JAMB UTME - Use of English - 2023

Use the passage to answer the questions below
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

The victory of the small Greek democracy of Athens over the mighty Persian Empire was furious because Athens had interceded for the other Greek city-states in revolt against Persian domination. In anger, the king sent an enormous army to defeat Athens. He thought it would take drastic steps to pacify the rebellious part of the empire.

Persia was ruled by one man. In Athens, however, all citiens helped to rule. Emboldened by this participation, Athenians were prepared to die for their city-state. Perhaps this was the secret of the remarkable victory at the marathon, the Persians tried to fool some Greek city-states by claiming to have come in peace. The frightened city of Delos refused to believe this. Not wanting to abet the conquest of Greece, they fled from their city and did not return until the Persians had left. They were wise, for the president next conquered the city of Eritrea and captured its people.

Tiny Athens stood alone against Persia. The Athenian people to their sanctuaries. There they prayed for deliverance. They asked their gods to expedite their victory. The Athenians refurbished their weapons and moved to the plan of Marathon where their little band would meet the Persians. At the last moment, soldiers from Plataea reinforced the Athenian troops.

The Athenian army attacked and Greek citizens fought bravely. The power of the mighty Persians was offset by the love that the Athenians had for their city. Athenians defeated the Persians in both archery and combat. Greek soldiers seized Persian sheep and burned them and the Persians fled in terror. Herodotus, a famous historian, reports that 6400 Persians died, compared to only 192 Athenians.

The Athenians were__________ by some soldiers who arrived at Plataea

The Athenian army attacked and Greek citizens fought bravely. The power of the mighty Persians was offset by the love that the Athenians had for their city. Athenians defeated the Persians in both archery and combat. Greek soldiers seized Persian sheep and burned them and the Persians fled in terror. Herodotus, a famous historian, reports that 6400 Persians died, compared to only 192 Athenians.

Their participation _________to the Athenians.

The coach has asked the Bright Rangers to be paid their --6-- salaries and --7-- so as to --8-- them to victory against Mamelody Sundowns of South Africa in saturday's all importanat CAF Champions leaque Match. Bright Rangers are the third in group B with four points --9-- many matches and need to --10-- defaet at second - placed Al - Ahly to stay in the --11-- for a place in the semi - final of Africa's most prestigious club competition. The Coach told MTN Football.com that the team would be better motivated if they atleast receive their August salaries before the Al - Ahly --12--. We have to make sure that they are paid their salaries --13-- so that they could play the game of their lives. The government has done very well, but it will be a big morale --14-- to get paid for them to go out there and play. The Coach informed MTN Football.com that the Bright Rangers plan to employ the counter --15-- to get a result in Cario.

 --13--

The coach has asked the Bright Rangers to be paid their --6-- salaries and --7-- so as to --8-- them to victory against Mamelody Sundowns of South Africa in saturday's all importanat CAF Champions leaque Match. Bright Rangers are the third in group B with four points --9-- many matches and need to --10-- defaet at second - placed Al - Ahly to stay in the --11-- for a place in the semi - final of Africa's most prestigious club competition. The Coach told MTN Football.com that the team would be better motivated if they atleast receive their August salaries before the Al - Ahly --12--. We have to make sure that they are paid their salaries --13-- so that they could play the game of their lives. The government has done very well, but it will be a big morale --14-- to get paid for them to go out there and play. The Coach informed MTN Football.com that the Bright Rangers plan to employ the counter --15-- to get a result in Cario.

 --10--

Read the passage carefully and answer this question.

May your road be rough. I am not cursing you: I am wishing you what I wish myself every year, I therefore repeat, may you have a hard time this year. May there be troubles for you this year. If you are not sure of what to say back, why not just say "same to you" – I ask for no more.

Our successes are conditioned by the amount of risk we are about to take. Earlier today, I visited a local farmer about five kilometers from where I live. He could not have been 55, but he said he was already too old to farm vigorously. He still suffered, he said, from the energy he displayed as a farmer in his younger days. Around his hut were two pepperbushes. There were cocoyam growing around him. There were snail shells which had given him meat. There must have been more snails around the banana trees than I saw. He hardly ever went to town to buy things. He was self-sufficient. The car, the television or radio and the newspaper were things he could live without. He had no ambition whatsoever, he told me.

I am not sure if you are already envious of him, but were we all to revert to such a life, we would be driven back like aimless sheep to cave dwelling. On the other hand, try to put yourself in the shoes of the Russian or American astronauts. Any moment you are shot into space, you have to be mentally alert, else, if you forget what to do, one of the things that might happen to you is that you could forever become a satellite going round until you die of starvation, and even then, your dead body would continue the gyration.

Naturally, they may have some slight foreboding on the contingency of their non-return. However, it is their courage for going in spite of these apprehensions that makes the world hail them so loudly today.
(Akinyemi, A., Olupe, F., & Adetutu, S. (2012): Rubrics of English Language for Schools and Colleges. Divine Glory Printers, Abeokuta.)

According to the passage, success depends on ......

In this question, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list provided.

To check desertification in the arid zones, ...... trees should be planted

In this question, fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list provided.

Without our relentless campaigns, we might ...... sure of victory in the race for the National Assembly.

In this question, choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

In this question, choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

It is inconceivable that the cat devoured the cat.

The dictionary gives a classification of words according to their usage. A word not found in the current ...1... of the dictionary has not been given a respectable place in the English Language. A look at an old edition of the dictionary of English will show that the word go slow means a slow way of protesting against an employer by working as slowly as possible- something comparable to work to rule; but a cursory glance at a/an ...2... edition will show an addition to the above meaning listed as West African English, traffic jam which now gives credence to the Nigerian meaning which we ...3... to the word.

Notes on particular points of English usage are included and each note follows the ...4... of the main word that it treats. Usually, a collocation of such words are given as well as a cross-reference so that one can easily trace their synonyms or ...5... or antonyms and when there is a difference between English and American usage, the dictionary notes that difference and gives illustration or example to explain them. As a result of this, words can be marked as either ...6... (words used mainly for conversation rather than written or formal speech), ...7...(very informal language that includes new and sometimes rude words especially words used by a particular group of people such as school children, criminals or those who take drugs), ....8... (technical words that are used mainly by people who belong to the same professional group and are difficult to understand by others who are not members of that profession) or ....9... (old words and or expressions which are no longer in current use and are not acceptable grammatical forms). According to Donald Davidson (1967), besides these common distinctions of word usage, the dictionary also makes other distinctions by marking words that belong to the special vocabularies of sciences and professions and notes such special varieties of ...10... as historical, poetic, literary, scientific etc.
(Akinyemi, A., Olupe, F., & Adetutu, S. (2012): Rubrics of English Language for Schools and Colleges. Divine Glory Printers, Abeokuta.)

Choose the word that best suits.....9...

Choose the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word
I was skeptical about the story she told me.

Read the passage carefully and answer this question.

May your road be rough. I am not cursing you: I am wishing you what I wish myself every year, I therefore repeat, may you have a hard time this year. May there be troubles for you this year. If you are not sure of what to say back, why not just say "same to you" – I ask for no more.

Our successes are conditioned by the amount of risk we are about to take. Earlier today, I visited a local farmer about five kilometers from where I live. He could not have been 55, but he said he was already too old to farm vigorously. He still suffered, he said, from the energy he displayed as a farmer in his younger days. Around his hut were two pepperbushes. There were cocoyam growing around him. There were snail shells which had given him meat. There must have been more snails around the banana trees than I saw. He hardly ever went to town to buy things. He was self-sufficient. The car, the television or radio and the newspaper were things he could live without. He had no ambition whatsoever, he told me.

I am not sure if you are already envious of him, but were we all to revert to such a life, we would be driven back like aimless sheep to cave dwelling. On the other hand, try to put yourself in the shoes of the Russian or American astronauts. Any moment you are shot into space, you have to be mentally alert, else, if you forget what to do, one of the things that might happen to you is that you could forever become a satellite going round until you die of starvation, and even then, your dead body would continue the gyration.

Naturally, they may have some slight foreboding on the contingency of their non-return. However, it is their courage for going in spite of these apprehensions that makes the world hail them so loudly today.
(Akinyemi, A., Olupe, F., & Adetutu, S. (2012): Rubrics of English Language for Schools and Colleges. Divine Glory Printers, Abeokuta.)

According to the passage, astronauts

The passage below has gaps. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap.

PASSAGE IV

With the most profound respect to the members of the Senate, I do not think that it is within the competence of that ...1... body to pass a motion to ...2... the executive action of the President. The Senate is ...3... of the National Assembly. But it is not by itself alone the National Assembly. One can imagine the confusion, which would be created if the ...4... were to take a view diametrically opposed to that reflected in the Senate resolution. The strongest objection to the action of the Senate in passing the resolution is the fact that it constituted itself the ...5... as well as the judge of the constitutionality of the action of the President. The function of the Senate is to ...6... laws. But the Senate has no authority or ...7... to control the President in the exercise of his ...8... powers. It cannot by a mere resolution or motion give any directive to the President regarding the exercise of his powers nor can it undo what the President has done in the exercise of those powers. The only way in which the exercise of the powers of the President can be ...9... is by ...10... of the National Assembly.
Adapted from The Guardian of July 8, 1999, p. 8.

...10...

The coach has asked the Bright Rangers to be paid their --6-- salaries and --7-- so as to --8-- them to victory against Mamelody Sundowns of South Africa in saturday's all importanat CAF Champions leaque Match. Bright Rangers are the third in group B with four points --9-- many matches and need to --10-- defaet at second - placed Al - Ahly to stay in the --11-- for a place in the semi - final of Africa's most prestigious club competition. The Coach told MTN Football.com that the team would be better motivated if they atleast receive their August salaries before the Al - Ahly --12--. We have to make sure that they are paid their salaries --13-- so that they could play the game of their lives. The government has done very well, but it will be a big morale --14-- to get paid for them to go out there and play. The Coach informed MTN Football.com that the Bright Rangers plan to employ the counter --15-- to get a result in Cario.

 --9--

Read the passage carefully and answer this question.

May your road be rough. I am not cursing you: I am wishing you what I wish myself every year, I therefore repeat, may you have a hard time this year. May there be troubles for you this year. If you are not sure of what to say back, why not just say "same to you" – I ask for no more.

Our successes are conditioned by the amount of risk we are about to take. Earlier today, I visited a local farmer about five kilometers from where I live. He could not have been 55, but he said he was already too old to farm vigorously. He still suffered, he said, from the energy he displayed as a farmer in his younger days. Around his hut were two pepperbushes. There were cocoyam growing around him. There were snail shells which had given him meat. There must have been more snails around the banana trees than I saw. He hardly ever went to town to buy things. He was self-sufficient. The car, the television or radio and the newspaper were things he could live without. He had no ambition whatsoever, he told me.

I am not sure if you are already envious of him, but were we all to revert to such a life, we would be driven back like aimless sheep to cave dwelling. On the other hand, try to put yourself in the shoes of the Russian or American astronauts. Any moment you are shot into space, you have to be mentally alert, else, if you forget what to do, one of the things that might happen to you is that you could forever become a satellite going round until you die of starvation, and even then, your dead body would continue the gyration.

Naturally, they may have some slight foreboding on the contingency of their non-return. However, it is their courage for going in spite of these apprehensions that makes the world hail them so loudly today.
(Akinyemi, A., Olupe, F., & Adetutu, S. (2012): Rubrics of English Language for Schools and Colleges. Divine Glory Printers, Abeokuta.)

What sort of life, according to the passage, will drive people back like aimless sheep back to cave dwelling?

The passage below has gaps. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap.

PASSAGE IV

With the most profound respect to the members of the Senate, I do not think that it is within the competence of that ...1... body to pass a motion to ...2... the executive action of the President. The Senate is ...3... of the National Assembly. But it is not by itself alone the National Assembly. One can imagine the confusion, which would be created if the ...4... were to take a view diametrically opposed to that reflected in the Senate resolution. The strongest objection to the action of the Senate in passing the resolution is the fact that it constituted itself the ...5... as well as the judge of the constitutionality of the action of the President. The function of the Senate is to ...6... laws. But the Senate has no authority or ...7... to control the President in the exercise of his ...8... powers. It cannot by a mere resolution or motion give any directive to the President regarding the exercise of his powers nor can it undo what the President has done in the exercise of those powers. The only way in which the exercise of the powers of the President can be ...9... is by ...10... of the National Assembly.
Adapted from The Guardian of July 8, 1999, p. 8.

...1...

Choose the word that has the same rhyme scheme.

sweet

This question is based on "The Life Changer" novel.

Ummi is an Arabic word that is directly translated to mean_____

The coach has asked the Bright Rangers to be paid their --6-- salaries and --7-- so as to --8-- them to victory against Mamelody Sundowns of South Africa in saturday's all importanat CAF Champions leaque Match. Bright Rangers are the third in group B with four points --9-- many matches and need to --10-- defaet at second - placed Al - Ahly to stay in the --11-- for a place in the semi - final of Africa's most prestigious club competition. The Coach told MTN Football.com that the team would be better motivated if they atleast receive their August salaries before the Al - Ahly --12--. We have to make sure that they are paid their salaries --13-- so that they could play the game of their lives. The government has done very well, but it will be a big morale --14-- to get paid for them to go out there and play. The Coach informed MTN Football.com that the Bright Rangers plan to employ the counter --15-- to get a result in Cario.

--6--

In this question, choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

The proprietor of our school with his administrator ------------ expected yesterday.

The coach has asked the Bright Rangers to be paid their --6-- salaries and --7-- so as to --8-- them to victory against Mamelody Sundowns of South Africa in saturday's all importanat CAF Champions leaque Match. Bright Rangers are the third in group B with four points --9-- many matches and need to --10-- defaet at second - placed Al - Ahly to stay in the --11-- for a place in the semi - final of Africa's most prestigious club competition. The Coach told MTN Football.com that the team would be better motivated if they atleast receive their August salaries before the Al - Ahly --12--. We have to make sure that they are paid their salaries --13-- so that they could play the game of their lives. The government has done very well, but it will be a big morale --14-- to get paid for them to go out there and play. The Coach informed MTN Football.com that the Bright Rangers plan to employ the counter --15-- to get a result in Cario.

 --8--

Use the passage to answer the questions below
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

The victory of the small Greek democracy of Athens over the mighty Persian Empire was furious because Athens had interceded for the other Greek city-states in revolt against Persian domination. In anger, the king sent an enormous army to defeat Athens. He thought it would take drastic steps to pacify the rebellious part of the empire.

Persia was ruled by one man. In Athens, however, all citiens helped to rule. Emboldened by this participation, Athenians were prepared to die for their city-state. Perhaps this was the secret of the remarkable victory at the marathon, the Persians tried to fool some Greek city-states by claiming to have come in peace. The frightened city of Delos refused to believe this. Not wanting to abet the conquest of Greece, they fled from their city and did not return until the Persians had left. They were wise, for the president next conquered the city of Eritrea and captured its people.

Tiny Athens stood alone against Persia. The Athenian people to their sanctuaries. There they prayed for deliverance. They asked their gods to expedite their victory. The Athenians refurbished their weapons and moved to the plan of Marathon where their little band would meet the Persians. At the last moment, soldiers from Plataea reinforced the Athenian troops.

The Athenian army attacked and Greek citizens fought bravely. The power of the mighty Persians was offset by the love that the Athenians had for their city. Athenians defeated the Persians in both archery and combat. Greek soldiers seized Persian sheep and burned them and the Persians fled in terror. Herodotus, a famous historian, reports that 6400 Persians died, compared to only 192 Athenians.

The people of Delos did not want to __________ the conquest of Greece

The coach has asked the Bright Rangers to be paid their --6-- salaries and --7-- so as to --8-- them to victory against Mamelody Sundowns of South Africa in saturday's all importanat CAF Champions leaque Match. Bright Rangers are the third in group B with four points --9-- many matches and need to --10-- defaet at second - placed Al - Ahly to stay in the --11-- for a place in the semi - final of Africa's most prestigious club competition. The Coach told MTN Football.com that the team would be better motivated if they atleast receive their August salaries before the Al - Ahly --12--. We have to make sure that they are paid their salaries --13-- so that they could play the game of their lives. The government has done very well, but it will be a big morale --14-- to get paid for them to go out there and play. The Coach informed MTN Football.com that the Bright Rangers plan to employ the counter --15-- to get a result in Cario.

 --7--

The coach has asked the Bright Rangers to be paid their --6-- salaries and --7-- so as to --8-- them to victory against Mamelody Sundowns of South Africa in saturday's all importanat CAF Champions leaque Match. Bright Rangers are the third in group B with four points --9-- many matches and need to --10-- defaet at second - placed Al - Ahly to stay in the --11-- for a place in the semi - final of Africa's most prestigious club competition. The Coach told MTN Football.com that the team would be better motivated if they atleast receive their August salaries before the Al - Ahly --12--. We have to make sure that they are paid their salaries --13-- so that they could play the game of their lives. The government has done very well, but it will be a big morale --14-- to get paid for them to go out there and play. The Coach informed MTN Football.com that the Bright Rangers plan to employ the counter --15-- to get a result in Cario.

 --11--

The passage below has gaps. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap.

PASSAGE IV

With the most profound respect to the members of the Senate, I do not think that it is within the competence of that ...1... body to pass a motion to ...2... the executive action of the President. The Senate is ...3... of the National Assembly. But it is not by itself alone the National Assembly. One can imagine the confusion, which would be created if the ...4... were to take a view diametrically opposed to that reflected in the Senate resolution. The strongest objection to the action of the Senate in passing the resolution is the fact that it constituted itself the ...5... as well as the judge of the constitutionality of the action of the President. The function of the Senate is to ...6... laws. But the Senate has no authority or ...7... to control the President in the exercise of his ...8... powers. It cannot by a mere resolution or motion give any directive to the President regarding the exercise of his powers nor can it undo what the President has done in the exercise of those powers. The only way in which the exercise of the powers of the President can be ...9... is by ...10... of the National Assembly.
Adapted from The Guardian of July 8, 1999, p. 8.

...4...

The coach has asked the Bright Rangers to be paid their --6-- salaries and --7-- so as to --8-- them to victory against Mamelody Sundowns of South Africa in saturday's all importanat CAF Champions leaque Match. Bright Rangers are the third in group B with four points --9-- many matches and need to --10-- defaet at second - placed Al - Ahly to stay in the --11-- for a place in the semi - final of Africa's most prestigious club competition. The Coach told MTN Football.com that the team would be better motivated if they atleast receive their August salaries before the Al - Ahly --12--. We have to make sure that they are paid their salaries --13-- so that they could play the game of their lives. The government has done very well, but it will be a big morale --14-- to get paid for them to go out there and play. The Coach informed MTN Football.com that the Bright Rangers plan to employ the counter --15-- to get a result in Cario.

--15--

The coach has asked the Bright Rangers to be paid their --6-- salaries and --7-- so as to --8-- them to victory against Mamelody Sundowns of South Africa in saturday's all importanat CAF Champions leaque Match. Bright Rangers are the third in group B with four points --9-- many matches and need to --10-- defaet at second - placed Al - Ahly to stay in the --11-- for a place in the semi - final of Africa's most prestigious club competition. The Coach told MTN Football.com that the team would be better motivated if they atleast receive their August salaries before the Al - Ahly --12--. We have to make sure that they are paid their salaries --13-- so that they could play the game of their lives. The government has done very well, but it will be a big morale --14-- to get paid for them to go out there and play. The Coach informed MTN Football.com that the Bright Rangers plan to employ the counter --15-- to get a result in Cario.

 --12--

The passage below has gaps. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap.

PASSAGE IV

With the most profound respect to the members of the Senate, I do not think that it is within the competence of that ...1... body to pass a motion to ...2... the executive action of the President. The Senate is ...3... of the National Assembly. But it is not by itself alone the National Assembly. One can imagine the confusion, which would be created if the ...4... were to take a view diametrically opposed to that reflected in the Senate resolution. The strongest objection to the action of the Senate in passing the resolution is the fact that it constituted itself the ...5... as well as the judge of the constitutionality of the action of the President. The function of the Senate is to ...6... laws. But the Senate has no authority or ...7... to control the President in the exercise of his ...8... powers. It cannot by a mere resolution or motion give any directive to the President regarding the exercise of his powers nor can it undo what the President has done in the exercise of those powers. The only way in which the exercise of the powers of the President can be ...9... is by ...10... of the National Assembly.
Adapted from The Guardian of July 8, 1999, p. 8.

...6...

Choose the word that has the same rhyme scheme.
laugh