JAMB English Language 1993 Past Questions

Practice each question, then open it to see the full details.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:
Between you and me, i would say the equipment has outlived its usefulness

A.I believe that the equipment is no longer useful to any of us
B.I believe that the equipment continues to be useful to either you or me
C.My idea of the usefulness of the equipment should remain known only to the two of us
D.My idea of the usefulness of the equipment is shared by both
E.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:
Emeka wished he had started school early

A.Emeka started school early as he wished
B.Emeka regretted starting school early
C.Emeka regretted not starting school early
D.Emeka could have started school early if he had wished
E.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:
He was between the devil and the deep blue sea

A.He was in danger
B.He was scared
C.He stood between the devil and the sea
D.He was in a dilemma
E.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:
The boys who rioted, were suspended by the principal

A.Only some of the boys rioted and they were suspended
B.All the boys rioted and were suspended
C.Many boys rioted and were suspended
D.A few boys rioted and were suspended
E.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:
Whoever would have thought that he would lose the presidential election?

A.Everyone believed that he would lose the election,
B.It was commonly believed that he would win the election
C.He was supposed to lose the election
D.No one believed that he would win the election
E.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:
It's wonderful that Musa is already out of hospital

A.The fact that Musa is out of hospital cause great wonder
B.The fact that Musa is out of hospital is a miracle
C.It is surprising that Musa is out of hospital
D.It is very pleasing that Musa is out of hospital
E.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:
You could have heard the sound if you weren't asleep

A.You were not asleep so you heard the sound
B.You were asleep so you did not hear the sound
C.You heard the sound though you were asleep
D.You did not hear the sound though you were not asleep
E.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:
Had Aminu been a dull student, his failure wouldn't have surprised anybody

A.Aminu failed and it surprised everybody since he was dull
B.Aminu was not a dull student and so everybody was surprised that he failed
C.Because Aminu was a dull, student, everybody was surprised that he failed
D.Aminu had been a dull student, and so nobody was surprised that he failed
E.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:
The president of club said that he would cross the bridge on getting there

A.He was waiting for an opportunity to take a decision
B.When he got to the river he would build a bridge across it
C.He would take a decision at the appropriate time
D.When he got to the river he would cross at the bridge
E.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:
His refusal to help us, dealt a death-blow to our plans

A.because he did not help, our plans did not materialize
B.He helped and our plans materialized
C.He blew our plans to pieces
D.He supported our plans so it worked
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
It is entirely up to you to make a profession of your faith

A.confess your belief
B.turn your faith into a business
C.deny your faith
D.loudly proclaim your religion
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
He won the election because he was able to carry his people along with him

A.alienate his people
B.go out with the people
C.have the support of the people
D.fail to provide the people with transport
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
They often quarrelled before leaving the house but made it up by the time they returned home

A.added it up
B.reconciled
C.fell out
D.compounded the problem
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
The effect of rising prices has snowballed considerably

A.risen
B.decreased
C.frozen
D.grown
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
The economic situation is responsible for the recent discord in many families

A.division
B.resourcefulness
C.harmony
D.suffering
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
The college was worried about Tunji;s garrulous tendency

A.reticent
B.loqacious
C.quarrelsome
D.outspoken
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
We have found that cassava is a sine qua non item in our industry

A.useful
B.indispensable
C.useless
D.dispensable
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
Science may be a complicated area of learning, but its teaching needs to be demystified

A.simplfied
B.twisted
C.made difficult
D.distorted
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
Surveying the sky in the quiet of the night gives me an ethereal feeling

A.human
B.earthly
C.mundane
D.commonplace
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
The awareness of mortality has always imposed some restraint on man's excesses

A.celestial
B.eternity
C.continuity
D.inexistence
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
The decision we have taken is irrevocable

A.responsible
B.irresponsible
C.reversible
D.irreversible
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
The lawyer pointed out a discrepancy in the two stories

A.similarity
B.gap
C.falsehood
D.difference
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
Their high level of dishonesty has made that department infamous in the entire secretariat

A.reputable
B.notorious
C.unpopular
D.acceptable
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
When Uche wouldn't come to quickly enough, the principal rushed him to the hospital

A.revive
B.pass out
C.arrive
D.come up
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined:
The governor's action is out of tune with the declarations of his party

A.in disagreement
B.in line
C.out of touch
D.in touch
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) underlined:
Ator led a dog's life for twenty years he stayed in the United Kingdom

A.lived a dirty life
B.was promiscuous
C.was domesticated
D.led an unhappy and troubled life
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) underlined:
The chief's brother was a complete nonentity

A.upstart
B.vagabond
C.riff-raff
D.person ofinexperience
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) underlined:
He won most of his fight because of his unorthodox style

A.crude
B.dishonest
C.aggressive
D.unconventional
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) underlined:
Jide says he read in the papers that our uncle has been declared a persona non grata by the French government

A.unwelcome guest
B.impersonator
C.ungrateful person
D.unofficial guest
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) underlined:
The vice chancellor, who is a stickler of rules, refused the request by the students for the semester to be rescheduled

A.a puritan
B.a pedanist
C.disciplinarian
D.an idealist
E.

In the question below choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the word(s) or phrase(s) underlined:
The town looked deserted but we moved in with trepidation

A.confidence
B.surprise
C.hesitation
D.fear
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:

I have no respect for individuals who are too ....

A.compliance
B.compliant
C.compliable
D.complicated
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
the policemen who were to keep watch connived .... the robber's escape

A.with
B.at
C.to
D.for
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
Kaka is .... to acquire knowledge, but also eager to display it

A.not only anxious
B.anxious not only
C.not only that she is anxious
D.anxious
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
Wudu will not come .... she is asked

A.after
B.provided
C.unless
D.because
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
You must forbid .... coming

A.he's
B.that he is
C.him for
D.his
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
Oche should leave for New York on Friday .... being equal

A.all the things
B.all other things
C.other things
D.other things all
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
Th woman warned her daughter not to .... with bad boys

A.move
B.be moving
C.be keeping company
D.keep company
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
Ali is crying because his mother was killed in a .... accident

A.motor
B.traffic
C.motor vehicle
D.road
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
Otokpa is not very bold. He's not .... a rough life

A.cut up for
B.cut for
C.cut off for
D.cut out for
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
Some of the food .... spoilt

A.is
B.are
C.were
D.have
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
They spent the last holiday with their ....

A.sister in-law
B.sisters-in-law
C.sisters-in-laws
D.sisters-inlaw
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
You should not need .... twice

A.to tell
B.telling
C.tell
D.to have been told
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
The .... discouraged me from reading it

A.story's lengths
B.length of the story
C.story length
D.stories length
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
When the teacher asked him to join the queue outside, he considered it .... to his dignity

A.an attack
B.an insolence
C.an affront
D.a disrespect
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
When he joined the staff of the school, he had various duties .... to him

A.detailed
B.assigned
C.prescribed
D.enlisted
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
The secretary was blamed .... the untidy state of the office

A.for
B.about
C.over
D.on
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
After a long talk with the police, Baba confessed his guilt and so the other boys with whom he was accused were ....

A.vindicated
B.consoled
C.convinced
D.exonerated
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
You think she hasn't got any friends? Of course she's got ....

A.many more
B.quite much
C.quite a few
D.few
E.

In the question below, fill the gap with the most appropriate option:
He moved out of the house because the landlord and his wife were always fighting ....

A.them selves
B.theirselves
C.each other
D.one another
E.