JAMB UTME - Use of English - 2009

Millons of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging their careers and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart diseases, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are oblivious of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary sleep deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now getting on the average an hour less sleep per into both the variety of sleep-related illnesses and their impact on the quality of life.

The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a sympt5om of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep.’ Students of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 per cent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide coast to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? ‘One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7- operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newspaper, USA Today, described this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live, noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical diseases that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult it is to get their patients to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognize that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I’m just getting old’ or I’ can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or ‘I’m tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need.’ Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save lives and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

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Choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letters underlined.

Film?

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Choose the the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

Management?

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Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Musa will not do the job well because he has an itching palm.

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Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

If anyone greets you, it is only polite to return _____ greeting.

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Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The Lagos bus conductor wore his professional livery.

Answer Details

In this context, the underlined word "livery" refers to a uniform worn by the Lagos bus conductor. Therefore, the option nearest in meaning to "livery" is "uniform".

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

Match

Answer Details

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

His ideas sounded quite palatable yet they were jettisoned by the group.

Answer Details

The word "jettisoned" means to reject or abandon something. Therefore, the option that is opposite in meaning is "accepted."

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

If joy hadn't been tripped up halfway through the race, she would have come first.

Answer Details

The phrase "tripped up" in this context means to stumble or fall, causing a delay or disruption in progress. Therefore, the option that best captures the meaning is "interrupted". If Joy hadn't been interrupted, she would have won the race. Here's an example to illustrate the meaning: If I hadn't been tripped up by a sudden phone call, I would have finished my work on time.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

You are just the hat on _____.

Answer Details

The correct option to complete the sentence is "aren't you." The complete sentence would be, "You are just the hat on aren't you?" This sentence is asking if the person being referred to is merely a hat, or if they are more than that. The use of "aren't you" at the end of the sentence turns it into a question, inviting the listener to confirm or deny the suggestion that they are only a hat.

The standardization processes of Nigerian pidgin seems to have started during the post-colonial period. Naturally, Nigerian pidgin appears to be the first choice of most Nigerians in informal situations, especially when they are among those from different ethnic and linguistic background. Thus, the selection process has tactically taken place. Among all the languages used in Nigeria today, English inclusive, Nigerian pidgin could be said to be the most widely spoken. Evidence abounds in motor parks, parties, congregations and most social occasions. There is also ample evidence in the electronic and print media, especially in political propaganda, campaigns and product advertisement. Thus, in terms of spread and extensive use, Nigerian pidgin could rightly be called a national lingua franca.

The use of Nigerian pidgin in contemporary Nigerian could be described as most productive, extensive and complex. It appears that the standardization processes-selection, codification, elaboration of functions and acceptance-which started in the post-colonial era, are as now being completed in contemporary Nigeria. The reason for this assumption is simple-apart from its complex use as a lingua franca, languages of media advertisement, social interaction, unofficial military training and limited literary output, Nigerian pidgin gas attained widespread acceptability in the media, political propaganda and campaigns as well as soap operas. It is also the language of radio and television jingles. Most electronic media now use appreciable percentage of their airtime to cast news and give reports in Nigeria pidgin. Even though its use in some newspaper columns has declined, especially with the demise of the ‘Waka About’ column in the Daily Times, it is however found extensively in some newspaper advertisements .

In places like Warri, Sapele and Port Harcourt, there were reports that teachers at lower primary level taught their pupils in Nigerian pidgin. This unofficial adoption of the Nigerian pidgin as the language of the lower primary education by those teachers is justifiable considering the provision in the National Policy on Education, which states that in addition to English, the major language in the child’s environment could be used at the elementary level of education. Similarly, Nigerian pidgin has become a language of religious preaching, especially Christianity. In most rural and even urban centres where congregation are not all very well-educated, pastors resort to the use of Nigerian pidgin.

The use of the Nigerian pidgin as a literary language tends to have started in the sixties with the work of Achebe, Soyinka and others. But it is in the contemporary times that it has become most widespread. The number of poems, novels and plays written and published in Nigerian pidgin is growing even more rapidly. Many more literary writers now attempt to experiment with the language. Therefore, the evidence of codification and elaboration of functions and the partial or tactical acceptance of Nigerian pidgin are clearly visible.

Answer Details

The style of this passage could best be described as a combination of narrative and expository. The passage contains a narrative element as it talks about the history and evolution of Nigerian pidgin, as well as its current usage in various settings. At the same time, it also provides informative and explanatory details about the language, its standardization processes, and its acceptance in different spheres of Nigerian society, including literature, media, politics, and education.

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more schools so much that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and board charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcast. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enrol to stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in terms of facilities and qualified teachers are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teachers often reject posting to rural schools, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hands in urban schools. Since educational broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting educational materials from one central location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the quality of educational provision will be made even throughout the country.

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Besides, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer students’ questions. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an ornate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

Answer Details

A suitable title for this passage is "The need to promote teaching and learning through radio and television in Nigeria." The passage discusses the challenges facing the Nigerian education system due to population explosion and poverty and suggests that the use of radio and television broadcast can provide a solution to these challenges by offering educational opportunities to a wider audience at a lower cost. The passage also emphasizes that the use of radio and television can promote the standardization of education in the country and make it more even throughout the rural and urban areas. The title captures the main idea of the passage, which is the need to promote teaching and learning through radio and television to address the challenges facing the Nigerian education system.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

Abba became _____ about his in ability to pass the examination.

Answer Details

The most appropriate option to complete the sentence is "despondent." The word "despondent" means being in a low spirit, discouraged, and lacking hope. Therefore, Abba became despondent about his inability to pass the examination means that he became discouraged and lacked hope about his ability to pass the examination.

Choose the option that rhymes with the given word.

Sheer?

Answer Details

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:

You could have heard the sound if you weren't aslee.

Answer Details

The sentence means that you did not hear the sound because you were asleep. Therefore, the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence is "You were asleep so you did not hear the sound."

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

The officer acted in _____ the instructions.

Answer Details

The sentence is saying that the officer acted according to instructions. The correct preposition to use after "in accordance" is "with," so the correct option is (4) "The officer acted in accordance with the instructions." This means that the officer followed the instructions as they were given. is incorrect because "by" is not the correct preposition to use after "in accordance." is incorrect because "to" is also not the correct preposition to use after "in accordance." is incorrect because "of" is not the correct preposition to use after "in accordance."

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

There must be something sinister about her late arrival.

Answer Details

The word 'sinister' means threatening, ominous or suggesting something evil. Therefore, the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word "sinister" is "ominous".

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Adamu's father is a stem man.

Answer Details

The word "stem" doesn't make sense in this context, so it's likely that the intended word is "stern." "Stern" means strict, serious, and uncompromising in discipline or judgment. Therefore, the option that is nearest in meaning is "strict."

The standardization processes of Nigerian pidgin seems to have started during the post-colonial period. Naturally, Nigerian pidgin appears to be the first choice of most Nigerians in informal situations, especially when they are among those from different ethnic and linguistic background. Thus, the selection process has tactically taken place. Among all the languages used in Nigeria today, English inclusive, Nigerian pidgin could be said to be the most widely spoken. Evidence abounds in motor parks, parties, congregations and most social occasions. There is also ample evidence in the electronic and print media, especially in political propaganda, campaigns and product advertisement. Thus, in terms of spread and extensive use, Nigerian pidgin could rightly be called a national lingua franca.

The use of Nigerian pidgin in contemporary Nigerian could be described as most productive, extensive and complex. It appears that the standardization processes-selection, codification, elaboration of functions and acceptance-which started in the post-colonial era, are as now being completed in contemporary Nigeria. The reason for this assumption is simple-apart from its complex use as a lingua franca, languages of media advertisement, social interaction, unofficial military training and limited literary output, Nigerian pidgin gas attained widespread acceptability in the media, political propaganda and campaigns as well as soap operas. It is also the language of radio and television jingles. Most electronic media now use appreciable percentage of their airtime to cast news and give reports in Nigeria pidgin. Even though its use in some newspaper columns has declined, especially with the demise of the ‘Waka About’ column in the Daily Times, it is however found extensively in some newspaper advertisements .

In places like Warri, Sapele and Port Harcourt, there were reports that teachers at lower primary level taught their pupils in Nigerian pidgin. This unofficial adoption of the Nigerian pidgin as the language of the lower primary education by those teachers is justifiable considering the provision in the National Policy on Education, which states that in addition to English, the major language in the child’s environment could be used at the elementary level of education. Similarly, Nigerian pidgin has become a language of religious preaching, especially Christianity. In most rural and even urban centres where congregation are not all very well-educated, pastors resort to the use of Nigerian pidgin.

The use of the Nigerian pidgin as a literary language tends to have started in the sixties with the work of Achebe, Soyinka and others. But it is in the contemporary times that it has become most widespread. The number of poems, novels and plays written and published in Nigerian pidgin is growing even more rapidly. Many more literary writers now attempt to experiment with the language. Therefore, the evidence of codification and elaboration of functions and the partial or tactical acceptance of Nigerian pidgin are clearly visible.

Answer Details

According to the passage, the phrase 'lingua franca' means a common language that is widely spoken and used for communication between people who have different native languages. In the context of Nigeria, Nigerian pidgin is described as a national lingua franca, which means that it is the common language used by Nigerians in informal situations, particularly when they are communicating with people from different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

His amnesia has affected his career.

Answer Details

The word "amnesia" means a loss of memory, so the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word is "loss of memory". This sentence means that his career has been affected because he can't remember things due to his amnesia.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

Curiously, he escape unhurt.

Answer Details

The opposite in meaning to "Curiously, he escape unhurt" is "Unsurprisingly, he escaped unhurt". The word "curiously" implies that something unexpected or unusual happened, while "unsurprisingly" implies that something happened in a predictable or expected way. Therefore, "unsurprisingly" is the opposite of "curiously".

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

'A novel is an embellished falsehood', said the teacher.

Answer Details

The opposite of "embellished" is "obliterated" which means to erase or remove completely. Therefore, the correct option is "obliterated."

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Hers was a specious argument about the government of the day.

Answer Details

The word "specious" means misleading or appearing to be true but actually false. So, the option that best completes the gap is "misleading".

Answer Details

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

He is really very mean. He _____ not lend me the money I wanted.

Answer Details

The best option that completes the gap is "would" because it suggests that he refused to lend the money despite being able to. It implies that he has a habit of being ungenerous or stingy, making it unlikely for him to lend money even if he has it.

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more schools so much that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and board charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcast. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enrol to stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in terms of facilities and qualified teachers are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teachers often reject posting to rural schools, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hands in urban schools. Since educational broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting educational materials from one central location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the quality of educational provision will be made even throughout the country.

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Besides, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer students’ questions. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an ornate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

Answer Details

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

When the cashier told him to join the queue, he considered it _____ his dignity?

Answer Details

The best option that completes the gap is "an affront on". In this context, "an affront on" means that the act of being told to join the queue was seen as an insult or an offense to the person's dignity. The sentence implies that the person felt that being told to join the queue was beneath their status or level, and that it was an insult to their dignity.

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more schools so much that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and board charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcast. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enrol to stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in terms of facilities and qualified teachers are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teachers often reject posting to rural schools, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hands in urban schools. Since educational broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting educational materials from one central location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the quality of educational provision will be made even throughout the country.

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Besides, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer students’ questions. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an ornate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

Answer Details

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Kola visits us on occasions, and I don't like that.

Answer Details

The sentence expresses that the speaker doesn't like it when Kola visits them on occasions. The reason for the visits is not specified, so options a, b, and d are incorrect. The sentence also doesn't imply that Kola seldom visits, so option d is also incorrect. Therefore, the best option is c: the speaker doesn't like the infrequency of Kola's visits.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

In question number 23 above, choose the best option from letters A-D that best completes the gap.

Answer Details

The word that best completes the gap in question number 23 is "desirable." This is because the sentence describes the marketplace as a very favorable and attractive place where people want personal intimacy and excellent service, and some customers even want to be pampered. The word "desirable" best captures the sense of something that is wanted, sought after, and pleasing to have.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

They are taught to value honour _______ their lives.

Answer Details

Choose the the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

The girl DANCED in the village square.

Answer Details

The appropriate stress pattern for the sentence is: "The girl DANCED in the VILLage square." The stress falls on the second syllable of "danced" and the first syllable of "village" to emphasize the action and the location. The correct option for the question would be "Did the girl dance in the village square?"

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

Our plan for the trip fell _____ when the rich man did not give us a life _____.

Answer Details

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Life has become a misery for many owing to the harsh economic condition in the country.

Answer Details

The option that is opposite in meaning to "misery" is "comfort". "Misery" means a state of great suffering, discomfort, and unhappiness, so "comfort" which means a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint, is the option that is opposite in meaning.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

Amina lives _____ campus.

Answer Details

The correct answer is "on." This is because when referring to a college or university campus, we usually use the preposition "on" to indicate that someone lives there. So, we would say "Amina lives on campus."

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

We had difficulty eating the meat because it was leathery.

Answer Details

The word "leathery" means tough, hard to chew or difficult to cut, so the option that is opposite in meaning is "tender". If the meat is tender, it is soft and easy to chew, unlike when it's leathery.

Millons of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging their careers and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart diseases, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are oblivious of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary sleep deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now getting on the average an hour less sleep per into both the variety of sleep-related illnesses and their impact on the quality of life.

The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a sympt5om of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep.’ Students of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 per cent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide coast to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? ‘One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7- operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newspaper, USA Today, described this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live, noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical diseases that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult it is to get their patients to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognize that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I’m just getting old’ or I’ can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or ‘I’m tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need.’ Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save lives and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

Answer Details

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

Hurt?

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

His poetry is said to be inscrutable.

Answer Details

The underlined word "inscrutable" means difficult to understand or mysterious. Therefore, the option nearest in meaning to it is "mysterious".

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Salasi's tremendous effort has yield results.

Answer Details

Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

I couldn't buy the biscuit because of the hold-up in the supermarket.

Answer Details

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The company director has a vivacious personality.

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The president has mapped out some many laudable projects to embark upon.

Answer Details

The underlined word "laudable" means "praise worthy". In this context, it refers to the fact that the president has planned and proposed some very good and commendable projects for the people that will benefit the society.

Millons of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging their careers and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart diseases, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are oblivious of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary sleep deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now getting on the average an hour less sleep per into both the variety of sleep-related illnesses and their impact on the quality of life.

The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a sympt5om of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep.’ Students of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 per cent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide coast to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? ‘One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7- operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newspaper, USA Today, described this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live, noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical diseases that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult it is to get their patients to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognize that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I’m just getting old’ or I’ can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or ‘I’m tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need.’ Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save lives and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

Answer Details

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

At the time I arrived, Olu was lying in third place.

Answer Details

The sentence means that when the speaker arrived, Olu was in the third position, probably in a competition or race. Therefore, the correct option is: "It was a competition and Olu was in third position when I arrived."

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Answer Details

The correct option for the gap 19 is "shifting". The passage talks about how salespeople are moving from a pushy, hard-selling approach to a more consultative and problem-solving role for their customers. Therefore, the most appropriate option to complete the gap is "shifting", which means changing or moving from one approach to another.

The standardization processes of Nigerian pidgin seems to have started during the post-colonial period. Naturally, Nigerian pidgin appears to be the first choice of most Nigerians in informal situations, especially when they are among those from different ethnic and linguistic background. Thus, the selection process has tactically taken place. Among all the languages used in Nigeria today, English inclusive, Nigerian pidgin could be said to be the most widely spoken. Evidence abounds in motor parks, parties, congregations and most social occasions. There is also ample evidence in the electronic and print media, especially in political propaganda, campaigns and product advertisement. Thus, in terms of spread and extensive use, Nigerian pidgin could rightly be called a national lingua franca.

The use of Nigerian pidgin in contemporary Nigerian could be described as most productive, extensive and complex. It appears that the standardization processes-selection, codification, elaboration of functions and acceptance-which started in the post-colonial era, are as now being completed in contemporary Nigeria. The reason for this assumption is simple-apart from its complex use as a lingua franca, languages of media advertisement, social interaction, unofficial military training and limited literary output, Nigerian pidgin gas attained widespread acceptability in the media, political propaganda and campaigns as well as soap operas. It is also the language of radio and television jingles. Most electronic media now use appreciable percentage of their airtime to cast news and give reports in Nigeria pidgin. Even though its use in some newspaper columns has declined, especially with the demise of the ‘Waka About’ column in the Daily Times, it is however found extensively in some newspaper advertisements .

In places like Warri, Sapele and Port Harcourt, there were reports that teachers at lower primary level taught their pupils in Nigerian pidgin. This unofficial adoption of the Nigerian pidgin as the language of the lower primary education by those teachers is justifiable considering the provision in the National Policy on Education, which states that in addition to English, the major language in the child’s environment could be used at the elementary level of education. Similarly, Nigerian pidgin has become a language of religious preaching, especially Christianity. In most rural and even urban centres where congregation are not all very well-educated, pastors resort to the use of Nigerian pidgin.

The use of the Nigerian pidgin as a literary language tends to have started in the sixties with the work of Achebe, Soyinka and others. But it is in the contemporary times that it has become most widespread. The number of poems, novels and plays written and published in Nigerian pidgin is growing even more rapidly. Many more literary writers now attempt to experiment with the language. Therefore, the evidence of codification and elaboration of functions and the partial or tactical acceptance of Nigerian pidgin are clearly visible.

Answer Details

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Answer Details

The missing word in gap 20 is related to the idea that customers have become more important and their needs should be the focus of salespeople and their companies. Among the given options, "interest" is the most appropriate word to complete the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer is A, "interest".

Millons of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging their careers and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart diseases, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are oblivious of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary sleep deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now getting on the average an hour less sleep per into both the variety of sleep-related illnesses and their impact on the quality of life.

The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a symptom of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep.’ Students of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 per cent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide coast to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? ‘One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7- operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newspaper, USA Today, described this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live, noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical diseases that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult it is to get their patients to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognize that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I’m just getting old’ or I’ can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or ‘I’m tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need.’ Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save lives and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

Answer Details

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

They boy is too indolent to do well at school.

Answer Details

The opposite in meaning to "indolent" is "industrious". "Indolent" means being lazy or not wanting to work, while "industrious" means being hardworking and diligent.

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more schools so much that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and board charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcast. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enrol to stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in terms of facilities and qualified teachers are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teachers often reject posting to rural schools, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hands in urban schools. Since educational broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting educational materials from one central location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the quality of educational provision will be made even throughout the country.

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Besides, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer students’ questions. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an ornate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Idris' forbearance endeared him to us.

Answer Details

The word "forbearance" means "patience" or "tolerance". In this context, it means that Idris' patience or tolerance made us like him more.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

The bombs was _____ .

Answer Details

The most appropriate option to complete the sentence is "detonated." This is because "bombs" are usually designed to explode or go off, and "detonated" means to explode or cause to explode. Therefore, if a bomb has been detonated, it means that it has exploded. The other options, such as "dismantled," "deactivated," and "depleted," do not accurately describe what has happened to the bombs.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

An acceptance of the offer would be a departure from the several rejections that _____ .

Answer Details

Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

In all ramifications, Chief Adeyemi was a success principal of the school.

Answer Details

Choose the the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

My father READ the newspaper.

Answer Details

Choose the option that rhymes with the given word.

Great

Answer Details

The option that rhymes with the given word "Great" is "crate". "Great" and "crate" have the same ending sound, pronounced as "ate". The other options "creek", "knit", and "treat" do not have the same ending sound as "Great".

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Answer Details

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

He was injured by a friendly fire.

Answer Details

The correct option is "He was hit in a war by a war weapon fired by his own side". This sentence means that he was injured during a war by someone who was fighting on the same side as him. The injury was caused by a weapon that was fired accidentally by someone from his own side.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

I missed the match though it was shown on television on two _____ nights.

Answer Details

The most appropriate option that completes the gap is "consecutive". The word consecutive means following continuously in order or without interruption. In this context, it means that the match was shown on television on two consecutive nights, meaning that it was shown on two nights one after the other without interruption.

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letters underlined.

boat?

Answer Details

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

His comment was not printable.

Answer Details

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letters underlined.

Tear?

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The unification of the country has brought about great technological advancement.

Answer Details

The word 'unification' means bringing different parts together to form a single entity. In this context, it refers to the joining of different regions or states to form a single country. Therefore, the option nearest in meaning is 'cohesion', which means the act of sticking together or the state of being united.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Answer Details

The sentence mentions that salespeople and business executives are beginning to understand that customer _______ is what ensures a robust bottom line. The missing word must be related to customer satisfaction and loyalty. Out of the given options, the word that best fits the context is "loyalty." Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

Uche has been in _____ with his pen pal for years.

Answer Details

The correct option is "correspondence". This is because "correspondence" means communication through letters or email and this best fits the context of the sentence. "Exchange" could also work but it has a broader meaning that could imply the exchange of different things such as gifts or ideas. "Favour" and "cord" are not suitable options as they do not fit the context of the sentence.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Answer Details

The best option that completes the gap is "competition". The sentence talks about staying in business and being ahead of something. In the context of the passage, the only thing that makes sense to be ahead of is the competition. Therefore, option B, "competition" is the correct answer.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Answer Details

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

I am told that the market is _____ in to the interests of people from all _______ of life.

Answer Details

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

I tried to discourage him, but he persisted _______ revealing the secret of his son.

Answer Details

The option that best completes the sentence is "in". "I tried to discourage him, but he persisted in revealing the secret of his son." The word "persisted" implies that the person continued to do something despite opposition or discouragement. In this case, the person persisted in revealing the secret of his son, which means that he continued to do so despite being discouraged. The preposition "in" is used to indicate that the person persisted in a particular action or behavior. In this case, the person persisted in revealing the secret. Therefore, the correct option is "in".

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

Government has frowned upon politicians who are out to _____ wealth.

Answer Details

The option that best completes the sentence is "amass". "Government has frowned upon politicians who are out to amass wealth." The word "amass" means to gather or accumulate a large quantity of something, typically money or material wealth. In this context, the sentence is referring to politicians who are trying to accumulate wealth, and the government disapproves of this behavior. The other options - "gain", "steal", and "waste" - are not as appropriate in this context. "Gain" is too neutral and doesn't convey the negative connotation of the sentence. "Steal" implies illegal activity, which may not necessarily be the case here. "Waste" is the opposite of what the politicians are doing in this context, as they are trying to accumulate wealth rather than waste it. Therefore, the correct option is "amass".

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

He commands the confidence and respect of all his subordinates.

Answer Details

The option nearest in meaning to the underlined word "commands" is "enjoins." In this context, "commands" means that the person in question has earned the trust and admiration of his subordinates. They willingly obey his orders and respect him because of his leadership qualities. "Enjoins" means to urge or instruct someone to do something, and it fits in this context because the person's subordinates listen to his instructions and follow them willingly. Therefore, the word "enjoins" is the closest in meaning to "commands" in this sentence.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

The company paid some money to Abu to _____him for losses he suffered during the accident.

Answer Details

The best option that completes the gap is "recompense". This is because "recompense" means to compensate or pay someone for a loss or injury they suffered. So in the sentence, the company paid Abu some money to recompense him for the losses he suffered during the accident. "Indemnity" means protection against loss or damage, "condole with" means to express sympathy or sorrow to someone who is grieving or in distress, and "settle" means to resolve or come to an agreement on a matter.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

We have every need to preserve some of our national monuments for posterity.

Answer Details

The word "posterity" refers to future generations. In the given sentence, the speaker is emphasizing the importance of preserving national monuments for future generations to see and appreciate. Therefore, the option nearest in meaning to "posterity" is "future".

Choose the the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

Understandable?

Answer Details

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Young people have a penchant for fast cars.

Answer Details

The option opposite in meaning to the underlined word "penchant" is "dislike".

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more schools so much that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and board charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcast. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enrol to stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in terms of facilities and qualified teachers are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teachers often reject posting to rural schools, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hands in urban schools. Since educational broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting educational materials from one central location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the quality of educational provision will be made even throughout the country.

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Besides, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer students’ questions. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an ornate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

Answer Details

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Agwube's explanation of her poor performance at the examination only begged the question.

Answer Details

The phrase "begged the question" means that an explanation or argument presented actually avoids answering the main question, or creates another question that needs answering. Therefore, the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined phrase is "did not address the issue".

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The compulsory leave made her feel listless.

Answer Details

The opposite of "listless" is "energetic." "Listless" means lacking energy or enthusiasm, so the option that is opposite in meaning to it is "energetic," which means having or showing great energy.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

He was determined to _____ all position into submission.

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The option that best completes the sentence is "cow." "Cow" in this context means to intimidate or frighten into submission. So, the sentence means that he was determined to intimidate or frighten all positions into submission.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Most of the latest actions are militant in nature.

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The word in capital letters has the emphatic stress. Choose the option which the given sentence relates.

LAM called Uche a pilot?

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Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

The _____ part of a new book is often written by a more experienced writer than the author.

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The correct option is "foreword". A foreword is an introductory section that appears at the beginning of a book, usually written by someone other than the author of the book. It often provides background information about the book and its author, and can be written by a more experienced writer in the same field or genre. The other options are misspellings of "foreword".

Choose the the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

Ceremoniously?

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Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

I have had enough of your impudence.

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The word 'impudence' means lack of respect and rudeness. Therefore, the option that is opposite in meaning to 'impudence' is 'politeness'. Politeness means having good manners, respect and courteousness towards others.

The standardization processes of Nigerian pidgin seems to have started during the post-colonial period. Naturally, Nigerian pidgin appears to be the first choice of most Nigerians in informal situations, especially when they are among those from different ethnic and linguistic background. Thus, the selection process has tactically taken place. Among all the languages used in Nigeria today, English inclusive, Nigerian pidgin could be said to be the most widely spoken. Evidence abounds in motor parks, parties, congregations and most social occasions. There is also ample evidence in the electronic and print media, especially in political propaganda, campaigns and product advertisement. Thus, in terms of spread and extensive use, Nigerian pidgin could rightly be called a national lingua franca.

The use of Nigerian pidgin in contemporary Nigerian could be described as most productive, extensive and complex. It appears that the standardization processes-selection, codification, elaboration of functions and acceptance-which started in the post-colonial era, are as now being completed in contemporary Nigeria. The reason for this assumption is simple-apart from its complex use as a lingua franca, languages of media advertisement, social interaction, unofficial military training and limited literary output, Nigerian pidgin gas attained widespread acceptability in the media, political propaganda and campaigns as well as soap operas. It is also the language of radio and television jingles. Most electronic media now use appreciable percentage of their airtime to cast news and give reports in Nigeria pidgin. Even though its use in some newspaper columns has declined, especially with the demise of the ‘Waka About’ column in the Daily Times, it is however found extensively in some newspaper advertisements .

In places like Warri, Sapele and Port Harcourt, there were reports that teachers at lower primary level taught their pupils in Nigerian pidgin. This unofficial adoption of the Nigerian pidgin as the language of the lower primary education by those teachers is justifiable considering the provision in the National Policy on Education, which states that in addition to English, the major language in the child’s environment could be used at the elementary level of education. Similarly, Nigerian pidgin has become a language of religious preaching, especially Christianity. In most rural and even urban centres where congregation are not all very well-educated, pastors resort to the use of Nigerian pidgin.

The use of the Nigerian pidgin as a literary language tends to have started in the sixties with the work of Achebe, Soyinka and others. But it is in the contemporary times that it has become most widespread. The number of poems, novels and plays written and published in Nigerian pidgin is growing even more rapidly. Many more literary writers now attempt to experiment with the language. Therefore, the evidence of codification and elaboration of functions and the partial or tactical acceptance of Nigerian pidgin are clearly visible.

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Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

As we watched, he just popped along to the shop for some b read.

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Millons of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging their careers and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart diseases, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are oblivious of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary sleep deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now getting on the average an hour less sleep per into both the variety of sleep-related illnesses and their impact on the quality of life.

The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a sympt5om of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep.’ Students of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 per cent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide coast to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? ‘One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7- operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newspaper, USA Today, described this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live, noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical diseases that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult it is to get their patients to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognize that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I’m just getting old’ or I’ can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or ‘I’m tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need.’ Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save lives and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

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Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Emeka was always conspicuous by his absence when it came to attending lectures.

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The correct option is "Emeka absence from lectures was all too glaring". This means that Emeka was always missing from lectures, and it was very noticeable that he was not present.

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The best option to complete the gap is "concepts." The sentence is referring to the new approaches to buyer-seller relationship emerging in Nigeria, and "consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling" are being mentioned as common catchphrases among salespeople, which are concepts or ideas.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

If you want to succeed in life, don't be envious ______ other people's achievement.

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The correct option to complete the gap is "of". This is because the sentence is talking about not being envious of other people's achievement as a means of succeeding in life. The preposition "of" is used to show the relationship between the subject ("you") and the object of the sentence ("other people's achievement").

From the passage, which of the following is the most important reason why Nigerian pidgin is popular?

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Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

It was our collective idea but Ado was doing everything to steal the show.

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The sentence means that the idea for the show was a joint effort by the speaker and others, but Ado was trying to attract all the attention and take credit for everything. Therefore, the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence is: "It was a joint project but Ado is trying to attract the most attention."

Choose the option that rhymes with the given word.

Own?

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Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

They hated the police and, by implication, me.

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The option nearest in meaning to the underlined word "implication" is "inference". In this context, "implication" means that the speaker is indirectly associated with the group that is being hated, and that this association can be inferred or understood by others.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

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The best option to complete the gap in question number 17 is "relationship." This is because the sentence talks about a better approach to buyer-seller, which implies a relationship between the two parties. The other options (existence, agreement, friendship) do not fit the context of the sentence.

Choose the option that has the consonant sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

Joint?

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Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Nobody knew the source of the altercation between the couple.

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The underlined word "altercation" means "quarrel". In this context, it refers to a heated argument or disagreement between the couple, and nobody knew where it started from.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

We were collectively responsible for keeping the machine in good shape.

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The opposite in meaning to "collectively" is "severally". "Collectively" means together or as a group, while "severally" means individually or separately. Therefore, "severally" is the option that best describes the opposite meaning to the underlined word in the sentence provided.