JAMB Use of English 2012

51 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

Practice selection: full-paper coverage has not been confirmed.

Question 2

Religion in its various forms is very strong in Nigeria. In other words, Nigerian people are very religious. Most of them believe that there is an unseen supernatural world, apart from the natural world we see around us. This other world is inhabited by beings who are the source of our knowledge of good and evil. They watch and judge us, and if we offend them they may have to be appeased with prayers and sacrifices. Certain individuals in the natural world — priests, prophets and diviners — are believed to be endowed with special powers to make contact with the other world. These individuals lay down ceremonies or rituals which must be observed if due honour is to be paid to the unseen beings. The religious beliefs and practices of Nigerians can be classified under three main headings: Traditional religion, Islam and Christianity. In this passage, our focus is on traditional religion. Traditional or indigenous religion continues to exert a strong influence on many people's minds partly because of its association with their birth places and families. Each ethnic group has its own religious tradition and these are often linked to some sacred spots in the ethnic homeland. Yet the various traditional religions have much in common: a remote but benevolent high god; under him, a number of lesser gods who interact with mankind; and below them various spirits who inhabit natural objects (trees, streams, rocks, etc); below them again, and closest to living men and women, the spirits of the ancestors. In the Yoruba tradition, for example, there are more than 400 lesser deities presided over by the high god, Olorun. Because he is remote from mankind, shrines are not built to him and worship is not offered to him directly. The lesser gods, on the other hand, are the subject of special cults, each with its own priests and devotees. Eshu, the messenger of the gods; Ifa, the god of divination; Shango, the god of thunder, and so on. Traditional religion was also strong in other parts of Nigeria. In Igbo Traditional religion, there were fewer gods. Although there was a remote high god, the most important figure was Ala or Ani, the goddess of the earth. In Hausaland, traditional religion has largely gone underground owing to the influence of Islam, but belief in the existence of 'Bori' spirits and their power to possess people, especially women, is strong in some areas. Each spirit is associated with a certain type of behaviour, which is manifested by the possessed individual. Divination - the discovery of what is unknown or is yet to happen by supernatural or magical means - is an important element of traditional religion. It is often one of the functions of medicine - men or herbalists. In Igboland, there also used to be several oracles which people consulted in order to seek solutions to their problems. With the coming of Christianity, their influence has however waned, but in areas like Arochukwu and Okija, the influence of such oracles is still strongly felt.

According to the first paragraph, Nigerians believe that the

  1. Supernatural and natural worlds coexist
  2. Natural and supernatural worlds are antagonistic
  3. The supernatural world controls the natural world
  4. The supernatural world exploits the natural world
Answer and explanation

A: Supernatural and natural worlds coexist

The first paragraph describes an unseen supernatural world apart from the natural world around us. This presents the two as coexisting. It does not describe them as antagonistic or say that one exploits the other.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 3

Religion in its various forms is very strong in Nigeria. In other words, Nigerian people are very religious. Most of them believe that there is an unseen supernatural world, apart from the natural world we see around us. This other world is inhabited by beings who are the source of our knowledge of good and evil. They watch and judge us, and if we offend them they may have to be appeased with prayers and sacrifices. Certain individuals in the natural world — priests, prophets and diviners — are believed to be endowed with special powers to make contact with the other world. These individuals lay down ceremonies or rituals which must be observed if due honour is to be paid to the unseen beings. The religious beliefs and practices of Nigerians can be classified under three main headings: Traditional religion, Islam and Christianity. In this passage, our focus is on traditional religion. Traditional or indigenous religion continues to exert a strong influence on many people's minds partly because of its association with their birth places and families. Each ethnic group has its own religious tradition and these are often linked to some sacred spots in the ethnic homeland. Yet the various traditional religions have much in common: a remote but benevolent high god; under him, a number of lesser gods who interact with mankind; and below them various spirits who inhabit natural objects (trees, streams, rocks, etc); below them again, and closest to living men and women, the spirits of the ancestors. In the Yoruba tradition, for example, there are more than 400 lesser deities presided over by the high god, Olorun. Because he is remote from mankind, shrines are not built to him and worship is not offered to him directly. The lesser gods, on the other hand, are the subject of special cults, each with its own priests and devotees. Eshu, the messenger of the gods; Ifa, the god of divination; Shango, the god of thunder, and so on. Traditional religion was also strong in other parts of Nigeria. In Igbo Traditional religion, there were fewer gods. Although there was a remote high god, the most important figure was Ala or Ani, the goddess of the earth. In Hausaland, traditional religion has largely gone underground owing to the influence of Islam, but belief in the existence of 'Bori' spirits and their power to possess people, especially women, is strong in some areas. Each spirit is associated with a certain type of behaviour, which is manifested by the possessed individual. Divination - the discovery of what is unknown or is yet to happen by supernatural or magical means - is an important element of traditional religion. It is often one of the functions of medicine - men or herbalists. In Igboland, there also used to be several oracles which people consulted in order to seek solutions to their problems. With the coming of Christianity, their influence has however waned, but in areas like Arochukwu and Okija, the influence of such oracles is still strongly felt.

According to the passage, traditional religion has waned in Nigeria due to the

  1. Influence of Islam over border
  2. Influence of Christianity over location
  3. Influence of non-traditional religions
  4. Decline of interest in traditional religions
Answer and explanation

C: Influence of non-traditional religions

The passage links the reduced visibility of traditional religion in Hausaland to Islam and the waning influence of some Igbo oracles to Christianity. C covers both influences; the other options do not bring together these stated causes.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 4

Religion in its various forms is very strong in Nigeria. In other words, Nigerian people are very religious. Most of them believe that there is an unseen supernatural world, apart from the natural world we see around us. This other world is inhabited by beings who are the source of our knowledge of good and evil. They watch and judge us, and if we offend them they may have to be appeased with prayers and sacrifices. Certain individuals in the natural world — priests, prophets and diviners — are believed to be endowed with special powers to make contact with the other world. These individuals lay down ceremonies or rituals which must be observed if due honour is to be paid to the unseen beings. The religious beliefs and practices of Nigerians can be classified under three main headings: Traditional religion, Islam and Christianity. In this passage, our focus is on traditional religion. Traditional or indigenous religion continues to exert a strong influence on many people's minds partly because of its association with their birth places and families. Each ethnic group has its own religious tradition and these are often linked to some sacred spots in the ethnic homeland. Yet the various traditional religions have much in common: a remote but benevolent high god; under him, a number of lesser gods who interact with mankind; and below them various spirits who inhabit natural objects (trees, streams, rocks, etc); below them again, and closest to living men and women, the spirits of the ancestors. In the Yoruba tradition, for example, there are more than 400 lesser deities presided over by the high god, Olorun. Because he is remote from mankind, shrines are not built to him and worship is not offered to him directly. The lesser gods, on the other hand, are the subject of special cults, each with its own priests and devotees. Eshu, the messenger of the gods; Ifa, the god of divination; Shango, the god of thunder, and so on. Traditional religion was also strong in other parts of Nigeria. In Igbo Traditional religion, there were fewer gods. Although there was a remote high god, the most important figure was Ala or Ani, the goddess of the earth. In Hausaland, traditional religion has largely gone underground owing to the influence of Islam, but belief in the existence of 'Bori' spirits and their power to possess people, especially women, is strong in some areas. Each spirit is associated with a certain type of behaviour, which is manifested by the possessed individual. Divination - the discovery of what is unknown or is yet to happen by supernatural or magical means - is an important element of traditional religion. It is often one of the functions of medicine - men or herbalists. In Igboland, there also used to be several oracles which people consulted in order to seek solutions to their problems. With the coming of Christianity, their influence has however waned, but in areas like Arochukwu and Okija, the influence of such oracles is still strongly felt.

Which factor is common to religions as mentioned in the passage?

  1. Prayer only
  2. Divination
  3. Sacrifice
  4. Ritual
Answer and explanation

D: Ritual

The opening paragraph identifies ceremonies or rituals as practices for honouring unseen beings. Ritual is the broad common factor described. Prayer only is too restrictive, and divination and sacrifice are more specific practices.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 11

It is said that experience is the best teacher, but to learn consciously through wisdom may even be a better and more convenient way. To learn by experience is to learn from mistakes. It means you have burnt your fingers and now your eyes are open. This is a tough, costly and inconvenient way to learn. Rather than leaving our learning to experience, why do we not learn consciously by going out of our way to acquire knowledge and wisdom rather than leave our learning to chance. Surely, we can learn from mistakes but why wait till when we make mistakes before we learn? We should give more premium to learning by wisdom than by experience. This will involve one making up one's mind to be decisive in learning. We must decide to learn consciously and not necessarily from negative experiences. The first step is to realize that life is simply the outcome and outplay of decisions. Our life now is the sum total of our decisions and our future will be determined by our decisions of today. If we decide to learn today we are not likely to make mistakes and when we do not make mistakes, experience need not be our best teacher. To avoid making experience our best teacher will take more than a decision. We must couple our decision with a complete and wholehearted devotion. We must be resolved, resolute and resilient in our bid to learn by wisdom and not necessarily by experience. This is crucial because situations and circumstances will want us to make a detour and leave our learning and life to chance. We must therefore be disciplined to remain with our resolve to make a clean break with experience as our best teacher. Disciplined in this regard means learning something new every day by wisdom rather than experience. It means consciously getting better by the day in your chosen field. Discipline will demand taking advantage of every learning opportunity that comes our way. It will mean we must pay the price for learning by wisdom - invest in books, magazines, seminars and other means by which we may become wiser. It is much easier and cheaper to learn consciously by wisdom than to learn by experience. When we learn by experience , the deed is done and we are just picking up the pieces-learning in regret how to avoid such predicament next time. Consider the child who grasps a burning coal, he has learned the hard way through the painful experience, but his fingers will remain burnt. Thus the saying, that experience is the best teacher, may not be justifiable after all.

The attitude of the writer of the passage can best be described as

  1. objective
  2. critical
  3. non-committal
  4. emotional
Answer and explanation

B: critical

The writer challenges the saying that experience is the best teacher and argues against relying on painful mistakes. This questioning and evaluation make the attitude critical. It is neither neutral nor non-committal.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 12

It is said that experience is the best teacher, but to learn consciously through wisdom may even be a better and more convenient way. To learn by experience is to learn from mistakes. It means you have burnt your fingers and now your eyes are open. This is a tough, costly and inconvenient way to learn. Rather than leaving our learning to experience, why do we not learn consciously by going out of our way to acquire knowledge and wisdom rather than leave our learning to chance. Surely, we can learn from mistakes but why wait till when we make mistakes before we learn? We should give more premium to learning by wisdom than by experience. This will involve one making up one's mind to be decisive in learning. We must decide to learn consciously and not necessarily from negative experiences. The first step is to realize that life is simply the outcome and outplay of decisions. Our life now is the sum total of our decisions and our future will be determined by our decisions of today. If we decide to learn today we are not likely to make mistakes and when we do not make mistakes, experience need not be our best teacher. To avoid making experience our best teacher will take more than a decision. We must couple our decision with a complete and wholehearted devotion. We must be resolved, resolute and resilient in our bid to learn by wisdom and not necessarily by experience. This is crucial because situations and circumstances will want us to make a detour and leave our learning and life to chance. We must therefore be disciplined to remain with our resolve to make a clean break with experience as our best teacher. Disciplined in this regard means learning something new every day by wisdom rather than experience. It means consciously getting better by the day in your chosen field. Discipline will demand taking advantage of every learning opportunity that comes our way. It will mean we must pay the price for learning by wisdom - invest in books, magazines, seminars and other means by which we may become wiser. It is much easier and cheaper to learn consciously by wisdom than to learn by experience. When we learn by experience , the deed is done and we are just picking up the pieces-learning in regret how to avoid such predicament next time. Consider the child who grasps a burning coal, he has learned the hard way through the painful experience, but his fingers will remain burnt. Thus the saying, that experience is the best teacher, may not be justifiable after all.

It can be deduced from the passage that

  1. all experiences are best teachers
  2. learning through pains is better
  3. experience is superior to wisdom
  4. wise thoughts are more desirable than experience
Answer and explanation

D: wise thoughts are more desirable than experience

The writer repeatedly prefers deliberate learning through wisdom to learning after mistakes. D expresses this preference. The other choices either praise painful experience or rank it above wisdom, contrary to the argument.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 13

It is said that experience is the best teacher, but to learn consciously through wisdom may even be a better and more convenient way. To learn by experience is to learn from mistakes. It means you have burnt your fingers and now your eyes are open. This is a tough, costly and inconvenient way to learn. Rather than leaving our learning to experience, why do we not learn consciously by going out of our way to acquire knowledge and wisdom rather than leave our learning to chance. Surely, we can learn from mistakes but why wait till when we make mistakes before we learn? We should give more premium to learning by wisdom than by experience. This will involve one making up one's mind to be decisive in learning. We must decide to learn consciously and not necessarily from negative experiences. The first step is to realize that life is simply the outcome and outplay of decisions. Our life now is the sum total of our decisions and our future will be determined by our decisions of today. If we decide to learn today we are not likely to make mistakes and when we do not make mistakes, experience need not be our best teacher. To avoid making experience our best teacher will take more than a decision. We must couple our decision with a complete and wholehearted devotion. We must be resolved, resolute and resilient in our bid to learn by wisdom and not necessarily by experience. This is crucial because situations and circumstances will want us to make a detour and leave our learning and life to chance. We must therefore be disciplined to remain with our resolve to make a clean break with experience as our best teacher. Disciplined in this regard means learning something new every day by wisdom rather than experience. It means consciously getting better by the day in your chosen field. Discipline will demand taking advantage of every learning opportunity that comes our way. It will mean we must pay the price for learning by wisdom - invest in books, magazines, seminars and other means by which we may become wiser. It is much easier and cheaper to learn consciously by wisdom than to learn by experience. When we learn by experience , the deed is done and we are just picking up the pieces-learning in regret how to avoid such predicament next time. Consider the child who grasps a burning coal, he has learned the hard way through the painful experience, but his fingers will remain burnt. Thus the saying, that experience is the best teacher, may not be justifiable after all.

Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

  1. man must make mistakes in order to survive.
  2. the totality of our actions should be decided by our judgement.
  3. if we do not make mistakes, experience must be our teacher
  4. our future would be judged by our past mistakes
Answer and explanation

B: the totality of our actions should be decided by our judgement.

The passage treats life as the outcome of decisions and urges deliberate learning and wise choices. B matches that emphasis on judgment guiding actions. It does not say mistakes are necessary for survival or that future life must be judged by past mistakes.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 27

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: The vice chancellor is riding the crest of the last quarter of his administration.

  1. The vice chancellor enjoys the acknowledgment of the success of his administration
  2. the vice chancellor does not enjoy the people's criticism of his administration
  3. the vice chancellor hopes to overcome soon the poor comments on the administration
  4. The vice chancellor does not talk of his success in office
Answer and explanation

A: The vice chancellor enjoys the acknowledgment of the success of his administration

Riding the crest suggests enjoying a period of success. A is the option that presents the vice-chancellor’s administration positively. The others describe criticism, recovery from poor comments or silence about success.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 28

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: She was absolved by the court from the charge.

  1. she was convicted for the charge
  2. she was blamed and charged to court
  3. her case was resolved by the court
  4. she was declared free from the charge
Answer and explanation

D: she was declared free from the charge

To absolve someone from a charge is to free them from blame or responsibility for it. D conveys this. Being convicted or blamed means the opposite; merely resolving a case does not specify that outcome.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 29

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: The landlord is fond of throwing his weight about

  1. the landlord likes healthy exercise
  2. the landlord is overweight
  3. the landlord gives orders to people
  4. the landlord is respected by his tenants
Answer and explanation

C: the landlord gives orders to people

Throwing one’s weight about means using authority in a forceful or domineering way. Giving orders is the closest option. The expression does not refer to body weight, exercise or the respect of tenants.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 32

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: I wouldn’t have responded to his rude talk if I were you.

  1. the advice was taken by the respondent so he did not respond to the talk
  2. the adviser put himself in the respondent's position, so he did not respond to the talk
  3. the respondent replied to the speaker's talk, although he ought not have done so
  4. what was advisable was that the respondent gave it back to the speaker
Answer and explanation

C: the respondent replied to the speaker's talk, although he ought not have done so

The speaker imagines being in the other person’s position and says they would not have replied that way. This criticises a reply already made, which C captures. It does not say the advice had been followed.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 34

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: The player wasted a golden opportunity during the penalty shoot-out

  1. The player first hit the bar
  2. The player did not score the shot
  3. The player scored the shot that made them win the gold cup
  4. instead of a silver cup, they received the golden one
Answer and explanation

B: The player did not score the shot

A golden opportunity is an excellent chance. In a penalty shoot-out, wasting that chance means failing to score. The sentence does not say the ball hit the bar or describe a gold or silver trophy.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 36

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “an idiot”: As an idiot, the boy is weak in class.

  1. a deviant
  2. an expert
  3. a dunce
  4. a genius
Answer and explanation

D: a genius

Idiot is an insulting word for someone regarded as very foolish. Genius supplies the opposite idea of exceptional intellectual ability. Dunce is similar to the insult, while expert concerns specialist skill and deviant concerns departure from a norm.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 37

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “shocked”: We were shocked by the news that he had lost the money.

  1. astonished
  2. unconcerned
  3. disconcerted
  4. surprised
Answer and explanation

B: unconcerned

Shocked describes being greatly upset or surprised. Unconcerned expresses the opposite lack of emotional disturbance. Astonished, disconcerted and surprised all describe reactions related to shock.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 38

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “flexible”: The principal was advised to be flexible on critical issues.

  1. livid
  2. cautious
  3. evasive
  4. rigid
Answer and explanation

D: rigid

Flexible means willing or able to adjust an approach. Rigid means unwilling to change and is the opposite. Livid means very angry; cautious and evasive describe different attitudes.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 39

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “sober”: Bola always looks sober

  1. excited
  2. serious
  3. worried
  4. hapless
Answer and explanation

A: excited

Sober here means serious and restrained in manner. Excited contrasts with that calm seriousness. Serious is similar, while worried and hapless do not provide the opposite emotional manner.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 40

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “efficiency”: Dupe was promoted for her efficiency

  1. ability
  2. inconsistency
  3. incompetence
  4. rudeness
Answer and explanation

C: incompetence

Efficiency concerns performing work effectively with little waste. Incompetence contrasts with that ability to perform well. Ability supports efficiency; inconsistency and rudeness describe different shortcomings.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 41

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “reticent”: The management wants to consider her reticent behaviour in due course.

  1. disapproving
  2. disciplinarian
  3. contemplative
  4. loquacious
Answer and explanation

D: loquacious

Reticent means reserved or unwilling to speak freely. Loquacious means very talkative, providing the opposite. Disapproving, disciplinarian and contemplative do not directly contrast silence with talkativeness.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 42

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “volatile”: Election processes often become volatile

  1. calm
  2. strange
  3. sudden
  4. latent
Answer and explanation

A: calm

A volatile situation can change suddenly and become unstable or explosive. Calm provides the opposite condition in an election process. Strange, sudden and latent do not express that stable, peaceful contrast.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 43

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “abrasive”: Oche entered the principal's office in a rather abrasive manner.

  1. gentle
  2. rude
  3. lackadaisical
  4. indifferent
Answer and explanation

A: gentle

An abrasive manner is harsh and likely to offend. Gentle contrasts with that harshness. Rude is similar, while lackadaisical and indifferent concern care or interest rather than manner toward others.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 45

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “infinitesimal”: His gift to the poor was always infinitesimal

  1. large
  2. small
  3. supportive
  4. shameful
Answer and explanation

A: large

Infinitesimal means extremely small. Large gives the opposite scale. Small is similar, while supportive and shameful judge the gift in ways unrelated to its size.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 48

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

  1. parlous
  2. wicked
  3. compassionate
  4. cheerful
Answer and explanation

C: compassionate

Callous means insensitive to other people’s suffering. Compassionate describes sympathy and concern, so it is the opposite. Wicked is unfavourable like callous; cheerful and parlous describe different qualities.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 49

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “temporal”: He was very much respected, though he had no temporal power

  1. spiritual
  2. mundane
  3. permanent
  4. ephemeral
Answer and explanation

A: spiritual

Temporal power means worldly or secular power, in contrast with spiritual authority. Spiritual is therefore the opposite here. Mundane is similar, while permanent and ephemeral concern duration.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 50

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “hit-and-miss”: The way the workshop was organized was rather hit-and-miss

  1. systematic
  2. hasty
  3. slow
  4. funny
Answer and explanation

A: systematic

Hit-and-miss describes an unplanned approach whose results are uncertain. Systematic means organised according to a method, giving the opposite. Hasty, slow and funny do not necessarily describe whether a method exists.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 51

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “a taste of their own medicine”: Some men will continue to cause offences until they are given a taste of their own medicine

  1. placated
  2. revenged on
  3. recompense for
  4. cured
Answer and explanation

B: revenged on

To receive a taste of one’s own medicine is to experience the same unpleasant treatment one has given others. Revenged on is the closest alternative because it expresses retaliation. The idiom does not mean medical treatment or being soothed.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 52

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “derogatory”: Okibe was rusticated for his derogatory remark about the principal

  1. complimentary
  2. unsavoury
  3. unwarranted
  4. lack lustre
Answer and explanation

B: unsavoury

A derogatory remark expresses disrespect or disparagement. Unsavoury is the nearest available description of such an objectionable remark. Complimentary is opposite, unwarranted concerns justification, and lacklustre concerns dullness.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 53

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “sovereignty”: Justice is difficult to enforce because people are unwilling to accept any loss of sovereignty.

  1. autonomy
  2. position
  3. leadership
  4. kingdom
Answer and explanation

A: autonomy

Sovereignty concerns independent authority or the power to govern oneself. Autonomy is the nearest meaning. Position, leadership and kingdom do not themselves express independence of authority.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 54

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “virtuous”: There are still virtuous women in our society today

  1. clever
  2. upright
  3. devilish
  4. intelligent
Answer and explanation

B: upright

Virtuous means morally good. Upright expresses that same moral quality. Clever and intelligent concern mental ability; devilish suggests mischief or wickedness.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 55

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “typical”: That type of response is typical of a lazy teacher

  1. symptomatic
  2. characteristic
  3. universal
  4. incontestable
Answer and explanation

B: characteristic

Typical means characteristic of a person or class. Characteristic directly describes a response representative of a lazy teacher. Symptomatic concerns being a sign of something; universal and incontestable make different claims.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 56

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “inveterate”: Akin is an inveterate gambler

  1. a selfish and self-centred
  2. an extremely unlucky but popular
  3. an incurable but fearful
  4. a long time incorrigible
Answer and explanation

D: a long time incorrigible

An inveterate gambler has a deeply established habit that is hard to change. A long-time incorrigible gambler best expresses that persistence. The other alternatives add selfishness, popularity or fear, none of which inveterate implies.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 57

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “petrified”: He was too petrified to give the closing remarks at the conference.

  1. frightened
  2. agitated
  3. delighted
  4. happy
Answer and explanation

A: frightened

Petrified means extremely frightened in this context. Frightened is the nearest meaning. Agitated describes a broader state of disturbance, while delighted and happy express positive feelings.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 58

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “shimmers”: During a particular time of the day, the road shimmers in the heat

  1. darkens
  2. lightens
  3. shines
  4. beams
Answer and explanation

C: shines

Shimmers describes shining with an unsteady or wavering light. Shines is the nearest general meaning for the road’s appearance in the heat. Beams suggests projecting light in a beam; darkens and lightens concern changes in brightness.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 60

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “furtive”: Mariam looks rather furtive to Shehu

  1. intoxicated
  2. unfriendly
  3. sad
  4. sly
Answer and explanation

D: sly

Furtive describes secretive behaviour intended to avoid notice. Sly is the closest alternative. Intoxicated, unfriendly and sad do not express concealment or secrecy.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 61

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “extempore”: The students’ union leader delivered his speech extempore.

  1. out-of -hand
  2. off the cuff
  3. accurately
  4. courageously
Answer and explanation

B: off the cuff

Extempore means spoken without preparation or a written script. Off the cuff expresses the same spontaneity. Accuracy and courage describe other qualities of delivery, while out of hand has a different meaning.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 62

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “inkling”: His story gave us an inkling of what he passed through during the strike

  1. a possible idea
  2. a taste
  3. a summary
  4. the right view
Answer and explanation

A: a possible idea

An inkling is a slight idea or hint of something. A possible idea is the nearest available meaning. It does not promise a complete summary or a fully correct view of the experience.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 63

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “espoused”: These policies have been espoused by the ruling party.

  1. condemned
  2. rejected
  3. supported
  4. outlined
Answer and explanation

C: supported

To espouse a policy is to adopt or support it. Supported is therefore the nearest meaning. Condemned and rejected oppose the policy, while outlined merely means described its main points.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 64

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “foreclose”: We must not foreclose reconciliation as the purpose of his trip

  1. exclude
  2. consider
  3. underestimate
  4. forgo
Answer and explanation

A: exclude

To foreclose a possibility is to rule it out or prevent it from remaining open. Exclude is the closest meaning. Consider keeps it open, underestimate undervalues it, and forgo means voluntarily give something up.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 65

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “exploded”: Her findings exploded widely held beliefs about learning.

  1. challenged
  2. debunked
  3. projected
  4. confirmed
Answer and explanation

B: debunked

To explode a belief is to show that it is false. Debunked expresses that same refutation. Challenged is weaker because a challenge need not disprove a belief; projected and confirmed do not mean disproved.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 66

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: He was both a writer and a politician, but he was better_____ a singer

  1. as if
  2. like
  3. as
  4. to be
Answer and explanation

C: as

As introduces a role or capacity: he performed better as a singer. Like expresses resemblance, as if introduces a hypothetical comparison, and to be does not fit this construction.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 68

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: He started his career as an_____teacher

  1. auxilliary
  2. auxiluryy
  3. auxillary
  4. auxiliary
Answer and explanation

D: auxiliary

Auxiliary is the correct spelling for someone or something providing assistance or support. An auxiliary teacher assists the main teaching staff. The other alternatives misspell the word.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 69

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The driver was short of petrol, so he_____down the hills with the engine switched off

  1. glided
  2. coasted
  3. wheeled
  4. taxied
Answer and explanation

B: coasted

To coast is to move without using engine power, typically through momentum or gravity. Coasted precisely describes driving downhill with the engine off. Glided is more general; wheeled and taxied do not specify movement without power.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 72

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: _____a good leader must have two characteristics

  1. first and formost
  2. first and formust
  3. first and farmost
  4. first and foremost
Answer and explanation

D: first and foremost

First and foremost is the correctly spelled expression used to introduce the most important point. Foremost means most important or prominent. The other alternatives misspell foremost.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 74

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: She was_____the verge of tears

  1. at
  2. on
  3. by
  4. with
Answer and explanation

B: on

The expression on the verge of means very close to a state or event. On the verge of tears means almost crying. On is the preposition used in this established expression.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 75

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Everyone makes mistakes occasionally, nobody is_____

  1. incorrigible
  2. imperfect
  3. infallible
  4. indestructible
Answer and explanation

C: infallible

Infallible means incapable of making mistakes. Since everyone sometimes makes mistakes, nobody is infallible. Incorrigible means difficult to reform, imperfect means flawed, and indestructible means impossible to destroy.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 76

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The woman would not part with her_____pot

  1. discarded earthen black
  2. discarded black earthen
  3. earthen discarded black
  4. black earthen discarded
Answer and explanation

B: discarded black earthen

The natural order is discarded black earthen pot: the condition comes before the colour, and the material stands closest to the noun. Earthen describes what the pot is made from. The other orders separate these modifiers unnaturally.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 77

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: We stood up when the principal came in_____?

  1. isn't it
  2. didn't we
  3. not so
  4. did us
Answer and explanation

B: didn't we

The main clause is positive past simple, so its confirming tag is negative with did. The subject remains we: We stood up, didn’t we? The tag follows the main clause rather than the clause about the principal.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 78

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: This professor of_____medicine has_____ the mystery of bird flu.

  1. vetinary/unraveled
  2. vertrinary/unravelled
  3. veterinaty/unravelved
  4. veterinary/unraveled
Answer and explanation

D: veterinary/unraveled

Veterinary is the correct spelling for medicine concerned with animals. Unraveled is an accepted American spelling of the past participle; British English commonly uses unravelled. D is the only pair with both words correctly spelled.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 80

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Many workers were_____ as a result of the textile closure

  1. laid down
  2. laid off
  3. laid out
  4. laid up
Answer and explanation

B: laid off

Laid off means dismissed from employment, usually because work is unavailable. Closure removes jobs, making laid off the appropriate phrase. Laid down, laid out and laid up describe different actions or conditions.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 81

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The driver died in the _____ road accident

  1. fatal
  2. brutal
  3. serious
  4. pathetic
Answer and explanation

A: fatal

Fatal means causing death. The sentence explicitly states that the driver died, so fatal is the most precise description. Serious does not necessarily mean deadly, while brutal and pathetic concern different qualities.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 85

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: I wanted to know his political beliefs, so I asked him what _____.

  1. this was
  2. these are
  3. this is
  4. they were
Answer and explanation

D: they were

They refers back to the plural noun beliefs. In the reported question after asked, the clause uses statement order and a past verb: what they were. The alternatives with this are singular, and these are does not match the past reporting context.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 93

Choose the correct stress pattern for “impossible”. The capital letters show the stressed part.

  1. Stress on POS: imPOSsible
  2. Stress on IM: IMpossible
  3. Stress on SIBLE: imposSIBLE
  4. Stress on BLE: impossiBLE
Answer and explanation

A: Stress on POS: imPOSsible

Impossible has its main stress on the second syllable, POS: im-POS-si-ble. A places the stress there. The other patterns place it on the beginning or the final part of the word.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Question 98

The word in capital letters has emphatic stress. Choose the option to which the sentence relates: The traditional chief NARRATED the story to the children.

  1. the children heard the story from the traditional chief
  2. who narrated the story to the children?
  3. the children could not listen to the story by the traditional chief
  4. did the chief hide the story from the children?
Answer and explanation

D: did the chief hide the story from the children?

Stressing NARRATED contrasts what the chief did with another possible action. Asking whether he hid the story invites the correction that he narrated it. The question about who narrated it focuses on the person instead.

AI-reviewed · source checked

Plan your study weekAll Use of English years