JAMB Use of English 2014

46 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 3

Political change and social transformation in the form of revolutions have radically altered the course of human civilization and history. Today, the world is witnessing political and social changes arising from the desire of people all over the globe for greater freedom and a voice in the way they are governed and a better standard of living. Some of these struggles and processes have become more pronounced in the Third World since the end of the East-West Cold War in the late 1980s, and in the face of the challenges being posed by the ongoing process of globalization. While political and social changes may appear to be distinct phenomena, they are analytically inseparable. Political and social changes refer to alterations or transformations in human behavior, norms and politico-social institutions. Such changes are often a collective response to the need to change, or a tacit recognition of a shift in the prevalent power relations in society. Therefore, the coming to power of a new set of rulers, or the establishment of new structures and processes of governance, broadly typifies socio-political changes. It is important to note that changes can either be positive or negative. In most cases, political and social changes are caused by certain factors or reasons. These push people to collectively organize themselves to struggle for a change in the existing power relations. Another reason is to capture political power in the hope of making life better for the generality of the people. If politics is defined as who gets what, when and how, it then implies that political change refers to an alteration in the form of power and the identity of the group or class which controls and wields state power.

It can be deduced from the passage that political and social changes are

  1. repulsive
  2. Intertwined
  3. Antithetical
  4. Independent
Answer and explanation

B: Intertwined

The passage describes political and social changes as analytically inseparable. Intertwined means closely connected, so B expresses that relationship. Independent and antithetical contradict it, while repulsive concerns dislike rather than connection.

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Question 6

Like all reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded, or more correctly, ectothermic — they cannot produce their own body heat; instead, they rely on the sun to heat their bodies. Because they do not rely on energy from food to generate body heat, snakes can survive on an extremely meagre diet. Some wait for months between successive meals, and a few survive by eating a large meal just once or twice a year. When they do eat, snakes swallow their prey whole rather than biting off small pieces. Many snakes have specialized jaws that enable them to swallow animals that are far larger than their own heads. Although uncommon, some snakes, such as the African rock python, have been observed eating animals as large as an antelope or a small cow. With over two thousand five hundred species belonging to more than ten families, snakes are a large and successful group. They owe much of this success to their versatility — snakes occupy habitats ranging from underground burrows to the tops of trees, to ocean depths as great as one hundred and fifty metres. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, and although they are most abundant in tropical areas, many survive in regions marked by extreme cold. The only places without snakes are parts of the polar regions and isolated islands, such as the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand, as opposed to places in Nigeria like Plateau and Gombe States in the northern part where there is a large population of snakes.

It can be inferred from the passage that snakes are

  1. Homogeneous reptiles
  2. Heterogeneous creatures
  3. Voracious cow eaters
  4. Great insect eaters
Answer and explanation

B: Heterogeneous creatures

The passage emphasises many species, families and habitats. This variety supports heterogeneous, meaning diverse. Homogeneous suggests uniformity; the text describes cow-eating as uncommon and does not identify snakes generally as great insect eaters.

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Question 7

Like all reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded, or more correctly, ectothermic — they cannot produce their own body heat; instead, they rely on the sun to heat their bodies. Because they do not rely on energy from food to generate body heat, snakes can survive on an extremely meagre diet. Some wait for months between successive meals, and a few survive by eating a large meal just once or twice a year. When they do eat, snakes swallow their prey whole rather than biting off small pieces. Many snakes have specialized jaws that enable them to swallow animals that are far larger than their own heads. Although uncommon, some snakes, such as the African rock python, have been observed eating animals as large as an antelope or a small cow. With over two thousand five hundred species belonging to more than ten families, snakes are a large and successful group. They owe much of this success to their versatility — snakes occupy habitats ranging from underground burrows to the tops of trees, to ocean depths as great as one hundred and fifty metres. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, and although they are most abundant in tropical areas, many survive in regions marked by extreme cold. The only places without snakes are parts of the polar regions and isolated islands, such as the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand, as opposed to places in Nigeria like Plateau and Gombe States in the northern part where there is a large population of snakes.

The most notable thing about snakes, according to the passage, is that they

  1. Exist in families
  2. Abound in Gombe and Plateau States
  3. Are versatile in reproduction
  4. Eat big but seldom
Answer and explanation

D: Eat big but seldom

The passage highlights how snakes can swallow unusually large prey and then go for months without another meal. D captures this combination. Reproductive versatility is not discussed; the references to families and Nigerian states do not express this striking feeding feature.

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Question 22

“The vanquished dragon, spewing sand instead of fire, gave a solemn and humiliating pledge that he would never cross Obu’s path.” In this excerpt, what does “vanquished” mean?

  1. unconcerned
  2. sensitive
  3. subdued
  4. unflappable.
Answer and explanation

C: subdued

Vanquished means defeated or subdued. The dragon’s humiliating pledge not to cross Obu’s path reinforces the sense of submission. Unconcerned and unflappable describe calmness, while sensitive does not express defeat.

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Question 36

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: The minister considered the ministry's budget to be a drop in the ocean in view of the number of projects in the pipeline.

  1. The pipeline project across the ocean will be abandoned unless budgetary allocation improves
  2. The amount available may be inadequate for projected expenditure
  3. The minister may be dropped for failing to complete a number of projects
  4. The money approved cannot complete the pipeline project across the ocean
Answer and explanation

B: The amount available may be inadequate for projected expenditure

A drop in the ocean is a very small amount compared with what is needed. The minister believes the budget may be insufficient for the planned projects. The expression is figurative and does not describe a pipeline across an ocean.

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Question 38

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: Jummai's father remarked that pigs would fly before she passed.

  1. She would have to cheat in order to pass.
  2. It would be possible to pass only if she worked harder.
  3. It would never be possible for her to pass.
  4. He would have to bribe her teachers to enable her to pass.
Answer and explanation

C: It would never be possible for her to pass.

The idea of pigs flying represents something the speaker considers impossible. Jummai’s father is expressing his belief that she will never pass. The remark does not propose cheating, bribery or harder work.

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Question 39

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: The president said that he found himself between a rock and a hard place when the press said that he has resigned.

  1. Hard places are dangerous for the president.
  2. He dreamt that he was abandoned.
  3. He thought that hard places were unsafe.
  4. He had a hard decision to make.
Answer and explanation

D: He had a hard decision to make.

Being between a rock and a hard place means facing a difficult choice between unattractive alternatives. D conveys that predicament. The phrase does not refer to physical rocks, a dream or literal unsafe places.

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Question 40

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: Kunana is like a bear with a sore head.

  1. He is a bully.
  2. He is grumpy.
  3. He is ugly.
  4. He is quiet.
Answer and explanation

B: He is grumpy.

Someone who is like a bear with a sore head is bad-tempered or grumpy. The expression describes an irritable mood, rather than ugliness, quietness or necessarily bullying.

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Question 41

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: Olu gave his brother a bumpy ride.

  1. Olu's brother rode on Olu's back to success.
  2. Olu took his brother on a bumpy road.
  3. Olu gave his brother a difficult time.
  4. Olu gave his brother a ride on his car.
Answer and explanation

C: Olu gave his brother a difficult time.

A bumpy ride, used figuratively, is a difficult experience. Giving his brother a bumpy ride means making things difficult for him. C conveys the idiom; the other choices interpret it as physical transport.

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Question 42

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: Adeola doesn't have to go to the farm today.

  1. Adeola may go to the farm today if he so wishes.
  2. Adeola ought not to have gone to the farm today.
  3. Adeola must not go to the farm today.
  4. Adeola should not go to the farm today.
Answer and explanation

A: Adeola may go to the farm today if he so wishes.

Doesn’t have to expresses absence of obligation: going is optional. Adeola may still choose to go. It does not mean must not, should not, or that going earlier was a mistake.

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Question 43

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: My boss asked me to take my eyes off the ball.

  1. I should stop paying attention to what is most important.
  2. I should be focused when I am about to stay off football.
  3. I should stay off football after sustaining an injury.
  4. I should be focused when playing football.
Answer and explanation

A: I should stop paying attention to what is most important.

Taking one’s eyes off the ball means losing attention to the task or important matter at hand. A expresses that meaning. The sentence does not require a literal football match or injury.

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Question 44

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: The robber was hedged in by the people.

  1. The robber was surrounded by the people.
  2. The robber was killed by the people.
  3. The robber was exposed by the people.
  4. The robber was caught by the people.
Answer and explanation

A: The robber was surrounded by the people.

Hedged in means surrounded or enclosed so that movement is restricted. The people surrounded the robber. The expression alone does not say that they killed, exposed or captured him.

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Question 45

Choose the option that best explains the sentence: Many workers are not happy because they live a hand-to-mouth life.

  1. They work hard with their hands.
  2. They are voracious and avaricious.
  3. They are barely surviving.
  4. They have rejected the use of spoons.
Answer and explanation

C: They are barely surviving.

Living hand to mouth means having just enough for immediate needs and little or nothing to spare. Barely surviving expresses that financial condition. The expression does not describe eating utensils or greed.

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Question 46

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “debilitated”: Prolonged strike action debilitated the industry.

  1. Strayed.
  2. Invigorated.
  3. Isolated.
  4. Weakened.
Answer and explanation

B: Invigorated.

Debilitated means weakened. Invigorated means strengthened or given fresh energy, making it the opposite. Weakened is a similar meaning; strayed and isolated describe different actions.

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Question 48

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “taken aback”: The young girl was taken aback by her father's gift of a car.

  1. Nonplussed.
  2. Shocked.
  3. Unmoved.
  4. Surprised.
Answer and explanation

C: Unmoved.

Taken aback means surprised or shocked. Unmoved describes someone unaffected and is the contrasting option. Nonplussed, shocked and surprised all involve reactions rather than this lack of response.

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Question 49

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “erratic”: Musa is a gifted but erratic player.

  1. Unstable.
  2. Strong.
  3. Regular.
  4. Unpredictable.
Answer and explanation

C: Regular.

Erratic describes irregular or unpredictable performance. Regular is the opposite in this context. Unstable and unpredictable reinforce the original meaning; strong concerns a different quality.

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Question 50

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “translucent”: The lamp shades were translucent.

  1. Transparent.
  2. Opaque.
  3. Intersected.
  4. Luminous.
Answer and explanation

B: Opaque.

Translucent material allows light through, though objects behind it are not clearly seen. Opaque material blocks light, so B is the opposite. Transparent also allows light through; luminous means giving off light.

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Question 52

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “antipathy to”: Some of my neighbours have an antipathy to dogs.

  1. Alarm for.
  2. Enmity towards.
  3. Affection for.
  4. Acronym for.
Answer and explanation

C: Affection for.

Antipathy is strong dislike. Affection expresses liking or fondness, so affection for is the opposite of antipathy to. Enmity also expresses hostility, while alarm and acronym do not provide the required contrast.

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Question 53

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “unpicked”: The dressmaker unpicked the seam of the shirt.

  1. Tore up.
  2. Threaded.
  3. Sewed up.
  4. Picked up.
Answer and explanation

C: Sewed up.

To unpick a seam is to undo its stitches. Sewing it up performs the reverse action, making C the opposite. Tearing, threading and picking up do not express that reversal.

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Question 54

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “vague”: The testimony of the witness was vague.

  1. Clear.
  2. Disturbing.
  3. True.
  4. Ambiguous.
Answer and explanation

A: Clear.

Vague testimony is unclear or lacking precise detail. Clear is therefore the opposite. Ambiguous is similar to vague; testimony can be disturbing or true without being clearly expressed.

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Question 55

Choose the option opposite in meaning to “communal”: As a student, Isa tried communal living for a few years.

  1. Private.
  2. Collective.
  3. General.
  4. Shared.
Answer and explanation

A: Private.

Communal living involves sharing arrangements with others. Private living contrasts with that shared arrangement. Collective and shared resemble communal; general does not express the opposite.

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Question 56

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “incessant”: The chairman admires incessant meetings.

  1. Irregular.
  2. Unusual.
  3. Planned.
  4. Constant.
Answer and explanation

D: Constant.

Incessant means continuing repeatedly or without interruption. Constant is the nearest meaning. Irregular suggests the opposite pattern; unusual and planned do not express frequency.

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Question 57

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “favorable”: Today's weather is favorable for a game of tennis.

  1. Disapproving.
  2. Impartial.
  3. Abnormal.
  4. Encouraging.
Answer and explanation

D: Encouraging.

Favorable weather supports or promises good conditions for tennis. Encouraging is the nearest option in that context. Disapproving suggests opposition, impartial means unbiased, and abnormal means unusual.

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Question 58

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “aghast”: All the candidates looked aghast at the reading of the questions.

  1. Relaxed.
  2. Fulfilled.
  3. Dismayed.
  4. Satisfied.
Answer and explanation

C: Dismayed.

Aghast describes being shocked or horrified. Dismayed is the closest available meaning. Relaxed, fulfilled and satisfied express states inconsistent with the alarm conveyed here.

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Question 60

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “doddle”: The first round of the tournament was a doddle.

  1. Exasperating.
  2. Easy.
  3. Balanced.
  4. Dodgy.
Answer and explanation

B: Easy.

A doddle is something very easy to do. The first round was therefore easy. Exasperating means frustrating, balanced means evenly matched, and dodgy suggests unreliability or suspicion.

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Question 61

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “lustful”: The lazy man cast a lustful glance at his neighbour's wife.

  1. Envious.
  2. Hateful.
  3. Quick.
  4. Covetous.
Answer and explanation

D: Covetous.

Lustful describes strong desire, particularly sexual desire. Covetous, meaning strongly desirous of something belonging to another, is the closest option for the glance at his neighbour’s wife. Hateful and quick do not express desire; envious chiefly concerns resentment.

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Question 62

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “fomenting”: They accused him of fomenting political unrest.

  1. Guiding.
  2. Inciting.
  3. Discouraging.
  4. Preventing.
Answer and explanation

B: Inciting.

Fomenting unrest means stirring it up or encouraging it to develop. Inciting is the nearest meaning. Discouraging and preventing suggest the opposite, while guiding lacks the sense of provoking trouble.

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Question 63

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “learn”: You can learn a great deal just from watching other players.

  1. Discover.
  2. Invent.
  3. Accumulate.
  4. Allow.
Answer and explanation

A: Discover.

To learn is to gain knowledge or find something out. Discover is the nearest meaning here. Invent means create, accumulate means collect or build up, and allow means permit.

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Question 64

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “gather”: All the researchers were asked to gather information on the new viral infection.

  1. Give.
  2. Collect.
  3. Disseminate.
  4. Distort.
Answer and explanation

B: Collect.

To gather information is to collect it from available sources. Give and disseminate concern passing information on, while distort means misrepresent it. Collect preserves the researchers’ task.

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Question 65

Choose the option nearest in meaning to “severing”: The dispute between the two countries has resulted in the severing of diplomatic relations.

  1. Strengthening.
  2. Breaking.
  3. Securing.
  4. Swapping.
Answer and explanation

B: Breaking.

Severing diplomatic relations means breaking or ending them. Breaking is the nearest meaning. Strengthening and securing suggest preserving the relationship; swapping means exchanging.

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Question 66

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The house and the senate will at noon next Wednesday, _________ to hear a special address by the president.

  1. Collude.
  2. Convene.
  3. Adjourn.
  4. Rise.
Answer and explanation

B: Convene.

Convene means assemble for a meeting. The two legislative bodies will meet to hear the address. Collude means cooperate secretly for a wrongful purpose; adjourn and rise can indicate ending a sitting.

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Question 67

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: At the _________ of the century, many ways of doing things were introduced.

  1. Sight.
  2. Turn.
  3. Event.
  4. Birth.
Answer and explanation

B: Turn.

The turn of the century is the period when one century ends and the next begins. Turn completes this established expression; sight, event and birth do not.

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Question 69

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The president said that the country was not out of the _____ yet.

  1. Woods.
  2. Forest.
  3. Fog.
  4. Water.
Answer and explanation

A: Woods.

To be out of the woods means to be clear of danger or difficulty. Not out of the woods yet means the country still faces difficulties. The other choices do not complete this expression.

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Question 72

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The guard spent all the night pacing _____.

  1. To and fro.
  2. From and to.
  3. Fro and to.
  4. To and from.
Answer and explanation

A: To and fro.

To and fro means backwards and forwards. It describes the guard’s repeated pacing. The other sequences do not form the required adverbial expression.

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Question 73

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The woman refused to testify ______ her husband.

  1. From.
  2. In.
  3. At.
  4. Against.
Answer and explanation

D: Against.

To testify against someone is to give evidence adverse to that person. Against fits directly before her husband. From, in and at do not express that relationship here.

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Question 76

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Those _____ are very beautiful.

  1. Flowers of ours.
  2. Flowers of her.
  3. Flowers of her's.
  4. Our flowers.
Answer and explanation

A: Flowers of ours.

Flowers of ours is a noun phrase using the possessive pronoun ours after of. Those flowers of ours is grammatical. Her needs the pronoun form hers, her’s is not standard, and those our flowers incorrectly combines two determiners.

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Question 77

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Cooking has never been Jumoke's _____.

  1. Forte.
  2. Recital.
  3. Conduct
  4. Style.
Answer and explanation

A: Forte.

A person’s forte is an activity or ability in which they excel. Saying cooking has never been Jumoke’s forte means it is not her strong skill. Recital, conduct and style do not convey that meaning.

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Question 78

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: When the strike is over, there will probably be an increase in wages and a _____ increase in prices.

  1. Chronic.
  2. Sporadic.
  3. Concordant.
  4. Concurrent.
Answer and explanation

D: Concurrent.

Concurrent means happening at the same time. The sentence anticipates price rises accompanying wage rises. Chronic concerns persistence, sporadic means occasional, and concordant means harmonious or in agreement rather than simultaneous.

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Question 81

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The clock _____ 12 o'clock two hours ago.

  1. Striking.
  2. Strikes.
  3. Strike.
  4. Struck.
Answer and explanation

D: Struck.

Two hours ago locates the event in the past, so the verb must be struck, the past tense of strike. Striking needs an auxiliary; strikes and strike do not match this past-time statement.

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Question 82

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: What is the jury's _____ the matter?

  1. Verdict with.
  2. Verdict on.
  3. Verdict at.
  4. Verdict from.
Answer and explanation

B: Verdict on.

A verdict on a matter is a decision or judgment about it. On supplies the correct preposition. With, at and from do not link verdict to the subject being decided in this construction.

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Question 83

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The unconscious man was _____ after receiving first aid.

  1. Revived.
  2. Reawakened.
  3. Reformed.
  4. Restored.
Answer and explanation

A: Revived.

Revived means brought back to consciousness or life. It fits the unconscious man receiving first aid. Reformed concerns improvement in conduct; restored needs clearer specification, and reawakened normally concerns sleep or renewed interest.

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Question 84

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The laughter _____ his face for a moment.

  1. Remade.
  2. Improved.
  3. Controlled.
  4. Animated.
Answer and explanation

D: Animated.

Animated means made lively or expressive. Laughter animated his face by giving it a lively expression. Controlled and remade do not convey this; improved gives only a general assessment rather than that expressive change.

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Question 95

Choose the option showing the correct main stress: Valedictory.

  1. Stress on LE: vaLEdictory.
  2. Stress on DIC: valeDICtory.
  3. Stress on TORY: valedicTORY.
  4. Stress on VAL: VALedictory.
Answer and explanation

B: Stress on DIC: valeDICtory.

The main stress in valedictory falls on DIC: valeDICtory, pronounced /ˌvælɪˈdɪktəri/. The stress mark immediately before /dɪk/ identifies that syllable. The other options place the main stress elsewhere.

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Question 96

Choose the option showing the correct main stress: Congratulation.

  1. Stress on GRA: conGRAtulation.
  2. Stress on TU: congraTUlation.
  3. Stress on LA: congratuLAtion.
  4. Stress on CON: CONgratulation.
Answer and explanation

C: Stress on LA: congratuLAtion.

The main stress in congratulation falls on LA, with the vowel /eɪ/: congratuLAtion. The earlier syllables can have weaker prominence, but the primary stress is on LA.

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Question 98

Choose the question to which the sentence with the capitalised emphasis relates: My mother bought a BICYCLE yesterday.

  1. When did my mother buy a bicycle?
  2. What did my mother buy yesterday?
  3. Whose mother bought a bicycle yesterday?
  4. Did my mother steal a bicycle yesterday?
Answer and explanation

B: What did my mother buy yesterday?

BICYCLE identifies what was bought. B asks for that object. The other questions concern time, whose mother acted, or whether she stole it.

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Question 99

Choose the question to which the sentence with the capitalised emphasis relates: AMINA went to Abuja by air.

  1. Did Amina go to Jos by air?
  2. Is Amina going to Abuja by air?
  3. Who went to Abuja by air?
  4. Did Amina go to Abuja by road?
Answer and explanation

C: Who went to Abuja by air?

AMINA identifies the person who travelled. C asks who went to Abuja by air. The other alternatives change the destination, tense or means of transport.

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