All 169 questions from the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) English Language 2022 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
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Obi's family is known for their audacity, so one is surprised at his ..........
'Cowardice' is opposite in meaning to 'audacity' (boldness); 'audacity' means lack of fear while 'cowardice' means lack of courage.
Bayo is careless in his ways while Tayo is ..........
'Meticulous' (precise and painstaking) is opposite in meaning to 'careless'.
In this country, the law against armed robbery is stringent whereas that against smoking in public places is ..........
The purpose of education is to facilitate progress, not to .............. it.
'Impede' (to hinder) is opposite in meaning to 'facilitate' (to make easier).
These days, many people concentrate on temporal things to the detriment of the ..........
'Spiritual' is opposite in meaning to 'temporal', which relates to worldly, not spiritual, matters.
While your parents are .............., mine are liberal in their views.
'Conservative' (reluctant to accept change) is opposite in meaning to 'liberal' (tolerant of different views).
The judge expected direct answers but the accused was ..........
'Evasive' (avoiding a direct answer) is opposite in meaning to 'direct'.
Kofi is generous, whereas his wife is ..........
'Stingy' (unwilling to give) is opposite in meaning to 'generous' (willing to give freely).
His manners are uncouth, while his wife's are ..........
'Refined' (cultured and polite) is opposite in meaning to 'uncouth' (ill-mannered).
The peak of Mount Everest is about six miles from its ..........
'Base' (lowest part) is opposite in meaning to 'peak' (the highest point/summit).
The recent floods in some countries have ..........many lives.
'To claim lives' means to end lives / cause death; this is the standard collocation.
He does not smoke so the gift of an ashtray will not be quite ............
It is not 'appropriate' (suitable) to give an ashtray to a non-smoker.
The reviewers did an excellent job at the book ..........
A 'launch' is an event to introduce a new product such as a book.
The government filed .........against the ruling of the tribunal
An 'appeal' is a request for a superior court to review the ruling of a lower body.
At the terminus, all passengers on the train will have to ................
'Alight' means to step down from a vehicle onto a platform or the ground.
Reading the ..............of the famous king, one would see that he had many things to hide.
A 'memoir' is a historical account written from personal knowledge.
The smaller boys had always drawn back in fear when the bully raised a fist, but this time they did not ..........
To 'recoil' is to react instinctively with fear or distaste; this time they did not react that way.
The old man prayed for the ..........of his sins before he died.
'Remission' (in a religious sense) means forgiveness or pardon of sins.
Inflation has caused the cost of goods to ............
'Escalate' means to increase, become greater, more serious or more intense.
The economy of the country has remained ..........despite the crisis.
A 'strong' economy is one that is thriving and likely to continue doing so.
The principal raised eyebrows at the student's explanation. This means that the principal
'To raise an eyebrow' is an idiom meaning to show surprise or mild scepticism.
Mary made a clean breast of everything. This means that Mary
'To make a clean breast of' means to be honest about something or to confess.
Had it not rained, I would have visited you. This means that
The sentence expresses an unreal past condition: because it rained, the visit did not happen.
I hadn't finished talking to Halimat, when she snapped my head off. This means that she
'To snap someone's head off' means to rudely and sharply interrupt or rebuke them.
Franca's behaviour towards Edward leaves much to be desired. This means that Franca's behaviour was
'Leaves much to be desired' means it falls short of an acceptable standard, i.e. unsatisfactory.
The teacher truly had his heart in the right place. This means that he was
'Had his heart in the right place' means he was focused and had the correct intentions/direction.
Only teachers could afford a car. This means that
'Only' before the subject restricts the meaning to teachers alone being able to afford a car.
The night watchman was given the marching order because of his negligence. This means that he was
'Given the marching order' means sacked or dismissed from work.
My friend is as dull as dishwater. This means that my friend is
'As dull as dishwater' is an idiom describing someone or something as boring.
The director sees Tim as the joker in the pack. This means that the director considers Tim to be
'The joker in the pack' refers to a funny, playful person.
The president of the student union said it was strategic to boycott classes to press home their demands.
'Strategic' and 'tactical' both relate to planning or tactics.
The proscription of political parties was one of the steps taken by the military.
'Proscription' means the banning or condemnation of something.
Farmers sometimes go through the frustration of having to watch their produce rot.
'Frustration' means being mildly angered or irritated, closest to 'annoying'.
The acrobatic displays left the spectators stunned.
'Stunned' means amazed, astonished or startled.
Binetou looked quite resplendent in that red dress.
'Resplendent' means dazzlingly impressive in appearance, i.e. stunning.
It is foolish to depend entirely on mundane things.
'Mundane' relates to matters of this world, i.e. material things.
Only a pragmatic approach will solve this problem.
'Pragmatic' means dealing with things sensibly and practically.
The governor rebutted all allegations against him.
'To rebut' is to refute or disprove an allegation by argument.
He was jailed for failing to obey the court injunction.
An 'injunction' is a court order requiring someone to do or refrain from doing something.
The World Bank made funds available to the government for poverty alleviation.
'Alleviation' means making something such as hardship less severe, i.e. reduction.
The two players protested against the ..........
'Twice-weekly' is a compound adjective qualifying the noun phrase 'fitness practice'; adjectives precede the noun they qualify.
If I ..........what actually happened, I would have punished him.
This is a Type 3 (past) conditional sentence, requiring the past perfect 'had heard' in the if-clause.
She was certainly going to the cinema, ..........?
The statement is positive and in the past tense ('was'), so the negative question tag must be 'wasn't she'.
Their ..........house is by the side of the road.
In a compound noun, the possessive apostrophe + s is added to the last element: 'father-in-law's'.
He ..........his ideas very clearly at meetings.
'To put across' an idea means to express it clearly so people understand it.
Remember to return it to Ruth, ..........hers.
'It's' is the contracted form of 'it is'; it should not be confused with the possessive 'its'.
I want to know your religious ..........
'Belief' is the noun form; 'believe' is the verb. The sentence needs the plural noun 'beliefs'.
The student did the assignment, but not..........the way I expected.
'Just' here means 'exactly/precisely' the way expected.
Bola invited Joe and ..........to the show.
'Me' is the correct objective pronoun to use as the object of the verb 'invited'.
Highlights ..........the events will be televised today.
'Highlights of the events' is the correct prepositional collocation.
When the fire alarm went off, we all ..........the door.
The phrasal verb 'make for' means to move in the direction of something.
Jane has stopped smoking, ..........?
The statement uses the auxiliary 'has', so the question tag must use 'hasn't she'.
Graduates find it difficult to secure ..........nowadays.
'Employment' is an uncountable noun and does not take 'a/an' or a plural form.
I'll try to convince him as ..........I can.
'As best I can' is the correct idiomatic expression meaning 'to the best of one's ability'.
..........were classmates in the university.
As the subject of the sentence, the subjective pronoun 'I' is required, and it is polite to place it after the other person.
Their ..........shop stocks an overwhelming variety of goods.
The article 'an' is used because the following word 'overwhelming' begins with a vowel sound.
It's a miracle that the child didn't die after the illness, ..........?
The statement is positive, using 'is', so the tag question must be the negative 'isn't it'.
It is always good to live ..........one's means.
'Within one's means' is the correct idiom meaning to live inside one's financial capacity.
How I wish she ..........the books before Tunde arrived.
Sequence of tense: since 'arrived' is simple past, the earlier action needs the past perfect 'had seen'.
He is certainly the ..........man in this party.
'Most offended' is the correct superlative form used when comparing among three or more people.
To ..........did you speak?
'Whom' is the relative/interrogative pronoun used in the objective case, sometimes preceded by a preposition.
..........all probability, the strike will be called off today.
'In all probability' is the correct idiomatic expression meaning 'very likely'.
Amao..........his master in every way.
The phrasal verb 'take after' means to resemble or behave like somebody else.
He ran..............that the defenders couldn't catch up with him.
The intensifier 'so' requires 'that' to complete the sentence, i.e. 'so fast that...'.
I told them I would come back as soon as I ..........
The reported speech uses the past tense of 'can', which is 'could', maintaining sequence of tense.
Isn't it high time we..........?
'It's high time' or 'it's time' is followed by a verb in the simple past tense.
The reason he gave,..............., was most unconvincing.
The noun clause 'that he had no money' correctly explains 'the reason' as its complement.
Sometimes minor incidents in our lives stand out because we cherish..........
'Them' correctly substitutes for the plural noun 'minor incidents'.
An act of cleanliness is to dispose ...........useless items.
'To dispose of' something means to get rid of or throw it away.
Two of his ........left for Europe.
The plural noun 'friends' is required since 'two of' precedes it.
Within the last quarter of the twentieth century, medical experts have been laying emphasis on .....71..... rather than .....72.....measures.
'Preventive' measures aim to stop disease before it occurs, which fits the context of modern health emphasis.
Through primary health care programmes, people have been taught about .....72.....measures.
'Curative' measures are those capable of curing or restoring health, contrasted with preventive measures.
When an individual .....73.....a disease, he has to see a doctor.
'To contract' a disease means to catch or develop an illness.
...he has to see a doctor for .....74.....
'Consultation' refers to the work of a doctor/expert providing professional advice or service.
At times, the doctor finds it difficult to .....75.....the disease during examination.
'To diagnose' means to identify a disease through examination, tests, and interview.
...because many diseases have similar .....76......
'Symptom' is an indication of a disease, such as pain, fever or dizziness.
...the patient is either asked to go to the .....77.....for one test or the other.
A 'laboratory' is a place for scientific research and testing, where medical tests are carried out.
...or he would have......78......taken to help the doctor find out what is happening internally.
An 'x-ray' is a photographic image produced using x-rays, used to see inside the body.
It is after all these that the doctor can......79......some drugs for the individual.
'To prescribe' a drug means to order a specific course of treatment for a patient.
...and perhaps give some......80......
An 'injection' is a dose of liquid drug administered into the body with a syringe.
lynch
The word 'lynch' has the short vowel sound /ɪ/, also realized in 'lick'.
said
The word 'said' has the short vowel sound /e/, also realized in 'many'.
dance
The word 'dance' has the short vowel sound /ɑ/, also realized in 'aunt'.
core
nook
The word 'nook' has the short vowel sound /ʊ/, also realized in 'good'.
doubt
The word 'doubt' has the diphthong /aʊ/, also realized in 'round'.
hut
The word 'hut' has the vowel sound /ʌ/, also realized in 'tonne'.
alert
The word 'alert' has the vowel sound /ɜ:/, also realized in 'pearl'.
believe
The word 'believe' has the long vowel sound /i:/, also realized in 'quay'.
beauty
The word 'beauty' has the sound /ju:/, also realized in 'few'.
white
The word 'white' has the diphthong /aɪ/, also realized in 'bye'.
here
The word 'here' has the sound /ɪə/, also realized in 'weird'.
soul
The word 'soul' has the diphthong /əʊ/, also realized in 'boat'.
boot
The word 'boot' has the long vowel /u:/, also realized in 'ruse'.
fall
The word 'fall' has the long vowel /ɔ:/, also realized in 'dawn'.
order
The word 'order' has the consonant sound /d/, also realized in 'made'.
joy
The word 'joy' has the consonant sound /dʒ/, also realized in 'ahoy'.
chunk
The word 'chunk' has the consonant sound /tʃ/, also realized in 'matches'.
pressure
The word 'pressure' has the consonant sound /ʒ/, also realized in 'measure'.
easy
The word 'easy' has the consonant sound /z/, also realized in 'phase'.
method
The word 'method' has the consonant sound /θ/, also realized in 'bathe'.
reverse
The word 'reverse' has the consonant sound /s/, also realized in 'cast'.
gang
The word 'gang' has the consonant sound /g/, also realized in 'tag'.
supper
The word 'supper' has the consonant sound /p/, also realized in 'trip'.
beige
The word 'beige' has the consonant sound /ʒ/, also realized in 'genre'.
long
The word 'long' has the consonant sound /ŋ/, also realized in 'chunk'.
bask
The word 'bask' has the consonant cluster /sk/, also realized in 'basque'.
then
The word 'then' has the consonant sound /ð/, also realized in 'thus'.
split
The word 'split' has the consonant cluster /spl/, also realized in 'splendour'.
black
The word 'black' has the consonant sound /k/, also realized in 'echo'.
hatch
'Hatch' rhymes with 'match'; other rhyming words include batch and latch.
roam
'Roam' rhymes with 'home'; other rhyming words include chrome and dome.
callow
'Callow' rhymes with 'shallow'; other rhyming words include fallow and wallow.
fasted
'Fasted' rhymes with 'lasted'.
lose
'Lose' rhymes with 'shoes' /uːz/.
institution
'Institution' is correctly stressed as in-sti-TU-tion.
spectacular
'Spectacular' is correctly stressed as spec-TAC-u-lar.
parochial
'Parochial' is correctly stressed as pa-RO-chi-al.
curriculum
'Curriculum' is correctly stressed as cur-RIC-u-lum.
affidavit
'Affidavit' is correctly stressed as aff-i-DA-vit.
Which word has a stress pattern different from the others?
'Concern' (con-CERN) is stressed on the second syllable, while the others are stressed on the first.
Which word has a stress pattern different from the others?
'Regain' (re-GAIN) is stressed on the second syllable, while the others are stressed on the first.
Which word has a stress pattern different from the others?
'Quality' (QUA-li-ty) is stressed on the first syllable, while the others are stressed on the second.
Which word has a stress pattern different from the others?
'Justice' (JUS-tice) is stressed on the first syllable while, in this set, it differs from the pattern of the others.
Which word has a stress pattern different from the others?
'Cadet' (ca-DET) is stressed on the second syllable, while the others are stressed on the first.
HE is the press photographer.
The emphatic stress on 'HE' answers a question distinguishing him from someone else, i.e. 'Is she...?'.
His cousin is usually HOSPITABLE to strangers.
The emphatic stress on 'HOSPITABLE' contrasts it with its opposite, 'hostile'.
The FRENCH village is located in Badagry.
The emphatic stress on 'FRENCH' contrasts it with another nationality, e.g. 'German'.
John's father was PROMOTED yesterday.
The emphatic stress on 'PROMOTED' contrasts it with its opposite, 'sacked'.
The principal punished the students for being DISHONEST.
The emphatic stress on 'DISHONEST' contrasts it with its opposite, 'sincere'.
/ɑ:/
The word 'lark' contains the long vowel sound /ɑ:/.
/ʌ/
The word 'flood' contains the vowel sound /ʌ/.
/aʊ/
The word 'plough' contains the diphthong /aʊ/.
/w/
The word 'wire' contains the consonant sound /w/.
/tʃ/
The word 'botched' contains the consonant sound /tʃ/.
/k/
The word 'chorus' contains the consonant sound /k/.
/ɪə/
The word 'peer' contains the vowel sound /ɪə/.
/ð/
The word 'their' contains the consonant sound /ð/.
/z/
The word 'resist' contains the consonant sound /z/.
/ɪ/
The word 'guilt' contains the vowel sound /ɪ/.
While Mr. Ade is ________, his son is a novice.
'Experienced' is opposite in meaning to 'novice' (a beginner).
It is better to use ________ rather than persuasion to get witnesses to court.
'Coercion' (forcing) is opposite in meaning to 'persuasion' (convincing willingly).
The animosity between Fatou and Sheku is shocking, considering the ________ they once shared.
'Friendship' is opposite in meaning to 'animosity' (strong hostility).
The reckless driver was admonished to be ________.
'Cautious' is opposite in meaning to 'reckless' (careless).
The old man rebuked the thug and his children ________ him for doing so.
All drivers were enjoined to obtain genuine and not ________ licences.
'Fake' is opposite in meaning to 'genuine' and is the natural collocation with 'licences'.
There was an agitation for ________ law on libel to be re-enacted.
'Repealed' (formally cancelled) is opposite in meaning to 're-enacted' (brought back into force).
The two political parties live today in ________ after four years of hostility.
'Amity' (friendship, peace) is opposite in meaning to 'hostility'.
The champions were elated after the tournament while their opponents looked ________.
'Dejected' (sad) is opposite in meaning to 'elated' (very happy).
That engineer was said to have used inferior rather than ________ materials in the construction of the collapsed building.
'Quality' materials is opposite in meaning to 'inferior' materials, and is the standard collocation tested.
I could not read what he wrote because his handwriting was ________.
'Illegible' means unable to be read, which fits the context.
When all the items on the agenda had been discussed, the meeting was ________.
A meeting that concludes after its business is done is 'adjourned'.
Occasionally, universities award ________ degrees to outstanding personalities.
An 'honorary' degree is one awarded as an honour, without the usual academic requirements.
His thoughtlessness is simply beyond ________.
'Beyond belief' is the correct idiom meaning extremely surprising or hard to accept.
Many doctors have ________ to western countries for better opportunities.
'Migrated' correctly describes doctors moving from their home country to another.
The younger brother insisted that he should be a ________ to the account.
A 'signatory' is one who signs a document such as a bank account mandate.
The military was able to ________ the plan to overthrow the government.
'Thwart' means to prevent someone from accomplishing something, fitting the context of stopping a coup plan.
She gave her poem to her teacher to ________ for the school magazine.
'Edit' means to prepare a piece of writing for publication.
Freedom of movement is a ________ right of every citizen.
'Fundamental' rights are basic rights guaranteed to all citizens.
The governor granted the political prisoners ________.
'Amnesty' is an official pardon granted especially to political offenders.
The recruits are under his tutelage. This means that he
'Tutelage' means guidance and instruction, i.e. training.
He listened attentively to her cock-and-bull story. This means that she told
A 'cock-and-bull story' is an unbelievable, far-fetched (incredible) story.
He has left the country for good this time. This means that he
'For good' means permanently, i.e. he will not return.
The bus driver smelt a rat when an unregistered vehicle trailed him for several kilometers. This means that the bus driver
'To smell a rat' means to become suspicious that something is wrong.
The newly employed workers were remunerated handsomely. This means that
'Remunerated handsomely' means paid generously/attractively.
The chairman has come under fire over this project. This means that the chairman has been
'To come under fire' means to be strongly criticized.
The ugly incidents of Civil War are water under the bridge. This means that the incidents
'Water under the bridge' refers to past events that are over and no longer significant, i.e. forgotten.
My heart was in my mouth as I tried to open the envelope. This means that as I opened the envelope, I was
'Heart in one's mouth' is an idiom describing extreme fear or anxiety.
Throughout the long argument, the minister maintained his ground over the claim. This means that the minister
'Maintained his ground' means he stood firm and did not change his position.
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