JAMB Use of English 2013

48 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 3

In 1951, the Government decided to start a Pottery Training Centre where new and more advanced technical methods, especially glazing, could be taught. The centre was intended to serve the whole of the defunct Northern Region, and there were several reasons for choosing Abuja. The first was the excellence of the traditional pottery made in the Emirate. Secondly, firewood is plentiful; this is a most important consideration, because in the making of glazed pottery, more firewood than clay is required. Thirdly, there are good clays, and good local sources for the raw materials needed for the glazes. Fourthly, water, which is another important raw material, is plentiful. Finally, Abuja is in a central position for the whole region and is a town where learners from many different parts can find a congenial temporary home, and where the Emir and his Council are actively interested in the project. Nearly all the making is done by a process called throwing, so called because the lumps of clay are thrown by the potter onto a wheel-head. They are weighed out so that each pot will be roughly the same size; for example, for making pint-sized jugs, the lumps of clay will be one and a half kilogrammes. The potter sits on the saddle of the wheel and spins it by pushing a pedal with his left foot. He has a bowl of water, a loofah, a bamboo knife, a pointed stick or porcupine quill, a wooden-smoothing tool which potters call a rib, and a piece of wire-like object that is used for wedging. He makes the wheel-head slightly damp, and throws the lumps into the middle. The first work is to force the lump to the centre, then he presses his thumb into the middle of the lump, using water to keep it slippery. When the bottom is of the right thickness, he begins to draw up the walls until they are of the right height. Then he shapes the belly and shoulder of the pot. He trims off any waste clay. In this way, small and medium-sized pots can be made quickly and accurately.

From the passage, how does a potter make several pots of almost identical size?

  1. by weighing the lumps of clay
  2. By having the right tools
  3. By knowing what to do from experience
  4. By having the knowledge of different pots
Answer and explanation

A: by weighing the lumps of clay

The passage explicitly says the clay lumps are weighed so that each pot will be roughly the same size. A states that method. Tools and experience assist pottery-making generally but are not the size-control step identified.

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Question 4

In 1951, the Government decided to start a Pottery Training Centre where new and more advanced technical methods, especially glazing, could be taught. The centre was intended to serve the whole of the defunct Northern Region, and there were several reasons for choosing Abuja. The first was the excellence of the traditional pottery made in the Emirate. Secondly, firewood is plentiful; this is a most important consideration, because in the making of glazed pottery, more firewood than clay is required. Thirdly, there are good clays, and good local sources for the raw materials needed for the glazes. Fourthly, water, which is another important raw material, is plentiful. Finally, Abuja is in a central position for the whole region and is a town where learners from many different parts can find a congenial temporary home, and where the Emir and his Council are actively interested in the project. Nearly all the making is done by a process called throwing, so called because the lumps of clay are thrown by the potter onto a wheel-head. They are weighed out so that each pot will be roughly the same size; for example, for making pint-sized jugs, the lumps of clay will be one and a half kilogrammes. The potter sits on the saddle of the wheel and spins it by pushing a pedal with his left foot. He has a bowl of water, a loofah, a bamboo knife, a pointed stick or porcupine quill, a wooden-smoothing tool which potters call a rib, and a piece of wire-like object that is used for wedging. He makes the wheel-head slightly damp, and throws the lumps into the middle. The first work is to force the lump to the centre, then he presses his thumb into the middle of the lump, using water to keep it slippery. When the bottom is of the right thickness, he begins to draw up the walls until they are of the right height. Then he shapes the belly and shoulder of the pot. He trims off any waste clay. In this way, small and medium-sized pots can be made quickly and accurately.

In the passage, “trims off any waste clay” means to

  1. Force the clay to different colours
  2. Cut the clay
  3. There are different colours in the clay
  4. Cut away unnecessary parts
Answer and explanation

D: Cut away unnecessary parts

Trimming off waste clay means removing the excess portions that are not needed. D expresses that precise purpose. Cutting clay alone is less specific, and the alternatives about colour are unrelated.

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Question 5

In 1951, the Government decided to start a Pottery Training Centre where new and more advanced technical methods, especially glazing, could be taught. The centre was intended to serve the whole of the defunct Northern Region, and there were several reasons for choosing Abuja. The first was the excellence of the traditional pottery made in the Emirate. Secondly, firewood is plentiful; this is a most important consideration, because in the making of glazed pottery, more firewood than clay is required. Thirdly, there are good clays, and good local sources for the raw materials needed for the glazes. Fourthly, water, which is another important raw material, is plentiful. Finally, Abuja is in a central position for the whole region and is a town where learners from many different parts can find a congenial temporary home, and where the Emir and his Council are actively interested in the project. Nearly all the making is done by a process called throwing, so called because the lumps of clay are thrown by the potter onto a wheel-head. They are weighed out so that each pot will be roughly the same size; for example, for making pint-sized jugs, the lumps of clay will be one and a half kilogrammes. The potter sits on the saddle of the wheel and spins it by pushing a pedal with his left foot. He has a bowl of water, a loofah, a bamboo knife, a pointed stick or porcupine quill, a wooden-smoothing tool which potters call a rib, and a piece of wire-like object that is used for wedging. He makes the wheel-head slightly damp, and throws the lumps into the middle. The first work is to force the lump to the centre, then he presses his thumb into the middle of the lump, using water to keep it slippery. When the bottom is of the right thickness, he begins to draw up the walls until they are of the right height. Then he shapes the belly and shoulder of the pot. He trims off any waste clay. In this way, small and medium-sized pots can be made quickly and accurately.

The word “congenial”, as used in the passage, means

  1. Precise
  2. Similar
  3. Nice
  4. Congested
Answer and explanation

C: Nice

Congenial describes a pleasant or agreeable temporary home. Nice is the nearest option in this context. Precise concerns exactness, similar concerns resemblance, and congested means overcrowded.

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Question 36

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: The team's poor performance at the tournament plumbed the depths of horror.

  1. The team's performance was enjoyed by all
  2. The team's performance was full of disappointment
  3. The team's performance was rewarded
  4. The team's performance took them to the next round
Answer and explanation

B: The team's performance was full of disappointment

To plumb the depths of something unpleasant is to reach an extreme low point. The phrase describes a deeply disappointing performance, not enjoyment, a reward or advancement to another round.

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Question 37

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: Tolu and Chinedu live in each other's pockets.

  1. they steal from each other
  2. they blackmail each other
  3. they are very close to each other
  4. they are long-term business partners
Answer and explanation

C: they are very close to each other

People who live in each other’s pockets spend a great deal of time together and are very close. The idiom does not mean stealing, blackmail or necessarily sharing a business.

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Question 38

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: As the drama unfolded, Olatinuke was advised to keep her shirt on

  1. she was advised to commit herself
  2. she was advised to stay calm
  3. she was advised to join the club
  4. she was advised to wear her shirt
Answer and explanation

B: she was advised to stay calm

Keep your shirt on is an informal way of telling someone to stay calm or be patient. It does not literally instruct the person to wear a shirt or join a club.

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Question 40

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: Zinana's examination result was not unfavourable

  1. Her examination did not meet expectation
  2. she was successful in her examination
  3. her result could not earn her admission
  4. she failed her examination
Answer and explanation

B: she was successful in her examination

Not unfavourable uses a negative to reject an unfavourable assessment. In this examination context it presents the result positively, making success the best interpretation. The other options describe an unsatisfactory outcome.

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Question 41

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: You need to brush up on your Spanish

  1. you need to improve your skills
  2. you need a brush from Spain
  3. you need to learn to play with a Spaniard
  4. you need to study the history of Spain
Answer and explanation

A: you need to improve your skills

To brush up on a language is to refresh or improve skills already learned. The advice concerns better Spanish proficiency, not a physical brush, a game or Spanish history.

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Question 43

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: ‘I can’t wait to become a mother,’ the new bride declared.

  1. she is excited about motherhood
  2. She is not keen on becoming a mother
  3. She will be patient as a mother
  4. She sees motherhood as a burden.
Answer and explanation

A: she is excited about motherhood

Can’t wait to do something expresses eager anticipation. The bride is excited about becoming a mother. It does not express reluctance, patience in childcare or a sense of burden.

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Question 44

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: Usman needs to get his act together if he wants to pass the examination

  1. He needs to organise himself
  2. He needs to be fast when writing the examination
  3. He needs to put on his stage costume
  4. He needs to put all points down in the examination
Answer and explanation

A: He needs to organise himself

To get one’s act together means to organise oneself and behave more effectively. Usman needs to improve his preparation and organisation. The phrase is not about a stage costume or simply writing faster.

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Question 46

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “curt”: Chibuzor gave a curt nod and walked away

  1. rude
  2. polite
  3. shocking
  4. Gentle
Answer and explanation

B: polite

Curt describes an abrupt manner that can seem rude. Polite is its opposite in this social context. Rude is similar; shocking describes an effect, and gentle is less directly concerned with courtesy.

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Question 47

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “cursory”: The girl took a cursory glance at the letter and hid it

  1. Concise
  2. Brief
  3. Lasting
  4. Sententious
Answer and explanation

C: Lasting

A cursory glance is quick and superficial. Lasting provides the available contrast in duration. Brief and concise suggest shortness, while sententious concerns moralising rather than how long the glance lasts.

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Question 48

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “frosty”: The relationship between the couple has been frosty

  1. Cordial
  2. Amenable
  3. Frugal
  4. Fraudulent
Answer and explanation

A: Cordial

A frosty relationship is cold or unfriendly. Cordial means warm and friendly, making it the opposite. Amenable means receptive or willing, frugal means economical, and fraudulent means deceptive.

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Question 49

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “heinous”: The Nobel laureate's activity in the field of science is heinous.

  1. Laudable
  2. Deplorable
  3. forgettable
  4. Indelible
Answer and explanation

A: Laudable

Heinous describes something extremely wicked or reprehensible. Laudable means deserving praise, so it is the opposite. Deplorable is similar to heinous; forgettable and indelible concern memory or permanence.

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Question 50

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “eventually”: The accused was eventually convicted

  1. consequently
  2. subsequently
  3. finally
  4. initially
Answer and explanation

D: initially

Eventually means in the end, after time has passed. Initially means at the beginning and supplies the opposite time reference. Finally is similar, while consequently and subsequently concern result or sequence.

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Question 51

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “plebs”: The plebs can be found in every society of the world

  1. Elite
  2. Middle class
  3. Politicians
  4. Masses
Answer and explanation

A: Elite

Plebs is a disparaging term for ordinary people or the common population. Elite refers to a privileged or powerful group and provides the contrast. Masses is similar to plebs; politicians and the middle class are different classifications.

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Question 52

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “appalling”: Everyone's condition was appalling

  1. cloudy
  2. pleasant
  3. complex
  4. simple
Answer and explanation

B: pleasant

Appalling describes something very bad or shocking. Pleasant expresses a favourable condition and is the opposite. Cloudy, complex and simple do not provide the same evaluative contrast.

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Question 53

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “waxing”: The war against malaria keeps waxing

  1. Decreasing
  2. increasing
  3. wavering
  4. happening
Answer and explanation

A: Decreasing

Waxing means growing or increasing. Decreasing is therefore the opposite. Increasing repeats the meaning; wavering and happening describe different processes.

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Question 54

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “mordant”: The man's mordant wit is apparent to the entire village

  1. scathing
  2. caustic
  3. withering
  4. kind
Answer and explanation

D: kind

Mordant wit is sharply critical or biting. Kind is the opposite in tone. Scathing, caustic and withering all resemble the harsh quality of mordant wit.

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Question 55

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “dogged”: The soldiers tried in their dogged defence of the city

  1. strong
  2. indestructible
  3. classical
  4. indifferent
Answer and explanation

D: indifferent

Dogged means stubbornly determined and persistent. Indifferent, meaning unconcerned, supplies the opposite attitude. Strong supports determination; indestructible and classical describe different qualities.

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Question 56

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “an ardent”: Ayodeji is an ardent supporter of education for the girl child

  1. a cogent
  2. a passionate
  3. an ignorant
  4. an optimistic
Answer and explanation

B: a passionate

Ardent means enthusiastic or passionate. A passionate supporter expresses the same committed enthusiasm. Cogent means convincing, ignorant means lacking knowledge, and optimistic means hopeful.

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Question 58

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “ardor”: Mohammed does his work with so much ardor

  1. discouragement
  2. knowledge
  3. indifference
  4. enthusiasm
Answer and explanation

D: enthusiasm

Ardor means strong enthusiasm or eagerness. Enthusiasm preserves the description of Mohammed’s attitude to work. Discouragement and indifference suggest the opposite; knowledge concerns what he knows.

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Question 59

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “vanguard”: The athlete is proud to be in the vanguard of sports development

  1. leading position
  2. destructive position
  3. emerging position
  4. unforgettable position
Answer and explanation

A: leading position

Being in the vanguard means being at the forefront of a development. Leading position is the nearest meaning. Emerging, destructive and unforgettable positions do not express leadership.

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Question 60

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “verge”: Nwankwo was on the verge of signing a two year contract with the club

  1. brink
  2. summit
  3. height
  4. shore
Answer and explanation

A: brink

On the verge of doing something means very close to doing it. On the brink expresses the same imminence. Summit and height concern high points; shore is a literal water boundary.

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Question 61

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “feeble”: The lamb is a feeble little animal

  1. loving
  2. weak
  3. fat
  4. quiet
Answer and explanation

B: weak

Feeble means weak or lacking strength. Weak is the nearest meaning. Loving and quiet describe temperament, while fat describes body size.

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Question 62

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “eternal”: I am tired of your eternal argument

  1. constant
  2. useless
  3. open
  4. strong
Answer and explanation

A: constant

Eternal can describe something that seems never-ending or constantly repeated. Constant fits the speaker’s complaint about the argument. Useless, open and strong do not express duration.

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Question 63

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “screamed”: The actress screamed when she noticed an object behind her

  1. weeded in
  2. stormed out
  3. wailed
  4. protested
Answer and explanation

C: wailed

Screamed means uttered a loud, high cry. Wailed is the nearest available option because it also describes a loud cry. Stormed out describes leaving, protested expresses objection, and weeded in does not name such a sound.

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Question 64

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “exhibition”: The exhibition was an eye opener to all

  1. style
  2. examination
  3. dispatch
  4. display
Answer and explanation

D: display

An exhibition is a public display of objects or work. Display is the nearest meaning. Examination concerns testing or inspection, dispatch concerns sending, and style concerns manner.

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Question 65

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “a nose”: As a journalist, Bala has always had a nose for stories

  1. an instinct
  2. a command
  3. soft comment
  4. cynical statement
Answer and explanation

A: an instinct

Having a nose for stories means having a natural ability to detect promising stories. An instinct expresses that ability. A command, comment or cynical statement does not.

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Question 66

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The girl says she is averse_____what others admire

  1. to
  2. with
  3. for
  4. from
Answer and explanation

A: to

Averse to means opposed to or strongly disliking something. To is the preposition that links averse with what others admire. With, for and from do not form the required construction.

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Question 67

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Our teacher defined _____in his introductory lesson

  1. onomatopoeia
  2. onomatopieoa
  3. onomatopiea
  4. Onomatopoia
Answer and explanation

A: onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is the correct spelling for the use of words that imitate sounds, such as hiss or buzz. The other alternatives omit or rearrange letters in that word.

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Question 68

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The philanthropist devoted himself_____the poor

  1. by helping
  2. to be helping
  3. to helping
  4. in helping
Answer and explanation

C: to helping

Devote oneself to takes a noun or an -ing form because to is a preposition here. To helping correctly introduces the activity receiving his effort. The other alternatives do not fit the construction.

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Question 69

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Tinu likes apples_____she does not like oranges

  1. so
  2. but
  3. or
  4. do
Answer and explanation

B: but

But joins contrasting ideas: Tinu likes one fruit and dislikes the other. So would express a consequence, or would offer an alternative, and do is not a conjunction.

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Question 70

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The students had a _____ on Independence Day.

  1. march pass
  2. match past
  3. march past
  4. match pass
Answer and explanation

C: march past

A march past is a ceremonial parade in which participants march past spectators or a reviewing person. C names that event. Match refers to a contest or correspondence, and pass is not the required word in this expression.

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Question 71

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Do you mind_____another hour or two?

  1. wait
  2. waiting
  3. to wait
  4. to have waited
Answer and explanation

B: waiting

Mind takes an -ing form when followed by an activity. Do you mind waiting asks whether waiting would bother the listener. The bare verb and to-infinitive alternatives do not fit.

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Question 72

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The continuous rain has really _____the soil.

  1. satiated
  2. saturated
  3. melted up
  4. mopped up
Answer and explanation

B: saturated

Saturated means thoroughly soaked with liquid. Continuous rain can saturate the soil. Satiated concerns satisfied appetite or desire, while melted up and mopped up do not describe rain soaking soil.

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Question 73

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The police described the boy as being_____hand

  1. over at
  2. out of
  3. on by
  4. up to
Answer and explanation

B: out of

Out of hand means out of control. Out of correctly completes the description of the boy’s behaviour. The other word pairs do not form the required expression.

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Question 74

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: It was very easy for the two political parties to form a _____ government.

  1. collusion
  2. coalition
  3. co-operative
  4. colonial
Answer and explanation

B: coalition

A coalition government is formed by political parties joining together. Coalition precisely identifies that arrangement. Collusion suggests secret wrongdoing; colonial refers to colonial rule, and co-operative is a general description rather than the political term.

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Question 75

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: All farmers were encouraged _____carry out fumigation on their farms

  1. in
  2. with
  3. to
  4. from
Answer and explanation

C: to

Encourage someone to do something uses to plus the base verb. In the passive form, the farmers were encouraged to carry out the activity. In, with and from do not fit before carry.

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Question 77

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Yours is to command; _____ is to obey.

  1. theirs'
  2. their's
  3. their
  4. theirs
Answer and explanation

D: theirs

Theirs is the possessive pronoun needed as the subject of is to obey. Possessive pronouns do not take an apostrophe. Their is a determiner that needs a noun after it.

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Question 78

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Local governments are authorized to pass _____.

  1. bye-laws
  2. byes-laws
  3. bye's law
  4. bye-law
Answer and explanation

A: bye-laws

Bye-laws are rules made by a local authority. The plural form fits after pass without an article. Byes-laws and bye’s law are incorrectly formed, while singular bye-law would need a determiner here.

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Question 81

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: My father told me to take the money from _____it

  1. whomever offers
  2. whomsoever offer
  3. ever who offers
  4. whoever offers
Answer and explanation

D: whoever offers

Whoever is the subject of offers inside the clause whoever offers it. The whole clause follows from, but that does not change the subject form within it. Whomever is an object form and does not fit this role.

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Question 82

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Our teacher defined_____as the killing of one's mother

  1. matriarch
  2. patricide
  3. patriarch
  4. matricide
Answer and explanation

D: matricide

Matricide means the killing of one’s mother. Patricide concerns one’s father. Matriarch and patriarch refer to leading family or community figures, not acts of killing.

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Question 83

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: If you are confused_____anything, phone my office

  1. of
  2. with
  3. about
  4. for
Answer and explanation

C: about

Confused about something means uncertain or unclear about it. About links the confusion to its subject. The other prepositions do not complete that meaning in this sentence.

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Question 84

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: We have a family mutiny_____our hands

  1. on
  2. for
  3. from
  4. of
Answer and explanation

A: on

To have a problem on one’s hands means to have it to deal with. On completes the expression describing the family difficulty. For, from and of do not fit.

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Question 96

Choose the option showing the correct main stress: International.

  1. Stress on IN: INternational
  2. Stress on TER: inTERnational
  3. Stress on NA: interNAtional
  4. Stress on TION: internaTIONal
Answer and explanation

C: Stress on NA: interNAtional

International has its main stress on NA: interNAtional, pronounced /ˌɪntəˈnæʃənəl/. The other options move the primary stress to a different part of the word.

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Question 98

Choose the question to which the sentence with the capitalised emphasis relates: Adamu is leaving a CAR behind.

  1. who is leaving a car behind?
  2. where is Adamu leaving a car?
  3. what is Adamu leaving behind?
  4. is Adamu driving the car in front?
Answer and explanation

C: what is Adamu leaving behind?

CAR identifies the object Adamu is leaving behind. C asks what he is leaving. The other options ask about the person, location or driving action.

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Question 99

Choose the question to which the sentence with the capitalised emphasis relates: Lambusa TOOK OFF the wig

  1. Did Lambusa take off a wig?
  2. Did Lambusa take off the ring?
  3. who took off the wig?
  4. What did Lambusa do?
Answer and explanation

D: What did Lambusa do?

TOOK OFF identifies Lambusa’s action. D asks what Lambusa did. The other alternatives contrast an article, the object or the person, rather than asking for the action.

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