JAMB Past Questions

JAMB Use Of English 2009
Questions & Answers

40 questions · Correct answers highlighted · 40 with explanations

40 Total Questions
2009 Exam Year
40 With Explanations
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1
Question 1 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Monisola is sure to pass in September. She .... hard since the beginning of this term

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

'has been working' is the present perfect continuous tense, indicating ongoing effort from the start of the term to the present, fitting the context of Monisola’s preparation.

2
Question 2 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Will you know if that dog is ……? He has lost a brown and black one

A. Adebowale’s
B. Adebowales’
C. Adebowale’s own
D. the Adebowale
Explanation

'Adebowale’s' is the correct possessive form of a singular proper noun, indicating ownership of the dog, fitting the context of identifying the lost pet.

3
Question 3 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

The old shoemaker at the corner of our street is .... so I hope you will patronize him

A. mine shoemaker
B. a tight friend
C. a good customer
D. a close friend
Explanation

'a close friend' denotes a strong personal relationship, justifying the recommendation to patronize the shoemaker, fitting the context.

4
Question 4 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

The students in my junior class seem to have performed .... they did last year

A. as brilliant as
B. more brilliantly than
C. as brilliantly as
D. brilliantly than
Explanation

'as brilliantly as' is the correct adverbial phrase for comparing equal performance levels, fitting the context of similar academic achievement.

5
Question 5 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

After the 1980 Ogunpa floods, our association received many letters from those adversely affected, and we resolved to ....

A. assist them
B. invite them
C. respond to them
D. pity them
Explanation

'assist them' means to provide help, fitting the context of taking action to support flood victims who sent letters.

6
Question 6 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Jane and Jarawa love …. very much

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

'each other' is the correct reciprocal pronoun for mutual affection between two individuals, fitting the context of Jane and Jarawa’s relationship.

7
Question 7 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

I shall travel to Lagos by …. next week

A. air or with lorry
B. aircraft or by road
C. airways or by bus
D. air or by road
Explanation

'by air or by road' are standard prepositional phrases for modes of transportation, fitting the context of travel options.

8
Question 8 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

You can never get …. with stealing the presidential jet. You will be caught

A. by
B. away
C. bye
D. free
Explanation

'get away with' is the correct idiom meaning to escape punishment, fitting the context of attempting to steal without consequences.

9
Question 9 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

She got into trouble because she refused to listen to the …. given by her friends and relatives

A. many of the advice
B. series of advices
C. pieces of advices
D. advice
Explanation

'advice' is an uncountable noun, used in its singular form to refer to guidance, fitting the context of ignoring recommendations.

10
Question 10 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

The armed robbers stabbed the driver …. the back

A. in
B. on
C. at
D. inside
Explanation

'in the back' is the correct prepositional phrase indicating the location of the stabbing, fitting the context.

11
Question 11 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

I …... him before he came into the room

A. have seen
B. have not
C. used to see
D. had seen
Explanation

'had seen' is the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another past event (entering the room), fitting the context.

12
Question 12 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

I am disappointed …. the way you conducted yourself at the party

A. by
B. for
C. due to
D. at
Explanation

'disappointed at' is the standard preposition used to express dissatisfaction with someone’s behavior, fitting the context of the party conduct.

13
Question 13 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

You can go on; I …. what you are saying

A. am understanding
B. may be understanding
C. was understanding
D. understand
Explanation

'understand' is the simple present tense, appropriate for stating current comprehension, fitting the context.

14
Question 14 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

When we were coming back from the picnic last Friday, there …. on EKO bridge

A. were many traffics
B. was much traffic
C. were plenty traffic
D. were lots of traffic
Explanation

'was much traffic' correctly uses the uncountable noun 'traffic' with the singular verb 'was,' fitting the context of describing congestion.

15
Question 15 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

I have refused to give him my pen because I don’t want him to …... it again

A. loss
B. loose
C. lose
D. lost
Explanation

'lose' is the correct verb meaning to misplace, fitting the context of preventing the pen from being misplaced.

16
Question 16 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

We were all delighted when the beautiful lady in our house …... a bouncing baby boy

A. delivered
B. born
C. brought forth
D. gave birth to
Explanation

'gave birth to' is the standard phrase for childbirth, fitting the context of the lady having a baby.

17
Question 17 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Always remember to …... the lights before leaving the room

A. put off
B. blow off
C. off
D. switch off
Explanation

'switch off' is the correct phrase for turning off lights, fitting the context of conserving electricity.

18
Question 18 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

I’m sorry I can’t go to the theatre with you as I have …. to do

A. many works
B. a work
C. plenty work
D. much work
Explanation

'much work' is the correct uncountable form for a large amount of tasks, fitting the context of being busy.

19
Question 19 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

The wicked boy threw a stone at the bird, smashing …. two legs

A. its
B. it’s
C. it
D. is
Explanation

'its' is the correct possessive pronoun referring to the bird’s legs, fitting the context of describing the injury.

20
Question 20 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

When the policemen received …. about the hideout of the armed robbers, they went there in full force to arrest them

A. full informations
B. all the necessary informations
C. some informations
D. full information
Explanation

'full information' is the correct uncountable form, fitting the context of receiving complete details about the robbers’ hideout.

21
Question 21 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

On such an important …. all the guests were expected to be at their best

A. occassion
B. occasion
C. ocassion
D. ocasion
Explanation

'occasion' is the correct spelling for a significant event, fitting the context of a formal gathering.

22
Question 22 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Chike, who plays in the first eleven, is an expert …. dribbling

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

'expert at' is the correct preposition for indicating skill in an activity like dribbling, fitting the context of Chike’s football ability.

23
Question 23 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Musa asked Asmau what she …. since he last saw her

A. has been doing
B. had been doing
C. has done
D. was doing
Explanation

'had been doing' is the past perfect continuous tense, indicating ongoing actions up to a past point, fitting the context of Musa’s inquiry.

24
Question 24 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

The violent storm that occurred on Easter Monday destroyed many houses and caused …. in Lagos generally

A. heavy damages
B. much damage
C. several damages
D. plenty damages
Explanation

'much damage' is the correct uncountable form for the extent of destruction caused by the storm, fitting the context.

25
Question 25 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Would you mind …. the door, please?

A. to shut
B. to be shutting
C. shutting
D. to have been shutting
Explanation

'would you mind shutting' uses the gerund form after 'mind,' fitting the context of a polite request to close the door.

26
Question 26 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

The angry woman shouted and cursed in language .... shocking for words

A. very
B. far
C. so
D. too
Explanation

'too shocking for words' indicates language that is excessively shocking, fitting the context of extreme behavior.

27
Question 27 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

The evidence of all the accused persons .... by the judge sitting at No. 2 Assizes last week

A. were disbelieved
B. was disbelieved
C. is disbelieved
D. are disbelieved
Explanation

'The evidence' is a singular subject, so 'was disbelieved' is the correct past tense form, fitting the context of the judge’s ruling.

28
Question 28 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

There are puddles in the road. It ....

A. rains
B. will be raining
C. had to rain
D. must have been raining
Explanation

'must have been raining' is a logical conclusion based on the evidence of puddles, fitting the context of deducing recent rain.

29
Question 29 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

By next June, he .... four novels

A. will write
B. is writing
C. will have written
D. had written
Explanation

'will have written' is the future perfect tense, indicating completion of writing four novels by a future date, fitting the context.

30
Question 30 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Do come tonight, but don't expect me to speak to you because I .... an interesting programme on television when you arrive

A. am watching
B. watch
C. watched
D. shall be watching
Explanation

'shall be watching' is the future continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action at the time of the guest’s arrival, fitting the context.

31
Question 31 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

.... any good films lately?

A. You would like to see
B. Have you seen
C. Are you going to see
D. Would you see
Explanation

'Have you seen' is the present perfect tense, appropriate for inquiring about recent experiences with films, fitting the context.

32
Question 32 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

His hair needs ....

A. to cut
B. to have cut
C. being cut
D. cutting
Explanation

'needs cutting' uses the gerund form after 'needs,' fitting the context of requiring a haircut.

33
Question 33 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

.... fewer strikes since the profit-sharing schemes were introduced

A. There have been
B. There are
C. There were
D. There are going to be
Explanation

'There have been' is the present perfect tense, indicating a change in the number of strikes since the schemes’ introduction, fitting the context.

34
Question 34 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Everybody hates .... kept waiting

A. be
B. being
C. to be
D. for being
Explanation

'hates being' uses the gerund form after 'hates,' fitting the context of disliking the experience of waiting.

35
Question 35 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

I am not used to .... on the left

A. drive
B. having driven
C. driving
D. have driven
Explanation

'used to driving' uses the gerund form after 'used to,' fitting the context of being unaccustomed to driving on the left.

36
Question 36 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

What made you .... that?

A. have said
B. to say
C. saying
D. say
Explanation

'made you say' uses the base form of the verb after 'made,' fitting the context of causing someone to speak.

37
Question 37 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

F: Can I clean the old engine in the sitting room? T: I would rather …… it in the garage

A. you cleaned
B. you are cleaning
C. you clean
D. you will clean
Explanation

'I would rather you cleaned' uses the past tense subjunctive to express a preference for an action, fitting the context of suggesting the garage.

38
Question 38 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Radium .... Maria Sklodowska Curie

A. discovered
B. is discovering
C. has discovered
D. was discovered by
Explanation

'was discovered by' is the correct passive voice construction, indicating that Radium was found by Curie, fitting the context.

39
Question 39 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Passage: The Value of Education
Education empowers individuals with knowledge and skills. It fosters critical thinking and opens career opportunities. Schools should prioritize it to build a brighter future.
What does education empower individuals with according to the passage?

A. Wealth
B. Knowledge and skills
C. Fame
D. Power
Explanation

The passage explicitly states that education 'empowers individuals with knowledge and skills,' making this the correct answer.

40
Question 40 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2009

Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined word: The manager’s _prudent_ decisions saved the company from financial ruin.

A. Careless
B. Wise
C. Hasty
D. Risky
Explanation

'Wise' is the synonym for 'prudent,' meaning careful and sensible decision-making, fitting the context of saving the company.

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