JAMB UTME - Use of English - 1985

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

Stephen was blamed for leaving his door ajar during the heavy rainfall.

The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops. At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustling about in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare. The sun danced dizzily in the sky, with a strange cruelty. Each day the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the drop of moisture out of the earth. The family set down in despair, waiting and waiting,. Their hopes had run so high; the goats has started producing milk, which they had eagerly poured on their porridge, now they ate plain porridge with no milk. It was impossible to plant the corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melon seeds in the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow of the huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain had fled away. Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. They carried on with their game of making house like their mother and chattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made children from sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded them severely in an exact imitation of their own mother. Their voices could be heard, scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when I send you to draw water, why do you spill half of it out of the bucket? ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge pot without letting the porridge he burn? ‘Then, they would beat the rag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions.

The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to fall out of the sky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food and of all their herd only two goats were left. It was the women of the family who finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.

Mathematics is the language in which the Book of Nature is written: Mathematics is the queen of the Sciences. It is universally agreed that Mathematics is the backbone of Science and Technology. For without Mathematics the engineer is but an artist or sculptor. He can build his bridge, attest to its from and beauty, but without Mathematics he cannot guarantee its reliability to serve the purpose for which it is built. Mathematics is indeed the science of sciences. It is also art of all arts. It is right, legitimate and defensible to consider Mathematics as an Art. The poet, the musician, the artist and the Mathematician have a lot in common. Fundamental to all their studies and works is their common interest in the logical study of related concepts and objects from patterns which will produce beauty, harmony and order. Thus the poet arranges words to produce a pattern called poetry: the musician arranges sounds to produce a pattern called music, the artist arranges colours to produce pattern called painting and the Mathematician arranges abstract ideas into a pattern, using symbols, to produce equations. Each of these patterns- the poem, the music, the painting and the equation must stand up to the test of some order, harmony and beauty. So if Mathematics is not an art what is art?

Read each passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Obi: Let’s go to the Sport Club Cafeteria. One naira
per meal is a privilege in this country.
And God knows that I am too broke to afford
anything More

Olu: Got a membership identity card? Don’t forget
the place is for bona fide members
only.

Obi: Forget it. There are other types of
identity cards, remember. Just flash
something before the eyes of those men at the
gate, provided it looks like an identity card.

Olu: Ee…eh, I see. That is why the place is
always congested. I don’t think it
is even worth the trouble. I can’t stand a
queue.

Obi: That shouldn’t bother you. You don’t have to
join the queue. Just walk
straight to the serving point without fear
and be sure you shout your
order.

Olu: But only V.I.Ps have the right to break
queues.

Obi: Sure, but V.I Ps don’t wear badges on their
faces. Post man, pose. After
all this is Nigeria

Olu: You mean there are many impostors here?

Obi: Certainly, and many people with privileges
too. If you want to get
along, you must pose, and to get along
means getting what you want
if you choose to term it ‘privileges, it
suits me. It is all a question of
semantics.

My good people I come before you this evening as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned now, the usual political thing to do when charges are levelled against you is either to ignore them or to deny them without giving details, But before I answer any of your questions, let me state categorically that I have not touched a kobo of the #50,000 we contributed. Every kobo of it has been used in defraying political campaign expenses.

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

He lost his voice momentarily

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The boy thought that driving a car was not _____ dangerous than riding a bicycle

In this question, choose the option nearest in meaning to the bold and underlined word(s) or phrase.

The roof of my bedroom fell in and knocked me out.

Days passed fast for Ntanya and Teresa. They could hardly notice the land getting brown all over kachawanga again, since neither of them noticed any more the sun come up and go down. Ntanya would work very hard in the field hauling in the last harvest and Teresa would stay at home washing, cooking and waiting, waiting for him to come home. She would cook his meal with extra care and when there was little meat she would only give bits to the children and not even touch it herself but use only the smell to get her food down and reserve the whole chunk for her husband. When Ntanya would come home with sweat on his brows she would put the wooden tray on a stool for him and sit down by him watching him eat with great satisfaction: every bolus that went down Ntanya’s throat would also go down her own throat. When Ntanya would insist on sharing the food with her she would always say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be. Ntanya would then eat and drink to his satisfaction and rest a while in the sun after saying ‘Thank you mother’

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

After the team had concede two goals, their enthusiasm _____

In this question, choose the option nearest in meaning to the bold and underlined word(s) or phrase.

Janet will not attend the dinner party tonight. She is afraid of her own shadow

Days passed fast for Ntanya and Teresa. They could hardly notice the land getting brown all over kachawanga again, since neither of them noticed any more the sun come up and go down. Ntanya would work very hard in the field hauling in the last harvest and Teresa would stay at home washing, cooking and waiting, waiting for him to come home. She would cook his meal with extra care and when there was little meat she would only give bits to the children and not even touch it herself but use only the smell to get her food down and reserve the whole chunk for her husband. When Ntanya would come home with sweat on his brows she would put the wooden tray on a stool for him and sit down by him watching him eat with great satisfaction: every bolus that went down Ntanya’s throat would also go down her own throat. When Ntanya would insist on sharing the food with her she would always say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be. Ntanya would then eat and drink to his satisfaction and rest a while in the sun after saying ‘Thank you mother’

My good people I come before you this evening as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned now, the usual political thing to do when charges are levelled against you is either to ignore them or to deny them without giving details, But before I answer any of your questions, let me state categorically that I have not touched a kobo of the #50,000 we contributed. Every kobo of it has been used in defraying political campaign expenses.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The principal advised that we pursue this case cautiously, otherwise we are bound to be taken _____ by Ada's lies

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

On the orders of the steward, the cook rushed _____ the market

Read each passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Obi: Let’s go to the Sport Club Cafeteria. One naira
per meal is a privilege in this country.
And God knows that I am too broke to afford
anything More

Olu: Got a membership identity card? Don’t forget
the place is for bona fide members
only.

Obi: Forget it. There are other types of
identity cards, remember. Just flash
something before the eyes of those men at the
gate, provided it looks like an identity card.

Olu: Ee…eh, I see. That is why the place is
always congested. I don’t think it
is even worth the trouble. I can’t stand a
queue.

Obi: That shouldn’t bother you. You don’t have to
join the queue. Just walk
straight to the serving point without fear
and be sure you shout your
order.

Olu: But only V.I.Ps have the right to break
queues.

Obi: Sure, but V.I Ps don’t wear badges on their
faces. Post man, pose. After
all this is Nigeria

Olu: You mean there are many impostors here?

Obi: Certainly, and many people with privileges
too. If you want to get
along, you must pose, and to get along
means getting what you want
if you choose to term it ‘privileges, it
suits me. It is all a question of
semantics.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

Journalists always collect and publish _____

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

The judge came down heavily on the accused person in his judgement

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

Mary goes to school _____ bus

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

You have been asked to change your laissez-faire attitude to work

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

The class as a whole will have a lecture on scarce commodities tomorrow.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

I am very sorry _____ to attend the meeting yesterday

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

Many untrustworthy students gives evasive answers to questions which they fully understand.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

He received a pat _____ the back for his brilliant success in the examination

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

Many states practise the ideals of democracy

Mathematics is the language in which the Book of Nature is written: Mathematics is the queen of the Sciences. It is universally agreed that Mathematics is the backbone of Science and Technology. For without Mathematics the engineer is but an artist or sculptor. He can build his bridge, attest to its from and beauty, but without Mathematics he cannot guarantee its reliability to serve the purpose for which it is built. Mathematics is indeed the science of sciences. It is also art of all arts. It is right, legitimate and defensible to consider Mathematics as an Art. The poet, the musician, the artist and the Mathematician have a lot in common. Fundamental to all their studies and works is their common interest in the logical study of related concepts and objects from patterns which will produce beauty, harmony and order. Thus the poet arranges words to produce a pattern called poetry: the musician arranges sounds to produce a pattern called music, the artist arranges colours to produce pattern called painting and the Mathematician arranges abstract ideas into a pattern, using symbols, to produce equations. Each of these patterns- the poem, the music, the painting and the equation must stand up to the test of some order, harmony and beauty. So if Mathematics is not an art what is art?

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

One hindrance to an orderly economic development of the country is large scale fraud and corruption

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

My spell in the university was an unmitigated disaster

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

Little Ugochi has a bicycle which is in marvellous condition

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The lawyer insisted _____ the full payment of his charge

In this question, choose the option nearest in meaning to the bold and underlined word(s) or phrase.

Ade hardly ever falls sick

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

In may 1978 the rain fell incessantly and made life drab

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

Disgruntled people are indifferent to any plans to rid the society of evil

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

James _____ reminding that not all that glitters is gold.

Days passed fast for Ntanya and Teresa. They could hardly notice the land getting brown all over kachawanga again, since neither of them noticed any more the sun come up and go down. Ntanya would work very hard in the field hauling in the last harvest and Teresa would stay at home washing, cooking and waiting, waiting for him to come home. She would cook his meal with extra care and when there was little meat she would only give bits to the children and not even touch it herself but use only the smell to get her food down and reserve the whole chunk for her husband. When Ntanya would come home with sweat on his brows she would put the wooden tray on a stool for him and sit down by him watching him eat with great satisfaction: every bolus that went down Ntanya’s throat would also go down her own throat. When Ntanya would insist on sharing the food with her she would always say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be. Ntanya would then eat and drink to his satisfaction and rest a while in the sun after saying ‘Thank you mother’Bolus in this passage means

The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops. At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustling about in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare. The sun danced dizzily in the sky, with a strange cruelty. Each day the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the drop of moisture out of the earth. The family set down in despair, waiting and waiting,. Their hopes had run so high; the goats has started producing milk, which they had eagerly poured on their porridge, now they ate plain porridge with no milk. It was impossible to plant the corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melon seeds in the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow of the huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain had fled away. Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. They carried on with their game of making house like their mother and chattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made children from sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded them severely in an exact imitation of their own mother. Their voices could be heard, scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when I send you to draw water, why do you spill half of it out of the bucket? ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge pot without letting the porridge he burn? ‘Then, they would beat the rag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions.

The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to fall out of the sky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food and of all their herd only two goats were left. It was the women of the family who finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.

My good people I come before you this evening as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned now, the usual political thing to do when charges are levelled against you is either to ignore them or to deny them without giving details, But before I answer any of your questions, let me state categorically that I have not touched a kobo of the #50,000 we contributed. Every kobo of it has been used in defraying political campaign expenses.

In the question below, choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined.

Emeka is naturally taciturn.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

My colleagues _____ before i arrived

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

Your brigade would be better for it, if you desisted _____ rumour - mongering, observed the Chief of Staff

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

Telling Ali to break his habit of coming to work late is like knocking your head against a brick wall

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

This card entitles you to attend the film show

Read each passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Obi: Let’s go to the Sport Club Cafeteria. One naira
per meal is a privilege in this country.
And God knows that I am too broke to afford
anything More

Olu: Got a membership identity card? Don’t forget
the place is for bona fide members
only.

Obi: Forget it. There are other types of
identity cards, remember. Just flash
something before the eyes of those men at the
gate, provided it looks like an identity card.

Olu: Ee…eh, I see. That is why the place is
always congested. I don’t think it
is even worth the trouble. I can’t stand a
queue.

Obi: That shouldn’t bother you. You don’t have to
join the queue. Just walk
straight to the serving point without fear
and be sure you shout your
order.

Olu: But only V.I.Ps have the right to break
queues.

Obi: Sure, but V.I Ps don’t wear badges on their
faces. Post man, pose. After
all this is Nigeria

Olu: You mean there are many impostors here?

Obi: Certainly, and many people with privileges
too. If you want to get
along, you must pose, and to get along
means getting what you want
if you choose to term it ‘privileges, it
suits me. It is all a question of
semantics.

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

The lecturer maintained his usual good humour in spite of the cat-calls and rude behaviour of his students

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

The officer refused to be taken in by the report given by the private

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The single _____ was enough to spoil a whole lifetime of good living

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

The manager often quarrels with his staff because he goes around with a chip on his shoulder

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The thief ran .. luck when the policeman running after him caught up with him and knocked him down

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

Despite increasingly punitive laws against hemp smoking, it is still rising at an alarming rate.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

I don't want _____ from such a friend as Jimoh

Days passed fast for Ntanya and Teresa. They could hardly notice the land getting brown all over kachawanga again, since neither of them noticed any more the sun come up and go down. Ntanya would work very hard in the field hauling in the last harvest and Teresa would stay at home washing, cooking and waiting, waiting for him to come home. She would cook his meal with extra care and when there was little meat she would only give bits to the children and not even touch it herself but use only the smell to get her food down and reserve the whole chunk for her husband. When Ntanya would come home with sweat on his brows she would put the wooden tray on a stool for him and sit down by him watching him eat with great satisfaction: every bolus that went down Ntanya’s throat would also go down her own throat. When Ntanya would insist on sharing the food with her she would always say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be. Ntanya would then eat and drink to his satisfaction and rest a while in the sun after saying ‘Thank you mother’

Days passed fast for Ntanya and Teresa. They could hardly notice the land getting brown all over kachawanga again, since neither of them noticed any more the sun come up and go down. Ntanya would work very hard in the field hauling in the last harvest and Teresa would stay at home washing, cooking and waiting, waiting for him to come home. She would cook his meal with extra care and when there was little meat she would only give bits to the children and not even touch it herself but use only the smell to get her food down and reserve the whole chunk for her husband. When Ntanya would come home with sweat on his brows she would put the wooden tray on a stool for him and sit down by him watching him eat with great satisfaction: every bolus that went down Ntanya’s throat would also go down her own throat. When Ntanya would insist on sharing the food with her she would always say she had eaten already no matter how hungry she might be. Ntanya would then eat and drink to his satisfaction and rest a while in the sun after saying ‘Thank you mother’

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

Since his father's death, Osita has not been able to cope with the tasks of a family head

My good people I come before you this evening as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned now, the usual political thing to do when charges are levelled against you is either to ignore them or to deny them without giving details, But before I answer any of your questions, let me state categorically that I have not touched a kobo of the ₦50,000 we contributed. Every kobo of it has been used in defraying political campaign expenses.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The Government _____ the initial value of the hotel complex at ten million naira

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

Employees have been urged to desist from witch-hunting and character assassination

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The dull students took correspondence course as a means _____ his standard in the class

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

Samuel: would you please come here. John? John: No I'm busy _____ in my farm

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters:

He is loved for his ALTRUISM.

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

It is futile trying to make bricks without straw

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

The severity of the harmattan helped me to complete my writing assignment in record time because i had no choice but to lock my self indoors

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The students unrest resulted _____ the expulsion of the ringleaders

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

I am yet to write the penultimate paragraph of my essay

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

To most people last Christmas was an austere period

The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops. At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustling about in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare. The sun danced dizzily in the sky, with a strange cruelty. Each day the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the drop of moisture out of the earth. The family set down in despair, waiting and waiting,. Their hopes had run so high; the goats has started producing milk, which they had eagerly poured on their porridge, now they ate plain porridge with no milk. It was impossible to plant the corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melon seeds in the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow of the huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain had fled away. Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. They carried on with their game of making house like their mother and chattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made children from sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded them severely in an exact imitation of their own mother. Their voices could be heard, scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when I send you to draw water, why do you spill half of it out of the bucket? ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge pot without letting the porridge he burn? ‘Then, they would beat the rag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions.

The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to fall out of the sky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food and of all their herd only two goats were left. It was the women of the family who finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

The new employees is so humble and friendly that he will soon make himself popular

My good people I come before you this evening as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned now, the usual political thing to do when charges are levelled against you is either to ignore them or to deny them without giving details, But before I answer any of your questions, let me state categorically that I have not touched a kobo of the #50,000 we contributed. Every kobo of it has been used in defraying political campaign expenses.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

When you are faced with an examination of this nature, endeavour to keep your mind _____ the job and not be distracted for one moment

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the word underlined:

The principal advised the boy to come to grip with himself if he wanted to do well at the end of his course.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

It all depended on what _____

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The loud noise in the neighbourhood attracted people who stared _____ the thief

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The plane overshot the _____ in a minor accident.

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

The increase in transport fares deterred our club from planning an excursion this year

Mathematics is the language in which the Book of Nature is written: Mathematics is the queen of the Sciences. It is universally agreed that Mathematics is the backbone of Science and Technology. For without Mathematics the engineer is but an artist or sculptor. He can build his bridge, attest to its from and beauty, but without Mathematics he cannot guarantee its reliability to serve the purpose for which it is built. Mathematics is indeed the science of sciences. It is also art of all arts. It is right, legitimate and defensible to consider Mathematics as an Art. The poet, the musician, the artist and the Mathematician have a lot in common. Fundamental to all their studies and works is their common interest in the logical study of related concepts and objects from patterns which will produce beauty, harmony and order. Thus the poet arranges words to produce a pattern called poetry: the musician arranges sounds to produce a pattern called music, the artist arranges colours to produce pattern called painting and the Mathematician arranges abstract ideas into a pattern, using symbols, to produce equations. Each of these patterns- the poem, the music, the painting and the equation must stand up to the test of some order, harmony and beauty. So if Mathematics is not an art what is art?

In this question, choose the option nearest in meaning to the bold and underlined word(s) or phrase.

He took exception to Ajuwa’s remark

Mathematics is the language in which the Book of Nature is written: Mathematics is the queen of the Sciences. It is universally agreed that Mathematics is the backbone of Science and Technology. For without Mathematics the engineer is but an artist or sculptor. He can build his bridge, attest to its from and beauty, but without Mathematics he cannot guarantee its reliability to serve the purpose for which it is built. Mathematics is indeed the science of sciences. It is also art of all arts. It is right, legitimate and defensible to consider Mathematics as an Art. The poet, the musician, the artist and the Mathematician have a lot in common. Fundamental to all their studies and works is their common interest in the logical study of related concepts and objects from patterns which will produce beauty, harmony and order. Thus the poet arranges words to produce a pattern called poetry: the musician arranges sounds to produce a pattern called music, the artist arranges colours to produce pattern called painting and the Mathematician arranges abstract ideas into a pattern, using symbols, to produce equations. Each of these patterns- the poem, the music, the painting and the equation must stand up to the test of some order, harmony and beauty. So if Mathematics is not an art what is art?

n the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The court ordered the lorry driver to pay for the _____ to my car

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

The military Governor upheld the decision of his cabinet

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

If people don't want to play the game according to the rule, that is their business

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

The government should stop white elephant projects

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

Bankole was a man given to much wine

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

He is loved for his altruism.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

Whilst the thief was _____ the passengers, he kept apologizing for the inconvenience he was causing them

The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops. At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustling about in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare. The sun danced dizzily in the sky, with a strange cruelty. Each day the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the drop of moisture out of the earth. The family set down in despair, waiting and waiting,. Their hopes had run so high; the goats has started producing milk, which they had eagerly poured on their porridge, now they ate plain porridge with no milk. It was impossible to plant the corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melon seeds in the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow of the huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain had fled away. Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. They carried on with their game of making house like their mother and chattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made children from sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded them severely in an exact imitation of their own mother. Their voices could be heard, scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when I send you to draw water, why do you spill half of it out of the bucket? ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge pot without letting the porridge he burn? ‘Then, they would beat the rag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions.

The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to fall out of the sky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food and of all their herd only two goats were left. It was the women of the family who finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.

The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops. At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustling about in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare. The sun danced dizzily in the sky, with a strange cruelty. Each day the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the drop of moisture out of the earth. The family set down in despair, waiting and waiting,. Their hopes had run so high; the goats has started producing milk, which they had eagerly poured on their porridge, now they ate plain porridge with no milk. It was impossible to plant the corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melon seeds in the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow of the huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain had fled away. Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. They carried on with their game of making house like their mother and chattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made children from sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded them severely in an exact imitation of their own mother. Their voices could be heard, scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when I send you to draw water, why do you spill half of it out of the bucket? ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge pot without letting the porridge he burn? ‘Then, they would beat the rag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions.

The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to fall out of the sky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals had been sold during the bad years to purchase food and of all their herd only two goats were left. It was the women of the family who finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

Little children are usually afraid _____ thunder,

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

To be above board is to be

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

Nigeria, like most other African countries is predominantly agricultural

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

Very few students have satisfactory _____ these days because the student population has increased tremedously

In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

The deafening noise of the two jet planes which flew across our compound yesterday made people fear that an assault on the country might be imminent

Read each passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Obi: Let’s go to the Sport Club Cafeteria. One naira
per meal is a privilege in this country.
And God knows that I am too broke to afford
anything More

Olu: Got a membership identity card? Don’t forget
the place is for bona fide members
only.

Obi: Forget it. There are other types of
identity cards, remember. Just flash
something before the eyes of those men at the
gate, provided it looks like an identity card.

Olu: Ee…eh, I see. That is why the place is
always congested. I don’t think it
is even worth the trouble. I can’t stand a
queue.

Obi: That shouldn’t bother you. You don’t have to
join the queue. Just walk
straight to the serving point without fear
and be sure you shout your
order.

Olu: But only V.I.Ps have the right to break
queues.

Obi: Sure, but V.I Ps don’t wear badges on their
faces. Post man, pose. After
all this is Nigeria

Olu: You mean there are many impostors here?

Obi: Certainly, and many people with privileges
too. If you want to get
along, you must pose, and to get along
means getting what you want
if you choose to term it ‘privileges, it
suits me. It is all a question of
semantics.

In the question below choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase:

It is sheer foolhardiness for unarmed policemen to pursue armed robbers

In the question below choose the word or phrase which best fills the gap in each sentence:

The old politicians were discredited because they tried to _____ the people's ignorance