JAMB - English Language (1988)

  • 1
    In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) Underlined:
    Our government is making determined efforts to eradicate illiteracy
    Svar
    (B)
    ineffective
  • 2
    In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) Underlined:
    Makerere University has a large intake of students each year
    Svar
    (A)
    rejection
  • 3
    In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) Underlined:
    Florence flogged the girl reluctantly
    Svar
    (A)
    eagerly
  • 4
    In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) Underlined:
    Sola's car is badly damaged; he has to look for an expert mechanic to fix it.
    Svar
    (B)
    amateurish
  • 5
    In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) Underlined:

    Coastal plains are often very densely populated.
    Svar
    (D)
    sparsely
  • 6
    In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
    Wilfred was a mindless criminal
    Svar
    (B)
    mindful
  • 7
    In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) Underlined:
    The judge blamed the plaintiff for misleading the court
    Svar
    (A)
    defendant
  • 8
    In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) Underlined:
    The thieves vandalized the vault's lock
    Svar
    (A)
    repaired
  • 9
    In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) Underlined:The demonstrators have refused to call off their action
    Svar
    (B)
    start
  • 10
    In the question below, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
    The angry waves swallowed the boat
    Svar
    (A)
    gentle
  • 11
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    Ngozi and Ekaette were fast friends when we were in the secondary school
    Svar
    (C)
    friends who are not easily separated from each other
  • 12
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:My son has just been rusticated from the university
    Svar
    (B)
    sent home for misconduct
  • 13
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    All we need is a concerted effort to combat the epidemic
    Svar
    (C)
    joint
  • 14
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    Jimoh has cupboard love for Sidikatu
    Svar
    (C)
    love for what he wants from her
  • 15
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:Yahaya hardly knows on which side his bread is buttered in the matter
    Svar
    (A)
    where his interest liess
  • 16
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:

    The preacher is under a cloud among the congregation
    Svar
    (A)
    out of favour
  • 17
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    The politician played to the gallery to win the election
    Svar
    (D)
    went out of his way to appeal to the taste of the people
  • 18
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    The hefty warder came in and all the prisoners snuffed out their cigarettes
    Svar
    (A)
    extinguished
  • 19
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    The popularity of the slogan is beginning to wane
    Svar
    (D)
    decline
  • 20
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    The policeman looked at the face of the robber and saw tell-tale signs of a dyed-in-the wool convict.
    Svar
    (A)
    hardened
  • 21
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    'Marcus bears watching; remarked Emperor Nero.
    Svar
    (B)
    needs
  • 22
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    The senior prefect had to carry the can because he refused to identify the culprit
    Svar
    (B)
    accept responsibility
  • 23
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    The senior had the habit of setting the cat among the pigeon whenever matters concerning his constituency came up for debate
    Svar
    (D)
    introducing elements of controversy and confusion
  • 24
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:Adah has not been regular at lectures because she has been off colour
    Svar
    (C)
    slightly sick
  • 25
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    When the man lost his two sons in a motor accident, he cracked up
    Svar
    (C)
    became slightly deranged
  • 26

    In the question below, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) underlined:

    The news of his performance in the sessional examination has made Okechukwu crestfallen.

    Svar
    (B)
    dejected
  • 27
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    The man rebuked his son severely, but his words seem to have cut on ice
    Svar
    (B)
    had no effect
  • 28
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    The urban environment tends to form the nucleus of a common dialect.
    Svar
    (D)
    core
  • 29
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    I shall be with you presently
    Svar
    (B)
    in a moment
  • 30
    In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) Underlined:
    The builder's taste reflected superfluous grandeur
    Svar
    (D)
    too much
  • 31
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The child's recent training has not been very effective, he is likely to .... to his old habits
    Svar
    (A)
    revert
  • 32
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The students went on whispering in .... of the teacher
    Svar
    (C)
    defiance
  • 33
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    You can never find Okwu; he is a very .... person.
    Svar
    (B)
    elusive
  • 34
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    You could see that Akpan did not give his evidence ....
    Svar
    (D)
    completely honestly
  • 35
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The suspect defrauded his ..... victims of large sums of money
    Svar
    (B)
    unsuspecting
  • 36
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The ... of the participating countries will hold a preconference on the eve of the conference.
    Svar
    (B)
    Auditors General
  • 37
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The drummers struck their drums with great efforts and the surging crowds of dancers .... and .... the grounds around the palace.
    Svar
    (D)
    stroked/thumped
  • 38
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The chairman's daughter's laughter was with no .... to ridicule the applicant
    Svar
    (D)
    intent
  • 39
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The water is not good for drinking; it's been .... by the dead rabbit
    Svar
    (A)
    contaminated
  • 40
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The austerity of the times has made people to be more .... in their spending
    Svar
    (B)
    circumspect
  • 41

    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:

    Are you sure he prefers a horse ride .... a walk?

    Svar
    (B)
    to taking
  • 42
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    .... to your request, we have decided to provide the necessary information
    Svar
    (C)
    With regard
  • 43
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The price of everything seems to have ... up in the last few months.
    Svar
    (C)
    risen
  • 44

    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:

    Just to convince you about my commitment to the project, i shall .... at the office before i leave for Kano tomorrow.

    Svar
    (B)
    put in an appearance
  • 45
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    There was a .... of steps.
    Svar
    (C)
    flight
  • 46
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    Many young men of nowadays do not know how to properly .... their cloths.
    Svar
    (B)
    iron
  • 47
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The dancers were all in .... before their departure
    Svar
    (D)
    high spirits
  • 48
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    Ebun .... the edge of the cliff after his shoes had failed to grip.
    Svar
    (B)
    fell off
  • 49
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    That old lady prefers .... bread .... clothes.
    Svar
    (C)
    baking/to making
  • 50
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    I wonder how much .....
    Svar
    (D)
    these earrings cost
  • 51
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    I wonder how much .....
    Svar
    (D)
    these earrings cost
  • 52
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The college authorities have .... the students to end the strike.
    Svar
    (B)
    called on
  • 53
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    I have been trying to locate you .....
    Svar
    (D)
    for five days
  • 54
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The host insisted on ... what he called 'a little gift'
    Svar
    (B)
    me accepting
  • 55
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The whole class looked forward to .... Kainji Dam at christmas.
    Svar
    (A)
    visiting
  • 56
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    A government spokesman announced that efforts .... the release of hostages are continuing
    Svar
    (A)
    to obtain
  • 57
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    I know you will think I am talking nonsense, Shehu, but .... you'll realize that i was right.
    Svar
    (C)
    in time
  • 58
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The Inspector of Education who made several trips on bad road returned yesterday completely .... by fever
    Svar
    (C)
    worn down
  • 59
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s).:
    The vice principal asked the students to always .... their answer only from the textbooks recommended for the course
    Svar
    (C)
    look up
  • 60
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    I know that your friend will not accept the proposal ....
    Svar
    (D)
    neither will you
  • 61
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    Mark is a very handsome fellow who informs me that he was .... for pretty girls
    Svar
    (C)
    an eye
  • 62
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    Wale Agun, in creating his characters, draws freely .... his experience in life
    Svar
    (C)
    on
  • 63
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    When i have an appointment with someone, i hate .... waiting
    Svar
    (C)
    being kept
  • 64

    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):

    It's no good .... about the result until you have sat for examination

    Svar
    (C)
    worrying
  • 65
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    If you don't want to .... your car to robbers, then don't travel in the night
    Svar
    (C)
    lose
  • 66
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    The beautiful plan made for the expansion of the business fell .... as soon as the manager died.
    Svar
    (D)
    through
  • 67
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    The event reported in the newspaper did not happen years ago; they ....
    Svar
    (C)
    are recent
  • 68
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    There is no point getting upset by problems; I take them ....
    Svar
    (A)
    in my stride
  • 69
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    There is no need to stand .... ceremony in matters of this nature
    Svar
    (C)
    on
  • 70
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    The driver will .... all the students interested in going to Lagos tomorrow at 7 a:m outside the Main Building
    Svar
    (D)
    pick up
  • 71
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    What bothered me about the lecture was that the speaker ... too many irrelevant works
    Svar
    (D)
    cited
  • 72
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    The students were suspended because they were ....
    Svar
    (A)
    indisciplined
  • 73
    We heard the .... of breaks which was followed by a crashing noise
    Svar
    (B)
    screeching
  • 74
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    I had not given the question a thought before my answer came ....
    Svar
    (C)
    on the spur of the moment
  • 75

    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):

    The small girl is.... than her elder sister

    Svar
    (D)
    much more clever
  • 76
    In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):
    .... are good friends
    Svar
    (A)
    He and i
  • 77
    The writer of the passage felt isolated because
    Svar
    (D)
    none of the many people around could help him
  • 78
    The writer says that the prospect was not cheerful because
    Svar
    (C)
    there was no hope of getting out of his predicament
  • 79
    In the passage,'the darkness of ignorance' refers to the
    Svar
    (A)
    state of the writer before he found the notice board
  • 80
    According to the passage, the writer's predicament was caused by
    Svar
    (B)
    those who displayed the notice and perhaps the writer
  • 81
    The writer remembered his first day in the university for a long time because he
    Svar
    (C)
    had learnt the hard way how to keep informed about happenings in the university
  • 82
    The passage says that
    Svar
    (A)
    there are many skils of communication of which listening is one
  • 83
    Creative listening involves all the following EXCEPT
    Svar
    (B)
    making sure that what the speaker is saying is audible
  • 84
    Creative listening implies all EXCEPT
    Svar
    (B)
    an uncompromising rejection of the speaker's argument
  • 85
    The tone of the passage is
    Svar
    (C)
    analytical
  • 86
    A most suitable title for the passage is
    Svar
    (C)
    listening in communication
  • 87
    Select the most appropriate title for this passage
    Svar
    (C)
    problems of working in English as a foreign language
  • 88
    The student begins experiencing difficulties with English when
    Svar
    (A)
    learning English with other subjects
  • 89
    The expression 'his language often betrays him into dullness,coldness,or worst of all, rudeness' means that
    Svar
    (B)
    the way he uses the language gives one the impression that he is dull,cold or rude
  • 90
    The statement 'instead of the student being in control of the language,the language seems now to be in control of the student' implies that the
    Svar
    (C)
    language can make the student behave rather badly
  • 91
    The most likely source of difficulty for the student working with English as a medium of instruction is
    Svar
    (B)
    unknown items of grammar and vocabulary in the texts
  • 92
    In the passage 'manic pleasure' means
    Svar
    (C)
    unlimited pleasure
  • 93
    The expression 'must kick it and make it collapse' in this context means
    Svar
    (C)
    cannot resist the urgue to demolish it
  • 94
    According to this passage, it gives the child great pleasure
    Svar
    (B)
    to destroy the tower himself
  • 95
    How does the author try to explain this 'destructive stage'?
    Svar
    (C)
    it grows out of the child's recent experience of sudden falls
  • 96
    How does the author try to explain this 'destructive stage'?
    Svar
    (C)
    it grows out of the child's recent experience of sudden falls
  • 97
    What other feeling does the child derive from the fall of his tower apart from pleasure?
    Svar
    (A)
    strength
  • 98
    According to the passage, the woman with half a dozen of egg in the market
    Svar
    (B)
    comes purposely to enjoy herself
  • 99
    'An old goldsmith worked on his dying art' means that the
    Svar
    (A)
    goldsmith's trade was no longer popular
  • 100
    Which of the following titles BEST reflects the content of the passage?
    Svar
    (C)
    an African market scene