ABU English Language 2012/2013 Past Questions

```Marriage as an institution is facing its greatest threat ever, in the twentieth century. Never since the first man and woman were joined together, has the institution been beset by as many problems as it is now. And the trend, which started in the western world, has spread and is spreading to all parts of the globe.
The most disturbing problem is the high rate of divorce. It is no longer a social stigma for women to fill in forms, indicating that they are divorced, men too, proclaim their liberty from the shackles of matrimony somehow with pride. Little wonder these days that young couples resort to separation and eventually divorce at the slightest disagreement.
The factors hastening the death of the marriage institution, is the progressively rising cost of living. It is essential for both partners to be gainfully employed to be sure of a reasonably decent level of existence. The marriage ceremony, itself cost so much that the young men save towards it for years. Little wonder then that many young men simply remain single```
What does the author mean by referring to marriage as an Institution? it means marriage is a

```Marriage as an institution is facing its greatest threat ever, in the twentieth century. Never since the first man and woman were joined together, has the institution been beset by as many problems as it is now. And the trend, which started in the western world, has spread and is spreading to all parts of the globe.
The most disturbing problem is the high rate of divorce. It is no longer a social stigma for women to fill in forms, indicating that they are divorced, men too, proclaim their liberty from the shackles of matrimony somehow with pride. Little wonder these days that young couples resort to separation and eventually divorce at the slightest disagreement.
The factors hastening the death of the marriage institution, is the progressively rising cost of living. It is essential for both partners to be gainfully employed to be sure of a reasonably decent level of existence. The marriage ceremony, itself cost so much that the young men save towards it for years. Little wonder then that many young men simply remain single```
The words liberty and Shackles mean

```Marriage as an institution is facing its greatest threat ever, in the twentieth century. Never since the first man and woman were joined together, has the institution been beset by as many problems as it is now. And the trend, which started in the western world, has spread and is spreading to all parts of the globe.
The most disturbing problem is the high rate of divorce. It is no longer a social stigma for women to fill in forms, indicating that they are divorced, men too, proclaim their liberty from the shackles of matrimony somehow with pride. Little wonder these days that young couples resort to separation and eventually divorce at the slightest disagreement.
The factors hastening the death of the marriage institution, is the progressively rising cost of living. It is essential for both partners to be gainfully employed to be sure of a reasonably decent level of existence. The marriage ceremony, itself cost so much that the young men save towards it for years. Little wonder then that many young men simply remain single```
The two factors threatening the marriage institutions are

```Marriage as an institution is facing its greatest threat ever, in the twentieth century. Never since the first man and woman were joined together, has the institution been beset by as many problems as it is now. And the trend, which started in the western world, has spread and is spreading to all parts of the globe.
The most disturbing problem is the high rate of divorce. It is no longer a social stigma for women to fill in forms, indicating that they are divorced, men too, proclaim their liberty from the shackles of matrimony somehow with pride. Little wonder these days that young couples resort to separation and eventually divorce at the slightest disagreement.
The factors hastening the death of the marriage institution, is the progressively rising cost of living. It is essential for both partners to be gainfully employed to be sure of a reasonably decent level of existence. The marriage ceremony, itself cost so much that the young men save towards it for years. Little wonder then that many young men simply remain single```
The word 'stigma' as used in the passage means

```Marriage as an institution is facing its greatest threat ever, in the twentieth century. Never since the first man and woman were joined together, has the institution been beset by as many problems as it is now. And the trend, which started in the western world, has spread and is spreading to all parts of the globe.
The most disturbing problem is the high rate of divorce. It is no longer a social stigma for women to fill in forms, indicating that they are divorced, men too, proclaim their liberty from the shackles of matrimony somehow with pride. Little wonder these days that young couples resort to separation and eventually divorce at the slightest disagreement.
The factors hastening the death of the marriage institution, is the progressively rising cost of living. It is essential for both partners to be gainfully employed to be sure of a reasonably decent level of existence. The marriage ceremony, itself cost so much that the young men save towards it for years. Little wonder then that many young men simply remain single```
One way of savaging the marriage institution in this part of the globe is

```Those who are familiar with it will tell you that Ludo like human life itself is a game of both chance and skill in deciding how to make the most advantageous use of the figures that turn up on the die when you cast it. since each player has at least for alternative ways of using his figures, two players with equal luck may fare Differently, depending on how cleverly each one uses his figures. The element of luck, again as in human life, plays a dominant role however. for no matter how skilful a player may be in using the figure. While he gets on the die, he has a slim chance of winning if he continually throws low figures. While a combination of ones, twos may be useful checking the advance of one's opponents it will not take one home fast enough to win. On the other hand consistent throws of sixies and fives, with even the vry minimum of skill, will help a player to home all his four counters before any of the three other players. unless of course, he has no idea of the game at all```
According to the passage, Ludo is

```Those who are familiar with it will tell you that Ludo like human life itself is a game of both chance and skill in deciding how to make the most advantageous use of the figures that turn up on the die when you cast it. since each player has at least for alternative ways of using his figures, two players with equal luck may fare Differently, depending on how cleverly each one uses his figures. The element of luck, again as in human life, plays a dominant role however. for no matter how skilful a player may be in using the figure. While he gets on the die, he has a slim chance of winning if he continually throws low figures. While a combination of ones, twos may be useful checking the advance of one's opponents it will not take one home fast enough to win. On the other hand consistent throws of sixies and fives, with even the vry minimum of skill, will help a player to home all his four counters before any of the three other players. unless of course, he has no idea of the game at all```
It is implied in the passage that two players may be fare equally if they

```Those who are familiar with it will tell you that Ludo like human life itself is a game of both chance and skill in deciding how to make the most advantageous use of the figures that turn up on the die when you cast it. since each player has at least for alternative ways of using his figures, two players with equal luck may fare Differently, depending on how cleverly each one uses his figures. The element of luck, again as in human life, plays a dominant role however. for no matter how skilful a player may be in using the figure. While he gets on the die, he has a slim chance of winning if he continually throws low figures. While a combination of ones, twos may be useful checking the advance of one's opponents it will not take one home fast enough to win. On the other hand consistent throws of sixies and fives, with even the vry minimum of skill, will help a player to home all his four counters before any of the three other players. unless of course, he has no idea of the game at all```
It is implied in the passage that in Ludo threes and fours are

```Those who are familiar with it will tell you that Ludo like human life itself is a game of both chance and skill in deciding how to make the most advantageous use of the figures that turn up on the die when you cast it. since each player has at least for alternative ways of using his figures, two players with equal luck may fare Differently, depending on how cleverly each one uses his figures. The element of luck, again as in human life, plays a dominant role however. for no matter how skilful a player may be in using the figure. While he gets on the die, he has a slim chance of winning if he continually throws low figures. While a combination of ones, twos may be useful checking the advance of one's opponents it will not take one home fast enough to win. On the other hand consistent throws of sixies and fives, with even the vry minimum of skill, will help a player to home all his four counters before any of the three other players. unless of course, he has no idea of the game at all```
According to the passage, a player with consistently high throws will

```Those who are familiar with it will tell you that Ludo like human life itself is a game of both chance and skill in deciding how to make the most advantageous use of the figures that turn up on the die when you cast it. since each player has at least for alternative ways of using his figures, two players with equal luck may fare Differently, depending on how cleverly each one uses his figures. The element of luck, again as in human life, plays a dominant role however. for no matter how skilful a player may be in using the figure. While he gets on the die, he has a slim chance of winning if he continually throws low figures. While a combination of ones, twos may be useful checking the advance of one's opponents it will not take one home fast enough to win. On the other hand consistent throws of sixies and fives, with even the vry minimum of skill, will help a player to home all his four counters before any of the three other players. unless of course, he has no idea of the game at all```
In the passage, the possession of skill specifically enables a player to

```In each of questions below, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap```
He was........ by the trickster

```In each of questions below, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap```
When the soldiers saw that resistance was ........ they stopped fighting

```In each of questions below, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap```
You should read all the ..... carefully before you decide where to go on holiday.

```In each of questions below, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap```
The Emir and conqueror of the enemy territories

```In each of questions below, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap```
We ought to have visited the Governor.

```In each of questions below, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap```
He didn't sense Obi's presence in the room, did he?

```In each of questions below, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap```
You can stay here ........ you are quiet

```In each of questions below, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap```
Where ....... Buses .......

```In each of questions below, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap```
Ours .......... based ventures

```In each of questions below, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list following the gap```
Wale, Do you know where my chemistry book is?

```From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences```
The programme against childhood diseases has ended

```From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences```
The accused stated

```From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences```
The doctors ....... was that the patient was suffering from cancer

```From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences```
I was advised to open .......... account with the bank

```From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences```
The pastor addressed his ....... in a sonorous voice

```After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretation's is given, Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.```
You must be speaking with your tongue in your cheek, This mean that you

```After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretation's is given, Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.```
The manager hit the roof when he was presented with a huge estimate for the project. This means that the manager

```After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretation's is given, Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.```
Her reproaches cut him to the quick. This means that he

```After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretation's is given, Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.```
The girl went scot-free even though she started the fight. This means that the girl was

```After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretation's is given, Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.```
The secretary's vote of thanks did not ring true. This means that the vote of thanks was

```From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence```
The criminal was incarcerated

```From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence```
The manager soon found out that my sister was a competent typist

```From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence```
At the inception of his administration, the Governor was very popular

```From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence```
The businessman anticipated the collapse of the bank

```From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence```
The plaintiff was dissatisfied with the decision of the court