JAMB UTME - Use of English - 2024

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The word "epidemic" is often used to describe a situation where a condition or problem is spreading rapidly and affects a large number of people or a community. While it is commonly associated with infectious diseases, it can also be used metaphorically to describe any widespread phenomenon.

In the context of the phrase "Unemployment among school leavers has reached epidemic proportions," it means that the problem of unemployment is not confined to a small area or group, but rather it is very extensive and affects a significant portion of school leavers across a large area or population, similar to how an epidemic disease can spread widely and affect many people.

Therefore, the word that is nearest in meaning to "epidemic" in this context is extensive, as it conveys the idea of something being widespread or having a broad impact.

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The word **pale** generally refers to having a lighter complexion, which can suggest **illness** or **lack of color**. To find the opposite meaning, we want a word that suggests **rich color** or **healthiness** of the complexion.

**Ruddy** means having a **healthy reddish color**, typically related to a healthy, vibrant complexion. Therefore, **ruddy** is the opposite of **pale**, as it signifies health and colorfulness in contrast to the paleness that suggests lack of color or unhealthiness.

On the other hand, **strange**, **sick**, and **weak** do not convey the opposite of a pale complexion. **Strange** means unusual, **sick** means unhealthy, and **weak** indicates lacking strength. None of these implies a healthy or rich color like **ruddy** does.

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The correct choice to complete the sentence is "yours."

Here's the explanation:

• "your's" is incorrect because the apostrophe indicates possession, but in standard English, the word "yours" is already the possessive pronoun, so no apostrophe is needed.


• "your" is a possessive adjective used before a noun, for example, "your book." Since the sentence is asking about the pronoun referring to the owner of the friends, "your" is not appropriate.
• "yours'" is incorrect because it attempts to pluralize or possess a form that is already possessive. "Yours" is the correct possessive pronoun and does not need an apostrophe.
• "yours" is the correct answer. It is the possessive pronoun which indicates that something belongs to "you." In this context, it functions correctly to refer to the ownership of the friends being inquired about.

Therefore, the sentence should read: "Are those girls friends of yours?"

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The word "unconscionable" refers to behaviour that is immoral or unethical and beyond what is reasonable or just. The nearest in meaning to the word unconscionable is unbecoming, which means inappropriate or not in keeping with the standards of behaviour expected in a particular context, though less severe than unconscionable.

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Libary books have a "pocket" inside where the book card is kept.

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The word bequeathed means to leave something, usually in a will, to a person or beneficiary after someone's death. In this context, it implies that the owner has decided to transfer or hand over ownership of the company to his last daughter. Therefore, the option that is nearest in meaning to bequeathed is left.

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To find the word with an opposite meaning (antonym) to the underlined word "invincible," we first need to understand its meaning. The word invincible means too powerful to be defeated or overcome.

1. The word invisible means something that cannot be seen. This is not related to power or the ability to be defeated, hence it's not opposite to "invincible."

2. The word unconquerable means impossible to defeat. This is a synonym, not an antonym, of "invincible."

3. The word vindictive means having a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge. This is unrelated to being unbeatable and thus is not the antonym of "invincible."

4. The word surmountable means able to be overcome or conquered. This is the direct opposite of "invincible," which means too powerful to be defeated.

Therefore, the word that is opposite in meaning to invincible is surmountable because it implies that something can be overcome or defeated.

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The man is not as powerful as he once was, his influence has considerably diminished.

The word "diminished" means something that has become less or decreased in size, extent, or importance. In this context, it perfectly completes the sentence by indicating that the man's influence has decreased over time.

Let us examine why the other words are not suitable:

• Toppled: This term usually means to fall or push over something. It's often used in a context referring to overthrowing a regime or a government, which doesn't quite fit here.
• Quelled: This means to put an end to or to subdue something, often used in the context of quelling a disturbance or a rebellion. It doesn't fit the context of something naturally decreasing.
• Discarded: This word means to throw something away or to get rid of something. It's generally used in a context different from influence decreasing over time.

Therefore, diminished is the most appropriate choice as it aligns with the context of the man's influence reducing.

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The correct option to complete the sentence is "were". Let's understand why:

This sentence is an example of a conditional sentence. Specifically, it is a type called the second conditional, which is used to talk about hypothetical situations that are not real or are unlikely to happen in the present or future.

The structure of a second conditional sentence is: If + subject + past simple, subject + would + base verb. Here is the structure applied to the sentence:

• If her brother were here, he would call the police.

In the conditional clause "If her brother were here," we use the past simple verb "were" which is used for hypothetical situations involving the subject "her brother."

Note: Although "were" typically pairs with plural subjects, in the case of hypothetical or conditional sentences, "were" is also used with singular subjects like "her brother." This use is sometimes referred to as the subjunctive mood.

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Without the specific context or knowledge of the passage where "labelled 14" appears, it is generally difficult to choose the option that best fills the gap. However, I can explain the typical context where each of these terms might be applicable:

Table: A table is a piece of furniture consisting of a flat top supported by one or more legs, commonly used in libraries, dining rooms, or studies. If the context relates to a place where items are kept or used for activities like reading, writing, or studying, "table" might be appropriate.

Reserve Section: This term is often used in libraries to refer to a specific area where certain books or materials that are in high demand or are reference items are kept. Access might be limited, and items cannot be checked out for home use.

Sitting Corner: A sitting corner typically describes a cozy or designated area with chairs or cushions where people can sit, relax, or engage in conversation. It might be found in living rooms, libraries, or reading areas.

Lending Desk: This is often found in libraries and is the place where library users check out books or return borrowed items. The lending desk is a critical part of the library system.

To choose the best option, consider what the passage is describing or needing. If it's a place for borrowing books, the lending desk is appropriate. If it's a location where books not in circulation are kept, the reserve section is correct. For a resting or reading area, the sitting corner fits best, and for general workspace, a table is the suitable choice.

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The word "radioactive" is divided into four syllables: "ra-di-o-ac-tive." To determine the stress pattern, it's important to note how the word is often pronounced naturally in English.

In English, many words have a certain syllable that is pronounced more prominently than others, and this is called the stressed syllable. In "radioactive," the stress falls on the third syllable "ac," making it "radioACtive." This means when you pronounce the word, you will tend to say the "AC" part with more emphasis compared to the other syllables.

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The word "inevitable" means something that cannot be avoided or escaped. It implies that an event is certain to happen and there is no way to prevent it from occurring. When we say that "Death is inevitable," we mean that death is a natural part of life that everyone will experience eventually, and there is no way to avoid it.

Let's look at the options:

• Unavoidable: This word is nearest in meaning to "inevitable" because it also means that something cannot be prevented.
• Predictable: While this word refers to something that can be anticipated or expected to happen, it does not necessarily mean that it cannot be avoided.
• Distant: This word refers to something far away in time or space, and it does not convey the idea of inevitability or certainty.
• Surmountable: This word means that something can be overcome or conquered, which is opposite in meaning to inevitable.

Therefore, the option nearest in meaning to "inevitable" is unavoidable.

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A "hole" is what the miners crawl through to get to the coal.

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According to the passage, it is not all honeybees that produce eggs. The passage explains that there are different roles and castes within honeybee society. Only the queen has the ability to lay eggs. The other bees, such as the workers and drones, do not lay eggs. Workers carry out other functions like foraging and taking care of the hive, while drones do not participate in laying eggs as they are males.

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The word "reckless" in the sentence "His reckless remark did not go unnoticed" suggests that the remark was made without careful thought or consideration of the potential consequences. Let's explore the meaning and implications of each option:

• Salient: This word means something that is most noticeable or important. It does not fit well with "reckless," as "salient" emphasizes visibility or prominence, rather than carelessness.
• Considerable: This refers to something that is significant or worthy of attention, often due to its size or importance. It does not match "reckless," because "considerable" does not imply a lack of caution or foresight.
• Taciturn: This describes a person who is reserved or says little. It is almost the opposite of making a "reckless" remark since taciturn people are cautious about speaking.
• Unguarded: This means lacking in caution or care, especially in speech or behavior. It aligns with "reckless" because both suggest speaking without careful thought or control, leading to unintended consequences.

Therefore, the option closest in meaning to "reckless" is unguarded.

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The passage is discussing how languages are associated with specific territories on maps, and it illustrates this by describing how most of North America is labeled for English and other languages in specific regions. In this context, the correct option for the gap labeled 9 is "coded". The word "**coded**" effectively conveys the idea of assigning or representing a particular language as predominant in a specific area on a map. This term aligns with the passage's description of how territories are designated or labeled with languages, similar to creating a visual representation of language distribution.

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The best option to fill the gap labeled 14 is "principle." The passage discusses the idea of associating language with specific territories or regions. It suggests that thinking about linguistic justice is based on certain fundamental ideas or rules regarding how language should be connected to particular territories. A "principle" refers to a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning. In this context, the "territorial principle" refers to the fundamental idea that language is inherently connected to specific geographic areas, and this idea forms the basis for discussions about linguistic justice and legislation.

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The correct phrase to complete the sentence is "ran out of". Therefore, the sentence should read: "His car ran out of fuel so he arrived late for the meeting."

Here’s the explanation:

• The phrasal verb "run out of" means to use up a supply of something, so there's none left. In this context, it means that the car used up all of its fuel and had no more left.
• "Ran out" by itself does not indicate from where or what is exhausted unless followed by "of".
• "Ran out on" typically means to abandon someone or something, which is not applicable in this context.
• "Ran on out" is not a standard or meaningful expression in English in relation to running out of something.

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The phrase prevail upon generally means to get someone to do something by reasoning with them or urging them consistently. It implies a gentle but firm influence to change someone's mind or decision. Therefore, the term that is nearest in meaning to prevail upon is persuade. When you persuade someone, you are convincing them to do something through reasoning or argument, rather than by forcing or overruling them.

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In the word "clothe", the underlined letter(s) is "th", and it has a voiced consonant sound represented by /ð/. This sound is produced by vibrating the vocal cords while placing the tongue between the teeth. We can find the same consonant sound in the word "smooth". In "smooth," the final "th" also represents the voiced /ð/ sound.

Let me explain the sound of each option:

• "Cloth" – The "th" at the end has an unvoiced /θ/ sound, which is different from the voiced /ð/ sound in "clothe."
• "Smooth" – The final "th" has the voiced /ð/ sound, which is the same as in "clothe."
• "Good" – The consonant sounds are /g/ and /d/, which do not match /ð/.
• "Thesis" – The "th" sound here is unvoiced /θ/, which is different from /ð/.

Therefore, the word "smooth" has the same consonant sound as the underlined letters in "clothe."

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To identify the vowel sound, let's first isolate the vowel sound in the word "busy," which is represented by the "u" and pronounced as /ɪ/. This is similar to the "i" in "bit" or "sit".

Now, let's analyze each option:

• Vineyard: The "i" in "vineyard" sounds like /ɪ/, similar to the "i" in "bit" or "sit," which is the same as "busy".
• Automobile: The vowels sound like /ɔː/, /ə/, /ʊ/, which don't match the /ɪ/ sound in "busy".
• Twilight: The "i" here sounds like /aɪ/ as in "light," which is different from the /ɪ/ sound in "busy".
• Island: The "i" sounds like /aɪ/ as in "high," which is also different from the /ɪ/ sound in "busy".

Therefore, **"vineyard"** has the same vowel sound as the word "busy".

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Notes of Salvation is a euphemism for the cheat notes that Kola passed to Salma during the examination. It helps to reduce the unpleasantness of what the cheat notes represent. 

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The phrase shows the writer's awareness of the dangerous and violent nature of the insurgents pursuing them.

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The word "stretch" in the context "Ayo does regular exercise to stretch his mind" implies making the mind more flexible or broadening its capabilities. When we "stretch" something, we are essentially looking to expand or extend it beyond its current state.

To find the opposite of "stretch," we should look for a word that conveys the idea of limiting or narrowing rather than broadening.

Let's consider the options:

• "Enrich": This means to improve or enhance the quality or value of something, which aligns more with the idea of "stretch" rather than opposing it.
• "Expand": This also aligns with "stretch" as it means to increase in size, volume, or scope.
• "Conscript": While this word doesn't have a direct opposition to "stretch", it refers to enrolling someone compulsorily, specifically into the army. It does not particularly relate to stretching the mind.
• "Restrict": This means to limit or control the extent or range of something. **This is the opposite of "stretch"** because it implies reducing or narrowing, rather than expanding.

Therefore, the word that is opposite in meaning to "stretch" is "restrict".

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The word "buoy" contains the vowel sound represented by the letters "uoy," which creates a diphthong that sounds like "oi" or "oy." This specific sound can be heard in the word "boy" where the "oy" produces the same diphthong.

Therefore, the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined in "buoy" is "boy," because both share the same "oi" diphthong sound.

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In the given sentence, "Mr. Ezeh _______ with some solutions to the issue," the correct verb phrase to fill the gap is "came up." The sentence is likely referring to a past action where Mr. Ezeh presented or generated solutions.

Here's why each option can be considered:

• "came up": This is the past tense of the phrasal verb "come up with," which means to think of or produce an idea or solution. The use of past tense indicates that the action of presenting solutions has been completed, making it the most appropriate choice for the sentence.
• "come up": This is the present tense and does not fit well in the context if the action occurred in the past.
• "flew up": This phrasal verb usually refers to an actual upward movement and not related to generating ideas or solutions. Hence, it's unrelated to the context of the sentence.
• "brought up": While "brought up" can refer to introducing a topic or idea, it doesn't specifically imply generating "solutions" to an issue. Instead, it usually refers to introducing topics in conversation.

Therefore, "came up" is the correct choice because it implies Mr. Ezeh thought of or presented solutions in the past.

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The word "redress" in the context given means seeking to set right a wrong or to obtain satisfaction for a grievance. It involves correcting or remedying something that was unfair or unjust. Let's look at each option:

• Returns: This refers to giving back or coming back. It does not relate to correcting a wrong or seeking justice.
• Appeal: This involves asking a higher authority to review or change a decision. It is related to legal processes but doesn't specifically mean correcting a wrong.
• Judgement: This refers to the decision reached by a court of law. It represents the end result of a legal process, but not necessarily the act of seeking correction itself.
• Compensation: This refers to something, typically money, awarded to someone in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury. This aligns closely with the idea of "redress" as it involves making amends for a wrong or loss.

The option nearest in meaning to "redress" is "Compensation" because both involve the idea of rectifying a wrong or providing a remedy to someone who has been wronged.

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The sentence in question discusses how we perceive deviations from the monolingual standard language. The missing word should refer to something that represents an individual's collection of language abilities or linguistic elements.

"Repertoire" is the most suitable choice for the gap labeled 7 because it typically refers to the range or stock of skills, techniques, or pieces known by a person in a particular field. In the context of language, it refers to the entire collection of language skills and elements an individual possesses.

The other options, "word," "idea," and "statement," all refer to smaller, singular items, not the broad collection or variety that "repertoire" encompasses. In the given sentence, the emphasis is on deviations at a more comprehensive level, which characterizes an individual's entire linguistic capability rather than just a single word, idea, or statement.

Thus, using "repertoire" aligns with the context of discussing linguistic variability and diversity, making it the most accurate and appropriate choice for an individual's collection of language elements.

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When looking for a specific book, you typically want to search either by the book's title or by the author's name. A reverse catalogue doesn't relate to direct searching methods for books in a library, nor does a borrower's catalogue, which would more likely relate to users of the library rather than the books themselves. A dictionary catalogue is a method in which entries are arranged in dictionary order, combining subjects, titles, and authors, but these are more detailed and comprehensive. However, if you are specifically looking for a book based on its title, you would use a title catalogue. This type of catalogue is designed to help you locate a book when you know what the title is.

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In English, stress in a word refers to the syllable that is emphasized or spoken louder, longer, or at a higher pitch than the others. For the word "dedication," the correct stress is on the fourth syllable, which is: dediCAtion.

To comprehend why this is the case, let's break down the pronunciation: "ded-i-CA-tion". Here, the syllable "CA" is pronounced with greater emphasis compared to the other syllables "ded," "i," and "tion." This pattern of stress is common in English words with a similar suffix structure, where the emphasis often falls on the syllable before the suffix "-tion."

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In the given sentence, the word "PRODUCT" carries the emphatic stress, which means the emphasis is on what was rejected being the product. Thus, the question that relates best to emphasizing the word "PRODUCT" is: Was the product rejected though genuine?

This question is asking if it was specifically the product (and not anything else) that got rejected, which aligns with emphasizing the product itself. The focus is on identifying that it is indeed the product that experienced the action mentioned in the statement, not anything else. It tests whether, despite the possibility of the product being genuine, the emphasis lies on it being the item that was rejected.

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For multi-syllabic words that end in '-ty', the stress tends to fall on the ante-penultimate syllable (i.e. the third syllable from the last). Therefore, the stress placement would be iMMUnity. 

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The correct option that best completes the sentence is: expatiate/playwright. Here's why:

1. **Expatiate:** This means to speak or write in detail about a particular topic. In the context of the sentence, the students wanted the Literature teacher to elaborate or explain the point of view more thoroughly. The correct spelling is "expatiate", not "expantiate," which is incorrect.

2. **Playwright:** This refers to a person who writes plays, and is the correct term in this context as it concerns literature. The word should not be confused with "playwriter" or "playwrite," both of which are incorrect. The suffix "wright" indicates a maker or builder, and "playwright" specifically refers to the creator of plays.

Thus, the sentence would read: Everyone in class wanted the Literature teacher to expatiate the point of view of the playwright.

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The word "derelict" refers to something that has been abandoned and is in a poor or neglected state. It is often used to describe buildings or structures that are no longer in use and have fallen into disrepair.

• The word "moribund" describes something that is at the point of death or is in decline but does not necessarily imply abandonment or neglect.
• The word "glamorous" describes something that is charmingly or fascinatingly attractive, which is the opposite of the meaning of "derelict".
• The word "enlivened" refers to something that has been made lively or spirited, which also contradicts the meaning of "derelict".
• The word "titivated" means to make something more attractive by adding decorations, which is also opposite to being abandoned or neglected.

The option nearest in meaning to "derelict" is "moribund" because it suggests decline, although it doesn't specifically indicate abandonment. The context of the phrase suggests that the fire station is not only neglected but also likely to be in a state of disrepair, which aligns more closely with "moribund" than the other options.

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In the novel, Khadija Abubakar Jalli's "The Life Changer", Dr. Kabir Mohammed plays a significant role in the story involving Salma's academic challenges. The specific incident in question revolves around covering up Salma's EMAL offence.

To resolve the issue related to her examination malpractice, Dr. Kabir Mohammed demanded a sum from Salma. The amount he requested and collected was three hundred thousand naira.

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The sentence "Let this case stand over for the present, the lawyer pleaded" means that the lawyer is requesting for the case to be postponed or deferred to a later date, rather than addressing it immediately or removing it entirely from consideration.

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In the passage, the word "destined" refers to the predetermined fate or purpose of the eggs in the honeybee colony. It mentions that "eggs destined to become queens" are deposited in queen cells, meaning these eggs are predetermined to develop into queens.

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The phrase underlined in the sentence "was declared null and void" means that something is considered to have no legal effect, value, or binding power. In other words, it is as if it never existed at all.

Let's consider the meanings of the options to find the one with the opposite meaning:

1. Invalid: Similar to null and void as it also means lacking legal force or not valid.

2. Nugatory: Means of no value or importance, essentially similar in essence to null and void.

3. Void: Directly matches with null, again indicating that something is of no legal force or effect.

4. Credible: Implies something or someone being trustworthy or likely to be believed, which is opposite to lacking value or effect.

Therefore, the word opposite in meaning to null and void is credible because credible implies having validity or trustworthiness, whereas null and void implies having no legal standing or validity.

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To fill the gap labeled 8, we need a word that appropriately conveys the action of forming a mental image or visualization of a map. The word that best fits this context is "conjure". The phrase "conjure in your mind a map of the Americas" suggests the idea of creating or visualizing a map in one's mind. This is similar to magically bringing an image into mind, just as one would conjure an image or idea through imagination. The other options do not effectively convey this mental visualization process:

• "Write" is more closely associated with putting down words or marks on a surface, which does not fit the context of visualizing a map.
• "Set" often implies placing or establishing something in a particular position or state, which doesn't align with creating a visual mental image.
• "Let" means to allow or permit, which doesn't fit the context of forming an image in one's mind.

Therefore, the correct choice is the word that effectively captures the imaginal process described, which is "conjure."

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To select the best option to complete the sentence "The movie wasn't fantastic, was it?" we need to understand the structure of a tag question. A **tag question** consists of a **statement** followed by a short question. The tag question is typically used to confirm something the speaker believes to be true. In English, the **tag** is generally formed by inverting the auxiliary verb and subject of the main sentence and is usually the opposite in form (affirmative vs. negative).

In this case, the statement is "The movie wasn't fantastic". The tag "was it?" is used to seek confirmation and implies that the speaker anticipates agreement. **Since the statement is negative ("wasn't"), the agreement or confirmation often expected is affirmative.**

Therefore, if you agree that the movie wasn't fantastic, you'd say "No, it wasn't" to confirm the negative statement because agreement to a negative statement is expressed with "no".

Thus, the correct option to complete the sentence is:
No, it wasn't.

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Talle is the character who earned the nickname "the quiet one" because of his introverted nature. We can find this on page 21 of the novel where he was described as a quiet person who never engaged in a fight with anyone. 

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To determine the correct word to fill in the blank, let's analyze the sentence structure and the options given:

The subject of the sentence is "touts." The word "touts" is a plural noun, meaning it refers to more than one person. Therefore, any verb that accompanies it must also agree with its plural form.

Let's examine the options:

• "were" - This is the past tense form of the verb "to be" that is used with plural nouns. E.g., "They were happy."
• "was" - This is the past tense form of the verb "to be" used with singular nouns or singular third-person subjects. E.g., "He was happy."
• "where" - This is used to indicate a place or position, not a verb.
• "is" - This is the present tense singular form of the verb "to be" and does not match the past tense context of the sentence.

Based on the analysis, the most suitable option is "were." The sentence should read: "The touts were arrested during the riot." This fits because "were" is the correct past tense form of the verb "to be" for plural subjects. The use of "were" indicates that the action occurred in the past, and it agrees with the plural noun "touts."

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To understand the meaning of the word demagogue, it's important to look at the characteristics associated with it. A demagogue is someone who seeks to gain power, influence, or leadership by appealing to people's emotions, fears, and prejudices rather than using rational arguments and reasoning. This often involves using rhetoric and propaganda to manipulate public opinion.

Now, let's look at the options:

• Pastor: Typically a religious leader or minister who leads a church and provides spiritual guidance to its congregation. This does not match the idea of manipulating people's emotions for power.
• Teacher: An educator who imparts knowledge and encourages learning, typically in an academic setting. This role involves logical reasoning and educating, not manipulation.
• Manipulator: This refers to someone who tries to influence or control others in a clever or unscrupulous way. This closely aligns with the characteristics of a demagogue, who manipulates people's emotions for personal gain.
• Demographer: A person who studies the statistical characteristics of human populations, such as births, deaths, income, etc. This is unrelated to manipulation for power.

Based on these explanations, the option nearest in meaning to demagogue is manipulator, because both involve influencing others by playing on their emotions or fears, often for selfish purposes.

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The word "moth" rhymes with "wrath." In English, words "rhyme" when they have the same ending sound.

Let's break it down:

• The ending sound of both "moth" and "wrath" is /ɒθ/ in British English or /ɑːθ/ in American English.
• On the other hand, "both" ends with the /oʊθ/ sound.
• "What" ends with the /ʌt/ sound.
• "Boat" ends with the /oʊt/ sound.

Therefore, the word "wrath" is the one that rhymes with "moth" because they share similar ending sounds.

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A queen bee can lose her status and develop into a worker bee primarily due to a **change in her diet**. When a bee larva is developing, its diet determines whether it becomes a queen or a worker. Larvae that are destined to become queens are fed **royal jelly** throughout their development. This special diet contains higher levels of certain nutrients and hormones that trigger the development of queen-specific characteristics, such as fully developed ovaries and larger body size.

If a larva does not receive a continuous diet of royal jelly but instead is given a substance called **bee bread** (a mixture of pollen and honey), it will develop into a worker bee. Worker bees are sterile females and have different physical and behavioral characteristics compared to queens.

Thus, if a potential queen bee larva is not fed an adequate amount of royal jelly due to the absence of certain conditions or mishaps, it can lead to the development of a worker bee. In essence, the appropriate diet is crucial for the maintenance of a bee's royal status.

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The word "admires" means to have a positive feeling of respect or approval towards someone or something. Therefore, the word opposite in meaning would suggest having a negative feeling or showing disrespect or disapproval.

Let's examine the options:

• Scorns: This means to show contempt or disdain towards someone or something. In other words, it indicates a strong feeling of disapproval or derogation. This is opposite in meaning to "admires."
• Accepts: This means to consent to receive or undertake something offered, indicating a neutral or positive feeling. It is not opposite to "admires."
• Sanctions: This generally means giving official permission or approval for an action, which does not have an opposite relation to "admires."
• Regards: This means to consider or think of something in a specified way, and it often holds a neutral or positive meaning. Thus, it is not opposite to "admires."

Based on this analysis, the word "scorns" is opposite in meaning to "admires."

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To find a word that rhymes with "hurt," we need to look for a word with a similar ending sound. The word "hurt" ends with the sound "urt."

Let's analyze the given options:

• hot: Ends with the sound "ot," so it does not rhyme with "hurt."
• cough: Ends with the sound "off," which does not rhyme with "hurt."
• coil: Ends with the sound "oil," which does not rhyme with "hurt."
• shirt: Ends with the sound "irt," which is very similar to "urt."

Therefore, the word "shirt" rhymes with "hurt" because they both end with a similar sound. The main requirement for words to rhyme is that their ending phonetic sounds match or are very similar.

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To determine the most appropriate option for the gap labeled 10, we need to consider the role and characteristics of what is being described in the passage.

The passage describes something that shines in the light of the miner's lamp and is responsible for holding up thousands of feet of rock and earth, providing structural support within the mining environment. This description indicates that the structures in question are essential for maintaining the stability of the mining tunnels.

Let's examine the meaning of each option:

• Beams: Beams are long, sturdy pieces made of materials like steel or wood that are used to support weight and maintain structural integrity in a building, tunnel, or other construction. This term fits well, as beams are commonly used in mining to support the roof and prevent the collapse of tunnels.


• Supports: This term is more general and can refer to any structure that provides support. However, it is less specific than the other options available.


• Spurs: Spurs generally refer to projections or appendages, but not typically as structural elements in mining to support loads from above.


• Stays: Stays are types of braces or ties that hold things in position, but they are not typically the primary structural support like beams would be.

Given the context and the role of providing strong, essential support to hold the rock and earth pressing down, the most appropriate option is "beams".

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The writer was puzzled because he saw big trees growing from the rocks. This observation puzzled him as it contradicted his understanding or expectations based on the classroom teachings about weathering and the capacity of rocks to be penetrated by tree roots. It was unexpected for him to see tree roots capable of breaking down rocks, demonstrating a natural occurrence of weathering in action. This newfound understanding of how weathering can occur in different ways, such as through the penetration of tree roots, was the source of his puzzlement.

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To correctly complete the sentence, we must understand the structure and the context. The phrase "But for" indicates a situation where something was prevented. It sets up a conditional statement of something that did not happen because of an intervention.

Here, the intervention of the police prevented a potential action by the mob. Thus, we use a conditional perfect tense to express this unreal past condition.

The correct option to complete the sentence is: would have been lynched. This phrase, "would have been lynched," is in the past perfect conditional tense. It describes an action that could have happened in the past but did not occur due to an intervening factor, in this case, the timely intervention of the police.

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The term "hovering over" typically means to remain in the air in one place or move slightly above or around something. A vulture hovering over a dead goat suggests that it is staying airborne near the carcass, observing it intently, probably before descending to feed. This does not involve moving erratically or jumping; neither does it imply physically standing on the goat at this moment.

Therefore, the option closest in meaning to "hovering over" in this context is "flying around," as it captures the idea of the bird maintaining a position in the air above the goat.

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The phrase "won the contest hands down" is an idiomatic expression. In this context, it means that Moses won the contest very easily and with little effort. The term "hands down" originates from horse racing, where a jockey could win so comfortably that they did not need to keep a tight grip on the reins, hence, hands down. Therefore, it implies a victory that is decisive and without any struggle.

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According to the passage, students perform poorly in examinations because of their inability to imbibe a good reading culture. The passage emphasizes that poor reading habits lead to difficulties in understanding and comprehending the information emphasized in their studies. This lack of a strong reading culture prevents students from effectively grasping and extracting necessary information from their textbooks, contributing to inadequate performance in examinations.

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The word **messy** implies a state of disorder or confusion where things are scattered around and not organized. To find an opposite, we look for a word that describes the room as **orderly and well-organized**.

Let's consider the options:

• Muddled: This word is similar to **messy** and implies confusion or disorder. It's not opposite in meaning.
• Dirty: This focuses on cleanliness, indicating something is not clean, but it does not specifically address organization or tidiness.
• Unkept: Similar to **messy**, it implies a lack of care in organization or tidiness.
• Tidy: This word means everything is in its proper place, well-organized, and clean. It reflects a state opposite to **messy**.

Therefore, the opposite of **messy** is **tidy**, as it describes a room that is neat and organized.

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The sentence "I can't lend him my books. I ______ know him." is meant to express the idea that the speaker does not have enough familiarity or trust with the person in question to lend their books.

The best choice to complete the sentence is "scarcely". This is because "scarcely" means almost not or barely, indicating a very low level of knowing or familiarity. Thus, it implies that the speaker knows the person just a little, which aligns with the reason they are hesitant to lend their books.

To clarify the other options:
- "Often" suggests a frequent occurrence, which is not fitting because the sentence conveys a lack of familiarity.

- "Seldom" means not often, and while it may indicate infrequency, it is not as strong as 'scarcely' in expressing minimal familiarity.

- "Rarely" is also more infrequent than "seldom," yet it doesn't convey the minimal familiarity as effectively as "scarcely."

Therefore, "scarcely" is the best word to complete this sentence because it most accurately communicates a low level of acquaintance or trust.

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The correct word to fill the gap is "genius." The passage talks about the teacher's ability to handle both fast and slow learners. The phrase "speed of the genius" suggests moving quickly at the pace of someone who is extremely intelligent. This word fits the context because it implies a quick pace or high capability in understanding, which relates to how teachers manage students of varying learning speeds.

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To understand the meaning of the word decisive, let's break it down. The word decisive is often used to describe actions or decisions that are firm, clear, and have a definite resolution. If someone takes a decisive action, it means they are making a clear and conclusive decision, often leading to a solution or outcome without hesitation.

Now, let's examine each of the options:

• Significant: This means important or meaningful. While a decisive action might be significant, the word significant doesn't capture the full essence of being firm or final in decision-making.
• Inconclusive: This means something that does not lead to a firm conclusion or result. This is the opposite of decisive, as it implies uncertainty and a lack of resolution.
• Indecisive: This describes someone or something not having the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively. It is also the opposite of decisive.
• Trivial: This means unimportant or insignificant. A decisive action would not be trivial as it is meant to resolve or settle an important issue.

From the above explanations, the closest word in meaning to decisive is significant. However, it is important to note that although they are related, they are not exact synonyms. Decisive involves being firm and having a clear conclusion, while significant pertains to the importance or impact of an action.