JAMB Past Questions

JAMB Use Of English 2003
Questions & Answers

40 questions · Correct answers highlighted · 40 with explanations

40 Total Questions
2003 Exam Year
40 With Explanations
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1
Question 1 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: I have no respect for individuals who are too ___.

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

'Compliant' means overly submissive, fitting the context of lacking respect. 'Compliance' (A) is a noun, 'compliable' (C) is rare, and 'complicated' (D) is unrelated.

2
Question 2 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The policemen who were to keep watch connived ___ the robber's escape.

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

'Connived with' is the correct phrase for colluding. 'At' (B), 'to' (C), and 'for' (D) are incorrect prepositions.

3
Question 3 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: 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
Explanation

'Not only anxious ... but also' maintains parallel structure. 'Anxious not only' (B) is misplaced, 'not only that she is anxious' (C) is wordy, and 'anxious' (D) is incomplete.

4
Question 4 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: Wudu will not come ___ she is asked.

A. provided
B. unless
C. because
D. until
Explanation

'Unless' indicates a condition for her coming. 'Provided' (A) is positive, 'because' (C) indicates cause, and 'until' (D) suggests time, all incorrect.

5
Question 5 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: You must forbid ___ coming.

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

'Forbid his coming' uses the possessive pronoun 'his' with the gerund 'coming.' 'He's' (A), 'that he is' (B), and 'him for' (C) are grammatically incorrect.

6
Question 6 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The woman warned her daughter not to ___ with bad boys.

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

'Keep company' means to associate with. 'Move' (A), 'be moving' (B), and 'be keeping company' (C) are incorrect or non-standard.

7
Question 7 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: Victor is crying because his mother was killed in a ___ accident.

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

'Traffic accident' is the standard term. 'Motor' (B), 'motor vehicle' (C), and 'road' (D) are less precise or colloquial.

8
Question 8 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: 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
Explanation

'Cut out for' means suited for. 'Cut up for' (A), 'cut for' (B), and 'cut off for' (C) are incorrect or non-standard phrases.

9
Question 9 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: Some of the food ___ spoilt.

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

'Food' is uncountable, requiring the singular 'is.' 'Are' (B), 'were' (C), and 'have' (D) violate subject-verb agreement.

10
Question 10 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: They spent the last holiday with their ___.

A. sister-in-law
B. sisters-in-laws
C. sisters-in-law
D. sister-in-laws
Explanation

'Sisters-in-law' is the correct plural. 'Sister-in-law' (A) is singular, 'sisters-in-laws' (B), and 'sister-in-laws' (D) are incorrect.

11
Question 11 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: You should not need ___ twice.

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

'Should not need to tell' uses the infinitive after 'need.' 'Tell' (B) lacks the infinitive, 'telling' (C) is informal, and 'to have been told' (D) is incorrect tense.

12
Question 12 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The ___ discouraged me from reading it.

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

'Length of the story' is the standard phrase. 'Story's length' (A) is possessive but less common, 'story length' (C) is incomplete, and 'stories length' (D) is incorrect.

13
Question 13 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: 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
Explanation

'An affront' means an insult to dignity. 'An attack' (A), 'an insolence' (B), and 'a disrespect' (D) are less precise or non-standard.

14
Question 14 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: When he joined the staff of the school, he had various duties ___ to him.

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

'Assigned' is the correct verb for giving duties. 'Detailed' (A), 'prescribed' (C), and 'enlisted' (D) are incorrect in context.

15
Question 15 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The secretary was blamed ___ the untidy state of the office.

A. of
B. about
C. over
D. on
Explanation

'Blamed on' attributes fault correctly. 'Of' (A), 'about' (B), and 'over' (C) are incorrect prepositions.

16
Question 16 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: 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. convicted
D. exonerated
Explanation

'Exonerated' means cleared of blame. 'Vindicated' (A) is similar but less precise, 'consoled' (B) means comforted, and 'convicted' (C) means found guilty.

17
Question 17 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: 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
Explanation

'Quite a few' means a considerable number. 'Many more' (A) implies comparison, 'quite much' (B) is incorrect, and 'few' (D) means not many.

18
Question 18 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: He moved out of the house because the landlord and his wife were always fighting ___.

A. themselves
B. each other
C. one another
D. themselves
Explanation

'Each other' is correct for two people. 'Themselves' (A, D) is reflexive but incorrect here, and 'one another' (C) is used for more than two.

19
Question 19 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The vermin on his body ___ hideous.

A. makes the lunatic look
B. make the lunatic look
C. makes the lunatic to look
D. make the lunatic to look
Explanation

'Vermin' is treated as a singular collective noun in formal English, so 'makes' is correct with 'look.' 'Make' (B, D) is plural, and 'to look' (C, D) is non-standard.

20
Question 20 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: Do you think all ___ not enough to help the investigator?

A. these information is
B. this information are
C. this information is
D. these information are
Explanation

'Information' is uncountable, requiring 'this' and 'is.' 'These information' (A, D) is incorrect, and 'are' (B, D) violates agreement.

21
Question 21 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: Do you prefer ___ my rickety car?

A. to go on foot to taking
B. to go on foot than taking
C. going on foot than to take
D. going on foot to taking
Explanation

'Prefer going on foot to taking' is the correct gerund structure for comparison. 'To go' (A, B) and 'than to take' (C) are incorrect.

22
Question 22 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: We ___ when the rain started.

A. did we set out when the rain had started
B. had we set out than the rain started
C. were we setting out than the rain started
D. had we set out when the rain started
Explanation

'Had we set out when the rain started' uses past perfect inversion correctly. 'Did' (A), 'than' (B, C), and 'were' (C) are incorrect.

23
Question 23 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The company was charged with a ___ of contract.

A. violation
B. disregard
C. breach
D. negligence
Explanation

'Breach of contract' is the standard legal term. 'Violation' (A), 'disregard' (B), and 'negligence' (D) are less precise.

24
Question 24 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The army ran short of ___.

A. arm and ammunitions
B. arms and ammunitions
C. arms and ammunition
D. arm and ammunition
Explanation

'Arms and ammunition' is correct ('ammunition' is uncountable). 'Arm' (A, D) and 'ammunitions' (A, B) are incorrect.

25
Question 25 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The helpless ___ our sympathy.

A. require
B. requires
C. does require
D. do requires
Explanation

'The helpless' is plural, requiring 'require.' 'Requires' (B) is singular, 'does require' (C) is emphatic but unnecessary, and 'do requires' (D) is incorrect.

26
Question 26 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: My brother got married to a woman with ___ manners.

A. gorgeous
B. exquisite
C. decent
D. attractive
Explanation

'Decent' fits appropriate manners. 'Gorgeous' (A), 'exquisite' (B), and 'attractive' (D) are less suitable for manners.

27
Question 27 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The thief we caught yesterday was ___ as an official of the company.

A. disguised
B. concealed
C. masked
D. veiled
Explanation

'Disguised' means dressed to deceive. 'Concealed' (B), 'masked' (C), and 'veiled' (D) are less precise in context.

28
Question 28 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The carpenter asked for ten packets of ___ nails.

A. fifteen-centimetre
B. fifteen centimetres
C. fifteen-centimetres
D. fifteen-centimetres'
Explanation

'Fifteen-centimetre' is the correct compound adjective. 'Fifteen centimetres' (B) is a noun phrase, 'fifteen-centimetres' (C) is incorrect, and 'fifteen-centimetres'' (D) is malformed.

29
Question 29 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The president refused to shake ___ with the visiting Prime Minister.

A. hand
B. hands
C. a hand
D. his hand
Explanation

'Shake hands' is the standard phrase. 'Hand' (A), 'a hand' (C), and 'his hand' (D) are non-standard.

30
Question 30 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The trader complained that he ___ robbed.

A. had been
B. has been
C. was being
D. is being
Explanation

'Had been' is past perfect for a past event. 'Has been' (B), 'was being' (C), and 'is being' (D) are incorrect tenses.

31
Question 31 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: How can we believe this witness when no one will ___ his story?

A. collate
B. correlate
C. collaborate
D. corroborate
Explanation

'Corroborate' means confirm. 'Collate' (A), 'correlate' (B), and 'collaborate' (C) have different meanings.

32
Question 32 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: The journalist's unpopular views made him the subject of much ___.

A. admiration
B. derision
C. admonition
D. suspicion
Explanation

'Derision' means ridicule, fitting unpopular views. 'Admiration' (A), 'admonition' (C), and 'suspicion' (D) are incorrect.

33
Question 33 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: Idubor has gone to see his mechanic because his car engine needs to be tuned ___.

A. in
B. off
C. up
D. on
Explanation

'Tuned up' is the correct phrase for engine adjustment. 'In' (A), 'off' (B), and 'on' (D) are incorrect.

34
Question 34 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: I was anxious to arrive early for the lecture that I ___ my note in the car.

A. forgot
B. left
C. dropped
D. abandoned
Explanation

'Left' is correct for unintentionally leaving something. 'Forgot' (A), 'dropped' (C), and 'abandoned' (D) are less precise.

35
Question 35 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Fill the gap with the most appropriate option in the sentence: Good schools don't just teach their students, they ___ them.

A. inform
B. instruct
C. educate
D. coach
Explanation

'Educate' encompasses the broader role of schools. 'Inform' (A), 'instruct' (B), and 'coach' (D) are narrower.

36
Question 36 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word 'turmoil' in the sentence: If your life is in 'turmoil', always take courage.

A. devastation
B. crisis
C. trial
D. tragedy
Explanation

'Turmoil' means disorder, synonymous with 'crisis.' 'Devastation' (A), 'trial' (C), and 'tragedy' (D) are less precise.

37
Question 37 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word 'astounding' in the sentence: Do you know one of the most 'astounding' events of my life?

A. special
B. amazing
C. serious
D. outstanding
Explanation

'Astounding' means astonishing, synonymous with 'amazing.' 'Special' (A), 'serious' (C), and 'outstanding' (D) are less precise.

38
Question 38 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word 'alienation' in the sentence: Adeniji is suffering from the consequences of 'alienation'.

A. confinement
B. isolation
C. enclosure
D. imprisonment
Explanation

'Alienation' means estrangement, synonymous with 'isolation.' 'Confinement' (A), 'enclosure' (C), and 'imprisonment' (D) are incorrect.

39
Question 39 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word 'alleviate' in the sentence: The doctor tried to 'alleviate' his patient's pain.

A. relieve
B. worsen
C. kill
D. cure
Explanation

'Alleviate' means to reduce; the opposite is 'worsen.' 'Relieve' (A) is a synonym, 'kill' (C) is unrelated, and 'cure' (D) is positive.

40
Question 40 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2003

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word 'explicit' in the sentence: The instructions on the examination paper are 'explicit'.

A. simple
B. ambiguous
C. detailed
D. definite
Explanation

'Explicit' means clear; the opposite is 'ambiguous.' 'Simple' (A), 'detailed' (C), and 'definite' (D) are synonyms or related.

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