2000

JAMB Use of English 2000 past questions

64 questions from the 2000 JAMB UTME Use of English paper. Free, with answers where available.

Practice with CBT mock -> All Use of English years
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q1
The writer uses ‘numbed sensitivity' to refer to
A
deadening of the capacity to feel
B
objectionable behaviour
C
heartlessness on the part of actors.
D
unreasonable violence.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q2
What will actually be proved ‘if the premise of education is granted'?
A
Entertainment on television is harmful to society.
B
Violence on television encourages violence in real life.
C
Good models can influence the young.
D
The viewer of fantasized violence is the criminal who acts out violence.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q3
From the passage, it can be inferred that since 1985
A
more black males between the ages of 15 and 19 havebeen killing one another with guns.
B
more black males between the ages of 15 and 19 have been getting killed by guns.
C
more white than black males have been getting killed by guns.
D
more black than white males have been killing one another with guns.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q4
The writer says ‘the firearms figures are rising' because
A
more teenagers are now getting killed by firearms than by motor vehicle accidents
B
firearms now have figures that are terribly high
C
more teenagers now carry fire arms than used to be the case
D
more teenagers are now getting killed by firearms than used to be the case.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q6
Which of the following statements can be implied from the passage?
A
People catch more colds in winter.
B
The origin of colds is inconclusive.
C
People catch more colds in warm weather.
D
People catch cols equally in warm and cold weather.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q8
According to the writer, some widely held beliefs about the common colds are:
A
inevitable
B
irreconcilable
C
fallacious
D
societal
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q9
From the information in the passage, there is evidence.
A
against the theory that the common cold is infectious
B
for the theory that the common cold is indeed infectious
C
that old people are immune against the common cold
D
that medical reports are silent on facts about common colds.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q11
The expression, ‘not in memory but in expectation', as used in the passage, implies
A
innocence, not experience
B
future, not present
C
past, not present
D
hopelessness, not hopefulness.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q12
The statement, ‘nature warms their blood as though with excess of wine', as used in the text, means
A
act with considerable confidence and trust.
B
respond with suspicion and alertness
C
behave shamelessly like a drunkard
D
move with care and self-control.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q13
The analogy between young men and sick people is that
A
they are easily swayed by emotions
B
they are easily controlled by hunger and thirst
C
their emotions are active but short-lived
D
they are apt to give way to anger.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q14
According to the passage, young men are
A
violent when they have sexual desires
B
active and restive until they satisfy their desires
C
indignant and fickle in satisfying their sexual desires
D
hot-tempered when they are hungry or thirsty.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q15
The writer says that young people are optimistic in their dealings with people because they are.
A
steadfast
B
courageous
C
discreet
D
reckless. PASSAGE IV The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks. With the most profound respect to the members of the Senate, I do not think that it is within the competence of that …16…(A. executive
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q41
Without our relentless campaigns, we might … sure of victory in the race for the National Assembly.
A
never have been
B
have never be
C
never had been
D
be never
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q42
We are all hungry; we … anything to eat since morning.
A
didn't have
B
hadn't had
C
haven't had
D
never had
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q43
To check desertification in the arid zones, … trees should be planted.
A
drought-proof
B
drought-resisting
C
drought-effective
D
drought-resistant
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q44
The loquacious young lad reeled off all the names of the players…
A
off head
B
offhand
C
at heart
D
at hand
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q45
I like the character that played the role of a political…at the last convention of our party.
A
thorncoat
B
torncoat
C
turncoat
D
turnedcoat
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q46
All the traders in the market saw the woman buy... the imported suits.
A
up
B
off
C
over
D
out
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q47
The man declared his intention from the …
A
outset
B
inset
C
onset
D
offset
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q48
The Team Manager told us that the race could only be won by the…
A
flat-footed
B
bare-footed
C
swift-footed
D
fore-footed
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q49
The Governor rejected the bill and withheld his…
A
accent
B
assent
C
access
D
ascent
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q50
The new school is not provided with … for science practical.
A
enough equipment
B
equipments
C
an equipment
D
enough equipments
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q51
Much as I would love to visit him, I'm afraid ...
A
I won't
B
I can't
C
I can't be able
D
of visiting him
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q52
Ilesa witnessed the largest ... of writers at any convention in recent times.
A
turn-around
B
turnover
C
turn-out
D
turn-on
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q53
The warring factions need words of…
A
advise
B
adverse
C
advises
D
advice [PAGE 83]
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q54
The politicians were… by the press.
A
marooned
B
ridiculed
C
eclipsed
D
ostracized
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q55
There are many … to her personality.
A
moods
B
styles
C
facets
D
faces
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q56
There are several… in the farmyard.
A
sheep
B
ewe
C
lamb
D
goat
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q57
Audu fought with his… brother.
A
senior
B
older
C
bigger
D
elder
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q58
The Dark Continent was an… for Africa.
A
abuse
B
enigma
C
eclectic
D
epithet
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q59
He arrived… to see his family leave for the countryside.
A
in time
B
timely
C
late
D
with time.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q60
You can travel on your own,
A
isn't it
B
wouldn't you.
C
can't you
D
shouldn't you.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q61
Our culture does not allow one to … when an elderly person is speaking.
A
cut of
B
cut off
C
cut in
D
cut on
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q62
Raffle draws like gambling often end in a… for me.
A
lost
B
loss
C
loose
D
lose In each of questions 63 to 67, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence. Each question carries 2 marks.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q63
If he were here it could be more fun.
A
He did not show up and so the occasion lacked much fun.
B
He was being expected to supply more fun.
C
There was no fun because he was not present.
D
He was expected but did not show up to liven up the occasion.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q64
Though he is our elected representative, he often takes a rather jaundiced view of our problems.
A
He takes a rather hazy view of our problems.
B
He takes an unfavourable position concerning our problems.
C
He takes a rather forceful view of our problems.
D
He takes a sickly view of our problems.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q65
When I visited James I only gave him a congratulatory card on account of his promotion.
A
The only person I visited was James and nobody else.
B
It was only James that I gave a congratulatory card to.
C
All I gave James when I visited him was a congratulatory card.
D
All I did when I visited James was given a congratulatory card.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q66
The events of last Friday show that there is no love lost between the Principal and the Vice-Principal.
A
They like each other
B
They work independently.
C
They cannot part company
D
They dislike each other.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q67
The politician's inflammatory remarks were heavily criticized.
A
The politician's rude remarks were heavily criticized.
B
The politician's provocative remarks were heavily criticized.
C
The politician's bombastic remarks were heavily criticized.
D
The politician's tribalistic remarks were heavily criticized. (Questions 68 to 100 carry 1 mark each) In each of questions 68 to 84, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase in italics.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q68
The Governor told the chief that he was only on a routine tour.
A
normal and regular visit
B
unplanned encounter
C
surprise and impromptu check
D
working visit and homage.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q69
The boy was told that he would need several more pints of blood if he was to survive.
A
many
B
much
C
some
D
plenty
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q70
The Principal told the teacher to stop browbeating the children.
A
pampering
B
bullying
C
deceiving
D
caning
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q71
Some actions of the Nigerian youth have alienated them from those who were sympathetic to their cause.
A
endeared/kindly
B
confronted/ill disposed
C
separated/opposed
D
estranged/well disposed.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q72
The essay topic is nebulous.
A
vague
B
incorrect
C
distinct
D
clear
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q73
The man was able to persuade his willful and obstinate daughter to follow the career he chose for her.
A
intelligent but arrogant
B
unyielding and obdurate
C
obscure and odious
D
hardworking and intelligent
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q74
Mr. Okon has been described as an eagle-eyed editor.
A
a short-sighted
B
a clear-sighted
C
a long-sighted
D
a quick-sighted.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q75
Inspite of her grim situation, the young widow smiled dutifully at the visitor's pleasantries.
A
unkind comments
B
sad stories
C
condolence messages
D
jocular remarks
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q76
I have always believed that my mother is a very impassioned woman.
A
emotive
B
impartial
C
impassive
D
emotional
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q77
The party gathering was thrown into a state of euphoria after the election result was announced.
A
pleasure
B
sadness
C
excitement
D
confusion
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q78
The family discussed the crime committed and resolved to nail the lie to the counter.
A
expose it publicly.
B
bury it in a coffin.
C
defer action on it
D
seek more advice.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q79
My father was at the apogee of his career when he was retired.
A
terminal point
B
highest point
C
least productive stage
D
redundant stage
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q80
Though David's condition is serious, his life is not in immediate danger.
A
nasty
B
hypertensive
C
dangerous
D
grave
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q81
That punch by the young boxer proved to be fatal.
A
effective
B
hard
C
deadly
D
belated.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q82
The presence of the security men in the area will provide [PAGE 84] a moment of respite for the residents.
A
soothing relaxation
B
enduring reprieve
C
lasting security
D
temporary relief
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q83
It is time for all concerned to first pick to pieces the strike action before proffering solutions.
A
embrace joyfully
B
critically analyse
C
stop abruptly
D
commend highly
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q84
The new ruler is big-hearted in his dealings with the people
A
generous
B
cruel
C
soft
D
proud In each of questions 85 to 100, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) or phrase in italics.
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q85
The teacher announced that the class would be making a fleeting visit to the zoo.
A
routine
B
brief
C
long
D
guided
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q86
The project is designed to alleviate poverty in the country.
A
tackle
B
exacerbate
C
eradicate
D
assuage
Use of English JAMB 2000 Q87
Civil engineering is predominantly a male profession.
A