JAMB Use of English 1993

62 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 1

The diseases afflicting Western societies have undergone dramatic changes. In the course of a century, so many mass killers have vanished that two-thirds of all deaths are now associated with the diseases of old age. Those who die young are more often than not, the victims of accidents, violence and suicide. These changes in public health are generally equated with progress and are attributed to more or better medical care. In fact, there is no evidence of any direct relationship between changing disease patterns and the so-called progress of medicine. The impotence of medical services to change life expectancy and the insignificance of much contemporary clinical care in the curing of diseases are all obvious, well documented but well suppressed. Neither the proportion of doctors in a population nor the quality of the clinical tools at their disposal nor the number of hospital beds is a causal factor in the striking changes in disease patterns. The new techniques available to recognize and treat such conditions as pernicious anaemia and hypertension, or to correct congenital malformations by surgical interventions, increase our understanding of disease but do not reduce its incidence. The fact that there are more doctors where certain diseases have become rare has little to do with their ability to control or eliminate them. It simply means that doctors, more than other professionals, determine where they work. Consequently, they tend to gather where the climate is healthy, where the water is clean and where people work and can pay for their services.

The statement, ‘The diseases afflicting Western societies have undergone dramatic changes’ implies that

  1. changes have taken place in the mode of disease affliction
  2. medical services have been important in changing life expectancy
  3. a lot of significant progress has taken place in public health
  4. deaths from diseases in Western societies are minimal.
Answer and explanation

A: changes have taken place in the mode of disease affliction

The opening describes a changed pattern of disease and death over a century, especially the growing importance of old-age diseases. A captures that change. The writer questions the assumption that medical care caused it and does not say deaths from disease have become minimal.

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Question 2

The diseases afflicting Western societies have undergone dramatic changes. In the course of a century, so many mass killers have vanished that two-thirds of all deaths are now associated with the diseases of old age. Those who die young are more often than not, the victims of accidents, violence and suicide. These changes in public health are generally equated with progress and are attributed to more or better medical care. In fact, there is no evidence of any direct relationship between changing disease patterns and the so-called progress of medicine. The impotence of medical services to change life expectancy and the insignificance of much contemporary clinical care in the curing of diseases are all obvious, well documented but well suppressed. Neither the proportion of doctors in a population nor the quality of the clinical tools at their disposal nor the number of hospital beds is a causal factor in the striking changes in disease patterns. The new techniques available to recognize and treat such conditions as pernicious anaemia and hypertension, or to correct congenital malformations by surgical interventions, increase our understanding of disease but do not reduce its incidence. The fact that there are more doctors where certain diseases have become rare has little to do with their ability to control or eliminate them. It simply means that doctors, more than other professionals, determine where they work. Consequently, they tend to gather where the climate is healthy, where the water is clean and where people work and can pay for their services.

The writer is of the view that the diseases which prevail in contemporary Western societies

  1. result from modern life styles
  2. are concentrated among the elderly
  3. kill many people at once
  4. are resistant to drugs
Answer and explanation

B: are concentrated among the elderly

The opening says two-thirds of deaths are associated with diseases of old age. That directly supports B. The other options introduce causes, resistance to treatment or mass deaths that the writer does not give as the prevailing pattern.

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Question 3

The diseases afflicting Western societies have undergone dramatic changes. In the course of a century, so many mass killers have vanished that two-thirds of all deaths are now associated with the diseases of old age. Those who die young are more often than not, the victims of accidents, violence and suicide. These changes in public health are generally equated with progress and are attributed to more or better medical care. In fact, there is no evidence of any direct relationship between changing disease patterns and the so-called progress of medicine. The impotence of medical services to change life expectancy and the insignificance of much contemporary clinical care in the curing of diseases are all obvious, well documented but well suppressed. Neither the proportion of doctors in a population nor the quality of the clinical tools at their disposal nor the number of hospital beds is a causal factor in the striking changes in disease patterns. The new techniques available to recognize and treat such conditions as pernicious anaemia and hypertension, or to correct congenital malformations by surgical interventions, increase our understanding of disease but do not reduce its incidence. The fact that there are more doctors where certain diseases have become rare has little to do with their ability to control or eliminate them. It simply means that doctors, more than other professionals, determine where they work. Consequently, they tend to gather where the climate is healthy, where the water is clean and where people work and can pay for their services.

The author thinks that the presence of a large number of doctors in a community

  1. does not have much effect on the control of diseases
  2. disguises the true facts about diseases
  3. controls the spread of diseases
  4. improves the overall quality of life in the community.
Answer and explanation

A: does not have much effect on the control of diseases

The writer explicitly says that having more doctors where diseases are rare has little to do with their ability to control or eliminate them. A restates that argument. This question asks for the writer’s position in the passage.

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Question 4

The diseases afflicting Western societies have undergone dramatic changes. In the course of a century, so many mass killers have vanished that two-thirds of all deaths are now associated with the diseases of old age. Those who die young are more often than not, the victims of accidents, violence and suicide. These changes in public health are generally equated with progress and are attributed to more or better medical care. In fact, there is no evidence of any direct relationship between changing disease patterns and the so-called progress of medicine. The impotence of medical services to change life expectancy and the insignificance of much contemporary clinical care in the curing of diseases are all obvious, well documented but well suppressed. Neither the proportion of doctors in a population nor the quality of the clinical tools at their disposal nor the number of hospital beds is a causal factor in the striking changes in disease patterns. The new techniques available to recognize and treat such conditions as pernicious anaemia and hypertension, or to correct congenital malformations by surgical interventions, increase our understanding of disease but do not reduce its incidence. The fact that there are more doctors where certain diseases have become rare has little to do with their ability to control or eliminate them. It simply means that doctors, more than other professionals, determine where they work. Consequently, they tend to gather where the climate is healthy, where the water is clean and where people work and can pay for their services.

Many doctors, according to the passage, choose to live where

  1. research facilities are available
  2. they are most needed
  3. they can be near colleagues
  4. conditions are more in their favour.
Answer and explanation

D: conditions are more in their favour.

The final sentence lists a healthy climate, clean water and people able to pay for services. These are favourable conditions for doctors, so D summarizes the explanation. Research facilities and proximity to colleagues are not mentioned.

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Question 6

ADUKE: Listen, my fellow women. The issue has little to do with being literate or not. It is true that most members of NAM (New Awareness Movement) are literate, but this does not make all of us enlightened. We must be able to draw a line between the two. You may be literate and yet possess a consciousness that is decadent and servile. On the other hand, you may not have received any formal education and yet may be the greatest exponent of progressive ideas. HASANA: I agree with what our sister has said. Let us not allow ourselves to be divided by a greedy and an inflated notion of the certificates we possess. In this century, as we march towards the year 2000, our primary concern should be how best to improve the lot of womanhood in our society. Let us not forget that for each woman who is beaten up by her man for flimsy reasons, the status of all of us here is downgraded. For each woman who is insulted for no other reason than that of her sex, every one of us here is spat on in the face. For each woman who is denied opportunities in the society simply because she is a woman, the whole lot of us here are dehumanized. Each widow in this society is an Everywoman, and the lot of us should be viewed as collective. Each rotten egg that is thrown at anyone of us is an eternal splash of dirt on our faces. Each decayed tomato that is cast at her is a collective curse on our fecundity: each pebble thrown at her, a missile against our very womanhood. This is an age of awareness, and it is the duty of NAM to collectively rise in defence of the rights of women. IME: We can no longer allow ourselves to be fried alive. We are going to squeeze ourselves into tight-fitting trousers, register into judo classes, and then file out into the street and punch the face of every man we behold.

In distinguishing between literacy and enlightenment, Aduke implies that

  1. it is useless to be literate
  2. enlightenment is inborn
  3. progress can take place without literacy
  4. both literacy and enlightenment are symbiotic.
Answer and explanation

C: progress can take place without literacy

Aduke says someone without formal education may still be a strong exponent of progressive ideas. C follows that distinction between literacy and enlightenment. She does not say literacy is useless or enlightenment is necessarily inborn.

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Question 8

ADUKE: Listen, my fellow women. The issue has little to do with being literate or not. It is true that most members of NAM (New Awareness Movement) are literate, but this does not make all of us enlightened. We must be able to draw a line between the two. You may be literate and yet possess a consciousness that is decadent and servile. On the other hand, you may not have received any formal education and yet may be the greatest exponent of progressive ideas. HASANA: I agree with what our sister has said. Let us not allow ourselves to be divided by a greedy and an inflated notion of the certificates we possess. In this century, as we march towards the year 2000, our primary concern should be how best to improve the lot of womanhood in our society. Let us not forget that for each woman who is beaten up by her man for flimsy reasons, the status of all of us here is downgraded. For each woman who is insulted for no other reason than that of her sex, every one of us here is spat on in the face. For each woman who is denied opportunities in the society simply because she is a woman, the whole lot of us here are dehumanized. Each widow in this society is an Everywoman, and the lot of us should be viewed as collective. Each rotten egg that is thrown at anyone of us is an eternal splash of dirt on our faces. Each decayed tomato that is cast at her is a collective curse on our fecundity: each pebble thrown at her, a missile against our very womanhood. This is an age of awareness, and it is the duty of NAM to collectively rise in defence of the rights of women. IME: We can no longer allow ourselves to be fried alive. We are going to squeeze ourselves into tight-fitting trousers, register into judo classes, and then file out into the street and punch the face of every man we behold.

‘Each widow in this society is an Everywoman’ means that

  1. every woman in the society is potentially a widow
  2. every widow in the society is a woman
  3. the suffering of every widow represents the burden of all women
  4. widowhood implies the isolation of the woman in society.
Answer and explanation

C: the suffering of every widow represents the burden of all women

Hasana describes the treatment of each woman as a collective concern for all women. Everywoman therefore makes the widow representative of shared suffering. It is not merely a statement that every widow is female or that every woman will become a widow.

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Question 9

ADUKE: Listen, my fellow women. The issue has little to do with being literate or not. It is true that most members of NAM (New Awareness Movement) are literate, but this does not make all of us enlightened. We must be able to draw a line between the two. You may be literate and yet possess a consciousness that is decadent and servile. On the other hand, you may not have received any formal education and yet may be the greatest exponent of progressive ideas. HASANA: I agree with what our sister has said. Let us not allow ourselves to be divided by a greedy and an inflated notion of the certificates we possess. In this century, as we march towards the year 2000, our primary concern should be how best to improve the lot of womanhood in our society. Let us not forget that for each woman who is beaten up by her man for flimsy reasons, the status of all of us here is downgraded. For each woman who is insulted for no other reason than that of her sex, every one of us here is spat on in the face. For each woman who is denied opportunities in the society simply because she is a woman, the whole lot of us here are dehumanized. Each widow in this society is an Everywoman, and the lot of us should be viewed as collective. Each rotten egg that is thrown at anyone of us is an eternal splash of dirt on our faces. Each decayed tomato that is cast at her is a collective curse on our fecundity: each pebble thrown at her, a missile against our very womanhood. This is an age of awareness, and it is the duty of NAM to collectively rise in defence of the rights of women. IME: We can no longer allow ourselves to be fried alive. We are going to squeeze ourselves into tight-fitting trousers, register into judo classes, and then file out into the street and punch the face of every man we behold.

The speech of Hassana implies that

  1. it is the practice to throw rotten eggs at women
  2. it is the practice to cast decayed tomatoes at women
  3. to throw rotten eggs and decayed tomatoes at women is to reduce their fecundity
  4. to throw rotten eggs and decayed tomatoes at women is dehumanizing.
Answer and explanation

D: to throw rotten eggs and decayed tomatoes at women is dehumanizing.

Hasana presents insults and attacks on any woman as injuries to the dignity of all women. D expresses that dehumanizing effect. The images are part of her argument about collective harm, rather than a literal claim about reduced fertility.

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Question 11

When I set out for London, little did I suspect that I was not on a journey to God�s own city where harmony reigned supreme. So used to the frenzied life of Lagos was I that I had come to associate that city with everything that was chaotic, and there was no doubt in my mind that Lagos was one giant symbol of our backwardness. As the plane taxied its way out of the tarmac of our national airport, I heaved a sigh of relief, not so much because I was leaving my own country as that I was being relieved of the tension that had possessed me during those tense hours in the untidy lounge. I had felt so uneasy, my thoughts racing from one uncertainty to another. But I was at last air-borne, moving away from the whole uncertainty, from the whole load of fear, towards a place which I supposed would be an El Dorado. Everything that happened in the plane passed through my eyes like pictures on the screen. The white air hostess who instructed me on how to use the safety belt was an angel, what with her beauty, her pretty blue dress, and her ever-smiling face. The same lady of the air served me snacks and supper. Another angel, whose queenly voice through an invisible public address system, dished out occasional information on the progress of our journey. I had never felt so relaxed, and my jolted heartbeats each time the plane took what appeared like a sudden brief descent, did not matter. When eventually we were set for landing, the anxiety that came over me was almost thrilling. What was the wonderland going to be like? So overwhelmed was I that I almost lost consciousness of what happened thereafter. But I would never forget the shock that greeted me when we arrived in the tube station and boarded a train to behold the sea of white faces and the furtive glances from apparently indifferent co-passengers. I believe that the nostalgic feeling for Lagos which later became part of my life all my days in London began at this point.

Before the writer left Lagos, he believed London was

  1. a very neat place
  2. a very peaceful place
  3. situated in paradise
  4. noiseless.
Answer and explanation

B: a very peaceful place

The narrator initially imagines London as a city where harmony reigns, contrasting it with the frenzy of Lagos. A very peaceful place captures that expectation. The religious imagery does not literally locate London in paradise.

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Question 14

When I set out for London, little did I suspect that I was not on a journey to God�s own city where harmony reigned supreme. So used to the frenzied life of Lagos was I that I had come to associate that city with everything that was chaotic, and there was no doubt in my mind that Lagos was one giant symbol of our backwardness. As the plane taxied its way out of the tarmac of our national airport, I heaved a sigh of relief, not so much because I was leaving my own country as that I was being relieved of the tension that had possessed me during those tense hours in the untidy lounge. I had felt so uneasy, my thoughts racing from one uncertainty to another. But I was at last air-borne, moving away from the whole uncertainty, from the whole load of fear, towards a place which I supposed would be an El Dorado. Everything that happened in the plane passed through my eyes like pictures on the screen. The white air hostess who instructed me on how to use the safety belt was an angel, what with her beauty, her pretty blue dress, and her ever-smiling face. The same lady of the air served me snacks and supper. Another angel, whose queenly voice through an invisible public address system, dished out occasional information on the progress of our journey. I had never felt so relaxed, and my jolted heartbeats each time the plane took what appeared like a sudden brief descent, did not matter. When eventually we were set for landing, the anxiety that came over me was almost thrilling. What was the wonderland going to be like? So overwhelmed was I that I almost lost consciousness of what happened thereafter. But I would never forget the shock that greeted me when we arrived in the tube station and boarded a train to behold the sea of white faces and the furtive glances from apparently indifferent co-passengers. I believe that the nostalgic feeling for Lagos which later became part of my life all my days in London began at this point.

The writer’s attitude to the air hostesses can be described as

  1. lustful
  2. worshipful
  3. timid
  4. gregarious
Answer and explanation

B: worshipful

The narrator repeatedly calls the hostesses angels and describes one voice as queenly. That idealizing admiration is worshipful. Lustful suggests sexual desire, timid suggests fearfulness, and gregarious describes sociability rather than reverence.

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Question 27

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: Emeka wished he had started school early

  1. Emeka started school early as he wished.
  2. Emeka regretted starting school early
  3. Emeka regretted not starting school early
  4. Emeka could have started school early if he had wished.
Answer and explanation

C: Emeka regretted not starting school early

Wished he had started expresses regret about a past event that did not happen as desired. Emeka therefore regrets not starting early. It does not say that he actually started early or regretted doing so.

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Question 28

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: He was between the devil and the deep blue sea.

  1. He was in danger.
  2. He was scared
  3. He stood between the devil and the sea.
  4. He was in a dilemma.
Answer and explanation

D: He was in a dilemma.

The idiom describes having to choose between two unpleasant alternatives. That is a dilemma. Danger or fear may accompany it, but neither captures the central idea of a difficult choice.

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Question 30

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: Whoever would have thought that he would lose the presidential election.

  1. Everyone believed that he would lose the election
  2. It was commonly believed that he would win the election.
  3. He was supposed to lose the election.
  4. No one believed that he would win the election.
Answer and explanation

B: It was commonly believed that he would win the election.

The rhetorical question expresses surprise at an unexpected defeat. It implies that victory had been expected, as B states. The other alternatives make defeat the expected result and reverse the implication.

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Question 31

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: It’s wonderful that Musa is already out of hospital.

  1. The fact that Musa is out of hospital causes great wonder
  2. The fact that Musa is out of hospital is a miracle.
  3. It is surprising that Musa is out of hospital
  4. It is very pleasing that Musa is out of hospital.
Answer and explanation

D: It is very pleasing that Musa is out of hospital.

Wonderful here expresses pleasure at Musa’s recovery and discharge. D captures that positive evaluation. The sentence need not claim a miracle or emphasize amazement rather than happiness.

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Question 32

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: You could have heard the sound if you weren’t asleep.

  1. You were not asleep so you heard the sound.
  2. You were asleep so you did not hear the sound.
  3. You heard the sound though you were asleep.
  4. You did not hear the sound though you were not asleep.
Answer and explanation

B: You were asleep so you did not hear the sound.

The unreal condition contrasts being asleep with the opportunity to hear the sound. B gives the intended contrast: sleep prevented hearing it. The other options either deny the sleep or say the sound was heard.

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Question 33

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: Had Aminu been a dull student, his failure wouldn’t have surprised anybody.

  1. Aminu failed and it surprised everybody since he was dull.
  2. Aminu was not a dull student and so everybody was surprised that he failed
  3. Because Aminu was a dull student, everybody was surprised that he failed.
  4. Aminu had been a dull student, and so nobody was surprised that he failed
Answer and explanation

B: Aminu was not a dull student and so everybody was surprised that he failed

Had Aminu been means if Aminu had been, an unreal past condition. The sentence contrasts the actual surprising failure with the unsurprising failure of a dull student. B preserves that contrast; the other options describe him as dull.

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Question 34

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: The president of the club said that he would cross the bridge on getting there.

  1. He was waiting for an opportunity to take a decision.
  2. When he got to the river he would build a bridge across it
  3. He would take a decision at the appropriate time.
  4. When he got to the river he would cross at the bridge.
Answer and explanation

C: He would take a decision at the appropriate time.

Crossing a bridge when one reaches it means dealing with a matter when the appropriate time arrives. C captures that postponement of a decision. The references to a literal river or building a bridge miss the idiom.

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Question 35

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: His refusal to help us dealt a deathblow to our plans.

  1. Because he did not help, our plans did not materialize.
  2. He helped and our plans materialized
  3. He blew our plans to pieces
  4. He supported our plans so it worked
Answer and explanation

A: Because he did not help, our plans did not materialize.

A deathblow is a decisive setback that ends the chance of success. His refusal therefore prevented the plans from materializing. A states that consequence; the other choices suggest help or take the blow literally.

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Question 36

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “make a profession of your faith”: It is entirely up to you to make a profession of your faith.

  1. confess your belief
  2. turn your faith into a business
  3. deny your faith
  4. loudly proclaim your religion.
Answer and explanation

C: deny your faith

A profession of faith is an open declaration of belief. Denying the faith is the opposite. Confessing or proclaiming belief has a similar meaning, while turning faith into a business confuses declaration with occupation.

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Question 37

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “carry his people with him”: He won the election because he was able to carry his people with him.

  1. alienate his people
  2. go out with the people
  3. have the support of the people
  4. fail to provide the people with transport.
Answer and explanation

A: alienate his people

Carrying people with you means winning their support. Alienating them means driving them away or losing their sympathy, giving the contrast. The other choices either retain support or interpret carrying literally.

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Question 38

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “made it up”: They often quarreled before leaving the house but made it up by the time they returned home

  1. added it up
  2. reconciled
  3. fell out
  4. compounded the problem
Answer and explanation

C: fell out

Making it up after a quarrel means becoming friendly again. Falling out means quarrelling or ceasing to be friendly, so C is opposite. Reconciled has the same meaning as made it up.

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Question 39

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “snowballed”: The effect of rising prices has snowballed considerably.

  1. risen
  2. decreased
  3. frozen
  4. grown
Answer and explanation

B: decreased

Snowballed means grew increasingly large or serious. Decreased reverses that growth. Risen and grown are similar, while frozen suggests stopping change rather than becoming smaller.

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Question 40

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “discord”: The economic situation is responsible for the recent discord in many families

  1. division
  2. resourcefulness
  3. harmony
  4. suffering
Answer and explanation

C: harmony

Discord means disagreement or conflict. Harmony means agreement and peaceful cooperation, giving the opposite. Division and suffering are associated with conflict; resourcefulness concerns finding solutions.

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Question 41

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “garrulous”: The college was worried about Tunji’s garrulous tendencies

  1. reticent
  2. loquacious
  3. quarrelsome
  4. outspoken
Answer and explanation

A: reticent

Garrulous describes someone who talks excessively. Reticent describes someone reluctant to speak freely, giving the contrast. Loquacious is similar to garrulous; quarrelsome concerns arguments rather than the amount of speech.

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Question 42

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “sine qua non”: We have found that cassava is a sine qua non item in our industry.

  1. useful
  2. indispensable
  3. useless
  4. dispensable
Answer and explanation

D: dispensable

A sine qua non is something essential. Dispensable means it can be done without, so D is opposite. Indispensable repeats the original meaning; useless is stronger than simply not being necessary.

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Question 43

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “demystified”: Science may be a complicated area of learning, but its teaching needs to be demystified.

  1. simplified
  2. twisted
  3. made difficult
  4. distorted
Answer and explanation

C: made difficult

Demystifying makes a subject easier to understand by removing its apparent mystery. Making it difficult reverses that aim. Simplified is similar; twisted and distorted describe misrepresentation rather than difficulty itself.

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Question 46

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “irrevocable”: The decision we have taken is irrevocable.

  1. responsible
  2. irresponsible
  3. reversible
  4. irreversible
Answer and explanation

C: reversible

Irrevocable means unable to be reversed or withdrawn. Reversible therefore gives the opposite. Irreversible is similar; responsible and irresponsible concern judgment or duty rather than whether a decision can be changed.

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Question 47

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “discrepancy”: The lawyer pointed out a discrepancy in the two stories.

  1. similarity
  2. gap
  3. falsehood
  4. difference
Answer and explanation

A: similarity

A discrepancy is a difference or inconsistency between accounts that should agree. Similarity is the contrast. Gap and difference point toward the original meaning, while falsehood is a lie rather than agreement.

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Question 48

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “infamous”: Their high level of dishonesty has made that department infamous in the entire secretariat.

  1. reputable
  2. notorious
  3. unpopular
  4. acceptable
Answer and explanation

A: reputable

Infamous means having a bad reputation. Reputable means respected or having a good reputation, giving the opposite. Notorious is similar; unpopular and acceptable do not express that direct reputational contrast.

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Question 49

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “come to”: When Uche wouldn’t come to quickly enough, the principal rushed him to the hospital

  1. revive
  2. pass out
  3. arrive
  4. come up
Answer and explanation

B: pass out

Come to here means regain consciousness. Pass out means lose consciousness, the opposite. Revive has a similar meaning, while arrive confuses this idiom with physical movement.

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Question 50

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “out of tune with”: The governor’s action is out of tune with the declarations of his party.

  1. in disagreement
  2. in line
  3. out of touch
  4. in touch
Answer and explanation

B: in line

Out of tune with means inconsistent or out of agreement with. In line with means consistent with and gives the contrast. In disagreement repeats the original meaning; being in touch concerns contact or awareness.

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Question 51

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “led a dog’s life”: Ator led a dog’s life for the twenty years he stayed in the United Kingdom.

  1. lived a dirty life
  2. was promiscuous
  3. was domesticated
  4. led an unhappy and troubled life
Answer and explanation

D: led an unhappy and troubled life

A dog’s life is an unhappy life full of hardship. D expresses that meaning. It does not necessarily refer to dirt, sexual conduct or being domesticated.

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Question 53

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “burning the candle at both ends”: The principal warned us against burning the candle at both ends.

  1. being careless with candles
  2. wearing ourselves out
  3. being too generous
  4. disloyalty
Answer and explanation

B: wearing ourselves out

Burning the candle at both ends means using up energy through excessive activity and too little rest. Wearing ourselves out is closest. The expression is figurative rather than advice about handling candles.

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Question 54

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “give the task everything he had”: Biola decided to give the task everything he had.

  1. all his money
  2. all his time
  3. complete attention
  4. complete attendance
Answer and explanation

C: complete attention

Giving a task everything one has means devoting full effort and attention to it. Complete attention is the closest alternative. It does not specifically mean spending every amount of money or time, and attendance only means being present.

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Question 55

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “disfranchised”: The result of the election would have been different if some people had not been disfranchised.

  1. disfavoured
  2. banned from contesting
  3. allowed to rig
  4. prevented from voting.
Answer and explanation

D: prevented from voting.

Disfranchised means deprived of the right to vote. Prevented from voting captures the meaning here. Being barred from standing as a candidate is a different restriction; rigging is not the right being described.

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Question 56

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “larger than life”: We enjoy the story but it sounds larger than life.

  1. too long and unsubstantiated
  2. a little watery and lifeless
  3. completely untrue
  4. somewhat unusual
Answer and explanation

D: somewhat unusual

Larger than life describes something more striking or extraordinary than ordinary experience. Somewhat unusual is the nearest available description. The phrase does not necessarily mean completely false, and it does not refer to the length of a story.

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Question 57

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “might”: Olu might visit London next summer.

  1. could
  2. will
  3. should
  4. can
Answer and explanation

A: could

Might expresses a possibility rather than a definite plan. Could conveys that possibility too. Will is more definite, should suggests expectation or obligation, and can commonly expresses ability or general possibility.

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Question 58

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “prowess”: General Murtala Muhammed excelled in deeds of prowess.

  1. warfare
  2. politics
  3. courage
  4. eloquence.
Answer and explanation

C: courage

Prowess can mean exceptional skill or bravery, especially in battle. Courage fits the description of deeds here. Warfare names an activity, while politics and eloquence describe different fields rather than the quality of bravery.

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Question 59

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “incredulous”: The teacher’s face broke into an incredulous smile when he heard Adamu’s reason for coming late.

  1. irritating
  2. artificial
  3. unbelieving
  4. irresponsible
Answer and explanation

C: unbelieving

Incredulous means unwilling or unable to believe something. An unbelieving smile therefore conveys the teacher’s reaction. Artificial describes insincerity, irritating describes an effect on others, and irresponsible concerns conduct.

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Question 60

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “Recreation”: Recreation is important in contemporary civilization.

  1. Leisure
  2. Treasure
  3. Freedom
  4. Pleasure
Answer and explanation

A: Leisure

Recreation consists of enjoyable activities undertaken for relaxation. Leisure is the closest term among these options. Pleasure names enjoyment itself rather than the activity or relaxation, while treasure and freedom are unrelated here.

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Question 61

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “unorthodox”: He won most of his fights because of his unorthodox style.

  1. crude
  2. dishonest
  3. aggressive
  4. unconventional
Answer and explanation

D: unconventional

Unorthodox means departing from accepted or usual methods. Unconventional is its closest equivalent. An unusual fighting style is not necessarily dishonest, crude or aggressive.

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Question 62

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “persona non grata”: Jide says he read in the papers that our uncle has been declared a persona non grata by the French government.

  1. unwelcome guest
  2. impersonator
  3. ungrateful person
  4. unofficial guest
Answer and explanation

A: unwelcome guest

Persona non grata means a person who is not welcome. A therefore fits the government’s declaration. The expression does not mean an impersonator, an ungrateful person or simply someone without an official role.

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Question 64

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “trepidation”: The town looked deserted but we moved in with some trepidation.

  1. confidence
  2. surprise
  3. hesitation
  4. fear
Answer and explanation

D: fear

Trepidation is fear or apprehension about what may happen. Fear is the nearest choice. Hesitation may result from that feeling but is not the feeling itself; confidence contrasts with it.

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Question 66

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: the policemen who were to keep watch connived _____ the robber's escape

  1. with
  2. at
  3. to
  4. for
Answer and explanation

B: at

To connive at wrongdoing is to allow it or deliberately overlook it. At therefore fits the escape. Connive with is used for a person one conspires with, rather than the event being tolerated.

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Question 68

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Wudu will not come _____ she is asked

  1. after
  2. provided
  3. unless
  4. because
Answer and explanation

C: unless

Unless means except if. Wudu will not come unless she is asked makes an invitation the condition for her coming. Provided would make being asked a condition for not coming, reversing the intended relationship.

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Question 69

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: You must forbid _____ coming

  1. he's
  2. that he is
  3. him for
  4. his
Answer and explanation

D: his

His coming uses a possessive determiner before a gerund naming the action being forbidden. It fits after forbid. He’s contains a verb, and the other options do not form a grammatical object before coming.

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Question 73

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Otokpa is not very bold. He's not _____ a rough life

  1. cut up for
  2. cut for
  3. cut off for
  4. cut out for
Answer and explanation

D: cut out for

Being cut out for something means having the qualities needed for it. Not cut out for a rough life therefore fits someone who is not bold. The other particles do not express suitability in this construction.

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Question 74

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Some of the food _____ spoilt

  1. is
  2. are
  3. were
  4. have
Answer and explanation

A: is

Food is an uncountable noun here, so some of the food takes singular agreement. Is spoilt is the grammatical completion. Are and were are plural forms, and have cannot complete this passive or adjective construction.

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Question 75

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: They spent the last holiday with their _____

  1. sister-in-laws
  2. sisters-in-law
  3. sisters-in-laws
  4. sisters-inlaws
Answer and explanation

B: sisters-in-law

The plural of sister-in-law is sisters-in-law: the main noun sister receives the plural ending. B follows that pattern. Adding s to law does not form the standard plural of this family relationship.

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Question 78

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: When the teacher asked him to join the queue outside, he considered it _____ to his dignity

  1. an attack
  2. an insolence
  3. an affront
  4. a disrespect
Answer and explanation

C: an affront

An affront to someone’s dignity is an insult to their self-respect. That phrase fits how he interpreted the instruction. An attack normally takes on, while insolence and disrespect do not form the offered expression naturally.

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Question 79

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: When he joined the staff of the school, he had various duties _____ to him

  1. detailed
  2. assigned
  3. prescribed
  4. enlisted
Answer and explanation

B: assigned

Duties assigned to someone are responsibilities allocated to that person. Assigned fits the passive structure and the employment context. Detailed normally specifies a person for a duty, while enlisted concerns recruitment and prescribed means laid down.

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Question 80

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The secretary was blamed _____ the untidy state of the office

  1. for
  2. about
  3. over
  4. on
Answer and explanation

A: for

Someone is blamed for a fault or an undesirable result. For connects the secretary to the untidiness attributed to them. On would fit blame placed on a person, but does not fit the passive pattern here.

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Question 82

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: You think she hasn't got any friends? Of course, she's got _____

  1. many more
  2. quite much
  3. quite a few
  4. few
Answer and explanation

C: quite a few

Quite a few means a fairly large number. It contradicts the suggestion that she has no friends. Few suggests a small number, quite much does not modify countable friends, and many more needs a comparison.

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Question 84

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The vermin on his body _____ hideous

  1. makes the lunatic look
  2. make the lunatic look
  3. makes the lunatic to look
  4. make the lunatic to look
Answer and explanation

B: make the lunatic look

Vermin takes plural agreement in this sentence, so the verb is make. Make someone look uses the bare infinitive look. B satisfies both requirements; the other options use singular makes or incorrectly insert to.

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Question 85

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Do you think all _____ not enough to help the investigator.

  1. these information is
  2. this information are
  3. this information is
  4. these information are
Answer and explanation

C: this information is

Information is uncountable here and takes this and the singular verb is. C supplies both. These requires a plural count noun, and are does not agree with this information.

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Question 86

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Do you prefer _____ my rickety car.

  1. going on foot to taking
  2. to go on foot to taking
  3. going on foot than taking
  4. to go on foot than to take
Answer and explanation

A: going on foot to taking

Prefer commonly compares two activities with matching -ing forms linked by to. Going on foot to taking supplies that parallel structure. Than is not the required comparison word in this pattern.

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Question 87

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: No sooner _____ to fall

  1. did we set out when the rain had started
  2. had we set out than the rain started
  3. were we setting out than the rain started
  4. we had set out when the rain started
Answer and explanation

B: had we set out than the rain started

No sooner at the beginning triggers inversion: had we set out. Than then introduces the event that followed immediately. B combines the correct inverted clause with than the rain started.

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Question 90

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The helpless _____ our sympathy

  1. require
  2. requires
  3. does require
  4. do requires
Answer and explanation

A: require

The helpless refers collectively to helpless people, so it takes the plural verb require. Requires is singular. Does require is also singular, and do requires incorrectly adds an ending after do.

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Question 92

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The thief we caught yesterday was _____ as an official of the company

  1. disguised
  2. concealed
  3. masked
  4. veiled
Answer and explanation

A: disguised

Disguised as an official means made to appear to be an official. It explains a false identity. Concealed means hidden, while masked and veiled do not form the same impersonation construction here.

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Question 93

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The carpenter asked for ten packets of _____ nails

  1. fifteen-centimetre
  2. fifteen centimetres'
  3. fifteencentimetres
  4. fifteen-centimetres'
Answer and explanation

A: fifteen-centimetre

A measurement used before a noun keeps its unit singular: fifteen-centimetre nails. The compound describes nail length. The alternatives add a plural ending or a possessive apostrophe that does not belong in this modifier.

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Question 94

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The president refused to shake _____ with the visiting Prime Minister

  1. hand
  2. hands
  3. a hand
  4. his hand
Answer and explanation

B: hands

Shake hands is the established greeting expression. Hands completes it even when each person offers one hand. The singular options do not form the ordinary reciprocal greeting construction.

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Question 96

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: How can we believe this witness when no one will _____ his story.

  1. collate
  2. correlate
  3. collaborate
  4. corroborate
Answer and explanation

D: corroborate

To corroborate a story is to provide evidence supporting it. That meaning fits the concern about believing the witness. Collate means assemble, correlate means relate, and collaborate means work together.

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Question 98

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Idubor has gone to see his mechanic because his car engine needs to be tuned _____

  1. in
  2. off
  3. up
  4. on
Answer and explanation

C: up

To tune up an engine means adjust it so that it runs properly. Up completes the maintenance expression. Tuning in concerns reception, and off or on does not name the same engine adjustment.

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