All 30 questions from the Post-UTME Screening (Post-UTME) English Language 2008 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
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How can history be scientifically be recorded?
The passage argues history should be based on examining surviving/available evidence objectively.
According to the passage, a historian should try to examine a material
The passage emphasizes historians should analyze evidence with the same objective attitude as a scientist, aiming for objectivity.
History can be defined as
The passage's opening definition: history is 'a record of the past actions of mankind, based on surviving evidence.'
The scientist tends to be more reliable than a historian because
The passage notes a scientist can verify conclusions by repeating experiments under controlled conditions, unlike a historian.
According to the passage, one of the duties of a historian is
The passage states the historian is 'referred to as an interpreter of the development of mankind.'
From the of the Nigerian Civil War, every Nigerian lost hope of the existence of one corporate Nigeria
'From the outset' means from the very beginning.
Miscreants on stealing for a living
'Specialize in' fits the context of habitual criminal activity as one's main occupation.
The team take early flight back to the bases; screamed a newspaper rider, a couple of days to the round of last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. That was not a fair assessment... (nearest interpretation for 'spineless team')
This item forms part of a longer passage on the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the Super Eagles' performance; the full stem/options were not fully legible in the scan.
The writer's opinion of the newspaper rider is
The writer challenges/disputes the newspaper rider's harsh 'spineless' assessment, indicating a critical stance toward that characterization.
From the passage, the writer is
The writer defends the Super Eagles' performance, framing their exit as still a notable Guinness World Record achievement, implying praise.
From the passage, the writer believes that
The passage states 60% of the 16 teams that exited in the first round were 'spineless', implying most (not all) were.
What qualified the performance of Nigeria for the Guinness Book of Records?
Nigeria's achievement (being among the up-to-four teams qualifying as the 'worst miss' in World Cup history) is tied to their early exit despite spirited performance.
A sweeping description of the first 16 teams to exit the tournament
The writer disputes the blanket ('sweeping') 'spineless' label, noting some teams (like the Super Eagles) actually performed spiritedly.
On this issue, the University has crossed the Rubicon. This means that
'To cross the Rubicon' is an idiom for passing a point of no return, i.e. a firm, irreversible decision.
Dr. Amadasun is a dye in the wood academic. This means that
'Dyed in the wool' (here rendered 'dye in the wood') means deeply committed/fixed in one's views.
If you don't know him well enough, you would think he couldn't say 'boo to a goose'. (nearest in meaning to the idiom)
'Couldn't say boo to a goose' is an idiom for being extremely timid/meek.
The business man near our house is sore ceful that all his grain comes to his mill. (nearest in meaning to the implied idiom)
The context suggests he makes the most (profit) of everything that comes his way.
The famous dancer brought down the house by her exquisite performance. (nearest in meaning to the idiom)
'To bring down the house' means to win an enthusiastic ovation.
The Lincoln used to be an object of ridicule to his friends, but they soon realized that he was a rough diamond. (nearest in meaning to the idiom)
'A rough diamond' describes someone of hidden great worth beneath an unrefined exterior.
While we were waiting for the examination results to be posted, I suffered a lot from suspense. (nearest in meaning to 'suspense')
'Suspense' means anxious uncertainty.
John's master praised him for being diligent in his duties. (nearest in meaning to 'diligent')
'Diligent' means hard-working.
We had to control Uyi or he would have fought Abu over those words. (nearest in meaning to 'control')
'Control' here means to restrain someone from acting.
Some people believe that black cats are omens of bad luck. (nearest in meaning to 'omens')
'Omens' are signs believed to foretell events.
A monkey can imitate most of a man's actions. (nearest in meaning to 'imitate')
'To ape' someone's actions means to imitate them.
The villagers were filled with wonder when they saw their first television. (nearest in meaning to 'wonder')
'Wonder' here means amazement.
[Passage: on the controversial sunspot theory - great storms on the Sun's surface hurl solar particles into space, affecting Earth's weather and radio/TV communication; sunspots consist of a cooler, dark umbra and lighter penumbra, and occur in an eleven-year cycle.] Why are solar particles hurled into space?
The passage attributes this to great storms (disturbances) on the surface of the Sun.
How can we describe the effect of matter from the Sun that enters the Earth's atmosphere?
The passage states solar particles cause 'shifts in weather on the Earth'.
How would you describe most sunspots?
The passage describes a sunspot as a dark central umbra surrounded by a lighter penumbra with light and dark threads extending out like the spokes of a wheel.
What does the author mean by 'Actually the sunspots are cooler than the rest of the photosphere, which may account for their apparently darker colour'?
The statement directly links the cooler temperature of sunspots to their darker apparent colour.
The Sunspot theory is
The passage opens by describing this as 'the controversial sunspot theory', indicating it remains subject to debate.
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