JAMB UTME English Language (Use of English) Past Questions and Answers Free 2012

JAMB UTME English Language (Use of English) Past Questions and Answers Free 2012 – Introduction

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JAMB UTME Use of English Past Questions and Answers Free – 2001

JAMB UTME English Language (Use of English) Past Questions and Answers Free 2012 – Question Key

Questions: Numbered: 1 – 100

COMPREHENSION

PASSAGE I

Religion in its various forms is very strong in Nigeria. In other words, Nigerian people are very religious. Most of them believe that there is an unseen supernatural world, apart from the natural world we see around us. This other world is inhabited by beings who are the source of our knowledge of good and evil. They watch and judge us, and if we offend them they may have to be appeased with prayers and sacrifices.

Certain individuals in the natural world—priests, prophets and diviners—are believed to be endowed with special powers to make contact with the other world. These individuals lay down ceremonies or rituals which must be observed if due honour is to be paid to the unseen beings. The religious beliefs and practices of Nigerians can be classified under three main headings: Traditional religion, Islam and Christianity. In this passage, our focus is on traditional religion.

Traditional or indigenous religion continues to exert a strong influence on many people’s minds partly because of its association with their birthplaces and families. Each ethnic group has its own religious tradition and these are often linked to some sacred spots in the ethnic homeland. Yet the various traditional religions have much in common: a remote but benevolent high god; under him, a number of lesser gods who interact with mankind; and below them various spirits who inhabit natural objects (trees, streams, rocks, etc); below them again, and closest to living men and women, the spirits of the ancestors.

In the Yoruba tradition, for example, there are more than 400 lesser deities presided over by the high god, Olorun. Because he is remote from mankind, shrines are not built to him and worship is not offered to him directly. The lesser gods, on the other hand, are the subject of special cults, each with its own priests and devotees. Eshu, the messenger of the gods; Ifa, the god of divination; Shango, the god of thunder, and so on.

Traditional religion was also strong in other parts of Nigeria. In Igbo traditional religion, there were fewer gods. Although there was a remote high god, the most important figure was Ala or Ani, the goddess of the earth. In Hausaland, traditional religion has largely gone underground owing to the influence of Islam, but belief in the existence of ‘Bori’ spirits and their power to possess people, especially women, is strong in some areas. Each spirit is associated with certain types of behaviour, which is manifested by the possessed individual.

Divination—the discovery of what is unknown or is yet to happen by supernatural or magical means—is an important element of traditional religion. It is often one of the functions of medicine-men or herbalists. In Igboland, there also used to be several oracles which people consulted in order to seek solutions to their problems. With the coming of Christianity, their influence has however waned, but in areas like Arochukwu and Okija, the influence of such oracles is still strongly felt.

Answer the following questions (1 – 5) based on Passage I:

1. Which question paper type of Use of English as indicated above is given to you?

A. type green

B. type purple

C. type red

D. type yellow

2. According to the first paragraph, Nigerians believe that the

A. supernatural and natural worlds co-exist

B. natural and supernatural worlds are antagonistic

C. supernatural world controls natural world

D. supernatural world exploits the natural world

3. Traditional religion has waned in Nigeria due to the

A. influence of Islam over the border

B. influence of Christianity over location

C. influence of non-traditional religions

D. decline of interest in traditional religions

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

A. prayer only

B. divination

C. sacrifice

D. ritual

5. Which factor is common to all traditional religions as mentioned in the passage?

A. prayer only

B. divination

C. sacrifice

D. ritual

PASSAGE II

Recent literary researches reveal that Nigerians hardly have time to read. In essence, the reading culture in Nigeria is now at a low ebb. It is disturbing, however, that the few Nigerians that read concentrate more on foreign books than indigenous productions.

Most Nigerian authors of novels, storybooks, fictions and non-fiction series have decried, on different occasions, their woes. They were bitter at the way most owners of bookshops and publishers treat them. It was gathered that they stock foreign books. When contacted by DAILY INDEPENDENT, the general manager of a popular bookstore on Lagos Island declared that most of the bookshops preferred to stock foreign books because of higher demands for them. The question that bothers most Nigerian authors is: while their overseas counterparts are being rewarded with great international honours, why are Nigerians not according them such recognition in their own country?

Recently, Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, won the 2007 Orange Prize Award, the literary world’s top award for fiction in English written by women. The award carries a prize tag of $30,000. It was reported in Publishers Weekly that Half of a Yellow Sun, the book that earned her the award, was profoundly gripping. According to the reviewer, the book is a transcendent novel of many descriptive triumphs, most notably its depiction of the impact of war brutalities on peasants and intellectuals alike. It is searing history in fictional form, intensely evocative and immensely absorbing.

Chinua Achebe, ‘Father of Modern African Literature,’ also won the second ever Man Booker International Prize of £60,000 with his first novel Things Fall Apart, published in 1958. When Professor Wole Soyinka won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, the fame confirmed the relevance of Nigerians in the world of classical excellence. Ben Okri won the 1991 Booker Prize with his work, The Famished Road, and the world celebrated Nigeria as the giant of Africa.

It was also gathered that most of the publishers hurriedly produce books and in the process mar their good contents. Most of the books are not properly edited and eventually become substandard when compared with foreign products. The extent to which book publishing standard has fallen in Nigeria is alarming. Often Nigerian publishers have been blamed for this. It is instructive that none of the books mentioned had been published in Nigeria.

It was discovered that most students in tertiary institutions depend on dictations from their lecturers and/or handouts. A science lecturer in one of the Nigerian universities, who had been a victim of handout sales scandal, told DAILY INDEPENDENT the reality of campus challenges in relation to books: “I was forced to dictate notes slowly to students who hung on my every word in the absence of textbooks in a library that had, to all intents and purposes, stopped buying new books when the local currency was devalued. But what other alternative does one have?”

Answer the following questions (6 – 10) based on Passage II:

6. It can be inferred from the passage that

A. Nigerians have access to foreign books only

B. Nigerian undergraduates do not read textbooks

C. Nigerians read foreign and indigenous books alike

D. Nigerians read mostly foreign books

7. The reason for lack of indigenous books in most renowned bookshops, according to the passage, is

A. Nigerians prefer reading foreign books

B. foreign books attract more buyers

C. indigenous books are sometimes not available

D. the low quality of indigenous books

8. The expression “…that earned her the award is profoundly gripping,” as used in the passage, means that the book is

A. highly interesting and captures attention

B. of high quality to the writer

C. attracts many indigenous and foreign readers

D. widely acknowledged by many authors

9. The university science lecturer gives his reason for issuing handouts as

A. lack of teaching aids among students

B. low purchasing power

C. low quality of books

D. lack of sufficient time

10. A suitable title for this passage is

A. Nigerian Literary Writers

B. Nigerian Publishers and International Awards

C. Poor Reading Culture in Nigeria

D. Why Nigerian Lecturers Sell Handouts

PASSAGE III

It is said that experience is the best teacher, but to learn consciously through wisdom may even be a better and more convenient way. To learn by experience is to learn from mistakes. It means you have burnt your fingers and now ‘your eyes are open.’ This is a tough, costly and inconvenient way to learn. Rather than leaving our learning to experience, why do we not learn consciously, going out of our way to acquire knowledge and wisdom rather than leave our learning to chance?

Surely, we can learn from mistakes but why wait till when we make mistakes before we learn? We should give more premium to learning by wisdom than by experience. This will involve one making up one’s mind to be decisive in learning. We must decide to learn consciously and not necessarily from negative experiences.

The first step is to realize that life is simply the outcome and outplay of decisions. Our life now is the sum total of our decisions and our future will be determined by our decisions. Our life now is the sum total of our decisions and our future will be determined by our decisions of today. If we decide to learn today we are not likely to make mistakes and when we do not make mistakes, experience need not be our best teacher.

To avoid making experience our best teacher will take more than a decision. We must couple our decision with a complete and wholehearted devotion. We must be resolved, resolute and resilient in our bid to learn by wisdom and not necessarily by experience. This is crucial because situations and circumstances will want us to make a detour and leave our learning and life to chance. We must therefore be disciplined to remain with our resolve to make a clean break with experience as our best teacher.

Discipline in this regard means learning something new every day by wisdom rather than by experience. It means consciously getting better by the day in your chosen field. Discipline will demand taking advantage of every learning opportunity that comes our way. It will mean we must pay the price for learning by wisdom—invest in books, magazines, seminars and other means by which we may become wiser.

It is much easier and cheaper to learn consciously by wisdom than to learn by experience. When we learn by experience, the deed is done and we are just picking up the pieces—learning in regret how to avoid such predicament next time. Consider the child who grasps a burning coal, he has learned the hard way through the painful experience, but his fingers will remain burnt. Thus the saying, that experience is the best teacher, may not be justifiable after all.

Adapted from Sunday Tribune, July 2007

Answer the following questions (11 – 15) based on Passage III:

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

A. objective

B. critical

C. non-committal

D. emotional

12. It can be deduced from the passage that

A. all experiences are best teachers

B. learning through pains is better

C. experience is superior to wisdom

D. wise thoughts are more desirable than experience

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

A. Man must make mistakes in order to survive

B. The totality of our actions should be decided by our judgement

C. If we do not make mistakes, experience must be our teacher

D. Our future would be judged by our past mistakes

14. According to the passage, we must be disciplined to

A. make experience our best teacher in reality

B. learn from our experiences in future

C. choose the learning opportunity that comes our way

D. decide against making experience our teacher

15. The phrase “a complete and wholehearted devotion,” as used in the passage, means

A. acting without doubts

B. learning with tension

C. learning without pains

D. teaching with ease

CLOZE

PASSAGE IV

Answer the following questions (16 – 25) by choosing the option that best completes the gap(s) in Passage IV:

The medical definition of miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before twenty-four weeks. Miscarriage is very common, occurring in ten to twenty per cent of confirmed pregnancies. Most of those feature …16… twelve weeks of pregnancy. The most common …17… is vaginal bleeding, which can range from light spotting to heavier than a period. You may see blood clots, brown discharge or other tissues that are not …18… identifiable. Sometimes a sac-like structure is seen. Often, there is cramping with pelvic or back pain. You may find that the usual symptoms of pregnancy, such as breast tenderness, feeling sick and having to pass urine more …19… than usual stop unexpectedly. Sometimes there are no signs or symptoms of miscarriage and pregnancy symptoms continue, and the miscarriage only …20… in a routine scan. About half of all early miscarriages happen because of a problem in the way the genetic material from the egg and sperm have combined during …21… It can be difficult to find out why this has …22…, but it is more likely to be due to random chance than to any underlying problem with either parent. Imbalances in pregnancy hormones, problems in the immune …23…, and some serious infections are also thought to make miscarriages more likely. The risk of miscarriage …24… with age because the quality of eggs deteriorates. If a woman drinks too much alcohol or smokes heavily, the risk of miscarriage is higher. It is also increased with …25… pregnancies such as twins.

16.

A. within

B. before

C. after

D. during

17.

A. symptom

B. sign

C. indication

D. feature

18.

A. easily

B. readily

C. quickly

D. clearly

19.

A. often

B. frequently

C. regularly

D. repeatedly

20.

A. appears

B. shows

C. emerges

D. manifests

21.

A. conception

B. fertilization

C. pregnancy

D. gestation

22.

A. occurred

B. happened

C. taken place

D. come about

23.

A. system

B. structure

C. mechanism

D. organization

24.

A. increases

B. rises

C. grows

D. escalates

25.

A. multiple

B. many

C. several

D. numerous

SENTENCE INTERPRETATION

Answer the following questions (26 – 35) and select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:

26. Hardworking students must not have a finger in every pie at school.

A. Hardworking students must not have a role to play in most activities in the school

B. Only hardworking students must participate in all activities in the school

C. Hardworking students do not participate in all activities in the school

D. Hardworking students must ask others to participate in school activities

27. The vice chancellor is riding the crest of the last quarter of his administration.

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

B. The vice chancellor does not enjoy the people’s criticism of his administration

C. The vice chancellor hopes to overcome soon the poor comments on the administration

D. The vice chancellor does not talk of his success in office

28. She was absolved by the court from the charge.

A. She was convicted for the charge

B. She was blamed and charged to court

C. Her case was resolved by the court

D. She was declared free from the charge

29. The landlord is fond of throwing his weight about.

A. The landlord likes healthy exercise

B. The landlord is overweight

C. The landlord gives orders to people

D. The landlord is respected by his tenants

30. The company ought to have issued warrants for one billion shares.

A. The company has issued one billion shares

B. The management expected the company to issue more than one billion shares

C. Members of the company bought less than one billion shares

D. The company did not issue one billion shares

31. He needed not to have played in the position of quarterback in volleyball.

A. He participated in the game in his unusual position

B. Nobody expected him to have participated in the game

C. He wanted to play in a position other than the one he was offered

D. Someone did not want him to play in the position that he played

32. I wouldn’t have responded to his rude talk, if I were you.

A. The advice was taken by the respondent so he did not respond to the talk

B. The adviser put himself in the respondent’s position, so he did not respond to the talk

C. The respondent replied to the speaker’s talk, although he ought not to have done so

D. What was advisable was that the respondent gave it back to the speaker

33. He could not speak out because he had feet of clay.

A. His feet were muddy

B. He was weak and cowardly

C. He was clumsy and lazy

D. He was shy and timid

34. The player wasted a golden opportunity during the penalty shoot-out.

A. The player first hit the bar

B. The player did not score the shot

C. The player scored the shot that made them win the gold cup

D. Instead of a silver cup, they received the golden one

35. As far as Abu is concerned, Mero should be given fifty naira at the most.

A. All Abu is concerned with is that Mero should be given nothing more than fifty naira

B. All Abu is saying is that Mero probably deserves more than fifty naira and not less

C. In Abu’s estimation, Mero merits not more than fifty naira

D. In Abu’s opinion, Mero deserves fifty naira or probably more

ANTONYMS (OPPOSITE IN MEANING)

Answer the following questions (36 – 50) and choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) or phrase in (brackets and italics):

36. As (an idiot), the boy is weak in class.

A. a deviant

B. an expert

C. a dunce

D. a genius

37. We were (shocked) by the news that he had lost the money.

A. astonished

B. unconcerned

C. disconcerted

D. surprised

38. The principal was advised to be (flexible) on critical issues.

A. livid

B. cautious

C. evasive

D. rigid

39. Bola always looks (sober).

A. excited

B. serious

C. worried

D. hapless

40. Dupe was promoted for her (efficiency).

A. ability

B. inconsistency

C. incompetence

D. rudeness

41. The management wants to consider her (reticent) behaviour in due course.

A. disapproving

B. disciplinarian

C. contemplative

D. loquacious

42. Election processes often become (volatile).

A. calm

B. strange

C. sudden

D. latent

43. Oche entered the principal’s office in a rather (abrasive) manner.

A. gentle

B. rude

C. lackadaisical

D. indifferent

44. Otokpa is a member of the (ad hoc) committee on stock acquisition.

A. improvised

B. formal

C. temporary

D. fact-finding

45. His gift to the poor was always (infinitesimal).

A. large

B. small

C. supportive

D. shameful

46. The economist concluded that several factors have been (adduced) to explain the fall in the birth rate.

A. affirmed

B. diffused

C. mentioned

D. refuted

47. The presidential system is (an antidote) to some political ailments.

A. an answer

B. an inquiry

C. a reply

D. an obstacle

48. Ola thought that her father was very (callous).

A. parlous

B. wicked

C. compassionate

D. cheerful

49. He was very much respected, though he had no (temporal) power.

A. spiritual

B. mundane

C. permanent

D. ephemeral

50. The way the workshop was organized was rather (hit-and-miss).

A. systematic

B. hasty

C. slow

D. funny

SYNONYMS (NEAREST IN MEANING)

Answer the following questions (51 – 65) and choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase in (brackets and italics):

51. Some men will continue to cause offences until they are (given a taste of their own medicine).

A. placated

B. revenged on

C. recompensed for

D. cured

52. Okibe was rusticated for his (derogatory) remark about the principal.

A. complimentary

B. unsavoury

C. unwarranted

D. lackluster

53. Justice is difficult to enforce because people are unwilling to accept any loss of (sovereignty).

A. autonomy

B. position

C. leadership

D. kingdom

54. There are still (virtuous) women in our society today.

A. clever

B. upright

C. devilish

D. intelligent

55. That type of response is (typical) of a lazy teacher.

A. symptomatic

B. characteristic

C. universal

D. incontestable

56. Akin is (an inveterate) gambler.

A. a selfish and self-centred

B. an extremely unlucky but popular

C. an incurable but fearful

D. a long time incorrigible

57. He was too (petrified) to give the closing remarks at the conference.

A. frightened

B. agitated

C. delighted

D. happy

58. During a particular time of the day, the road (shimmers) in the heat.

A. darkens

B. lightens

C. shines

D. beams

59. Every human being is (vulnerable) to communicable diseases.

A. liable

B. lifted

C. immune

D. close

60. Mariam looks rather (furtive) to Shehu.

A. intoxicated

B. unfriendly

C. sad

D. sly

61. The student’s union leader delivered his speech (extempore).

A. out-of-hand

B. off the cuff

C. accurately

D. courageously

62. His story gave us (an inkling) of what he passed through during the strike.

A. a possible idea

B. a taste

C. a summary

D. the right view

63. These policies have been (espoused) by the ruling party.

A. condemned

B. rejected

C. supported

D. outlined

64. We must not (foreclose) reconciliation as the purpose of his trip.

A. exclude

B. consider

C. underestimate

D. forgo

65. Her findings (exploded) widely held beliefs about learning.

A. challenged

B. debunked

C. projected

D. confirmed

SENTENCE COMPLETION

Answer the following questions (66 – 85) and choose the option that best completes the gap(s):

66. He was both a writer and a politician, but he was better ……. a singer.

A. as if

B. like

C. as

D. to be

67. Vacancies in the company will be notified by ……..

A. bulletin

B. publication

C. publicity

D. advertisement

68. He started his career as an ……. teacher.

A. auxilliary

B. auxilury

C. auxillary

D. auxiliary

69. The driver was short of petrol, so he ……. down the hills with the engine switched off.

A. glided

B. coasted

C. wheeled

D. taxied

70. His many years of success in legal practice, …….. didn’t come without challenges.

A. indeed

B. but

C. in spite of it all

D. however

71. One should be careful how ……. behaves in public, shouldn’t …….?

A. one/one

B. he/he

C. she/one

D. one/he

72. ……. a good leader must have two characteristics.

A. first and formost

B. first and formust

C. first and farmost

D. first and foremost

73. We visited his house ……. three times.

A. about

B. for about

C. like

D. for like

74. She was ……. the verge of tears.

A. at

B. on

C. by

D. with

75. Everyone makes mistakes occasionally, nobody is ……..

A. incorrigible

B. imperfect

C. infallible

D. indestructible

76. The woman would not part with her ……. pot.

A. discarded earthen black

B. discarded black earthen

C. earthen discarded black

D. black earthen discarded

77. We stood up when the principal came in, …….?

A. isn’t it

B. didn’t we

C. not so

D. did us

78. This professor of ……. medicine has ……. the mystery of bird flu.

A. veterinary/unraveled

B. veterinary/unravelled

C. veterinary/unravelved

D. veterinary/unraveled

79. Her mother brought her some …….

A. clothes

B. yards

C. cloth

D. clothing

80. Many workers were ……. as a result of the textile closure.

A. laid down

B. laid off

C. laid out

D. laid up

81. The driver died in the ……. road accident.

A. fatal

B. brutal

C. serious

D. pathetic

82. ……. your parents frown ……. our friendship, we shouldn’t see each other anymore.

A. because/over

B. since/at

C. although/at

D. as/upon

83. For more productivity, the company is focusing attention on the possible ……. of available resources.

A. synergy

B. tapping

C. alignment

D. arrangement

84. ……. she didn’t trust him, she married him.

A. after

B. much as

C. since

D. though

85. I wanted to know his political beliefs, so I asked him what …….

A. this was

B. these are

C. this is

D. they were

PHONETICS – VOWEL SOUND

Answer the following questions (86 – 88) and choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) (in brackets and italics):

86. b(oo)k

A. cool

B. cook

C. fool

D. tool

87. v(i)llage

A. page

B. pig

C. made

D. came

88. p(a)tch

A. starch

B. fare

C. mad

D. came

PHONETICS – CONSONANT SOUND

Answer the following questions (89 – 91) and choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter(s) (in brackets and italics):

89. tan(g)erine

A. gear

B. danger

C. girl

D. ignore

90. (h)air

A. heir

B. hour

C. honest

D. house

91. edi(ti)on

A. bash

B. catch

C. bastion

D. rating

STRESS PATTERN

Answer the following questions (92 – 94) and choose the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters:

92. demarcation

A. demarCAtion

B. DEmarcation

C. deMARcation

D. demarcaTION

93. impossible

A. imPOSsible

B. IMpossible

C. imposSIBLE

D. impossiBLE

94. imperialism

A. IMperialism

B. imPErialism

C. impeRIAlism

D. imperialiSM

Answer the following questions (95 – 97) and choose the option that has the stress on the first syllable:

95.

A. madam

B. eighteen

C. invent

D. command

96.

A. nineteen

B. mother

C. estate

D. announce

97.

A. commute

B. import (verb)

C. intend

D. export (noun)

EMPHATIC STRESS

Answer the following questions (98 – 100). The word in capital letters has the emphatic stress. Choose the option to which the given sentence relates:

98. The traditional chief NARRATED the story to the children.

A. The children heard the story from the traditional chief

B. Who narrated the story to the children?

C. The children could not listen to the story by the traditional chief

D. Did the chief hide the story from the children?

99. The ACCOUNTANT paid the workers’ July salary in September.

A. When were the workers paid?

B. Did the cashier pay the workers’ salary in September?

C. Workers received their July salary in September

D. The September salary was paid in July

100. The cat DEVOURED the rat.

A. Did the rat devour the cat?

B. What devoured the rat?

C. Did the cat eat the rat?

D. Is this the rat that the cat devoured?

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JAMB UTME English Language (Use of English) Past Questions and Answers Free 2012 – Answer Key

Answers: Numbered 1 – 100

1. D
2. A
3. C
4. D
5. D
6. D
7. B
8. A
9. B
10. C
11. B
12. D
13. B
14. D
15. A
16. A
17. A
18. B
19. B
20. B
21. B
22. A
23. A
24. A
25. A
26. A
27. A
28. D
29. C
30. D
31. A
32. C
33. B
34. B
35. C
36. D
37. B
38. D
39. A
40. C
41. D
42. A
43. A
44. B
45. A
46. D
47. D
48. C
49. C
50. A
51. B
52. B
53. A
54. B
55. B
56. D
57. A
58. C
59. A
60. D
61. B
62. A
63. C
64. A
65. B
66. C
67. D
68. D
69. B
70. D
71. A
72. D
73. A
74. B
75. C
76. B
77. B
78. D
79. A
80. B
81. A
82. B
83. A
84. D
85. D
86. B
87. B
88. A
89. A
90. D
91. D
92. C
93. A
94. C
95. A
96. B
97. D
98. B
99. B
100. A

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JAMB UTME English Language (Use of English) Past Questions and Answers Free 2012 – Answer Explanation Key:

Answer Explanations: Numbered 1 – 100

1. D – The question asks about the paper type indicated. Based on the document structure, type yellow is the correct answer.

2. A – The passage states Nigerians believe in “an unseen supernatural world, apart from the natural world we see around us,” indicating both worlds co-exist.

3. C – The passage mentions the influence of Christianity and Islam (non-traditional religions) has caused traditional religion’s influence to wane.

4. D – Rituals and ceremonies are mentioned as common practices across religions in the passage.

5. D – Ritual is the factor explicitly stated as common to traditional religions through ceremonies that must be observed.

6. D – The passage states “few Nigerians that read concentrate more on foreign books than indigenous productions,” implying Nigerians read mostly foreign books.

7. B – The general manager stated bookshops prefer foreign books “because of higher demands for them,” meaning they attract more buyers.

8. A – “Profoundly gripping” means the book is highly interesting and captures the reader’s attention.

9. B – The lecturer mentions the library “stopped buying new books when the local currency was devalued,” indicating low purchasing power.

10. C – The passage primarily discusses Nigeria’s poor reading culture and preference for foreign books.

11. B – The writer critically analyzes the preference for learning by wisdom over experience, showing a critical attitude.

12. D – The passage argues that “learning consciously through wisdom may even be a better and more convenient way” than experience.

13. B – The passage states “life is simply the outcome and outplay of decisions,” meaning our judgement should guide our actions.

14. D – The passage emphasizes being “disciplined to remain with our resolve to make a clean break with experience as our best teacher.”

15. A – “Complete and wholehearted devotion” means acting with full commitment and without doubts.

16. A – “Within” correctly indicates most miscarriages occur during the first twelve weeks.

17. A – “Symptom” is the medical term for signs of a condition.

18. B – “Readily” means easily or quickly identifiable, fitting the medical context.

19. B – “Frequently” best describes the increased need to urinate during pregnancy.

20. B – “Shows” is the most appropriate verb for how a miscarriage appears in a scan.

21. B – “Fertilization” is the process where egg and sperm combine.

22. A – “Occurred” is the past tense form that fits the context of why something happened.

23. A – “Immune system” is the correct medical term.

24. A – “Increases” is the most direct verb for risk rising with age.

25. A – “Multiple” is the medical term for pregnancies with more than one fetus (twins, triplets).

26. A – “Have a finger in every pie” means being involved in many activities; the sentence advises against this.

27. A – “Riding the crest” means enjoying success or peak performance.

28. D – “Absolved” means cleared or freed from blame or charges.

29. C – “Throwing his weight about” means using authority to give orders or dominate others.

30. D – “Ought to have issued” indicates the company should have but did not issue the shares.

31. A – “Needed not to have played” suggests he played despite not needing to, implying it was unusual for him.

32. C – The conditional “wouldn’t have responded” implies the person did respond but shouldn’t have.

33. B – “Feet of clay” is an idiom meaning a hidden weakness or character flaw, indicating cowardice.

34. B – “Wasted a golden opportunity” means failed to score or take advantage of an excellent chance.

35. C – “At the most” means Mero should receive no more than fifty naira in Abu’s opinion.

36. D – “Genius” is the opposite of “idiot.”

37. B – “Unconcerned” (not caring) is opposite to “shocked” (deeply affected).

38. D – “Rigid” (inflexible) is the opposite of “flexible.”

39. A – “Excited” is the opposite of “sober” (serious or calm).

40. C – “Incompetence” (lack of ability) is opposite to “efficiency.”

41. D – “Loquacious” (talkative) is opposite to “reticent” (reserved or quiet).

42. A – “Calm” is opposite to “volatile” (unstable or likely to change suddenly).

43. A – “Gentle” is opposite to “abrasive” (harsh or rough).

44. B – “Formal” (permanent, official) is opposite to “ad hoc” (temporary, formed for a specific purpose).

45. A – “Large” is opposite to “infinitesimal” (extremely small).

46. D – “Refuted” (disproved) is opposite to “adduced” (cited as evidence).

47. D – “Obstacle” (hindrance) is opposite to “antidote” (solution or remedy).

48. C – “Compassionate” (caring) is opposite to “callous” (insensitive).

49. C – “Permanent” (lasting) is opposite to “temporal” (temporary or worldly).

50. A – “Systematic” (organized) is opposite to “hit-and-miss” (random or haphazard).

51. B – “Given a taste of their own medicine” means to experience the same treatment you give others, i.e., revenge.

52. B – “Derogatory” means “unsavoury” (insulting or disrespectful).

53. A – “Sovereignty” means “autonomy” (self-governance or independence).

54. B – “Virtuous” means “upright” (morally good).

55. B – “Typical” means “characteristic” (representative or usual).

56. D – “Inveterate” means habitual and long-established, thus “a long time incorrigible.”

57. A – “Petrified” means extremely “frightened.”

58. C – “Shimmers” means “shines” with a wavering light.

59. A – “Vulnerable” means “liable” (susceptible or at risk).

60. D – “Furtive” means “sly” (secretive or stealthy).

61. B – “Extempore” means “off the cuff” (without preparation, spontaneously).

62. A – “An inkling” means “a possible idea” (a slight hint or suggestion).

63. C – “Espoused” means “supported” (adopted or advocated).

64. A – “Foreclose” means to “exclude” (rule out or prevent).

65. B – “Exploded” in this context means “debunked” (proved false).

66. C – “Better as” is the correct comparative construction.

67. D – “Advertisement” is used to notify job vacancies.

68. D – “Auxiliary” is the correct spelling for a helper or assistant.

69. B – “Coasted” means to move without using power, appropriate for going downhill with engine off.

70. D – “However” provides the correct contrast between success and challenges.

71. A – “One/one” maintains formal consistency in impersonal constructions.

72. D – “First and foremost” is the correct spelling of this phrase meaning “most importantly.”

73. A – “About” indicates an approximate number of visits.

74. B – “On the verge of” is the correct idiom meaning “about to.”

75. C – “Infallible” means incapable of making mistakes, fitting the context.

76. B – The correct order of adjectives is opinion (discarded), color (black), material (earthen).

77. B – “Didn’t we” is the correct question tag for the positive statement “we stood up.”

78. D – “Veterinary” and “unraveled” are the correct American English spellings.

79. A – “Clothes” (items of clothing) is correct; “cloth” is material, “clothing” is uncountable.

80. B – “Laid off” means dismissed from employment.

81. A – “Fatal” means causing death, appropriate for describing a deadly accident.

82. B – “Since” indicates reason, and “frown at” is the correct collocation.

83. A – “Synergy” means combined effect of resources working together.

84. D – “Though” introduces a concessive clause showing contrast.

85. D – “They were” maintains correct tense and number agreement in reported speech.

86. B – “Cook” has the same short /ʊ/ sound as “book.”

87. B – “Pig” has the same short /ɪ/ sound as the ‘i’ in “village.”

88. A – “Starch” has the same /æ/ sound as the ‘a’ in “patch.”

89. A – “Gear” has the same /dʒ/ sound as the ‘g’ in “tangerine.”

90. D – “House” has an audible /h/ sound like “hair”; the others have silent ‘h’.

91. D – “Rating” has the same /ʃ/ sound as “ti” in “edition.”

92. C – “deMARcation” – stress on the third syllable.

93. A – “imPOSsible” – stress on the second syllable.

94. C – “impeRIAlism” – stress on the third syllable.

95. A – “MAdam” has stress on the first syllable; others have stress on second syllable.

96. B – “MOther” has stress on the first syllable; others have stress on second syllable.

97. D – “EXport” (noun) has stress on first syllable; the verbs have stress on second syllable.

98. B – Emphasizing “NARRATED” questions who performed the action.

99. B – Emphasizing “ACCOUNTANT” questions which job position paid the salary.

100. A – Emphasizing “DEVOURED” contrasts with the opposite scenario of the rat devouring the cat

‘JAMB UTME English Language (Use of English) Past Questions and Answers Free 2012’