English Language Past Questions

 English Language Past Questions 

1) Victor will not attend the dinner party tonight: he is afraid of his own shadow.

A. not in the mood

B. attending another party

C. scared of imaginary things

D. unhappy with his assigned role

E. unable to forget his fears.

2) Telling Ali to break his habit of coming to work late is like knocking your head against a brick wall.

A trying the impossible

B. asking him to beat you up

C. making a fool of yourself

D. asking him to be your enemy

E. making him break down at work.

3) He lost his voice momentarily.

A. in a moment

B. in a split second

C. for a brief period of time

D. without delay

E. instantly.

4) The corrupt official had to leave the public service willy nilly.

A. unprepared

B. reluctantly

C. willingly

D. compulsorily

E. by retirement

5) I am yet to write the penultimate paragraph of my essay.

A. last but one

B. third to the last

C. second

D. concluding

E. introductory

6) One hindrance to the orderly economic development of the country is large-scale fraud and corruption.

 

 

A. difficulty

B. element

C. reason

D. obstacle

 

From the alternative provided in the question below select the one which is most appropriately completes the sentence: JAMB English Past Questions and Answers in PDF Format

Had he known that it would rain, he ________ his umbrella with him.

A) would have taking

B) was going to take

C) would be taking

D) would have taken

E) would take

 

Question 2

From the alternative provided in the question below select the one which is most appropriately completes the sentence:

Omeime was taking his dog for a walk when the dog suddenly _______ from its chain and escaped

A) broke through

B) broke lose

C) broke even

D) broke loose

E) broke away

Question 3

From the alternative provided in the question below select the one which is most appropriately completes the sentence:

I was still sleeping when the national news ________ this morning

A) were broadcast

B) were broadcasted

C) was broadcast

D) was broadcasted

E) were being broadcasted

 

Question 4

From the alternative provided in the question below select the one which is most appropriately completes the sentence:

Each of the contestants ________ a chance to win

A) has

B) have

C) get

D) gets

E) take

 

Question 5

From the alternative provided in the question below select the one which is most appropriately completes the sentence:

I gave the book to the library attendant ________ I think works in the evenings

A) whom

B) whose

C) which

D) who

E) of whom Pounds to Naira

 

Question 6

From the alternative provided in the question below select the one which is most appropriately completes the sentence:

The politicians are responsible for the ________ events have taken in this country

A) course

B) curse

C) coarse

D) cause

E) corse

 

Question 7

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters:

The chief was GENEROUS in his award of university scholarships

A) nobel

B) considerate

C) liberal

D) mean

E) honest

 

Question 8

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters:

To most people last Christmas was an AUSTERE period

A) prosperous

B) harsh

C) severe

D) sour

E) stern Jamb Result

 

Question 9

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters:

Chidi is naturally TACITURN

A) friendly

B) cheerful

C) dumb

D) lively

E) garrulous

 

Question 10

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters:

He is loved for his ALTRUISM.

A) benevolence

B) sincerity

C) selfishness

D) selflessness

E) kindness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamb English Questions And Answers

Passage I: Read the Passage and Answer Questions that follow…

Nigerian novelists, like other writers, have been influenced by their environment and by the circumstances in history, which helped to make that environment what it is today.

 

They write partly to explain the social dilemmas of the group to which they belong and party to portray a way of life, which has survived, to some extent. This culture might have survived more fully if certain historical events had not so drastically affected Africa and the attitude of Africans, not only to people of other races but also to their own selves.

 

Of these experiences the slave trade is the most remote and has therefore exercised only an indirect influence on the

present writer. What certainly provided the motivation and subsequently the tools for writing is the colonial experience.

 

This experience was such that it disturbed the life of the average Nigerian even though it left him free for the most part to carry on his traditional pursuits. Just as the colonial government followed the lead of the trading companies in administrative matters, so also did it allow the missionaries to take the initiative in matters of formal education.

 

Though the government was at first slow in providing education, it was willing, albeit reluctantly to give

support to the effort of the missionaries. The missionaries controlled education at the early stages and most of the Nigerian writers attended missionary schools at least at the primary level.

 

The aim of Christian missionary education was to make converts to the Christian faith. Its target was the people and to reach the people, the vernacular had to be used.

 

 

1. Which of the following constituted a major influence on Nigeria writers

A. Social group and history

B. Social group and the slave trade

C. Environment and history

D. The slave trade colonialism

 

2. Which of the following statement is TRUE

A. Nigerian writers are Christians

B. The slave trade has an indirect influence on the writers

C. The missionaries took the lead in economic activities

D. Nigerian writers used the vernacular in their works.

 

3. We can infer from the passage that in their efforts at providing

formal education for Nigerians, the missionaries

A. received immediate government support

B. received limited government support

B. did not need government support

D. rejected government support

 

4. Formal education of the early stages of colonialism was provided by

A. The missionaries only

B. The missionaries and the government

C. Government agencies

D. The converts

 

5. Christian missionary education was aimed at

A. Educating people to be useful to themselves

B. Winning souls for Christ

C. Destroy the Traditional Religions

D. Enhancing Colonialism

 

COMPREHENSION PASSAGE ANSWER

Ans C

“Environment and history” (direct factual question)

2. Ans B

“The slave trade has an indirect influence on the writer” (direct factual question).

3. Ans B

“Received limited government support” (implied

question)

4. Ans A

“The missionaries only” (direct factual questions)

5. Ans B

“Winning souls for Christ” (direct and implied

questions)

 

PASSAGE TWO:  Following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap.

 

How does a book get published? In some cases publisher might ….6…. [A. inaugurate B. authorize C. empower D

Commission] and author to write a book. This happens when publisher already knows roughly what kind of book he wants to publish, and has already identify the potential …7… [A congregation B. participants readership D. audience]. Many educational books fall into this category.

 

In order cases, an author may send in a …8… [A manuscript B. draft C. script D. document] to be considered for

publication Publishers receive many of these, and it is their job to decide which ones to publish-not all bookstand an equal chance of selling in sufficient numbers to justify the publisher’s ..9… [A. payment B. Investment C. purchase D.

subsidy]. Publishers will often send work to an

independent ….10… [A. reporter B. examiner C. critic D.

reader] to report on.

 

Even if a publisher..11.. [A. scraps B. ignores C. rejects D. snubs] an author’s work, he will usually try to make some helpful comments, for young authors need plenty of …12… [A morale B. courage C. spirit

D. encouragement], moreover, the amateur scribbler of today may turn into the best-selling author of tomorrow.

 

Once a book has been accepted for publication, the publisher still has many other decisions to make. Invariably, books need to be …13… [A. altered B. edited C. perfected D analyzed] for even the best authors work can be improved upon, somehow. The many …14..  [A. design B. plan C organization D. critical] problems include the size of the page, the type and size of print, the type of cover, the…15. [A pictures B. illustrations C. captions D. paintings) and who should draw them – all these questions and many more have to be decided

 

From the following questions 16-25, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

 

 

16. One of the referees shall sign here

A. It is desirable that one of the referees signs here

B. It is reasonable that one of the referees signs here

C. It is obligatory that one of the referees signs here

D. It is advisable that one of these referees signs here

 

17. There is no written law on this issues, the doctor will rely of thumb

A. The rector will rely on information received

B. The rector will rely on his position

C. The rector will rely on sheer sentiment

D. The rector will rely on his experience

 

18. The principal opened the letter in error

A. It was wrong but he intended to do it

B. He did it unknowingly

C. He was right to do so officially

D. It was done in order to teach the owner a lesson

 

19. Everyone but Nick was late to the meeting

A. Everyone except Nick came in time

B. Everyone including Nick did not come in time

C. Only Nick did not come in time

D. Only Nick came in time

 

20. They must have been working for hour by now

A. They will have to go on working for hours

B. They have certainly worked continuously for hours

C. They have now stopped working

D. They had been obliged to work continuously for hours

 

21. Mrs. Ahmed made the promise with her tongue in her check

A. She should not be taken seriously

B. She was shy as she spoke

C. She could not be heard because her tongue was hidden

D. She should not be believed because of the special way made the promise.

 

22. The cashier attends the board meeting sparingly

A. He attends the meeting quite often

B. He seldom attends the meeting

C. He attends the meeting regularly

D. He attends the meeting unwillingly

 

23. When he was presented with a huge estimate for the project, manager hit the roof

A. He became very suspicious

B. He threw an object to the roof

C. He became very angry

D. He ordered the project to be started at once

 

24. Youth see the world through rose-coloured spectacle

A. They look at the world with spectacles in rose colours

B. They view life over-optimistically

C. They see the world as serious

D. They are happy with life

 

25. If you (master J) were around Lazarus would not have died

implies that

A. The master was around and Lazarus did not die

B. the master was not around and Lazarus did not die

C. Lazarus actually died when the master was not around

D. Lazarus died even though the master was around

 

From the following Questions 26 to 35, Choose the option Opposite in meaning to the word or phrase in italics.

 

26. Our Economy is now Buoyant

A. unfavourable B. bleak gloomy D. depressed

 

27. The House of Assembly ratified the controversial bill

A. reviewed B authenticated C. Corroborated D. Standardized

 

28. Our school was invaded by some militant boys

A. defended B. destroyed C. attacked D. built

 

29. One should guard against making sacrilegious remix

A. impious B. reverent C. Blasphemous D. reverential

 

30. My mother is very daring

A. Intrepid B. timid C. adventurous D. rash

 

31. In writing, we must choose appropriate words to express our

ideas…

A. close B. ineffective Capt D. unsuitable

 

32. The Supreme Court quashed the judgment of the lower court

A. criticized B. commended C. annulled D. upheld

 

33. The girl was in ebullient mood

A. joyous B delightful C dull D. stressful

 

34. The engineer had inadvertently pushed the wrong button

A consciously B. conscientiously C. carelessly D. rightly

 

35. The recently released musical album was considered obscene by many music fans

A. polite B. pleasant Charmless D. decent

 

In each of questions 36 – 44, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word or phrase in italics

 

36. Musa will buy the house regardless of our complaints

A. mindful of B. out of concern for C. irrespective of D. in consideration of

 

37. The governor was able to redress the injustice done to the farmers

A restore B. explain C aggravate D. remedy

 

38. The ostensible reason for his failure was his refusal to study

A apparent H. plan Cvisible D. open

 

39. He became melancholic when he was told he had not won the

scholarship

A disgruntled B. dejected C, defeated D. defiant

 

40. Mrs. Adebayo put forward a preposterous suggestion

A reasonable B. an absurd a great D, an obscurial

 

41. The General manager will give up work at the end of this month.

A retire B. Resign C. Surrender D. Withdraw

 

42. I have confidence in here

A. hope in B. doubt in C. dependence on D. Intimacy with

 

43. The man was delegated by the government to investigate the matter

A. nominated B. deployed C. commanded D. employed

 

44. Adaora is quite inflexible when she has made up her mind

A. unpersuasive B, stiff unyielding D. stationery

 

From the following questions 45 – 54, choose the option that Best Complete the gap(s)

 

45. After three consecutive months without pay at work, we are beginning to feel the A. consequence B. crunch C. pain D. poverty E. result

 

46. Poor feeding causes ___  in children

 

A. malfunction malediction C. malnutrition D. maladjustment E. malaria

 

47. ___ evidence contradicted what had earlier stated in

writing.

A. comprehensive B. oral C. given D. voluntary E. forced

 

48. The unlucky woman often ___ operation to be delivered of her babies

A. undergoes B. overgoes C. understudies

D. underwrites E. over studies

 

49. If you don’t have all that you need for your cookery lesson you should

A. assimilate B. constitute C. improvise D. invent E. renovate

 

50. Though Chike has been ___ his colleagues believe that

he committed the crime.

A. authenticated B. convicted C. pardoned D. Exonerated E. sentenced

 

51. The panel which investigated the recent riot has submitted its ___ to government.

A. findings B. memorandum C. report D. petition E terms of reference

 

52. The ___ meeting of the newly constituted Board of Internal Revenue comes up next week

A. valedictory B. inaugural C. ceremonial

D. pre-election E. proposed.

 

53. The retrenched workers are bracing up for a ___ their employers

A. showcase B. show man’ C. showdown

show – piece E. show-off with

 

54. The examination body ___ the entrance examination because there were confirmed reports of widespread malpractice

 

A cancelled B. condemned C. denounced D. dethroned E. Impenched

 

English Test Of Orals Questions

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the Same Vowel Sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined

 

55. Feast A. head B. caprice C. suffice D. practice

56. apple A. carry B. rather C. can’t D. market

 

From the words lettered A to D choose the word that has the Same Consonant Sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined bang

 

57. bang A. plunge B. singe C. mangle D. danger E. smooth

 

smooth A. without B. ethics C. tooth D. panther

 

58. In each of the following sentences the word that receives the

Emphatic Stress is written in capital letters.  From the questions lettered A to D, choose the one to which the given

sentence is the appropriate answer.

 

59. The village head lived to be A HUNDRED years

 

Did the family head live to be a hundred years?

Did the village priest live to be a hundred years?

Did the village head live to be ninety years?

Did the village head live to be a hundred months?

 

60. Jamiu told the old man to LEAVE the room

 

Did paul tell the old man to leave the room?

Did Jamiu tell the young man to leave the room?

Did Jamiu tell the old man to leave the room?

Did Jamiu tell the old man to leave the compound?

 

choose the option with the correct spelling from the options lettered A-E

A Acommodation

B Accomodation

C Accormodation

D Accommodation

choose the option with the correct spelling from the options lettered A-E

A Sucesful

B Succeful

C Successful

D Sucessful

 

choose the option with the correct spelling from the options lettered A-E

A Interprete

B Interpret

C Inteprete

D Interprette

 

choose the option with the correct emphatic stress indicated in capital letters from the options lettered A-D

Biography

A bioGRAphy

B BIOgraphy

C biograPHY

D biOGRaphy

 

choose the option with the correct emphatic stress indicated in capital letters from the options lettered A-D

Successful

A SUccessful

B suCcessful

C sucCEssful

D succESSful

 

choose the option with the correct emphatic stress indicated in capital letters from the options lettered A-D

Democracy

A DEmocracy

B deMOcracy

C demoCRAcy

D democraCY

 

choose the option with the correct emphatic stress indicated in capital letters from the options lettered A-D

Conventional

A conVENtional

B CONventional

C convenTIOnal

D conventioNAL

choose the option nearly opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined

 

It is embarrassing to accept our mistakes and tender an apology.

A acceptable

B honourable

C detestable

D pardonable

 

choose the option nearly opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined

 

Insecurity has escalated since the present government came into power.

 

A abated

B increased

C proliferated

D metamorphosed

 

choose the option nearly opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined

 

The lawmakers are perceived to be the greediest set of politicians.

A selfless

B unwanted

C popular

D corrupt

 

choose the option nearly opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined

 

James found the photocopied material invaluable while preparing for the examination

A Valuable

B worthwhile

C worthless

D important

 

choose the option nearly opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined

 

Mr. Akin's health has greatly degenerated in the last week.

 

 

A

improved

 

B

deteriorated

 

C

expanded

 

D

abated

 

The incumbent president conceded defeat before the final result was announced.

 

 

A accepted

 

B rejected

 

C opposed

 

D challenged

 

complete the statement from the options lettered A-D

 

The meeting was organised at _______ instance ?

A whom

B whose's

C whose

D whom's

 

Mr. Jude made it to the meeting _____his poor health

 

 

A

even though

 

B

inspite of

 

C

in spite of

 

D

despite that

 

The two friends made promises to _____ when they met last year

 

 

A

each other

 

B

one another

 

C

theirselves

 

D

themselves