JAMB Use of English 2008

33 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 27

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: The computer operator was sacked for incompetence

  1. The computer operator was sacked for his foolishness
  2. The computer operator was sacked for his lazı- ness
  3. The computer operator was sacked for lack of skill
  4. The computer operator was sacked for lateness
Answer and explanation

C: The computer operator was sacked for lack of skill

Incompetence means lacking the skill or ability needed to perform a task properly. Lack of skill is the nearest explanation; it does not specifically mean laziness, lateness or foolishness.

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Question 28

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: He was a member of the think tank of the previous administration

  1. As an expert, he criticized government
  2. He was an expert who gave advice to government
  3. He was an expert that government did not listen to
  4. As an expert government must have taken to his advice
Answer and explanation

B: He was an expert who gave advice to government

A think tank is a group of experts who study issues and offer ideas or advice. Membership therefore made him an expert adviser; it does not guarantee that the government followed every recommendation.

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Question 31

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: He kept a stiff upper lip over the accident.

  1. He sustained injury on his upper lip.
  2. He endured the misfortune with courage.
  3. He could not talk because of the accident.
  4. His friends deserted him because of the accident.
Answer and explanation

B: He endured the misfortune with courage.

To keep a stiff upper lip is to remain brave and controlled during trouble. He faced the misfortune with courage; the expression does not describe an injury or an inability to speak.

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Question 32

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: He had travelled the length and breadth of Africa.

  1. He must have travelled to some big cities of Africa
  2. He had travelled to many parts of Africa.
  3. He had travelled to all parts of Africa.
  4. He had travelled to all the villages and towns of Africa.
Answer and explanation

C: He had travelled to all parts of Africa.

The length and breadth of a place means throughout all its parts. Option C captures that broad geographical coverage; the expression does not literally claim a visit to every individual town and village.

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Question 33

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: She wriggled out of her wedding gown

  1. She could not take off her gown herself so she was assisted.
  2. her dress got torn because of the snake-like pattern
  3. No one could have imagined that her dress was so tight
  4. It took her some time to remove her close-fitting dress.
Answer and explanation

D: It took her some time to remove her close-fitting dress.

Wriggling involves twisting the body to move through or out of a tight space. Removing a close-fitting dress with some effort is the nearest interpretation; the sentence does not say the gown tore or that someone helped her.

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Question 35

Choose the most appropriate interpretation: The group had been made a scapegoat during the event.

  1. Members of the group had been punished for a sin that they did not commit.
  2. Members of the group had been blamed for a sin that they committed.
  3. The group had been punished so that no one would commit the sin again.
  4. The group had been blamed merely to serve as a deterrent to others.
Answer and explanation

A: Members of the group had been punished for a sin that they did not commit.

A scapegoat is made to bear blame for wrongdoing that is really someone else’s responsibility. Option A captures the group’s unfair treatment; the expression does not mean they committed the wrongdoing.

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Question 36

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “apathetic”: Sola is apathetic about his work.

  1. indifferent
  2. enthusiastic
  3. half-hearted
  4. bored.
Answer and explanation

B: enthusiastic

Apathetic means showing little interest or enthusiasm. Enthusiastic is the opposite, while indifferent, half-hearted and bored all suggest a lack of engagement rather than eagerness.

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Question 37

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “hasty”: The members of the family had a hasty breakfast before starting out on their journey.

  1. hurried
  2. leisurely
  3. tasty
  4. nasty.
Answer and explanation

B: leisurely

Hasty means hurried or done quickly. Leisurely means unhurried, so it is the opposite description of the breakfast. Tasty concerns flavour and nasty concerns unpleasantness.

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Question 38

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “poverty”: The poverty level among the masses is unbearable.

  1. arrogance
  2. saturation
  3. affluence
  4. influence.
Answer and explanation

C: affluence

Poverty is a state of lacking money or basic resources. Affluence means having considerable wealth, so it supplies the opposite; influence concerns power rather than financial condition.

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Question 42

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “obscure”: The lecturer's obscure publications counted against him during the promotion exercise.

  1. widespread
  2. closed
  3. circulate
  4. restricted.
Answer and explanation

A: widespread

Obscure publications are little known or have limited recognition. Widespread provides the nearest contrast among these choices, suggesting broad reach; closed and restricted continue the idea of limited access.

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Question 43

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “repellant”: The man found his wife physically repellant.

  1. attractive
  2. fatuous
  3. unpleasant
  4. flamboyant.
Answer and explanation

A: attractive

Repellant here means physically repulsive or unpleasant. Attractive expresses the opposite response. Fatuous means foolish and flamboyant means showy, neither of which is the opposite of repulsive.

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Question 44

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “absolute ruler”: As an absolute ruler, Adayi brooks no opposition from his subordinates.

  1. a despotic dictator
  2. a shameless king
  3. a benevolent leader
  4. a magnanimous democrat.
Answer and explanation

D: a magnanimous democrat.

An absolute ruler has unrestricted power and tolerates no opposition. A democrat provides the political contrast because democratic rule permits participation and opposition; a ruler can be benevolent while still holding absolute power.

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Question 45

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “phenomenal”: The response to the advertisement has been phenomenal.

  1. spiritual
  2. frightening
  3. unimpressive
  4. catastrophic.
Answer and explanation

C: unimpressive

Phenomenal describes something exceptionally impressive or remarkable. Unimpressive is the opposite evaluation of the response; the other options concern fear, disaster or spiritual matters.

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Question 47

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “acrimonious”: Bola's parents went through an acrimonious divorce.

  1. a bitter
  2. an acrid
  3. a sour
  4. a peaceful.
Answer and explanation

D: a peaceful.

Acrimonious means bitter and hostile, especially in a dispute. Peaceful gives the opposite character of a divorce. Bitter, acrid and sour all suggest unpleasantness rather than harmony.

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Question 49

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “encapsulated”: She encapsulated her view of the nature of life in a poem.

  1. summed up
  2. explained
  3. expatiated on
  4. reflected.
Answer and explanation

C: expatiated on

To encapsulate a view is to express its essential points briefly. To expatiate on it is to discuss it at length, giving the opposite approach. Summed up is similar to encapsulated.

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Question 50

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “spellbound”: We were held spellbound by his eloquence.

  1. Unimpressed
  2. freed
  3. deceived
  4. unenlightened.
Answer and explanation

A: Unimpressed

Spellbound means completely fascinated or captivated. Unimpressed gives the opposite reaction to the speech, while freed is a literal release rather than the opposite of being absorbed by eloquence.

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Question 51

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “retract”: We were at a loss to understand why Oli should retract his statement before the Judge.

  1. assert.
  2. repeat
  3. withdraw
  4. reiterate.
Answer and explanation

C: withdraw

To retract a statement is to withdraw it or take it back. Assert, repeat and reiterate involve stating it, whereas withdraw identifies the reversal expressed by retract.

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Question 53

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “abysmal”: He went to the polls in defiance of sound advice and recorded an abysmal performance.

  1. surprisingly good
  2. disappointingly bad
  3. mediocre
  4. landslide.
Answer and explanation

B: disappointingly bad

Abysmal means extremely bad. Disappointingly bad is therefore the nearest description of the performance; mediocre means only average and does not convey the same severity.

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Question 54

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “withstand”: He was not able to withstand the attack from his immediate family.

  1. survive
  2. overcome
  3. match
  4. resist
Answer and explanation

D: resist

To withstand an attack is to resist its force or pressure. Resist is the nearest meaning here; overcome would mean defeat the attack and match would mean equal it.

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Question 55

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “biased”: Your effort to bring peace between us is futile because you are biased.

  1. convinced
  2. clever
  3. prejudiced
  4. worried.
Answer and explanation

C: prejudiced

Biased means unfairly favouring one side or approaching a matter with prejudice. Prejudiced is the nearest meaning, explaining why an attempted peace settlement might lack impartiality.

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Question 56

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “ajar”: Our front door is always kept ajar...

  1. locked
  2. sealed
  3. half-closed
  4. permanently open.
Answer and explanation

C: half-closed

Ajar means partly open. Half-closed is the nearest available description because it also leaves the door partly open; locked and sealed do not, while permanently open does not specify a partial opening.

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Question 57

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “exacting”: His embroidery was an exacting task for the tailor

  1. an unwarranted
  2. an exciting
  3. a demanding
  4. a disturbing.
Answer and explanation

C: a demanding

An exacting task demands considerable care, effort or skill. Demanding is therefore the nearest meaning; exciting concerns interest and disturbing concerns anxiety rather than required effort.

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Question 59

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “throng”: I had to make my way through the throng of people in the church.

  1. group
  2. crowd
  3. gathering
  4. theme
Answer and explanation

B: crowd

A throng is a large crowd of people. Crowd is the most precise choice for the people he had to move through; group and gathering are broader terms that do not necessarily imply a dense crowd.

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Question 60

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “misgivings”: The man's wife has her misgivings about him.

  1. fears for
  2. distrust of
  3. hatred for
  4. love for
Answer and explanation

B: distrust of

Misgivings are doubts or feelings of distrust. Having misgivings about him therefore suggests distrust of him; fears for him would express concern for his welfare rather than doubts about him.

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Question 61

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “maladies”: Violent crime is only one of the maladies afflicting modern society

  1. damages
  2. illnesses
  3. wounds
  4. crises.
Answer and explanation

B: illnesses

Maladies are illnesses or serious problems. The sentence uses illness figuratively for social problems, so illnesses is the nearest meaning; wounds and damages do not express that particular metaphor.

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Question 62

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “aquiline”: Ade has an aquiline nose.

  1. a large and curved nose
  2. a wide and straight nose
  3. a big and pointed nose
  4. a small and attractive nose.
Answer and explanation

A: a large and curved nose

An aquiline nose has a prominent curve resembling an eagle’s beak. The option describing a large, curved nose is nearest; pointed alone does not identify the characteristic hooked shape.

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Question 63

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “camaraderie”: Everyone was talking about the camaraderie in the club

  1. companionship
  2. quarrelsomeness
  3. commissioning
  4. disunity
Answer and explanation

A: companionship

Camaraderie is friendly companionship and mutual trust within a group. Companionship is the nearest meaning; quarrelsomeness and disunity suggest the opposite relationship.

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Question 64

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “impossible”: 'You're impossible,' she said to me.

  1. unreasonable
  2. unforgiving
  3. daft
  4. strong
Answer and explanation

A: unreasonable

Calling a person impossible can mean that they are extremely unreasonable or difficult to deal with. Unreasonable captures that conversational meaning; it does not literally deny that the person exists.

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Question 65

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “sixth sense”: I was being directed by my sixth sense all through the ordeal.

  1. intelligence
  2. judgement
  3. intuition
  4. imagination.
Answer and explanation

C: intuition

A sixth sense is an intuitive feeling that guides a person without conscious reasoning. Intuition is the nearest meaning; imagination involves creating ideas and is not the same as an instinctive awareness.

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Question 70

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: I will pay my debt_____

  1. Instalmentaily
  2. by instalmentally
  3. in instalments
  4. in instalmentally)
Answer and explanation

C: in instalments

Paying in instalments means paying a debt in separate portions over time. In instalments is the standard expression; the other options use forms that do not correctly complete the sentence.

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Question 90

Choose the option with the same consonant sound as the q in bouquet.

  1. bucket
  2. banquet
  3. liquid
  4. squeeze.
Answer and explanation

A: bucket

The q in bouquet has the sound /k/, as does ck in bucket. The qu spelling in banquet, liquid and squeeze is pronounced with /kw/, so bucket is the intended sound match.

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Question 96

Choose the appropriate main stress pattern for incapacitate. The stressed syllable is shown in capitals.

  1. Stress on CA: inCApacitate
  2. Stress on PA: incaPAcitate
  3. Stress on IN: INcapacitate
  4. Stress on TATE: incapaciTATE
Answer and explanation

B: Stress on PA: incaPAcitate

The main stress in incapacitate falls on the third syllable, PA: in-ca-PA-ci-tate. The first syllable may have secondary stress, but the strongest beat is on PA.

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Question 98

Choose the question to which the sentence with emphasis on THEIR relates: THEIR children speak better French than English.

  1. Do their husbands speak better French than English?
  2. What language do their children speak better than English?
  3. Do their children speak better French than English?
  4. Whose children speak better French than English?
Answer and explanation

D: Whose children speak better French than English?

The emphasis on THEIR identifies whose children are being discussed. The question beginning Whose children asks for exactly that information; the other choices focus on people or language comparisons.

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