JAMB Past Questions

JAMB Use Of English 2010
Questions & Answers

40 questions · Correct answers highlighted · 40 with explanations

40 Total Questions
2010 Exam Year
40 With Explanations
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1
Question 1 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined: The legislator has decided to 'play second fiddle' after he had been walked out of the assembly for violating basic procedures of the House. This means that the legislator has decided to

A. oppose every motion in the House
B. support every motion in the House
C. condemn every motion
D. support the lead given by others
Explanation

'Play second fiddle' means to take a subordinate role, so 'support the lead given by others' is the closest in meaning.

2
Question 2 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the expression or word which best completes each sentence: He acts .... he were a manager

A. like
B. such as
C. such
D. as if
Explanation

'Acts as if he were' uses the subjunctive mood for a hypothetical scenario, fitting the context.

3
Question 3 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the expression or word which best completes each sentence: Don't .... the teacher that he .... that?

A. tell, said
B. say, tells
C. talk, spoke
D. tell, told
Explanation

'Don't tell the teacher that he said that' uses the correct verbs and tense for reporting, fitting the context.

4
Question 4 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the expression or word which best completes each sentence: He is very tired. He really is .... staying up late

A. getting used to
B. not used to
C. got used to
D. used to
Explanation

'Not used to staying up late' means not accustomed to it, fitting the context of being tired.

5
Question 5 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the expression or word which best completes each sentence: He has only ordered some lettuce and tea. He .... on a diet. He is a bit too fat

A. can’t be
B. needn’t be
C. must be
D. mustn’t be
Explanation

'Must be on a diet' is a logical conclusion based on his order and weight, fitting the context.

6
Question 6 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the expression or word which best completes each sentence: The proprietors should be blamed for a deplorable condition in the nursery schools, ....?

A. isn’t it
B. shouldn’t they
C. should they
D. is it
Explanation

'Should be blamed' requires the tag 'shouldn’t they' for a statement seeking confirmation, fitting the context.

7
Question 7 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Had she known he was a highway robber, she would not have married him. This means

A. she married him before she knew he was a robber
B. she knew he was a robber when she married him
C. she did not marry him because she was a robber
D. she refused to marry the man when she knew he was a robber
Explanation

'Had she known' implies she didn’t know at the time of marriage, so 'she married him before she knew he was a robber' fits the context.

8
Question 8 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Jide is being forced to go to Lagos tomorrow. This means that Jide

A. will go to Lagos
B. must go to Lagos
C. wishes to go to Lagos
D. is going to Lagos
Explanation

'Being forced' implies obligation, so 'must go to Lagos' fits the context.

9
Question 9 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

It is sheer fantasy to believe that there could never be a miscalculation by any nation that has atomic weapons. Fantasy means

A. dream
B. hope
C. nonsense
D. joke
Explanation

'Sheer fantasy' in this context means something unrealistic or absurd, so 'nonsense' is the closest in meaning.

10
Question 10 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

The ingenious scheme of the robber broke down because of the efficiency of the police officer. Ingenious here means

A. suspicious
B. ambitious
C. deceitful
D. clever
Explanation

'Ingenious' means clever or inventive, so 'clever' is the closest in meaning.

11
Question 11 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Fill in the right word/phrase: There is not .... sense in what that politician has just said

A. many
B. plenty
C. lot of
D. much
Explanation

'Not much sense' is the correct phrase for an uncountable noun like 'sense', fitting the context.

12
Question 12 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Fill in the right word/phrase: He .... the book to the library last week

A. has returned
B. had returned
C. was returning
D. returned
Explanation

'Returned' is the correct simple past tense for a completed action last week, fitting the context.

13
Question 13 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Fill in the right word/phrase: The candidate made .... at the village square a day before the election

A. a sermon
B. an address
C. a eulogy
D. a lecture
Explanation

'Made an address' means to give a formal speech, fitting the context of an election campaign.

14
Question 14 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Fill in the right word/phrase: The policeman was sent to .... the allegation made by the man

A. investigate
B. examine
C. probe
D. enquire
Explanation

'Investigate' means to thoroughly look into, fitting the context of a policeman handling an allegation.

15
Question 15 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Which of the following options expresses the same idea as the one in quotes? 'To be in the red' is to be

A. in debt
B. rich
C. a socialist
D. dressed in red
Explanation

'To be in the red' means to be in debt, fitting the financial context.

16
Question 16 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Which of the following options expresses the same idea as the one in quotes? 'To beat down the price' is to

A. flog the price
B. reduce the price
C. beat the salesman
D. control the price
Explanation

'To beat down the price' means to negotiate a lower price, so 'reduce the price' fits the context.

17
Question 17 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Which of the following options expresses the same idea as the one in quotes? 'To ask after a friend' is to

A. ask questions about the friend
B. inquire about the friend's welfare
C. go after the friend
D. like the friend
Explanation

'To ask after a friend' means to check on their well-being, so 'inquire about the friend's welfare' fits the context.

18
Question 18 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Which of the following options expresses the same idea as the one in quotes? 'An open secret' is

A. a fact that is very secret
B. an open matter
C. a secret known to everybody
D. a confidential matter
Explanation

'An open secret' means something supposed to be secret but widely known, so 'a secret known to everybody' fits the context.

19
Question 19 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Which of the following options expresses the same idea as the one in quotes? 'To put something aside' is to

A. put it by one’s side
B. put it in a side pocket for future use
C. keep something for some special purpose
D. keep in safety
Explanation

'To put something aside' means to save or reserve for a specific purpose, so 'keep something for some special purpose' fits the context.

20
Question 20 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the phrase or word which best completes the meaning of each sentence: One of the .... during the football match led to a fight between the teams

A. incidence
B. incidences
C. incidents
D. occasions
Explanation

'Incidents' is the correct plural form for events during the match, fitting the context.

21
Question 21 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the phrase or word which best completes the meaning of each sentence: He used to play tennis, but he doesn't ....

A. as of now
B. any longer
C. again
D. presently
Explanation

'Doesn't any longer' means he no longer plays, fitting the context of a discontinued habit.

22
Question 22 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the phrase or word which best completes the meaning of each sentence: He was .... he had no time to eat

A. so busy that
B. very busy
C. very busy that
D. too busy that
Explanation

'So busy that' correctly indicates the reason for not having time, fitting the context.

23
Question 23 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the phrase or word which best completes the meaning of each sentence: It had been raining before the match started, ....?

A. isn't it
B. hasn't it
C. hadn't it
D. wasn't it
Explanation

'Had been raining' requires the tag 'hadn’t it', fitting the past perfect context.

24
Question 24 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the phrase or word which best completes the meaning of each sentence: The mechanic said that he .... mend my car before Saturday

A. can’t
B. couldn’t
C. can’t be able to
D. couldn’t be able to
Explanation

'Couldn’t mend' is the correct past tense form in reported speech, fitting the context.

25
Question 25 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the phrase or word which best completes the meaning of each sentence: There was a fire in the market last week which resulted .... a terrible destruction of property

A. in
B. to
C. from
D. into
Explanation

'Resulted in' means led to, fitting the context of causing destruction.

26
Question 26 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the phrase or word which best completes the meaning of each sentence: At the end of the month, we .... each other for five years

A. would know
B. should have known
C. should be knowing
D. would have known
Explanation

'Would have known' is the correct future perfect tense in the past, fitting the context of a future milestone.

27
Question 27 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the phrase or word which best completes the meaning of each sentence: The body is sensitive to changes in velocity which, if too sudden, ....

A. consciousness may be lost
B. it may lose consciousness
C. one may become unconscious
D. may cause loss of consciousness
Explanation

'May cause loss of consciousness' correctly describes the effect of sudden velocity changes, fitting the context.

28
Question 28 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined: His decision to ignore the warning was 'a shot in the dark'. This means that his decision was

A. made at night
B. a risky guess
C. carefully planned
D. violently executed
Explanation

'A shot in the dark' means a guess with little chance of success, so 'a risky guess' is the closest in meaning.

29
Question 29 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the expression or word which best completes each sentence: She was so tired that she could barely keep her eyes ....

A. open
B. closed
C. awake
D. shut
Explanation

'Keep her eyes open' means to stay awake, fitting the context of being tired.

30
Question 30 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Fill in the right word/phrase: The meeting was postponed .... the chairman's absence

A. because
B. due to
C. in spite of
D. regardless of
Explanation

'Due to' means because of, fitting the context of the reason for postponement.

31
Question 31 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Select the option which best expresses the meaning of the phrase or word underlined: The manager's decision to hire more staff 'raised eyebrows' among the employees

A. caused surprise
B. improved morale
C. increased salaries
D. restored confidence
Explanation

'Raised eyebrows' means caused surprise or skepticism, so 'caused surprise' is the closest in meaning.

32
Question 32 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Which of the following options expresses the same idea as the one in quotes? 'To throw in the towel' is to

A. give up
B. clean up
C. start over
D. fight harder
Explanation

'To throw in the towel' means to surrender or give up, so 'give up' fits the context.

33
Question 33 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Passage: Teamwork Advantages
Teamwork drives innovation through diverse ideas. Poor communication can disrupt collaboration. Clear dialogue ensures team success.
What does teamwork drive according to the passage?

A. Conflict
B. Innovation
C. Isolation
D. Confusion
Explanation

The passage states that teamwork 'drives innovation.'

34
Question 34 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The teacher warned that any student caught cheating would face .... consequences

A. mild
B. severe
C. temporary
D. minor
Explanation

'Severe consequences' fits the context of a warning about cheating, implying serious punishment.

35
Question 35 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Select the option nearest in meaning to the underlined: The politician's speech was so 'eloquent' that the audience was captivated

A. confusing
B. persuasive
C. lengthy
D. uninspiring
Explanation

'Eloquent' means expressive and persuasive, so 'persuasive' is the closest in meaning.

36
Question 36 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Fill in the right word/phrase: The new policy was introduced to .... the company's efficiency

A. reduce
B. enhance
C. ignore
D. restrict
Explanation

'Enhance' means to improve, fitting the context of improving efficiency.

37
Question 37 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the phrase or word which best completes the meaning of each sentence: She was .... nervous that she forgot her lines

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

'So nervous that' indicates the cause of forgetting her lines, fitting the context.

38
Question 38 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Which of the following options expresses the same idea as the one in quotes? 'To hit the nail on the head' is to

A. make a mistake
B. be exactly right
C. work hard
D. cause trouble
Explanation

'To hit the nail on the head' means to be exactly correct, so 'be exactly right' fits the context.

39
Question 39 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Choose the expression or word which best completes each sentence: The project was completed .... the deadline

A. after
B. before
C. during
D. since
Explanation

'Before the deadline' implies timely completion, fitting the context.

40
Question 40 of 40
JAMB · Use Of English · 2010

Passage: Effective Communication
Effective communication fosters understanding and trust. Misunderstandings arise from unclear messages. Active listening enhances dialogue.
What does effective communication foster according to the passage?

A. Confusion
B. Distrust
C. Understanding and trust
D. Conflict
Explanation

The passage states that effective communication 'fosters understanding and trust.'

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