JAMB English Language 2021 Objective Past Questions
All 60 questions from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) English Language 2021 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
Which of the following is NOT true about the perception of black men in the passage?
A. They are more sexually active than their European counterparts.
B. Their sexual organs are not fully developed compared to their European counterparts.Correct
C. They are oversexed and sexually more virile than their European counterparts.
D. They are sexually animalistic and more physically developed than their European counterparts.
Explanation
The passage discusses the racist myth that black men are OVER-endowed/oversexed, not under-developed. So the statement claiming their organs are 'not fully developed' contradicts that stereotype and is therefore the one that is NOT true.
According to the author, the perception of black men and women in the passage is _____
A. mythical but not racist
B. stereotypical but not racist
C. racist but not stereotypical
D. racist and stereotypicalCorrect
Explanation
The perceptions described generalise negatively about an entire race based on unfounded beliefs — this is both racist (prejudiced by race) and stereotypical (a fixed, oversimplified image), so both apply together.
The two words that can replace 'bodily' and 'rape' as used in the first paragraph are _____
A. physical and invadeCorrect
B. fleshly and frustrate
C. agile and violate
D. hefty and trespass
Explanation
'Bodily' relates to the physical body, and 'rape' in this context is being used to mean a forceful violation/invasion of the body — 'physical' and 'invade' capture these meanings most accurately without changing the sense.
The black women, according to the passage, can never truly be raped because _____
A. Their awareness of their right to sexual modesty is low.Correct
B. They hardly prosecute when such an act is performed on them.
C. Their sexual organs are more highly developed.
D. Their sense of morality is very low.
Explanation
This reflects the racist myth that black women were seen as inherently promiscuous, so they were assumed not to value or assert their right to sexual modesty — making society reluctant to recognise assaults against them as 'true' rape.
Corresponding to the popular sexual myth that black men are genitally over-endowed are notions that _____
A. African women's sexual organs are more highly developed than those of European women.
B. African women can never truly be raped.
C. Scientific representations of the black woman's body are exaggerated.
D. African women are amoral Jezebels.Correct
Explanation
The mirror-image racist myth to the 'over-endowed black male' stereotype is the 'Jezebel' myth — the false, prejudiced portrayal of African women as inherently hypersexual and lacking morals.
Many Nigerians are yet to appreciate the importance of _____ good food.
A. consumingCorrect
B. eating
C. swallowing
D. taking
Explanation
'Consuming' is the more formal, precise collocation used for food in this register (appreciating the importance of consuming good food), while 'swallowing' and 'taking' don't fit the food context as naturally, and 'eating' is too plain for the intended formal tone of the passage.
The major reason for this lack of _____ (cloze passage, first blank of the sentence)
A. awarenessCorrect
B. seriousness
C. sense of responsibility
D. determination
Explanation
The passage is building on the earlier idea that Nigerians lack appreciation/knowledge about good food — 'lack of awareness' is the phrase that logically continues this idea, rather than seriousness, responsibility or determination which don't fit the surrounding sense about knowledge/appreciation.
A change has _____ been in the pattern of spending (cloze passage blank)
A. seenCorrect
B. acknowledged
C. discovered
D. found
Explanation
'Seen' collocates naturally with 'a change has been seen in...' — a standard way of saying a shift has become noticeable, whereas 'acknowledged/discovered/found' are less idiomatic in this construction.
'Common' best expresses that the described spending pattern is widespread/prevalent among the people, which is the intended meaning; 'recurring' and 'frequent' relate more to repetition over time than to prevalence across a population.
Extravagant, unplanned spending is best described as lacking 'planning' — this fits the context of poor financial decision-making described in the passage.
A good number of whom are quite _____ when it comes to buying clothes.
A. arrogant
B. stingy
C. crazy
D. extravagantCorrect
Explanation
'Extravagant' means spending more than necessary, which matches the passage's criticism of excessive, unplanned clothes-buying; 'stingy' means the opposite (unwilling to spend).
This _____ for expensive clothes has been brought about by the belief that (first blank)
A. desireCorrect
B. anticipation
C. aversion
D. regret
Explanation
'Desire' fits naturally with 'for expensive clothes' (a desire for something), continuing the idea of wanting to buy costly clothing; 'aversion' would mean the opposite (dislike), which contradicts the passage's point.
It is the appearance that _____ the type of person one is.
A. produces
B. records
C. determinesCorrect
D. decides
Explanation
'Determines' is the standard collocation meaning 'establishes/is the deciding factor for' — appearance is being described as what defines a person's perceived identity.
Good food _____ one (first blank; continues into 'immunity from diseases')
A. lends
B. givesCorrect
C. makes
D. rewards
Explanation
'Gives' collocates correctly with 'immunity' in the next sentence ('gives one immunity from diseases'); the other verbs do not pair naturally with 'immunity' in standard usage.
'Immunity' means the body's natural resistance/protection against disease, which is what good nutrition provides; 'immunization' refers specifically to vaccination, a different concept.
Based on the answer key, the statement was made at the point the speaker was admitted to study a course — note the original narrative passage was not included in the uploaded file, so this reflects the marked answer rather than a directly quotable passage extract.
Per the answer key, 'Teemah' is the character identified as the 'young lady' in the narrative. (Full passage not included in the uploaded file, so this reflects the provided answer.)
Who are the people being described in the expression about keeping students till dusk?
A. secretaries
B. lecturersCorrect
C. attendants
D. policemen
Explanation
Lecturers are identified as the ones responsible for keeping students back till dusk, based on the answer key — likely referencing a complaint about lecturers detaining students for extended hours.
Although our leader preached egalitarianism, he could not match it up with action.
A. salvation
B. dedication
C. kindnessCorrect
D. equality
Explanation
'Egalitarianism' is the belief in equality among people, so 'equality' (option D) is the meaning-accurate substitute. Note: the source document marks 'C' (kindness) as the answer, which does not match the actual meaning of egalitarianism — this looks like a transcription error in the original key.
The chairman's verdict redressed the injustice meted out by the secretary.
A. restored
B. corrected
C. aggravatedCorrect
D. addressed
Explanation
'Redressed' means to set right or correct a wrong, which matches 'corrected' (option B) in meaning. Note: the source marks 'C' (aggravated) as the answer, but 'aggravated' means to worsen — the opposite of the intended meaning — suggesting a likely error in the original key.
Sola could not travel yesterday because of the severity of the weather.
A. cold
B. mildnessCorrect
C. warmth
D. moderation
Explanation
'Severity' implies harshness or extremity (e.g. extreme cold), which is closest to option A ('cold'). Note: the source marks 'B' (mildness) as the answer, but 'mildness' means the opposite of severe/harsh weather — this appears to be an inconsistency in the original key.
He devoted much time to the peripheral aspect of the topic.
A. unimportant
B. superficial
C. minor
D. mainCorrect
Explanation
'Peripheral' means being on the edge or side issue rather than central — i.e., 'minor' or 'unimportant.' Note: the source marks 'D' (main) as the answer, but 'main' is essentially the opposite of 'peripheral' — this looks like an error in the original key; 'minor' (C) fits the intended meaning best.
The chairman advised every member of the group to tolerate disparate dispositions.
A. convergingCorrect
B. accommodating
C. conflicting
D. opposing
Explanation
'Disparate' means essentially different or at odds with one another, which is closer in meaning to 'conflicting' or 'opposing.' Note: the source marks 'A' (converging) as the answer, but 'converging' means coming together — nearly the opposite of 'disparate' — suggesting a likely inconsistency in the original key.
The gubernatorial aspirant warned of the political catastrophe that would follow if the elections were rigged.
A. problem
B. conflagration
C. successCorrect
D. turmoil
Explanation
'Catastrophe' means a large-scale disaster, closest here to 'conflagration' (a great, destructive upheaval) or 'turmoil.' Note: the source marks 'C' (success) as the answer, but 'success' is the opposite of a catastrophe — this appears to be an error in the original key.
One of the women who _____ corns by the road _____ been arrested.
A. sells/have
B. sell/hasCorrect
C. sells/have
D. sells/has
Explanation
The relative clause 'who ___ corns' refers back to the plural antecedent 'women,' so it takes the plural verb 'sell'; the main clause refers to 'one' (singular), so it takes 'has' — giving 'sell/has.'
Amaka is now a _____ student but it took her years to _____.
A. matured/mature
B. mature/matureCorrect
C. mature/matured
D. matured/matured
Explanation
'Mature' is used as an adjective in 'a mature student' and as a verb (to mature = to become mature) in 'took her years to mature' — both blanks take the same base form, 'mature.'
The class _____ more boys than girls this session.
A. comprised
B. comprises of
C. comprise
D. comprisesCorrect
Explanation
'Comprise' means 'to consist of' and should never be followed by 'of'; with the singular subject 'class' in the present tense, the correct form is 'comprises.'
I have already _____ the picture on the sitting-room wall.
A. hanged
B. hang
C. hungCorrect
D. hanging
Explanation
'Hung' is the correct past participle of 'hang' when referring to objects (like pictures); 'hanged' is reserved specifically for execution by hanging (a person).
There is no need ingratiating ourselves _____ the chairman for the success of the project.
A. to
B. withCorrect
C. at
D. before
Explanation
The idiomatic collocation is 'ingratiate oneself with someone.' Note: the source text for this item is garbled/incomplete, so the exact answer letter in the original key could not be reliably confirmed — 'with' is the grammatically correct preposition regardless of the marked letter.
Which of the following has a different stress pattern? interrupt, contribute, harmattan, entertain
A. interruptCorrect
B. contribute
C. harmattan
D. entertain
Explanation
'Interrupt' (in-ter-RUPT), 'harmattan' (har-ma-TAN) and 'entertain' (en-ter-TAIN) are all stressed on the final syllable. 'Contribute' (con-TRIB-ute) is stressed on the middle syllable instead. Based on standard stress patterns, 'contribute' (option B) is actually the odd one out — the source key marking 'interrupt' (A) appears to be an error.
Which of the following has a different stress pattern? interlocutor, opportunity, ambiguity, actualization
A. interlocutor
B. opportunity
C. ambiguity
D. actualizationCorrect
Explanation
'Interlocutor,' 'opportunity' and 'ambiguity' are all stressed on their third syllable (in-ter-LOC-u-tor, op-por-TU-ni-ty, am-bi-GU-i-ty). 'Actualization' shifts its main stress much later in the word (ac-tu-al-i-ZA-tion), giving it a different pattern.
Which of the following has a different stress pattern? problematic, unfamiliar, ambidextrous, anticipatory
A. problematic
B. unfamiliar
C. ambidextrous
D. anticipatoryCorrect
Explanation
'Problematic,' 'unfamiliar' and 'ambidextrous' all carry their main stress on the third syllable, near the end of the word. 'Anticipatory' places its primary stress earlier (an-TIC-i-pa-to-ry), making its pattern different from the rest.
Which of the following has a different stress pattern? calibrate, syndicate, simplify, intestate
A. calibrate
B. syndicate
C. simplify
D. intestateCorrect
Explanation
'Calibrate,' 'syndicate' and 'simplify' are all stressed on the first syllable. 'Intestate' is stressed on the second syllable (in-TES-tate), making it the exception.
Which of the following has a different stress pattern? cultivate, motivate, realize, novitiate
A. cultivate
B. motivate
C. realize
D. novitiateCorrect
Explanation
'Cultivate,' 'motivate' and 'realize' are all stressed on the first syllable. 'Novitiate' is stressed on the second syllable (no-VISH-i-ate), making it the odd one out.
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