JAMB Use of English 1998

Question 1

Those who have visited the city of Jos in Nigeria attest to its uniqueness. The first striking thing to notice, perhaps, is the benevolence of the climate. It will be no exaggeration to say that in no other Nigerian city does one feel so much at peace, so relaxed, with the climate as in Jos. When people say that Jos is cold, the remark is always a compliment, referring to the cool, serene feeling of being at peace with nature, which one experiences in the city. This feeling is topographically symbolized by the surrounding rocky hills, which adorn the horizon from every angle of the city. These hills remind you of castles, except that whereas castles are man-made, the hills of Jos are natural edifices in which the master mason who had delicately laid those stones one upon another is no other than God Himself. The sun of Jos shines without malice, and even in February and March, when it is scorching hot in most parts of Nigeria, the heat of Jos dances caressingly on the surface of the skin, as if afraid of hurting the organs beneath. It is as if from above, a soft protective layer of blanket intercedes between the heat of the sun and the inhabitants of the city. Compared to what obtains in most other Nigerian cities, the inhabitants of Jos are openly warm. They are relaxed, and there is the absence of that suffocating feeling, with which a place like Lagos is associated, of a people madly rushing to their graves. The groceries operating at all nooks and crannies of the city give the impression of a great abundance of a variety of food items. It is almost as if some unseen hands are responsible for the presence of these varieties of edible items. The truth of course is that, in Jos, people - civil servants, farmers and traders - are socially well-disposed to the influx of new settlers and novel ideas, and this ensures an apparent high degree of self-sufficiency. You may be hungry in Jos, but you need not be angry. If other parts of Nigeria had been like Jos, surely the colonialists would never have left the country without a good fight. Many monuments abound in the city which tell tales of the Whiteman’s love for this city of solid minerals.

The presence of a wide variety of edible items in Jos suggests that

1. the inhabitants are great farmers and innovators
2. the soil is extremely fertile and receptive
3. there is a high influx of traders and farmers from other places
4. it rains all the year round in the city and its environs.

Question 2

Those who have visited the city of Jos in Nigeria attest to its uniqueness. The first striking thing to notice, perhaps, is the benevolence of the climate. It will be no exaggeration to say that in no other Nigerian city does one feel so much at peace, so relaxed, with the climate as in Jos. When people say that Jos is cold, the remark is always a compliment, referring to the cool, serene feeling of being at peace with nature, which one experiences in the city. This feeling is topographically symbolized by the surrounding rocky hills, which adorn the horizon from every angle of the city. These hills remind you of castles, except that whereas castles are man-made, the hills of Jos are natural edifices in which the master mason who had delicately laid those stones one upon another is no other than God Himself. The sun of Jos shines without malice, and even in February and March, when it is scorching hot in most parts of Nigeria, the heat of Jos dances caressingly on the surface of the skin, as if afraid of hurting the organs beneath. It is as if from above, a soft protective layer of blanket intercedes between the heat of the sun and the inhabitants of the city. Compared to what obtains in most other Nigerian cities, the inhabitants of Jos are openly warm. They are relaxed, and there is the absence of that suffocating feeling, with which a place like Lagos is associated, of a people madly rushing to their graves. The groceries operating at all nooks and crannies of the city give the impression of a great abundance of a variety of food items. It is almost as if some unseen hands are responsible for the presence of these varieties of edible items. The truth of course is that, in Jos, people - civil servants, farmers and traders - are socially well-disposed to the influx of new settlers and novel ideas, and this ensures an apparent high degree of self-sufficiency. You may be hungry in Jos, but you need not be angry. If other parts of Nigeria had been like Jos, surely the colonialists would never have left the country without a good fight. Many monuments abound in the city which tell tales of the Whiteman’s love for this city of solid minerals.

The benevolence of Jos climate is reflected in the

1. feeling of peace and harmony with nature which the city evokes
2. cold climate of the city which makes people always dress warmly.
3. fact that the inhabitants of Jos do not need to work hard.
4. average life-span of the inhabitants of Jos, which is high

Question 3

Those who have visited the city of Jos in Nigeria attest to its uniqueness. The first striking thing to notice, perhaps, is the benevolence of the climate. It will be no exaggeration to say that in no other Nigerian city does one feel so much at peace, so relaxed, with the climate as in Jos. When people say that Jos is cold, the remark is always a compliment, referring to the cool, serene feeling of being at peace with nature, which one experiences in the city. This feeling is topographically symbolized by the surrounding rocky hills, which adorn the horizon from every angle of the city. These hills remind you of castles, except that whereas castles are man-made, the hills of Jos are natural edifices in which the master mason who had delicately laid those stones one upon another is no other than God Himself. The sun of Jos shines without malice, and even in February and March, when it is scorching hot in most parts of Nigeria, the heat of Jos dances caressingly on the surface of the skin, as if afraid of hurting the organs beneath. It is as if from above, a soft protective layer of blanket intercedes between the heat of the sun and the inhabitants of the city. Compared to what obtains in most other Nigerian cities, the inhabitants of Jos are openly warm. They are relaxed, and there is the absence of that suffocating feeling, with which a place like Lagos is associated, of a people madly rushing to their graves. The groceries operating at all nooks and crannies of the city give the impression of a great abundance of a variety of food items. It is almost as if some unseen hands are responsible for the presence of these varieties of edible items. The truth of course is that, in Jos, people - civil servants, farmers and traders - are socially well-disposed to the influx of new settlers and novel ideas, and this ensures an apparent high degree of self-sufficiency. You may be hungry in Jos, but you need not be angry. If other parts of Nigeria had been like Jos, surely the colonialists would never have left the country without a good fight. Many monuments abound in the city which tell tales of the Whiteman’s love for this city of solid minerals.

One distinctive ecological feature symbolizing the close intimacy between Jos and nature, is the

1. bright horizon adorning the city from every angle
2. rocky hills standing at various points of the city like castles
3. sun which shines over Jos with benevolence
4. clouds which spread a blanket of protection between the sun and the earth.

Question 4

Those who have visited the city of Jos in Nigeria attest to its uniqueness. The first striking thing to notice, perhaps, is the benevolence of the climate. It will be no exaggeration to say that in no other Nigerian city does one feel so much at peace, so relaxed, with the climate as in Jos. When people say that Jos is cold, the remark is always a compliment, referring to the cool, serene feeling of being at peace with nature, which one experiences in the city. This feeling is topographically symbolized by the surrounding rocky hills, which adorn the horizon from every angle of the city. These hills remind you of castles, except that whereas castles are man-made, the hills of Jos are natural edifices in which the master mason who had delicately laid those stones one upon another is no other than God Himself. The sun of Jos shines without malice, and even in February and March, when it is scorching hot in most parts of Nigeria, the heat of Jos dances caressingly on the surface of the skin, as if afraid of hurting the organs beneath. It is as if from above, a soft protective layer of blanket intercedes between the heat of the sun and the inhabitants of the city. Compared to what obtains in most other Nigerian cities, the inhabitants of Jos are openly warm. They are relaxed, and there is the absence of that suffocating feeling, with which a place like Lagos is associated, of a people madly rushing to their graves. The groceries operating at all nooks and crannies of the city give the impression of a great abundance of a variety of food items. It is almost as if some unseen hands are responsible for the presence of these varieties of edible items. The truth of course is that, in Jos, people - civil servants, farmers and traders - are socially well-disposed to the influx of new settlers and novel ideas, and this ensures an apparent high degree of self-sufficiency. You may be hungry in Jos, but you need not be angry. If other parts of Nigeria had been like Jos, surely the colonialists would never have left the country without a good fight. Many monuments abound in the city which tell tales of the Whiteman’s love for this city of solid minerals.

The last paragraph of the passage suggests that

1. the colonialists left Jos only after a fight
2. the colonialists left Jos reluctantly
3. Jos could not contain the many colonialists
4. Nigeria’s independence forced many colonialists out of Jos.

Question 6

Population has at last made the grade and emerged as a world problem. Unfortunately, most of those who speak or write about it persist in thinking of it in terms of a race between human numbers and world resources especially of food - a kind of competition between production and reproduction. Certainly, the statistics churned out are important revealing that indeed, there is a population explosion. But the real explosion is a twentieth century phenomenon, due primarily to the spectacular development in medicine and hygiene. This has drastically cut down death rates without any corresponding reduction in birth rates; death control without birth control. World population we are told has more than doubled since 1900 and will certainly reach well over 5½ billion and possibly 7 billion by the magical year 2000. The population has brought us up against a number of tough ecological facts. Man is at last pressing hard on his spatial environment - there is little leeway left for his colonization of new areas of the world’s surface… What are people for? Surely people do not exist just to provide ‘ bomb-fodder’ for an atomic bonfire or ‘religious fodder’ for rival religious sects or ‘cannon-fodder’ for rival national armies or rival political parties or even consumer-fodder’ for profit making systems. It cannot be their aim just to eat, drink and be merry and to hell with posterity nor to live out their undernourished lives in some squalid Asian or African village. Man’s dominant aim must be to increase in quality-quality of human personality, of achievement, of inner experience, quality of life and of living in general. Fulfillment is probably the embracing word; more ‘fulfillment’ more satisfaction and less frustration for more Homo sapiens. Man wants more varied and fuller achievement in the society as opposed to drabness and shrinkages. We want more knowledge and more interest as against ignorance and apathy. Then would we know that the spatial environment is not as small as we think.

The theme of the passage is

1. population explosion and development in medicine.
2. man in a deprived world
3. development in medicine and hygiene
4. population and the need for qualitative development

Question 7

Population has at last made the grade and emerged as a world problem. Unfortunately, most of those who speak or write about it persist in thinking of it in terms of a race between human numbers and world resources especially of food - a kind of competition between production and reproduction. Certainly, the statistics churned out are important revealing that indeed, there is a population explosion. But the real explosion is a twentieth century phenomenon, due primarily to the spectacular development in medicine and hygiene. This has drastically cut down death rates without any corresponding reduction in birth rates; death control without birth control. World population we are told has more than doubled since 1900 and will certainly reach well over 5½ billion and possibly 7 billion by the magical year 2000. The population has brought us up against a number of tough ecological facts. Man is at last pressing hard on his spatial environment - there is little leeway left for his colonization of new areas of the world’s surface… What are people for? Surely people do not exist just to provide ‘ bomb-fodder’ for an atomic bonfire or ‘religious fodder’ for rival religious sects or ‘cannon-fodder’ for rival national armies or rival political parties or even consumer-fodder’ for profit making systems. It cannot be their aim just to eat, drink and be merry and to hell with posterity nor to live out their undernourished lives in some squalid Asian or African village. Man’s dominant aim must be to increase in quality-quality of human personality, of achievement, of inner experience, quality of life and of living in general. Fulfillment is probably the embracing word; more ‘fulfillment’ more satisfaction and less frustration for more Homo sapiens. Man wants more varied and fuller achievement in the society as opposed to drabness and shrinkages. We want more knowledge and more interest as against ignorance and apathy. Then would we know that the spatial environment is not as small as we think.

Population explosion is as a result of

1. cut down in death rates and birth rates
2. lack of birth control and child welfare
3. development in environmental sanitation
4. imbalance between death control and birth control.

Question 9

Population has at last made the grade and emerged as a world problem. Unfortunately, most of those who speak or write about it persist in thinking of it in terms of a race between human numbers and world resources especially of food - a kind of competition between production and reproduction. Certainly, the statistics churned out are important revealing that indeed, there is a population explosion. But the real explosion is a twentieth century phenomenon, due primarily to the spectacular development in medicine and hygiene. This has drastically cut down death rates without any corresponding reduction in birth rates; death control without birth control. World population we are told has more than doubled since 1900 and will certainly reach well over 5½ billion and possibly 7 billion by the magical year 2000. The population has brought us up against a number of tough ecological facts. Man is at last pressing hard on his spatial environment - there is little leeway left for his colonization of new areas of the world’s surface… What are people for? Surely people do not exist just to provide ‘ bomb-fodder’ for an atomic bonfire or ‘religious fodder’ for rival religious sects or ‘cannon-fodder’ for rival national armies or rival political parties or even consumer-fodder’ for profit making systems. It cannot be their aim just to eat, drink and be merry and to hell with posterity nor to live out their undernourished lives in some squalid Asian or African village. Man’s dominant aim must be to increase in quality-quality of human personality, of achievement, of inner experience, quality of life and of living in general. Fulfillment is probably the embracing word; more ‘fulfillment’ more satisfaction and less frustration for more Homo sapiens. Man wants more varied and fuller achievement in the society as opposed to drabness and shrinkages. We want more knowledge and more interest as against ignorance and apathy. Then would we know that the spatial environment is not as small as we think.

According to the passage, the main purpose of human existences is

1. for procreation
2. to provide cannon-fodder
3. to live perpetually in penury
4. to live a life of fulfillment.

Question 11

There is another interesting fact about eye movement. If you record the eye movements of someone who is reading you will notice that from time to time the reader goes back and looks again at something he has read before; in other words, he regresses to an earlier part of the text probably because he realises he does not understand the passage properly. Then he comes back to where he left off and continues reading. At one time, it was thought that regression was a fault, but it is in fact a very necessary activity in efficient reading. There are several different kinds of fault in reading, which are usually more exaggerated with foreign learners. The most common one is that most people read more slowly than they should. There is no rate at which people ought to read of course; it depends on your purpose in reading, how difficult the language is, how unfamiliar the material is and so on. But most people read everything at the same slow speed and do not seem to realise that they can read faster or slower as required. Other people say the words to themselves or move their lips - these habits slow the reader down to something near speaking speed, which is of course much slower than reading speed. Another habit which can slow you down is following the line with your finger, or with a pen. If you want to be able to read faster the secret is simply to practise under timed conditions. This means that you should give yourself a certain amount of time to read with understanding then check your time when you have finished. Students who have practised fast reading even for only an hour a week, have shown average improvements of over 50% over a term of ten weeks’ duration. Reading fast does not necessarily mean reading with less comprehension - in fact students usually show small increase in comprehension as well as a dramatic increase in speed. [Wallace, M.C: Study Skills in English, C.U.P. 1980 ]

The expression “There is no rate at which people ought to read, of course” is used to

1. justify regression in reading
2. condemn slow reading habits
3. justify a variety of reading speeds
4. recommend regression in reading.

Question 12

There is another interesting fact about eye movement. If you record the eye movements of someone who is reading you will notice that from time to time the reader goes back and looks again at something he has read before; in other words, he regresses to an earlier part of the text probably because he realises he does not understand the passage properly. Then he comes back to where he left off and continues reading. At one time, it was thought that regression was a fault, but it is in fact a very necessary activity in efficient reading. There are several different kinds of fault in reading, which are usually more exaggerated with foreign learners. The most common one is that most people read more slowly than they should. There is no rate at which people ought to read of course; it depends on your purpose in reading, how difficult the language is, how unfamiliar the material is and so on. But most people read everything at the same slow speed and do not seem to realise that they can read faster or slower as required. Other people say the words to themselves or move their lips - these habits slow the reader down to something near speaking speed, which is of course much slower than reading speed. Another habit which can slow you down is following the line with your finger, or with a pen. If you want to be able to read faster the secret is simply to practise under timed conditions. This means that you should give yourself a certain amount of time to read with understanding then check your time when you have finished. Students who have practised fast reading even for only an hour a week, have shown average improvements of over 50% over a term of ten weeks’ duration. Reading fast does not necessarily mean reading with less comprehension - in fact students usually show small increase in comprehension as well as a dramatic increase in speed. [Wallace, M.C: Study Skills in English, C.U.P. 1980 ]

According to the passage, the reader regresses so that he can-

1. look again at what he has read before
2. appreciate what he is reading
3. make sense of what he is reading
4. remember what he is reading

Question 13

There is another interesting fact about eye movement. If you record the eye movements of someone who is reading you will notice that from time to time the reader goes back and looks again at something he has read before; in other words, he regresses to an earlier part of the text probably because he realises he does not understand the passage properly. Then he comes back to where he left off and continues reading. At one time, it was thought that regression was a fault, but it is in fact a very necessary activity in efficient reading. There are several different kinds of fault in reading, which are usually more exaggerated with foreign learners. The most common one is that most people read more slowly than they should. There is no rate at which people ought to read of course; it depends on your purpose in reading, how difficult the language is, how unfamiliar the material is and so on. But most people read everything at the same slow speed and do not seem to realise that they can read faster or slower as required. Other people say the words to themselves or move their lips - these habits slow the reader down to something near speaking speed, which is of course much slower than reading speed. Another habit which can slow you down is following the line with your finger, or with a pen. If you want to be able to read faster the secret is simply to practise under timed conditions. This means that you should give yourself a certain amount of time to read with understanding then check your time when you have finished. Students who have practised fast reading even for only an hour a week, have shown average improvements of over 50% over a term of ten weeks’ duration. Reading fast does not necessarily mean reading with less comprehension - in fact students usually show small increase in comprehension as well as a dramatic increase in speed. [Wallace, M.C: Study Skills in English, C.U.P. 1980 ]

For effective reading, the writer implies that speaking speed is

1. normal
2. inadequate
3. necessary
4. significant

Question 14

There is another interesting fact about eye movement. If you record the eye movements of someone who is reading you will notice that from time to time the reader goes back and looks again at something he has read before; in other words, he regresses to an earlier part of the text probably because he realises he does not understand the passage properly. Then he comes back to where he left off and continues reading. At one time, it was thought that regression was a fault, but it is in fact a very necessary activity in efficient reading. There are several different kinds of fault in reading, which are usually more exaggerated with foreign learners. The most common one is that most people read more slowly than they should. There is no rate at which people ought to read of course; it depends on your purpose in reading, how difficult the language is, how unfamiliar the material is and so on. But most people read everything at the same slow speed and do not seem to realise that they can read faster or slower as required. Other people say the words to themselves or move their lips - these habits slow the reader down to something near speaking speed, which is of course much slower than reading speed. Another habit which can slow you down is following the line with your finger, or with a pen. If you want to be able to read faster the secret is simply to practise under timed conditions. This means that you should give yourself a certain amount of time to read with understanding then check your time when you have finished. Students who have practised fast reading even for only an hour a week, have shown average improvements of over 50% over a term of ten weeks’ duration. Reading fast does not necessarily mean reading with less comprehension - in fact students usually show small increase in comprehension as well as a dramatic increase in speed. [Wallace, M.C: Study Skills in English, C.U.P. 1980 ]

The word ‘exaggerated’ as used in the passage, means

1. pronounced
2. problematic
3. falsified
4. compounded

Question 26

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: If I left the country, I would arrange for my family to join me.

1. He left the country and his family joined him
2. In the event of his leaving the country, his family would join him
3. He did not leave the country and his family did not join him
4. He may not leave the country.

Question 28

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: The painting in the museum was beautifully faked.

1. The painting was a good deceptive replica
2. The painting was well-framed and displayed
3. The painting was deceptively decorated in the museum
4. The painting was carefully hung in the museum

Question 30

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: The President held forth for several minutes on the need for patriotism.

1. The president was silent for some minutes when patriotism was being discussed
2. The President whispered a few things about patriotism
3. The President spent time saying a few things about patriots
4. The President gave a rather long speech on the importance of patriotism

Question 33

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: The expected guests arrived at the eleventh hour.

1. The guests arrived at the last minute.
2. The guests arrived at 11 o’clock.
3. The guests arrived at the expected time.
4. The guests arrived eleven hours behind schedule.

Question 34

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: After addressing the court for two hours, the defence counsel rested her case.

1. The defence counsel was tired after speaking for two hours, so she took a break.
2. The judge adjourned the defence counsel's case after listening for two hours
3. The defence counsel concluded her defence after speaking for two hours
4. The judge advised the defence counsel to rest after two hours of address.

Question 36

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “redressed”: The chairman’s verdict redressed the injustice meted out by the secretary.

1. corrected
2. restored
3. aggravated
4. addressed

Question 37

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “severity”: Uche could not travel last December because of the severity of the harmattan.

1. cold
2. mildness
3. warmth
4. moderation.

Question 38

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “ordeal”: Traveling in the night can be an ordeal.

1. a great exercise
2. a great fear
3. a great endurance
4. a great pleasure

Question 39

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “provocative”: Mrs. Kofi is very provocative in her style of dressing.

1. modest
2. happy
3. angry
4. beautiful

Question 40

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “callous”: Akoso thought that her father was very callous.

1. indifferent
2. compassionate
3. wicked
4. careless

Question 44

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “inopportune”: It was an inopportune moment for you to make that suggestion.

1. an ideal
2. a wrong
3. an exact
4. a sad

Question 45

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “peripheral”: He devoted too much time to the peripheral aspects

1. unimportant
2. superficial
3. minor
4. main.

Question 46

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “enervating”: The climate of Nigeria is an enervating one

1. a weakening
2. an energy sapping
3. an invigorating
4. a sluggish.

Question 47

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “idiosyncrasy”: The girl’s idiosyncrasy was a passion for bread and butter.

1. stupid outburst
2. general tendency
3. singular characteristic
4. occupational calling.

Question 48

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “unswerving”: Once he has decided that something needs doing, my brother is very unswerving of purpose.

1. erratic
2. tenacious
3. stubborn
4. simple

Question 49

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “fallacy”: Those were the days of the fallacy that some languages are primitive while others are not

1. argument
2. excuse
3. misconception
4. truth

Question 50

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “immune”: She is immune to the flattery of young men.

1. resistant
2. susceptible
3. insensible
4. unresponsive

Question 51

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “renascence”: Events in South Africa indicate a kind of political renascence

1. rejuvenation
2. decline
3. turbulence
4. upheaval

Question 52

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “disparate”: If we must live together as one people, we must learn to tolerate disparate dispositions.

1. converging
2. accommodating
3. conflicting
4. opposing

Question 53

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “catastrophe”: The presidential aspirant warned of the political catastrophe that would follow if the elections were rigged.

1. problem
2. turmoil
3. success
4. conflagration

Question 54

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “eclectic”: The material in the book is presented within an eclectic framework.

1. a simple
2. a broad
3. a restricted
4. a clumsy

Question 55

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “brainwave”: Ohiokhen had a brainwave as to how she could deal with the problem.

1. an imagination
2. a desire
3. a headache
4. an idea

Question 56

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “a ball of fire”: Surely, Ahmed is a ball of fire.

1. a quarrelsome person
2. a hot-headed activist
3. a fiery speaker or writer
4. a very energetic person

Question 57

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “a dark horse”: This time, she will be competing with a dark horse.

1. a weak and lowspirited person
2. a person about whom little is known
3. an unpopular candidate
4. a person as strong as a horse.

Question 58

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “it never rains but it pours”: In answer to the question as to how life is treating him, the stranger said, “it never rains but it pours”.

1. the blessings of life shower on him like a heavy rain
2. he is contented with his improved fortunes
3. things are getting decidedly worse
4. his financial status is deteriorating

Question 59

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “struck gold”: After many years of struggle as a trader he struck gold

1. became quite rich
2. won a big contract
3. became a gold miner
4. became a goldsmith.

Question 61

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “stew in his own juice”: Any student found guilty of examination malpractice should be allowed to stew in his own juice

1. taste a repeat of the examination
2. suffer the consequences of his action
3. bear the brunt of the disgrace
4. forfeit the opportunity of further education.

Question 62

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “gait”: The lady who won the beauty contest had a good gait

1. stature
2. figure
3. elegance
4. carriage.

Question 63

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “a high flyer”: It would need a high flyer to make a first class degree in the university.

1. a smart performer
2. an outright genius
3. an outstanding scholar
4. an unmitigated swot.

Question 64

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “a bird’s eye view”: What you will find in the book is a bird’s eye view of the subject.

1. a detailed account
2. a balanced discussion
3. a biased treatment
4. a general survey.

Question 65

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “a chequered career”: Hers was a chequered career

1. an interesting and successful career
2. a career full of sorrow and tears
3. a bright and memorable career
4. a career full of ups and downs

Question 67

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “come off”: In my view, the play didn’t come off.

1. succeed
2. fail
3. attract applause
4. take place

Question 68

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “When the chips are down”: When the chips are down, we will know those who have the courage to stand.

1. When we get to crisis point
2. In the final analysis
3. When the blocks are lowered
4. When we get to the end of the road.

Question 69

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “pet aversion”: She said boxing is in fact her pet aversion.

1. something she likes very much
2. something she dislikes very much
3. a hobby she loves to pursue
4. one thing she can’t miss

Question 70

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “perfunctorily”: The gateman does his work perfunctorily.

1. without commitment
2. with speed
3. grudgingly
4. enthusiastically

Question 71

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “at cross purposes”: Members of the panel were working at cross purposes.

1. in harmony
2. in disunity
3. for selfish purpose
4. for selfless purposes

Question 72

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “repudiated”: The young man who distributed political pamphlets on campus was promptly repudiated.

1. disowned
2. arrested
3. warned
4. killed

Question 81

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Okonkwo is a stubborn man; he will never _____ his words.

1. chew
2. spit
3. eat
4. bite

Question 84

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Two young boys have been caught with parts of the stolen machine but _____ admitted stealing it.

1. neither of them has
2. neither of them have
3. none of them has
4. none of them have