JAMB UTME - Use of English - 2021

It is normal in Nigeria to use proficiency in the use of English language as a barometer for evaluating the height of any person's educational attainment. Today, many teachers resort quite often to the use of vernacular in the teaching of their subjects. One is often dismayed at the incompetence of many teachers, even graduates in the use of English language. Throughout the colonial period, up to 1960, Nigerian formal education was patterned after the English system. The "accent" was on English and an educated Nigerian was one who was only African in colour but English in thought and culture. The ability to speak English fluently and if possible with an Oxford accent was the hallmark of excellence even if the speaker was empty of thought and ideas. In those days it was a serious offence for a secondary school boy or girl to "laugh in the vernacular". But we now swung to the other extreme. Nigeria would say they are not English people, some would say they did not specialise in English in the university. But the country has adopted the English language as its official, the language of instruction at schools, parliamentary proceedings, conduct of official business and indeed the lingua franca. If the language is to continue to be used,  then it is imperative that we all agree on the pattern of correctness in the language so that communication can be effective.

In the passage below, the numbered gaps (11-20) indicate missing words. From the options lettered A- E the most appropriate option.

The head of the -11- is called the queen bee. She is -12-than the rest of the bees. Her main task in the colony is to lay eggs. Most of the other bees are the -13- bees. These bees collect nectar and -14- from flowers. The nectar that is carried by the worker bees is deposited on the hive and then -15- into honey. The worker bees also help to look after the young bees. As soon as they are -16-, the worker bees feed the young bees with pollen and nectar. The third type of bee found in the colony is the -17- or male bee. The main task of such a bee is to -18- with a new queen. The queen bee has a life span of about three years. During this period, she would have -19- more than half a million eggs. When the queen bee is dying, a new queen would be groomed. This new queen will eventually take over the duties of the old queen when the -20- dies.

In the passage below, the numbered gaps (11-20) indicate missing words. From the options lettered A- E the most appropriate option.

The head of the -11- is called the queen bee. She is -12-than the rest of the bees. Her main task in the colony is to lay eggs. Most of the other bees are the -13- bees. These bees collect nectar and -14- from flowers. The nectar that is carried by the worker bees is deposited on the hive and then -15- into honey. The worker bees also help to look after the young bees. As soon as they are -16-, the worker bees feed the young bees with pollen and nectar. The third type of bee found in the colony is the -17- or male bee. The main task of such a bee is to -18- with a new queen. The queen bee has a life span of about three years. During this period, she would have -19- more than half a million eggs. When the queen bee is dying, a new queen would be groomed. This new queen will eventually take over the duties of the old queen when the -20- dies.

In the passage below, the numbered gaps (11-20) indicate missing words. From the options lettered A- E the most appropriate option.

The head of the -11- is called the queen bee. She is -12-than the rest of the bees. Her main task in the colony is to lay eggs. Most of the other bees are the -13- bees. These bees collect nectar and -14- from flowers. The nectar that is carried by the worker bees is deposited on the hive and then -15- into honey. The worker bees also help to look after the young bees. As soon as they are -16-, the worker bees feed the young bees with pollen and nectar. The third type of bee found in the colony is the -17- or male bee. The main task of such a bee is to -18- with a new queen. The queen bee has a life span of about three years. During this period, she would have -19- more than half a million eggs. When the queen bee is dying, a new queen would be groomed. This new queen will eventually take over the duties of the old queen when the -20- dies.

In the passage below, the numbered gaps (11-20) indicate missing words. From the options lettered A- E the most appropriate option.

The head of the -11- is called the queen bee. She is -12-than the rest of the bees. Her main task in the colony is to lay eggs. Most of the other bees are the -13- bees. These bees collect nectar and -14- from flowers. The nectar that is carried by the worker bees is deposited on the hive and then -15- into honey. The worker bees also help to look after the young bees. As soon as they are -16-, the worker bees feed the young bees with pollen and nectar. The third type of bee found in the colony is the -17- or male bee. The main task of such a bee is to -18- with a new queen. The queen bee has a life span of about three years. During this period, she would have -19- more than half a million eggs. When the queen bee is dying, a new queen would be groomed. This new queen will eventually take over the duties of the old queen when the -20- dies.

In the passage below, the numbered gaps (11-20) indicate missing words. From the options lettered A- E the most appropriate option.

The head of the -11- is called the queen bee. She is -12-than the rest of the bees. Her main task in the colony is to lay eggs. Most of the other bees are the -13- bees. These bees collect nectar and -14- from flowers. The nectar that is carried by the worker bees is deposited on the hive and then -15- into honey. The worker bees also help to look after the young bees. As soon as they are -16-, the worker bees feed the young bees with pollen and nectar. The third type of bee found in the colony is the -17- or male bee. The main task of such a bee is to -18- with a new queen. The queen bee has a life span of about three years. During this period, she would have -19- more than half a million eggs. When the queen bee is dying, a new queen would be groomed. This new queen will eventually take over the duties of the old queen when the -20- dies.

In the passage below, the numbered gaps (11-20) indicate missing words. From the options lettered A- E the most appropriate option.

The head of the -11- is called the queen bee. She is -12-than the rest of the bees. Her main task in the colony is to lay eggs. Most of the other bees are the -13- bees. These bees collect nectar and -14- from flowers. The nectar that is carried by the worker bees is deposited on the hive and then -15- into honey. The worker bees also help to look after the young bees. As soon as they are -16-, the worker bees feed the young bees with pollen and nectar. The third type of bee found in the colony is the -17- or male bee. The main task of such a bee is to -18- with a new queen. The queen bee has a life span of about three years. During this period, she would have -19- more than half a million eggs. When the queen bee is dying, a new queen would be groomed. This new queen will eventually take over the duties of the old queen when the -20- dies.

In the passage below, the numbered gaps (11-20) indicate missing words. From the options lettered A- E the most appropriate option.

The head of the -11- is called the queen bee. She is -12-than the rest of the bees. Her main task in the colony is to lay eggs. Most of the other bees are the -13- bees. These bees collect nectar and -14- from flowers. The nectar that is carried by the worker bees is deposited on the hive and then -15- into honey. The worker bees also help to look after the young bees. As soon as they are -16-, the worker bees feed the young bees with pollen and nectar. The third type of bee found in the colony is the -17- or male bee. The main task of such a bee is to -18- with a new queen. The queen bee has a life span of about three years. During this period, she would have -19- more than half a million eggs. When the queen bee is dying, a new queen would be groomed. This new queen will eventually take over the duties of the old queen when the -20- dies.

It is normal in Nigeria to use proficiency in the use of English language as a barometer for evaluating the height of any person's educational attainment. Today, many teachers resort quite often to the use of vernacular in the teaching of their subjects. One is often dismayed at the incompetence of many teachers, even graduates in the use of English language. Throughout the colonial period, up to 1960, Nigerian formal education was patterned after the English system. The "accent" was on English and an educated Nigerian was one who was only African in colour but English in thought and culture. The ability to speak English fluently and if possible with an Oxford accent was the hallmark of excellence even if the speaker was empty of thought and ideas. In those days it was a serious offence for a secondary school boy or girl to "laugh in the vernacular". But we now swung to the other extreme. Nigeria would say they are not English people, some would say they did not specialise in English in the university. But the country has adopted the English language as its official, the language of instruction at schools, parliamentary proceedings, conduct of official business and indeed the lingua franca. If the language is to continue to be used,  then it is imperative that we all agree on the pattern of correctness in the language so that communication can be effective.