NDA English Language 2011/2012 Past Questions

```Instruction: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it. From the four options lettered A to D given in each question, choose one which most accurately reflects the meaning of the passage, and shade your answer sheet accordingly.

A short puff of wind extinguished the candle I was carrying. Laying it carefully down at my feet so that I could easily find it again in the dark. I quickly went through my pockets to see if I still had the box of matches which I had thoughtfully put there that morning when I set out to explore the cave. But a thorough search revealed nothing with which to re-light the candle and left me desperately trying to recall how the matches could have gone astray.

I then remembered that, half an hour before I had taken a short rest and eaten a bar of chocolate. While doing so, I had rested the candle on a convenient rock in order to leave my hand free to unwrap the chocolate, and just as now, a breath of wind had made the candle flicker and finally go out. It was then that I had the occasion to use my matches and I can only suppose that I had thoughtlessly felt the box on the rock where the candle had been standing. I reckoned that I must be about half a mile from the entrance and that the only thing for it was to grope my way back again. About an hour later, bruised from my frequent collisions with projecting rocks. I stumbled into the daylight. The first thing I thought of was a cigarette. Instinctively, l drew out my lighter from my trouser pocket. It was only when I had it in my hand that I realized what a fool I had been.

```
Why did the Writer take a box of matches into the cave with him?

```Instruction: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it. From the four options lettered A to D given in each question, choose one which most accurately reflects the meaning of the passage, and shade your answer sheet accordingly.

A short puff of wind extinguished the candle I was carrying. Laying it carefully down at my feet so that I could easily find it again in the dark. I quickly went through my pockets to see if I still had the box of matches which I had thoughtfully put there that morning when I set out to explore the cave. But a thorough search revealed nothing with which to re-light the candle and left me desperately trying to recall how the matches could have gone astray.

I then remembered that, half an hour before I had taken a short rest and eaten a bar of chocolate. While doing so, I had rested the candle on a convenient rock in order to leave my hand free to unwrap the chocolate, and just as now, a breath of wind had made the candle flicker and finally go out. It was then that I had the occasion to use my matches and I can only suppose that I had thoughtlessly felt the box on the rock where the candle had been standing. I reckoned that I must be about half a mile from the entrance and that the only thing for it was to grope my way back again. About an hour later, bruised from my frequent collisions with projecting rocks. I stumbled into the daylight. The first thing I thought of was a cigarette. Instinctively, l drew out my lighter from my trouser pocket. It was only when I had it in my hand that I realized what a fool I had been.

```
Which of the alternatives has the same meaning as the following word or phrase as they appear in the passage? "Gone Astray"

```Instruction: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it. From the four options lettered A to D given in each question, choose one which most accurately reflects the meaning of the passage, and shade your answer sheet accordingly.

A short puff of wind extinguished the candle I was carrying. Laying it carefully down at my feet so that I could easily find it again in the dark. I quickly went through my pockets to see if I still had the box of matches which I had thoughtfully put there that morning when I set out to explore the cave. But a thorough search revealed nothing with which to re-light the candle and left me desperately trying to recall how the matches could have gone astray.

I then remembered that, half an hour before I had taken a short rest and eaten a bar of chocolate. While doing so, I had rested the candle on a convenient rock in order to leave my hand free to unwrap the chocolate, and just as now, a breath of wind had made the candle flicker and finally go out. It was then that I had the occasion to use my matches and I can only suppose that I had thoughtlessly felt the box on the rock where the candle had been standing. I reckoned that I must be about half a mile from the entrance and that the only thing for it was to grope my way back again. About an hour later, bruised from my frequent collisions with projecting rocks. I stumbled into the daylight. The first thing I thought of was a cigarette. Instinctively, l drew out my lighter from my trouser pocket. It was only when I had it in my hand that I realized what a fool I had been.

```
"The only thing for it" means

```Instruction: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it. From the four options lettered A to D given in each question, choose one which most accurately reflects the meaning of the passage, and shade your answer sheet accordingly.

A short puff of wind extinguished the candle I was carrying. Laying it carefully down at my feet so that I could easily find it again in the dark. I quickly went through my pockets to see if I still had the box of matches which I had thoughtfully put there that morning when I set out to explore the cave. But a thorough search revealed nothing with which to re-light the candle and left me desperately trying to recall how the matches could have gone astray.

I then remembered that, half an hour before I had taken a short rest and eaten a bar of chocolate. While doing so, I had rested the candle on a convenient rock in order to leave my hand free to unwrap the chocolate, and just as now, a breath of wind had made the candle flicker and finally go out. It was then that I had the occasion to use my matches and I can only suppose that I had thoughtlessly felt the box on the rock where the candle had been standing. I reckoned that I must be about half a mile from the entrance and that the only thing for it was to grope my way back again. About an hour later, bruised from my frequent collisions with projecting rocks. I stumbled into the daylight. The first thing I thought of was a cigarette. Instinctively, l drew out my lighter from my trouser pocket. It was only when I had it in my hand that I realized what a fool I had been.

```
In what condition did the writer return?

```Instruction: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it. From the four options lettered A to D given in each question, choose one which most accurately reflects the meaning of the passage, and shade your answer sheet accordingly.

A short puff of wind extinguished the candle I was carrying. Laying it carefully down at my feet so that I could easily find it again in the dark. I quickly went through my pockets to see if I still had the box of matches which I had thoughtfully put there that morning when I set out to explore the cave. But a thorough search revealed nothing with which to re-light the candle and left me desperately trying to recall how the matches could have gone astray.

I then remembered that, half an hour before I had taken a short rest and eaten a bar of chocolate. While doing so, I had rested the candle on a convenient rock in order to leave my hand free to unwrap the chocolate, and just as now, a breath of wind had made the candle flicker and finally go out. It was then that I had the occasion to use my matches and I can only suppose that I had thoughtlessly felt the box on the rock where the candle had been standing. I reckoned that I must be about half a mile from the entrance and that the only thing for it was to grope my way back again. About an hour later, bruised from my frequent collisions with projecting rocks. I stumbled into the daylight. The first thing I thought of was a cigarette. Instinctively, l drew out my lighter from my trouser pocket. It was only when I had it in my hand that I realized what a fool I had been.

```
Why did the writer realize that he had been a fool?

```Which of the alternatives is opposite in meaning to these words or phrases in the passage?```
"Flicker"

```Which of the alternatives is opposite in meaning to these words or phrases in the passage?```
''Instinctively''

```Which of the alternatives is opposite in meaning to these words or phrases in the passage?```
"Stumbled'

```Which of the following alternatives is the same as: ```
"A short puff of wind"

```Which of the following alternatives is the same as: ```
"To grope"

```Instructions: Choose from alternatives A-D, which is the most appropriate interpretation for each sentence```
The Accountant falsified records in order to feather his own nest. This means that the Accountant tried to ___.

```Instructions: Choose from alternatives A-D, which is the most appropriate interpretation for each sentence```
The Cashier wanted to pull the wool over my eyes by making me sign for the money I did not receive. This means that the cashier wanted to

```Instructions: Choose from alternatives A-D, which is the most appropriate interpretation for each sentence```
The man's decision to withdraw his daughter from school because of her misbehaviour really amount to cutting off his own nose to spite his face. This means that

```Instructions: Choose from alternatives A-D, which is the most appropriate interpretation for each sentence```
The officer urged the soldiers to gird their loins for the task ahead. This means that the soldiers should

```From the alternatives A-D, choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word.```
The journalist refused to divulge the source or his information

```From the alternatives A-D, choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word.```
Asabe was sceptical about the story Ladidi told her

```From the alternatives A-D, choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word.```
The lawyer remarked that the fact that the accused did nothing when the innocent boy was being lynched made him culpable.

```From the alternatives A-D, choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word.```
Spain was once a very powerful nation but her influence has waned over the years

```From the alternatives A-D, choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word.```
The politician made a very scurrilous remark about his opponent

```In each of the following questions, there is a word or group of words underlined. Choose from the word or group of words almost opposite in meaning to the underlined word.```
The birth of the disabled girl beautified the family.

```In each of the following questions, there is a word or group of words underlined. Choose from the word or group of words almost opposite in meaning to the underlined word.```
The warder has an antipathy towards juvenile prisoners.

```In each of the following questions, there is a word or group of words underlined. Choose from the word or group of words almost opposite in meaning to the underlined word.```
Mallam Khalil is covetous of his neighbour's horse

```In each of the following questions, there is a word or group of words underlined. Choose from the word or group of words almost opposite in meaning to the underlined word.```
Despite his father's discouragement, the young man opted for a military career.

```In each of the following questions, there is a word or group of words underlined. Choose from the word or group of words almost opposite in meaning to the underlined word.```
The rain turned the football match into a success.

```In each of the following questions, there is a word or group of words underlined. Choose from the word or group of words almost opposite in meaning to the underlined word.```
The enemies subdued our soldiers without much resistance.

```In each of the following questions, there is a word or group of words underlined. Choose from the word or group of words almost opposite in meaning to the underlined word.```
The spirit of the old saint soared to empyrean heights as he gazed at the dwell.

```In each of the following questions, there is a word or group of words underlined. Choose from the word or group of words almost opposite in meaning to the underlined word.```
The aroma of fresh fish pepper soup stimulates my salivary glands.

```In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)```
When I met Amadi yesterday it was the first time I ......him for six months.

```In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)```
A student's natural ability should be a .......... factor in his choosing a course of study at the university

```In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)```
Many unrelated issues were touched upon in the ......... of the discussion.

```In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)```
The traveler had to run ........ in order to ....... the train

```In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)```
When the driver lost control of his vehicle the pedestrians began to run for .........

```In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)```
My uncle is one of the ....... of the society

```In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)```
The new singlet factory is built on the ......... of Aba township.

```In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)```
If Kaka hadn't tried to stand up in the boat, he .......

```In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)```
The soldiers were sufficiently equipped with .........

```In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)```
My younger brother is going to the stream with ........ boys.

```In each of questions 38 to 40, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.```
In spite of his humble beginning. Audu now throws his weight around.

```In each of questions 38 to 40, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.```
Ngozi has always considered her father to be an impassioned man.

```In each of questions 38 to 40, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.```
The manager paid us in hard currency.