SECTION 1

In each of the following sentences. There is one underlined word and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence.

1.     Michael is stingy but his brother is ………………..

A.     Generous  B. Kind C. Humane D. Hospitable

2.     Success is the reward of ………………. not indolence.

A.     Prudence B. Attentiveness C. Diligence D. Sharpness

3.     I don’t know how Yusuf became so proud; his parents have always been ………………

A.     Gentle B. Noble C. Humble D. Simple

4.     The once unknown musician became ……………… in a very short time.

A.     Popular B. Accepted C. Respected D. Admirable

5.     Issa is very much interested in education while his sister is ………………

A.     Dull B. Indifferent C. Uncertain D. Serious

6.     The comment I made at the conference was general; being ……………… would have hurt some people.

A.     Ordinary B. Specific C. Tactful D. Candid

7.     Buba was purposeful in his search for a job but Bala was rather ……………… about his.

A.     Patient B. Slow C. Lazy D. Casual

8.     In recent tournaments I have seen amateurs play better than so-called ………………

A.     Experts B. Veterans C. Specialists D. Professionals

9.     The student appeared ……………… but we were all confident in his ability.

A.     Afraid B. Nervous C. Unconvinced D. Ignorant

10.  Giraffes are attractive animals but snakes are ………………

A.     Repulsive B. Ugly C. Poisonous D. Offensive

 

SECTION 2

 

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.

 

11.  Mr. Uche was trying to ……………… a list of his debtors.

A.     Compare B. Compose C. Compound D. Compile

12.  He tried to ……………… the housemistress by entering the hostel through the back door.

A.     Reject B. Repel C. Evade D. Deflect

13.  He gives the ……………… that he is wealthy but he really isn’t.

A.     Impression B. Opinion C. Attribute D. Indication

14.  Frank was ……………… in the riot because his books were found at the scene.

A.     Blamed B. Caught C. Implicated D. Grafted

15.  The insurance company ……………… my uncle for the loss of his car.

A.     Redeemed B. Relieved C. Compensated D. Paid

16.  Before giving his speech, the chairman ……………… copies of it to the members of the council.

A.     Duplicated B. Spread C. Circulated D. Printed

17.  We wished to win the tournament but we knew our ……………… were slim.

A.     Skills B. Opportunities C. Odds D. Chances

18.  When all the members started arguing, the chairman called the meeting to ………………

A.     Silence B. Order C. Audience D. AttentionS

19.  The felling of trees contributes to environmental ………………

A.     Pollution B. Damage C. Degradation D. Destruction

20.  I had to put up my house as ……………… for the bank loan.

A.     Pledge B. Agreement C. Collateral D. Surety

 

Section 3

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for each sentence.

 

21.  Our mother always warns us against washing our dirty linen in public. This means that she warns us.

A.     Not to discuss private matters in public.

B.     To fetch enough water for washing.

C.     Not to soil our clothes.

D.    To keep our mouths shut.

22.  Let us draw a veil over this matter. This means that we should

A.     Avoid discussing the matter.

B.     Take the matter to court.

C.     Cover our heads with a veil.

D.    Get the elders to resolve the matter

23.  Children think their parents are behind the times. This means that they think that their parents are

A.     Always late for work

B.     Not worried about new things

C.     Old fashioned

D.    Not duty conscious

24.  Ever since that issue came up, I have been sitting on the fence. This means that I have been

A.     Continuously in trouble


B.     Sitting alone in the house

C.     Walking around to find a job

D.    Avoiding stating my opinion

25.  You must square up to your problems. This means that you have to

A.     Deal with your problems effectively.

B.     Consider your problems from all nights

C.     Forget your problems

D.    Arrange your problems

26.  Many of us escaped with the skin of our teeth during the crisis. This means that we

A.     Lost some of our teeth

B.     Narrowly escaped

C.     Quickly escaped

D.    Had marks on our skin

27.  Peter and Paul get along like a house on fire. This means that they

A.     Have a very good relationship

B.     Are not on speaking terms

C.     Avoid each other always

D.    Pretend to like each other

28.  When Victor’s father gave him a new car, he was lost for words. This means that Victor

A.     Did not like the car

B.     Forgot to show his gratitude

C.     Was overwhelmed

D.    Was not grateful

29.  This film is a cut above the others. This means that it is

A.     Cut to look like the others

B.     Much better than the others

C.     Different from the others

D.    Inferior to the others

30.  We knew our father was talking tongue – in – cheek when he spoke of a vacation abroad. This means that our father was

A.     Sincere

B.     Courageous

C.     Joking

D.    Reasonable

 

SECTION 4

 

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence.

 

31.  The accused was asked to retract his statement.

A.     Recall

B.     Withdraw

C.     Make

D.    Rewrite

32.  On the death of her father, friends went to express their condolences.

A.     Sympathy

B.     Pity

C.     Concerns

D.    Worries

33.  The Chume’s house caught fire because their little girl had turned on the gas inadvertently.

A.     Automatically

B.     Hurriedly

C.     Carelessly

D.    Unintentionally

34.  A magnificent structure was erected close to our house.

A.     Real

B.     Splendid

C.     Colourful

D.    Fine

35.  Mediocrity in politics should not be tolerated.

A.     Promoted

B.     Encouraged

C.     Approved

D.    Helped

36.  A group of experts was brought in to verify the authenticity of the evidence.

A.     Support

B.     Improve

C.     Correct

D.    Ascertain

37.  Due to the pressure of work, the old man had no alternative but to relinquish his post.

A.     Give out

B.     Give in

C.     Give up

D.    Give away

38.  The obstinate boy soon met his waterloo when the war broke out.

A.     Proud

B.     Stubborn

C.     Careless

D.    Rude

39.  The prescribed textbooks are difficult to find in the bookshops.

A.     Highlighted

B.     Right

C.     Actual

D.    Recommended

40.  Our stationery supplies are exhausted.

A.     Completed

B.     Finished

C.     Consumed

D.    Destroyed

SECTION 5

 

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.

41.  My sympathies are ……………… the victims of the flood.

A.     On

B.     To

C.     With

D.    About

42.  Your application for employment ……………… at this very moment.

A.     Was being considered

B.     Is considered

C.     Is being considered

D.    Was considered

43.  ……………… the court orders, he went ahead to build on that land.

A.     In spite of

B.     Besides

C.     But for

D.    Although

44.  He almost got ……………… with the crime.

A.     Up

B.     Off

C.     Over

D.    Away

45.  ……………… an accident, the police should be informed immediately.

A.     In the event of

B.     In view of

C.     In view to

D.    In place of

46.  If you don’t get off my property, I will set the dog ……………… you

A.     Off

B.     On

C.     Unto

D.    Into

47.  The task ……………… to them was very difficult.

A.     Giving

B.     Given

C.     Give

D.    Gave

48.  Two boys in the art class were doing self-portraits by looking at ……………… in the mirror.

A.     Oneself

B.     Each other

C.     One another

D.    Themselves

49.  Hardly a day passes by ……………… his thinking of her.

A.     That

B.     Without

C.     While

D.    When

50.  Each time he opens his mouth, he ……………… something foolish.

A.     Says

B.     Said

C.     Saying

D.    Say

51.  The spectators had to endure the heat ………………

A.     As they could

B.     As best as they could

C.     As best they could

D.    As they could best

52.  ……………… I would love to be at your party, I really can’t.

A.     In as much as

B.     As much as

C.     Much as

D.    As much as

53.  The sick man was ……………… emaciated that I could hardly recognize him.

A.     Too

B.     Very

C.     Quite

D.    So

54.  One of the muggers who snatched the handbag ……………… has been arrested by the police.

A.     Have

B.     Was

C.     Is

D.    Has

55.  She is not the right candidate for the job ………………?

A.     Is she

B.     Is it

C.     Was she

D.    Isn’t it

56.  She ……………… to excuse herself ten minutes ago.

A.     Has had

B.     Had

C.     Have had

D.    Has

57.  Many a man ……………… to endure hardship in life.

A.     Have had

B.     Are

C.     Were

D.    Has had

58.  She ……………… as a very intelligent person

A.     Comes in

B.     Comes about

C.     Comes up

D.    Comes across

59.  You have to be in school early ……………… ?

A.     Shouldn’t you

B.     Shall you

C.     Haven’t you

D.    Aren’t you

60.  Either he or you ……………… to clean up the mess right now.

A.     Has

B.     Was

C.     Have

D.    Were

61.  He would rather resign ……………… part in such a dishonest deal.

A.     Instead of taking

B.     Than taking

C.     Than takes

D.    Than take

62.  The farmer, with his sons, ……………… millet.


A.     Grows

B.     Grow

C.     Were growing

D.    Have been growing

63.  The teachers want ………………

A.     Modern, attractive, well-equipped schools

B.     Attractive, well-equipped, schools modern

C.     Well-equipped, attractive, modern schools

D.    Schools, well-equipped, attractive modern

64.  She suddenly came ……………… a lot of money

A.     Into

B.     Up

C.     Over

D.    Through

65.  My mother ……………… to my leaving the dishes unwashed last night.

A.     Did not take kind

B.     Does not take kind

C.     Did not take kindly

D.    Does not take kindly

66.  The place was quite neat except for ……………… on the floor.

A.     Dirty

B.     A dirt

C.     Dirtiness

D.    Some dirt

67.  He dabbles ……………… politics from time to time.

A.     In

B.     About

C.     Through

D.    Into

68.  The shot hit ………………

A.     Neither I nor he

B.     Neither me nor he

C.     Either I nor him

D.    Neither me nor him

69.  I will do for you ……………… you want me to.

A.     Whenever

B.     Whichever

C.     Whatever

D.    However

70.  The students’ week was rounded  ……………… with a dance

A.     Off

B.     Up

C.     Out

D.    Down

SECTION 6

 

In the following passage, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, four options are given in columns lettered A to D. Choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gaps in the passage.

 

                  The farmer – 71 – the nation and can be said to be the most important professional. But how many people would make farming their first choice of profession? The arduous task of turning a virgin rain forest into a farmland, of battling the land until – 72 – are carved out and crops are – 73 – , of fighting off the weeds and – 74 – the tender crops from pests, and of preparing the harvested crops in – 75 – for long months, could scare off the lily livered. Farming is really not for the faint hearted who are easily defeated by the – 76 – of the weather and the uncertainties of the soil.

                  But the fruits of farming are sweet. Farmers are assured of the – 77 – yields of their farms. A farmer worth his salt can never go hungry, never mind that the dishes may not be – 78 – in a palatial mansion. Besides, the physical rigours demanded of him ensure that he is constantly kept – 79 – , that his muscles are forever well shaped. The clean air surrounding him ensures that his eyes remain sharp, that his breath is pure, and that his immunity level is always high.

Finally, good and – 80 – harvests, especially in these days of mechanised farming, do ensure that a good farmer is immune to poverty.

 

71.  A. Feeds B. tends C. Nourishes D. Develops

72.  A. Hedges B. Crests C. Ridges D. Folds

73.  A. Deposited B. Planted C. Lodged D. Buried

74.  A. Defending B. Screening C. Covering D. Shielding

75.  A. Barns B. Huts C. Pita D. Shelters

76.  A. Ways B. Fancies C. Adjustments D. Vagaries

77.  A. Newest B. Freshest C. Brightest D. Latest

78.  A. Provided B. Supplied C. Taken D. Served

79.  A. Healthy B. Huge C. Alert D. Stout

80.  A. Overflowing B. Generous C. Bountiful D. Great B. Accepted