correct Answer: A
"Detained for questioning" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4491.
The man was .... of murder.
A
acquitted
B
freed
C
released
D
discharged
Correct Answer: A
"Acquitted of murder" — the standard legal phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4492.
The court .... the case.
A
heard
B
listened
C
received
D
attended
Correct Answer: A
"Heard the case" — the standard legal phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4493.
The thief was .... to two years in prison.
A
sentenced
B
jailed
C
imprisoned
D
confined
Correct Answer: A
"Sentenced to prison" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4494.
The evidence was .... by the prosecution.
A
presented
B
shown
C
displayed
D
exhibited
Correct Answer: A
"Presented evidence" — the standard legal phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4495.
The defense counsel .... a strong case for his client.
A
made
B
built
C
presented
D
gave
Correct Answer: A
"Made a strong case" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4496.
The witness was .... to tell the truth.
A
sworn
B
promised
C
allowed
D
forced
Correct Answer: A
"Sworn to tell the truth" — the standard legal phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4497.
The jury .... the defendant not guilty.
A
found
B
declared
C
judged
D
considered
Correct Answer: A
"Found not guilty" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4498.
The appeal was .... by the Supreme Court.
A
dismissed
B
rejected
C
refused
D
denied
Correct Answer: A
"Appeal dismissed" — the standard legal phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4499.
The convict was .... from prison after ten years.
A
released
B
discharged
C
freed
D
acquitted
Correct Answer: A
"Released from prison" — the standard phrase.
JAMB (UTME)
English Language
2017
Q4500.
The police .... the stolen goods.
A
recovered
B
retrieved
C
restored
D
returned
Correct Answer: A
"Recovered stolen goods" — the standard phrase.