JAMB Use of English 1994

Question 1

Gossip! Yes, gossip is universal. In some languages, it may have an outright negative connotation but in English, it basically means ‘idle talk’, chat about trivial things or matters. When moderate and kind, ‘casual talk’ may serve to exchange useful information as a means of updating one’s knowledge. The whole neighborhood may grow gossipy with who got married, pregnant, died, or it may just be a humorous chitchat devoid of malicious intent. However, idle talk more often than not, degenerates beyond the bounds of propriety and good taste. Facts get embellished, exaggerated or deliberately distorted. Humiliation is made the source of humour, privacy is violated, confidences betrayed and reputations injured or ruined. Condemnation takes the place of commendation, murmuring and fault finding are extolled. The end result is like the mud thrown on a clean piece of white cloth. It does not stick but it leaves a dirty and sometimes permanent stain behind. Gossip has been blamed for sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion. Certainly, it must have caused you some personal anguish at one time or the other, that is someone must at some time have tried getting a knife between your shoulder blades. Negative gossip is almost universally frowned upon. Among the Indians in the United States, gossiping about someone is classified with lying and stealing. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, the tale bearer is detested and often avoided. Indeed, throughout history, measures have been taken to curb this ‘deadly’ disease. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the ducking stool was popularly used in England and Germany and later in the United States. The gossip was tied to a chair and repeatedly ducked in water. In modern times, the war against gossiping has also been fought. Rumour control centres have been established to respond to rumours that were potentially harmful to government activities. Laws have been passed to curb gossip. Nicknames have been given to those who peddle the trade. Ever heard of ‘Amebo’! Such efforts notwithstanding, gossip survives. It is alive and flourishing. Gossip is everywhere. There is neighbourhood gossip, office gossip, shop gossip, party gossip, family gossip and funnily enough religious gossip. Gossip transcends all cultures, races and civilizations, and it has flourished and is still flourishing at every level of society. Gossip is deeply a part of human nature. Yet gossip is not inherently evil. There is a positive side to casual talk. Knowing where to draw the line between harmless and harmful gossip is the key to avoiding victimizing others and being a victim yourself.

Gossip appeals to people because

1. it is entertaining but could be deadly
2. human beings take delight in passing and acquiring information
3. it provides avenues for idle talk
4. it is not destructive in the type of information passed.

Question 2

Gossip! Yes, gossip is universal. In some languages, it may have an outright negative connotation but in English, it basically means ‘idle talk’, chat about trivial things or matters. When moderate and kind, ‘casual talk’ may serve to exchange useful information as a means of updating one’s knowledge. The whole neighborhood may grow gossipy with who got married, pregnant, died, or it may just be a humorous chitchat devoid of malicious intent. However, idle talk more often than not, degenerates beyond the bounds of propriety and good taste. Facts get embellished, exaggerated or deliberately distorted. Humiliation is made the source of humour, privacy is violated, confidences betrayed and reputations injured or ruined. Condemnation takes the place of commendation, murmuring and fault finding are extolled. The end result is like the mud thrown on a clean piece of white cloth. It does not stick but it leaves a dirty and sometimes permanent stain behind. Gossip has been blamed for sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion. Certainly, it must have caused you some personal anguish at one time or the other, that is someone must at some time have tried getting a knife between your shoulder blades. Negative gossip is almost universally frowned upon. Among the Indians in the United States, gossiping about someone is classified with lying and stealing. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, the tale bearer is detested and often avoided. Indeed, throughout history, measures have been taken to curb this ‘deadly’ disease. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the ducking stool was popularly used in England and Germany and later in the United States. The gossip was tied to a chair and repeatedly ducked in water. In modern times, the war against gossiping has also been fought. Rumour control centres have been established to respond to rumours that were potentially harmful to government activities. Laws have been passed to curb gossip. Nicknames have been given to those who peddle the trade. Ever heard of ‘Amebo’! Such efforts notwithstanding, gossip survives. It is alive and flourishing. Gossip is everywhere. There is neighbourhood gossip, office gossip, shop gossip, party gossip, family gossip and funnily enough religious gossip. Gossip transcends all cultures, races and civilizations, and it has flourished and is still flourishing at every level of society. Gossip is deeply a part of human nature. Yet gossip is not inherently evil. There is a positive side to casual talk. Knowing where to draw the line between harmless and harmful gossip is the key to avoiding victimizing others and being a victim yourself.

‘Grow gossipy’ as used in the passage, means the area

1. cultivates and controls gossip
2. is a rumour mill
3. is ruined by gossip
4. engages in fruitful talk.

Question 3

Gossip! Yes, gossip is universal. In some languages, it may have an outright negative connotation but in English, it basically means ‘idle talk’, chat about trivial things or matters. When moderate and kind, ‘casual talk’ may serve to exchange useful information as a means of updating one’s knowledge. The whole neighborhood may grow gossipy with who got married, pregnant, died, or it may just be a humorous chitchat devoid of malicious intent. However, idle talk more often than not, degenerates beyond the bounds of propriety and good taste. Facts get embellished, exaggerated or deliberately distorted. Humiliation is made the source of humour, privacy is violated, confidences betrayed and reputations injured or ruined. Condemnation takes the place of commendation, murmuring and fault finding are extolled. The end result is like the mud thrown on a clean piece of white cloth. It does not stick but it leaves a dirty and sometimes permanent stain behind. Gossip has been blamed for sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion. Certainly, it must have caused you some personal anguish at one time or the other, that is someone must at some time have tried getting a knife between your shoulder blades. Negative gossip is almost universally frowned upon. Among the Indians in the United States, gossiping about someone is classified with lying and stealing. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, the tale bearer is detested and often avoided. Indeed, throughout history, measures have been taken to curb this ‘deadly’ disease. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the ducking stool was popularly used in England and Germany and later in the United States. The gossip was tied to a chair and repeatedly ducked in water. In modern times, the war against gossiping has also been fought. Rumour control centres have been established to respond to rumours that were potentially harmful to government activities. Laws have been passed to curb gossip. Nicknames have been given to those who peddle the trade. Ever heard of ‘Amebo’! Such efforts notwithstanding, gossip survives. It is alive and flourishing. Gossip is everywhere. There is neighbourhood gossip, office gossip, shop gossip, party gossip, family gossip and funnily enough religious gossip. Gossip transcends all cultures, races and civilizations, and it has flourished and is still flourishing at every level of society. Gossip is deeply a part of human nature. Yet gossip is not inherently evil. There is a positive side to casual talk. Knowing where to draw the line between harmless and harmful gossip is the key to avoiding victimizing others and being a victim yourself.

When gossip ‘degenerates beyond the bounds of propriety and good taste’, it becomes

1. harmful
2. ruthless
3. irritating
4. astonishing

Question 4

Gossip! Yes, gossip is universal. In some languages, it may have an outright negative connotation but in English, it basically means ‘idle talk’, chat about trivial things or matters. When moderate and kind, ‘casual talk’ may serve to exchange useful information as a means of updating one’s knowledge. The whole neighborhood may grow gossipy with who got married, pregnant, died, or it may just be a humorous chitchat devoid of malicious intent. However, idle talk more often than not, degenerates beyond the bounds of propriety and good taste. Facts get embellished, exaggerated or deliberately distorted. Humiliation is made the source of humour, privacy is violated, confidences betrayed and reputations injured or ruined. Condemnation takes the place of commendation, murmuring and fault finding are extolled. The end result is like the mud thrown on a clean piece of white cloth. It does not stick but it leaves a dirty and sometimes permanent stain behind. Gossip has been blamed for sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion. Certainly, it must have caused you some personal anguish at one time or the other, that is someone must at some time have tried getting a knife between your shoulder blades. Negative gossip is almost universally frowned upon. Among the Indians in the United States, gossiping about someone is classified with lying and stealing. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, the tale bearer is detested and often avoided. Indeed, throughout history, measures have been taken to curb this ‘deadly’ disease. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the ducking stool was popularly used in England and Germany and later in the United States. The gossip was tied to a chair and repeatedly ducked in water. In modern times, the war against gossiping has also been fought. Rumour control centres have been established to respond to rumours that were potentially harmful to government activities. Laws have been passed to curb gossip. Nicknames have been given to those who peddle the trade. Ever heard of ‘Amebo’! Such efforts notwithstanding, gossip survives. It is alive and flourishing. Gossip is everywhere. There is neighbourhood gossip, office gossip, shop gossip, party gossip, family gossip and funnily enough religious gossip. Gossip transcends all cultures, races and civilizations, and it has flourished and is still flourishing at every level of society. Gossip is deeply a part of human nature. Yet gossip is not inherently evil. There is a positive side to casual talk. Knowing where to draw the line between harmless and harmful gossip is the key to avoiding victimizing others and being a victim yourself.

In the passage, ‘such efforts notwithstanding ’refers to

1. attempts at curbing gossip
2. the establishment of the ducking stool
3. rumour-control centres
4. laws enacted against gossip.

Question 6

In many places in the world today, the poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer, and the programmes of development planning and foreign aid appear to be unable to reverse this trend. Nearly all the developing countries have a modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are similar to those in developed countries. But they also have a non-modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are not only unsatisfactory, but in many cases are even getting worse. What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot work their way out of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When they do find occasional work, their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so they drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in the big cities either – and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding work appear to be greater there than in the villages – where chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then, produces mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment. The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contain about eighty to ninety per cent of the population? The primary need is work places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker is unimportant. But the primary aim cannot be to maximize output per worker, it must be to maximize work opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed. The poor man’s greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore more important that everybody should produce something, than that a few should each produce a great deal. And in most developing countries, this can only be achieved by using an appropriate intermediate technology.

According to the passage, the difference between the developing countries and the developed ones is that while the former have:

1. a modern sector, the latter do not
2. two conflicting sectors, the latter have one
3. higher rural unemployment, the latter have higher urban employment
4. appropriate intermediate technology, the latter adopt inappropriate one.

Question 7

In many places in the world today, the poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer, and the programmes of development planning and foreign aid appear to be unable to reverse this trend. Nearly all the developing countries have a modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are similar to those in developed countries. But they also have a non-modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are not only unsatisfactory, but in many cases are even getting worse. What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot work their way out of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When they do find occasional work, their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so they drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in the big cities either – and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding work appear to be greater there than in the villages – where chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then, produces mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment. The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contain about eighty to ninety per cent of the population? The primary need is work places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker is unimportant. But the primary aim cannot be to maximize output per worker, it must be to maximize work opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed. The poor man’s greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore more important that everybody should produce something, than that a few should each produce a great deal. And in most developing countries, this can only be achieved by using an appropriate intermediate technology.

Which of the following statements best explains the meaning of the phrase ‘reverse this trend’ as used in the text?

1. Return to the former state of affairs
2. reappraise the programmes
3. improve the situation.
4. make the rich become poor

Question 8

In many places in the world today, the poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer, and the programmes of development planning and foreign aid appear to be unable to reverse this trend. Nearly all the developing countries have a modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are similar to those in developed countries. But they also have a non-modern sector, where the patterns of living and working are not only unsatisfactory, but in many cases are even getting worse. What is the typical condition of the poor in developing countries? Their work opportunities are so limited that they cannot work their way out of their situation. They are under-employed, or totally unemployed. When they do find occasional work, their productivity is extremely low. Some of them have land, but often too little land. Many have no land, and no prospect of ever getting any. There is no hope for them in the rural areas, and so they drift into the big cities. But there is no work for them in the big cities either – and of course no housing. All the same, they flock into the cities because their chances of finding work appear to be greater there than in the villages – where chances are nil. Rural unemployment, then, produces mass migration into the cities. Rural unemployment becomes urban unemployment. The problem can be stated quite simply: what can be done to promote economic growth in the small towns and villages which still contain about eighty to ninety per cent of the population? The primary need is work places, literally millions of work places. No one, of course, would suggest that output per worker is unimportant. But the primary aim cannot be to maximize output per worker, it must be to maximize work opportunities for the unemployed and the under-employed. The poor man’s greatest need is the chance to work. Even poorly paid and relatively unproductive work is better than no work at all. It is therefore more important that everybody should produce something, than that a few should each produce a great deal. And in most developing countries, this can only be achieved by using an appropriate intermediate technology.

From the way the writer describes the typical condition of the poor in developing countries, one could conclude that:

1. rural poverty is a disease
2. the poor have no hope
3. rural poverty is caused by the rich
4. the problems of the poor are temporary.

Question 11

Politics in pre-colonial times did not involve the partisan type of electioneering campaign that we now have. The society was ruled by a king or an emir and his traditional chiefs or by the council of elders or clan heads. Where there existed the hierarchical system as in the Yoruba and Hausa kingdoms, succession to the throne was mainly patriarchal. A recorded exception was the case of Queen Amina of the Zazzau Empire who ruled in the 15th century A.D. A host of unsung and unrecorded women regents and at times women village rulers abound, especially in the present Ondo State where some influential traditional female chiefs and regents still exist. In Ibadan, the famous Efunsetan Aniwura held political as well as economic sway and it took a lot of drive, brain work and political engineering for the then king and his council of chiefs to subdue her. The history of the various towns and villages of the period could boast of such women who were actively engaged in the running of government. In the Igbo society, a rise to leadership position was through demonstrated ability in fostering societal survival rather than heritage. Women’s voice in the politics of each clan is given focus either through the guild of wives, the guild of daughters, or the market women’s guild. Women, through these organs, could make their feelings known on any issue affecting their community as a whole or females in particular. Thus, unpopular edicts or ‘decrees’ could be revoked or revised as a result of mounted pressure from any of these female associations. No decision was usually taken by the men without prior consultation with the leaders of the women’s groups. It must however be emphasized that the degree of women participation in politics was yet much limited when compared to that of men.

According to the author, electioneering campaign is the approach

1. best used in politics
2. used in pre-colonial politics
3. for choosing kings or emirs
4. currently in use

Question 12

Politics in pre-colonial times did not involve the partisan type of electioneering campaign that we now have. The society was ruled by a king or an emir and his traditional chiefs or by the council of elders or clan heads. Where there existed the hierarchical system as in the Yoruba and Hausa kingdoms, succession to the throne was mainly patriarchal. A recorded exception was the case of Queen Amina of the Zazzau Empire who ruled in the 15th century A.D. A host of unsung and unrecorded women regents and at times women village rulers abound, especially in the present Ondo State where some influential traditional female chiefs and regents still exist. In Ibadan, the famous Efunsetan Aniwura held political as well as economic sway and it took a lot of drive, brain work and political engineering for the then king and his council of chiefs to subdue her. The history of the various towns and villages of the period could boast of such women who were actively engaged in the running of government. In the Igbo society, a rise to leadership position was through demonstrated ability in fostering societal survival rather than heritage. Women’s voice in the politics of each clan is given focus either through the guild of wives, the guild of daughters, or the market women’s guild. Women, through these organs, could make their feelings known on any issue affecting their community as a whole or females in particular. Thus, unpopular edicts or ‘decrees’ could be revoked or revised as a result of mounted pressure from any of these female associations. No decision was usually taken by the men without prior consultation with the leaders of the women’s groups. It must however be emphasized that the degree of women participation in politics was yet much limited when compared to that of men.

From the passage, it is obvious that women participated in politics.

1. on equal basis with men
2. as leaders of men
3. to a limited extent
4. as chiefs and regents

Question 13

Politics in pre-colonial times did not involve the partisan type of electioneering campaign that we now have. The society was ruled by a king or an emir and his traditional chiefs or by the council of elders or clan heads. Where there existed the hierarchical system as in the Yoruba and Hausa kingdoms, succession to the throne was mainly patriarchal. A recorded exception was the case of Queen Amina of the Zazzau Empire who ruled in the 15th century A.D. A host of unsung and unrecorded women regents and at times women village rulers abound, especially in the present Ondo State where some influential traditional female chiefs and regents still exist. In Ibadan, the famous Efunsetan Aniwura held political as well as economic sway and it took a lot of drive, brain work and political engineering for the then king and his council of chiefs to subdue her. The history of the various towns and villages of the period could boast of such women who were actively engaged in the running of government. In the Igbo society, a rise to leadership position was through demonstrated ability in fostering societal survival rather than heritage. Women’s voice in the politics of each clan is given focus either through the guild of wives, the guild of daughters, or the market women’s guild. Women, through these organs, could make their feelings known on any issue affecting their community as a whole or females in particular. Thus, unpopular edicts or ‘decrees’ could be revoked or revised as a result of mounted pressure from any of these female associations. No decision was usually taken by the men without prior consultation with the leaders of the women’s groups. It must however be emphasized that the degree of women participation in politics was yet much limited when compared to that of men.

‘Political engineering’ in the passage means

1. playing of politics
2. maneuvering in politics
3. studying of politics
4. steering political events.

Question 14

Politics in pre-colonial times did not involve the partisan type of electioneering campaign that we now have. The society was ruled by a king or an emir and his traditional chiefs or by the council of elders or clan heads. Where there existed the hierarchical system as in the Yoruba and Hausa kingdoms, succession to the throne was mainly patriarchal. A recorded exception was the case of Queen Amina of the Zazzau Empire who ruled in the 15th century A.D. A host of unsung and unrecorded women regents and at times women village rulers abound, especially in the present Ondo State where some influential traditional female chiefs and regents still exist. In Ibadan, the famous Efunsetan Aniwura held political as well as economic sway and it took a lot of drive, brain work and political engineering for the then king and his council of chiefs to subdue her. The history of the various towns and villages of the period could boast of such women who were actively engaged in the running of government. In the Igbo society, a rise to leadership position was through demonstrated ability in fostering societal survival rather than heritage. Women’s voice in the politics of each clan is given focus either through the guild of wives, the guild of daughters, or the market women’s guild. Women, through these organs, could make their feelings known on any issue affecting their community as a whole or females in particular. Thus, unpopular edicts or ‘decrees’ could be revoked or revised as a result of mounted pressure from any of these female associations. No decision was usually taken by the men without prior consultation with the leaders of the women’s groups. It must however be emphasized that the degree of women participation in politics was yet much limited when compared to that of men.

Which of the following is implied in the passage?

1. women are not politicians
2. women should be confined to the home
3. women are capable of political leadership
4. post-colonial politics should not involve women

Question 27

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: Had he come that day, the problem would still not have been solved.

1. He came that day, but the problem was not solved.
2. He did not come that day, but the problem was solved.
3. He did not come that day, and the problem was not solved.
4. He did not come that day, but his presence would not have solved the problem.

Question 28

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: He is now the megaphone of the people’s oppressors.

1. He now speaks on behalf of the oppressors.
2. He now carries the megaphone when the oppressors speak.
3. He is now the oppressor with the loudest voice.
4. He is the oppressor who now speaks with megaphone.

Question 30

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: One of the guarantors shall sign here.

1. It is desirable that one of the guarantors sign here.
2. It is reasonable that one of the guarantors signs here.
3. It is obligatory that one of the guarantors signs here.
4. It is advisable that one of the guarantors signs here.

Question 31

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “humorous”: The paper carries many humorous cartoons on Saturdays.

1. amorous
2. grievous
3. hilarious
4. grave

Question 32

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “invaluable”: All through his years in public office, he found his father’s advice invaluable.

1. priceless
2. hopeless
3. worthless
4. helpful.

Question 33

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “obfuscating”: The lecturer was merely obfuscating the issue with his endless examples.

1. complicating
2. clarifying
3. confusing
4. summarizing

Question 34

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “exacerbating”: Such measures end up exacerbating the pain.

1. aggravating
2. increasing
3. eliminating
4. alleviating

Question 35

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “concord”: In a sentence, there must always be concord between a subject and its verb.

1. breach
2. departure
3. disagreement
4. dispute

Question 36

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “As soon as”: As soon as the headmaster appeared, the chanting resumed.

1. Immediately
2. Much later
3. Soon after
4. Almost as.

Question 37

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “summarize”: In the course of the debate, the speakers were advised to summarize their points.

1. argue
2. develop
3. round off
4. round up

Question 38

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “fulminate against”: The elderly often fulminate against the apparent indolence of the young generation.

1. protest bitterly about
2. complain seriously about
3. promote vigorously
4. commend warmly

Question 39

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “existing”: We should discourage further investment in existing factories.

1. productive
2. prosperous
3. prospective
4. precious

Question 40

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “recession”: Nigeria is gradually experiencing economic recession

1. birth
2. discovery
3. recovery
4. destruction.

Question 41

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “put up with”: We could not put up with his terrible disposition

1. exterminate
2. tolerate
3. control
4. deal with

Question 42

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “taken aback”: She was taken aback by his attitude.

1. delayed
2. dragged back
3. surprised
4. overwhelmed

Question 43

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “commensurate with”: Many would argue that the achievement is commensurate with the effort.

1. unexpected in the light of
2. funny compared with
3. proportional to
4. the wrong excuse for.

Question 44

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “finesse”: They show no finesse in dealing with strangers.

1. boldness
2. kindness
3. tact
4. love

Question 45

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “step up”: As a matter of fact, we have been trying to step up production.

1. maximize
2. decrease
3. suspend
4. increase

Question 46

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “used to play”: Ojo used to play tennis every day.

1. is familiar with playing
2. has to play
3. was in the habit of playing
4. was made to play.

Question 47

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “on his tail”: In his own story, he confirmed that they had been on his tail for quite some time.

1. closely following and watching him
2. searching for him
3. giving him a tail
4. tagging him a talebearer

Question 49

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “presently”: Although the manager is busy right now, he will be with you presently.

1. Immediately
2. soon
3. without delay
4. right away

Question 50

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “characteristically”: The governor’s wife, in characteristically simple attire, walked into the hall unnoticed.

1. eccentrically
2. typically
3. consistently
4. intrinsically

Question 51

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “keep open house”: After my husband’s popular election, we had to keep open house throughout the weekend.

1. entertain every caller
2. keep all doors open
3. relax security
4. give a party

Question 53

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “pay lip service”: The corporate existence of any nation is in jeopardy if her leaders pay lip service to her unity.

1. do not promptly pay their taxes.
2. want to break up the country
3. do not dialogue regularly over her unity
4. are insincere about the problems of her unity

Question 54

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “chagrin”: Much to her chagrin, the bridegroom did not turn up for the wedding

1. wonder
2. surprise
3. disappointment
4. depression

Question 55

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “out of the woods”: Ngozi’s countenance is less gloomy: it would appear as if she is relatively out of the woods.

1. free from difficulties
2. just from the forest
3. in good condition of health
4. out of wants

Question 59

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Sa'adatu as well as the maids_____

1. like Plantain chips
2. are liking Plantain chips
3. is liking plantain chips
4. likes plantain chips

Question 60

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Measles_____no longer impossible to manage these days

1. is
2. are
3. were
4. was

Question 62

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: If the boys arrived early enough, the match _____

1. would have been played
2. will be played
3. will have to be played
4. would be played

Question 64

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: She usually works hard, but_____ she could be very lazy.

1. at times
2. atimes
3. attimes
4. at time

Question 65

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The police _____ happy about the dwindling crime rate.

1. says they are
2. say it is
3. say they are
4. says it is

Question 66

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The keepers themselves are sometimes_____ by the bees.

1. stinged
2. stang
3. stung
4. sting

Question 68

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The patient was _____ by a group of surgeons last week.

1. operated on
2. operated
3. operated for
4. operated with

Question 69

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The old man couldn't help _____ at his grandson's babbling.

1. to laugh
2. that he laughed
3. laughing
4. in laughing

Question 71

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: He claimed that Mr. okoli's utterance was tantamount to defamation of character, so he sued for _____

1. damage
2. some damage
3. a damage
4. damages

Question 72

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: I don't think he can _____

1. can't he
2. isn't it
3. can he
4. don’t I

Question 75

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: To be extravagant is to be _____

1. rich
2. luxurious
3. careless
4. wasteful

Question 76

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Until his recent experience, Onimisi used to pride himself_____ his fearlessness.

1. on
2. by
3. about
4. for

Question 78

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Based on the facts before me, I have no alternative _____ to terminate your appointment.

1. but
2. than
3. as
4. only

Question 79

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Despite the pressure of work during the week I shall endeavor to _____ at your wedding.

1. put up an appearance
2. put an appearance
3. put in an appearance
4. put on an appearance

Question 80

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The expected guest eventually arrived _____ his wife.

1. in company with
2. in company of
3. by company of
4. accompanied with

Question 81

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: When we visited him, he offered us a variety of _____ drinks such as whisky and brandy.

1. hot
2. local
3. hard
4. soft

Question 85

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: One _____ be too careful these days; times are uncertain and walls have ears.

1. can't
2. shouldn’t
3. need not
4. dares not

Question 89

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: School buildings that _____ in 1950_____ now uninhabitable.

1. were build / are
2. were built / are
3. were built / is
4. are built / are

Question 91

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Defects like _____ in government's development plans_____ for extra vigilance.

1. this / calls
2. these / calls
3. this / call
4. these / call

Question 92

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Most of his personal _____ stolen

1. affects was
2. affects were
3. effects was
4. effects were

Question 94

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The director is to liaise _____ the management _____ corporate matters.

1. with / in
2. in / on
3. with / on
4. on / with

Question 95

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Some motorists _____ Sokoto and Kano.

1. shuttle along
2. shuttle from
3. shuttle to
4. shuttle between

Question 97

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: My _____ is for you to refuse the _____ of the wicked.

1. advise / advice
2. advice / advice
3. advice / advise
4. advise / advise

Question 98

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Go straight down the hill and take the third _____ on the left. you can't miss it.

1. bend
2. branch
3. junction
4. turning