JAMB UTME - Use of English - 2009

The word in capital letters has the emphatic stress. Choose the option which the given sentence relates.

LAM called Uche a pilot?

Choose the option that rhymes with the given word.

Great

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

Amina lives _____ campus.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

The bombs was _____ .

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

They boy is too indolent to do well at school.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

We have every need to preserve some of our national monuments for posterity.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

His amnesia has affected his career.

The standardization processes of Nigerian pidgin seems to have started during the post-colonial period. Naturally, Nigerian pidgin appears to be the first choice of most Nigerians in informal situations, especially when they are among those from different ethnic and linguistic background. Thus, the selection process has tactically taken place. Among all the languages used in Nigeria today, English inclusive, Nigerian pidgin could be said to be the most widely spoken. Evidence abounds in motor parks, parties, congregations and most social occasions. There is also ample evidence in the electronic and print media, especially in political propaganda, campaigns and product advertisement. Thus, in terms of spread and extensive use, Nigerian pidgin could rightly be called a national lingua franca.

The use of Nigerian pidgin in contemporary Nigerian could be described as most productive, extensive and complex. It appears that the standardization processes-selection, codification, elaboration of functions and acceptance-which started in the post-colonial era, are as now being completed in contemporary Nigeria. The reason for this assumption is simple-apart from its complex use as a lingua franca, languages of media advertisement, social interaction, unofficial military training and limited literary output, Nigerian pidgin gas attained widespread acceptability in the media, political propaganda and campaigns as well as soap operas. It is also the language of radio and television jingles. Most electronic media now use appreciable percentage of their airtime to cast news and give reports in Nigeria pidgin. Even though its use in some newspaper columns has declined, especially with the demise of the ‘Waka About’ column in the Daily Times, it is however found extensively in some newspaper advertisements .

In places like Warri, Sapele and Port Harcourt, there were reports that teachers at lower primary level taught their pupils in Nigerian pidgin. This unofficial adoption of the Nigerian pidgin as the language of the lower primary education by those teachers is justifiable considering the provision in the National Policy on Education, which states that in addition to English, the major language in the child’s environment could be used at the elementary level of education. Similarly, Nigerian pidgin has become a language of religious preaching, especially Christianity. In most rural and even urban centres where congregation are not all very well-educated, pastors resort to the use of Nigerian pidgin.

The use of the Nigerian pidgin as a literary language tends to have started in the sixties with the work of Achebe, Soyinka and others. But it is in the contemporary times that it has become most widespread. The number of poems, novels and plays written and published in Nigerian pidgin is growing even more rapidly. Many more literary writers now attempt to experiment with the language. Therefore, the evidence of codification and elaboration of functions and the partial or tactical acceptance of Nigerian pidgin are clearly visible.

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

Hurt?

The standardization processes of Nigerian pidgin seems to have started during the post-colonial period. Naturally, Nigerian pidgin appears to be the first choice of most Nigerians in informal situations, especially when they are among those from different ethnic and linguistic background. Thus, the selection process has tactically taken place. Among all the languages used in Nigeria today, English inclusive, Nigerian pidgin could be said to be the most widely spoken. Evidence abounds in motor parks, parties, congregations and most social occasions. There is also ample evidence in the electronic and print media, especially in political propaganda, campaigns and product advertisement. Thus, in terms of spread and extensive use, Nigerian pidgin could rightly be called a national lingua franca.

The use of Nigerian pidgin in contemporary Nigerian could be described as most productive, extensive and complex. It appears that the standardization processes-selection, codification, elaboration of functions and acceptance-which started in the post-colonial era, are as now being completed in contemporary Nigeria. The reason for this assumption is simple-apart from its complex use as a lingua franca, languages of media advertisement, social interaction, unofficial military training and limited literary output, Nigerian pidgin gas attained widespread acceptability in the media, political propaganda and campaigns as well as soap operas. It is also the language of radio and television jingles. Most electronic media now use appreciable percentage of their airtime to cast news and give reports in Nigeria pidgin. Even though its use in some newspaper columns has declined, especially with the demise of the ‘Waka About’ column in the Daily Times, it is however found extensively in some newspaper advertisements .

In places like Warri, Sapele and Port Harcourt, there were reports that teachers at lower primary level taught their pupils in Nigerian pidgin. This unofficial adoption of the Nigerian pidgin as the language of the lower primary education by those teachers is justifiable considering the provision in the National Policy on Education, which states that in addition to English, the major language in the child’s environment could be used at the elementary level of education. Similarly, Nigerian pidgin has become a language of religious preaching, especially Christianity. In most rural and even urban centres where congregation are not all very well-educated, pastors resort to the use of Nigerian pidgin.

The use of the Nigerian pidgin as a literary language tends to have started in the sixties with the work of Achebe, Soyinka and others. But it is in the contemporary times that it has become most widespread. The number of poems, novels and plays written and published in Nigerian pidgin is growing even more rapidly. Many more literary writers now attempt to experiment with the language. Therefore, the evidence of codification and elaboration of functions and the partial or tactical acceptance of Nigerian pidgin are clearly visible.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Emeka was always conspicuous by his absence when it came to attending lectures.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Agwube's explanation of her poor performance at the examination only begged the question.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

Government has frowned upon politicians who are out to _____ wealth.

Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

As we watched, he just popped along to the shop for some b read.

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more schools so much that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and board charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcast. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enrol to stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in terms of facilities and qualified teachers are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teachers often reject posting to rural schools, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hands in urban schools. Since educational broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting educational materials from one central location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the quality of educational provision will be made even throughout the country.

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Besides, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer students’ questions. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an ornate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

Our plan for the trip fell _____ when the rich man did not give us a life _____.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

Uche has been in _____ with his pen pal for years.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Most of the latest actions are militant in nature.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

Curiously, he escape unhurt.

Choose the option that rhymes with the given word.

Sheer?

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

There must be something sinister about her late arrival.

Choose the the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

Management?

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

I tried to discourage him, but he persisted _______ revealing the secret of his son.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

They are taught to value honour _______ their lives.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

They hated the police and, by implication, me.

Millons of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging their careers and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart diseases, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are oblivious of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary sleep deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now getting on the average an hour less sleep per into both the variety of sleep-related illnesses and their impact on the quality of life.

The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a sympt5om of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep.’ Students of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 per cent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide coast to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? ‘One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7- operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newspaper, USA Today, described this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live, noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical diseases that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult it is to get their patients to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognize that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I’m just getting old’ or I’ can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or ‘I’m tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need.’ Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save lives and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

I have had enough of your impudence.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

His comment was not printable.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

You are just the hat on _____.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

Abba became _____ about his in ability to pass the examination.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

I am told that the market is _____ in to the interests of people from all _______ of life.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The president has mapped out some many laudable projects to embark upon.

Choose the the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

My father READ the newspaper.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The company director has a vivacious personality.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Kola visits us on occasions, and I don't like that.

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

Match

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Adamu's father is a stem man.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Idris' forbearance endeared him to us.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Hers was a specious argument about the government of the day.

Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

It was our collective idea but Ado was doing everything to steal the show.

In the question below select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence:

You could have heard the sound if you weren't aslee.

Millons of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging their careers and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart diseases, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are oblivious of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary sleep deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now getting on the average an hour less sleep per into both the variety of sleep-related illnesses and their impact on the quality of life.

The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a sympt5om of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep.’ Students of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 per cent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide coast to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? ‘One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7- operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newspaper, USA Today, described this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live, noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical diseases that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult it is to get their patients to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognize that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I’m just getting old’ or I’ can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or ‘I’m tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need.’ Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save lives and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

Millons of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging their careers and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart diseases, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are oblivious of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary sleep deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now getting on the average an hour less sleep per into both the variety of sleep-related illnesses and their impact on the quality of life.

The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a sympt5om of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep.’ Students of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 per cent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide coast to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? ‘One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7- operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newspaper, USA Today, described this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live, noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical diseases that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult it is to get their patients to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognize that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I’m just getting old’ or I’ can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or ‘I’m tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need.’ Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save lives and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

Choose the option that rhymes with the given word.

Own?

Choose the option that has the consonant sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

Joint?

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

If you want to succeed in life, don't be envious ______ other people's achievement.

Millons of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging their careers and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart diseases, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are oblivious of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary sleep deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now getting on the average an hour less sleep per into both the variety of sleep-related illnesses and their impact on the quality of life.

The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a symptom of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep.’ Students of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 per cent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide coast to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? ‘One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7- operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newspaper, USA Today, described this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live, noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical diseases that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult it is to get their patients to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognize that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I’m just getting old’ or I’ can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or ‘I’m tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need.’ Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save lives and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

Millons of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging their careers and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart diseases, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are oblivious of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary sleep deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now getting on the average an hour less sleep per into both the variety of sleep-related illnesses and their impact on the quality of life.

The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a sympt5om of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep.’ Students of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 per cent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide coast to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? ‘One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7- operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newspaper, USA Today, described this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live, noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical diseases that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult it is to get their patients to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognize that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I’m just getting old’ or I’ can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or ‘I’m tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need.’ Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save lives and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

In question number 23 above, choose the best option from letters A-D that best completes the gap.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

His poetry is said to be inscrutable.

The standardization processes of Nigerian pidgin seems to have started during the post-colonial period. Naturally, Nigerian pidgin appears to be the first choice of most Nigerians in informal situations, especially when they are among those from different ethnic and linguistic background. Thus, the selection process has tactically taken place. Among all the languages used in Nigeria today, English inclusive, Nigerian pidgin could be said to be the most widely spoken. Evidence abounds in motor parks, parties, congregations and most social occasions. There is also ample evidence in the electronic and print media, especially in political propaganda, campaigns and product advertisement. Thus, in terms of spread and extensive use, Nigerian pidgin could rightly be called a national lingua franca.

The use of Nigerian pidgin in contemporary Nigerian could be described as most productive, extensive and complex. It appears that the standardization processes-selection, codification, elaboration of functions and acceptance-which started in the post-colonial era, are as now being completed in contemporary Nigeria. The reason for this assumption is simple-apart from its complex use as a lingua franca, languages of media advertisement, social interaction, unofficial military training and limited literary output, Nigerian pidgin gas attained widespread acceptability in the media, political propaganda and campaigns as well as soap operas. It is also the language of radio and television jingles. Most electronic media now use appreciable percentage of their airtime to cast news and give reports in Nigeria pidgin. Even though its use in some newspaper columns has declined, especially with the demise of the ‘Waka About’ column in the Daily Times, it is however found extensively in some newspaper advertisements .

In places like Warri, Sapele and Port Harcourt, there were reports that teachers at lower primary level taught their pupils in Nigerian pidgin. This unofficial adoption of the Nigerian pidgin as the language of the lower primary education by those teachers is justifiable considering the provision in the National Policy on Education, which states that in addition to English, the major language in the child’s environment could be used at the elementary level of education. Similarly, Nigerian pidgin has become a language of religious preaching, especially Christianity. In most rural and even urban centres where congregation are not all very well-educated, pastors resort to the use of Nigerian pidgin.

The use of the Nigerian pidgin as a literary language tends to have started in the sixties with the work of Achebe, Soyinka and others. But it is in the contemporary times that it has become most widespread. The number of poems, novels and plays written and published in Nigerian pidgin is growing even more rapidly. Many more literary writers now attempt to experiment with the language. Therefore, the evidence of codification and elaboration of functions and the partial or tactical acceptance of Nigerian pidgin are clearly visible.

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letters underlined.

boat?

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

I missed the match though it was shown on television on two _____ nights.

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more schools so much that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and board charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcast. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enrol to stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in terms of facilities and qualified teachers are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teachers often reject posting to rural schools, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hands in urban schools. Since educational broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting educational materials from one central location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the quality of educational provision will be made even throughout the country.

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Besides, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer students’ questions. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an ornate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more schools so much that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and board charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcast. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enrol to stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in terms of facilities and qualified teachers are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teachers often reject posting to rural schools, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hands in urban schools. Since educational broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting educational materials from one central location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the quality of educational provision will be made even throughout the country.

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Besides, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer students’ questions. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an ornate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

An acceptance of the offer would be a departure from the several rejections that _____ .

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

The company paid some money to Abu to _____him for losses he suffered during the accident.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Young people have a penchant for fast cars.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The unification of the country has brought about great technological advancement.

Choose the the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

Understandable?

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

When the cashier told him to join the queue, he considered it _____ his dignity?

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

We had difficulty eating the meat because it was leathery.

Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Musa will not do the job well because he has an itching palm.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

The _____ part of a new book is often written by a more experienced writer than the author.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

His ideas sounded quite palatable yet they were jettisoned by the group.

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more schools so much that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and board charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcast. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enrol to stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in terms of facilities and qualified teachers are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teachers often reject posting to rural schools, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hands in urban schools. Since educational broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting educational materials from one central location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the quality of educational provision will be made even throughout the country.

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Besides, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer students’ questions. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an ornate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

Choose the the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

Ceremoniously?

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

The officer acted in _____ the instructions.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Salasi's tremendous effort has yield results.

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more schools so much that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and board charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcast. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enrol to stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in terms of facilities and qualified teachers are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teachers often reject posting to rural schools, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hands in urban schools. Since educational broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting educational materials from one central location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the quality of educational provision will be made even throughout the country.

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Besides, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer students’ questions. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an ornate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

Choose the the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are written in capital letters.

The girl DANCED in the village square.

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.

Business executives selling industrial and high price-tag customer goods have come to the……16…..[A. realization B. conclusion C. level D. point] that there should be a better approach to buyer-seller……17……[A. relationship B. existence C. agreement D. friendship]. In Nigeria, a new brand of salesmanship is emerging. Today, such……18….[A. concepts B. words C. clauses D. definitions] as consultative selling, relationship marketing and value-added selling have become common catchphrases with professional salespeople. Salespeople are now….19….[A. emerging B. reversing C. dangling D. shifting] from pushy, hard selling to consultations, playing business advisory and problem-solving roles for their customers. Customers ….20….[A. interest B. awareness C. view D. service] has assumed a higher dimension. Salespeople and their companies are beginning to realize that the only want to stay in business and possibly be ahead of….21….[A. distribution B. competition C. consumption D. production] is to give adequate attention to the needs of customers. Salespeople and business executive beginning to understand that customer….22….[A. respect B. dignity C. loyalty D. obedience] is what ensures a robust bottom line. The only way to do this is to give special attention to the needs of customers. First time purchase is the beginning of a relationship. We now have a very…..23…..[A. tangible B. rowdy C. sensitive D. desirable] marketplace in which people feel a need for personal intimacy and excellent service. In fact, some customers want to be pampered. They want customized service. They want a salesperson who comes to them with a…..24….[A. prior B. full C. biased D. simple] knowledge of their needs and has ready-made solution to their problems. The ability to….25….[A. analyse B. present C. organize D. discuss] the needs of the customer and provide adequate information that helps the customer to make informed purchase decision are attributes that the modern customer respects and appreciates a good professional salespeople.

Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

In all ramifications, Chief Adeyemi was a success principal of the school.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

At the time I arrived, Olu was lying in third place.

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letters underlined.

Tear?

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

We were collectively responsible for keeping the machine in good shape.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

He commands the confidence and respect of all his subordinates.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Nobody knew the source of the altercation between the couple.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Life has become a misery for many owing to the harsh economic condition in the country.

Choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letters underlined.

Film?

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The compulsory leave made her feel listless.

Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

I couldn't buy the biscuit because of the hold-up in the supermarket.

The standardization processes of Nigerian pidgin seems to have started during the post-colonial period. Naturally, Nigerian pidgin appears to be the first choice of most Nigerians in informal situations, especially when they are among those from different ethnic and linguistic background. Thus, the selection process has tactically taken place. Among all the languages used in Nigeria today, English inclusive, Nigerian pidgin could be said to be the most widely spoken. Evidence abounds in motor parks, parties, congregations and most social occasions. There is also ample evidence in the electronic and print media, especially in political propaganda, campaigns and product advertisement. Thus, in terms of spread and extensive use, Nigerian pidgin could rightly be called a national lingua franca.

The use of Nigerian pidgin in contemporary Nigerian could be described as most productive, extensive and complex. It appears that the standardization processes-selection, codification, elaboration of functions and acceptance-which started in the post-colonial era, are as now being completed in contemporary Nigeria. The reason for this assumption is simple-apart from its complex use as a lingua franca, languages of media advertisement, social interaction, unofficial military training and limited literary output, Nigerian pidgin gas attained widespread acceptability in the media, political propaganda and campaigns as well as soap operas. It is also the language of radio and television jingles. Most electronic media now use appreciable percentage of their airtime to cast news and give reports in Nigeria pidgin. Even though its use in some newspaper columns has declined, especially with the demise of the ‘Waka About’ column in the Daily Times, it is however found extensively in some newspaper advertisements .

In places like Warri, Sapele and Port Harcourt, there were reports that teachers at lower primary level taught their pupils in Nigerian pidgin. This unofficial adoption of the Nigerian pidgin as the language of the lower primary education by those teachers is justifiable considering the provision in the National Policy on Education, which states that in addition to English, the major language in the child’s environment could be used at the elementary level of education. Similarly, Nigerian pidgin has become a language of religious preaching, especially Christianity. In most rural and even urban centres where congregation are not all very well-educated, pastors resort to the use of Nigerian pidgin.

The use of the Nigerian pidgin as a literary language tends to have started in the sixties with the work of Achebe, Soyinka and others. But it is in the contemporary times that it has become most widespread. The number of poems, novels and plays written and published in Nigerian pidgin is growing even more rapidly. Many more literary writers now attempt to experiment with the language. Therefore, the evidence of codification and elaboration of functions and the partial or tactical acceptance of Nigerian pidgin are clearly visible.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

He was injured by a friendly fire.

From the passage, which of the following is the most important reason why Nigerian pidgin is popular?

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

If joy hadn't been tripped up halfway through the race, she would have come first.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

If anyone greets you, it is only polite to return _____ greeting.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

He is really very mean. He _____ not lend me the money I wanted.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

'A novel is an embellished falsehood', said the teacher.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The Lagos bus conductor wore his professional livery.

Choose the option that best completes the gap(s).

He was determined to _____ all position into submission.