All 40 questions from the Post-UTME Screening (Post-UTME) English Language 2012 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
Read Passage I carefully. The young woman in the passage was uncomfortable because
A. the man appeared to be showing interest in her by his prolonged eye contactCorrect B. the man's short and sharp gazes would tip the relationship toward greater intimacyC. strangers who made the man's type of eye contact were likely to be dangerousD. she was allergic to eye contactExplanation The woman complained that the man kept looking at her without breaking eye contact - i.e. prolonged eye contact made her uncomfortable.
The reason given for the non-finality of research results on eye contact is
A. lack of concord and foresight among psychologists who carry out research on eye movementB. lack of uniformity in eye behaviour and the variability of contact situationCorrect C. some subjects cheat during experiments, thus invalidating research findingsD. research findings on eye contact have not been subjected to further empirical testsExplanation The passage states eye behaviour 'facts' are 'not cut and dried' because people vary and no pattern is precisely predictable.
From the expression 'proper street behaviour requires a balance of attention and intention,' it can be concluded that
A. even among strangers, attitudes and purposes can be deduced from eye behaviorCorrect B. before walking the streets one must balance one's shifty eyesC. when intimate groups meet in the streets, eye contact is usually longerD. there is a balance between those with longer eye contact and those with shorter eye contactExplanation The passage shows that even strangers on the street communicate awareness/intention through calibrated eye contact.
Which of the following can be concluded from the opening paragraph?
A. The effects of eye contact are always overwhelming.B. Eye behaviour is one of the non-verbal ways of communicating.Correct C. Eye movement is the most potent means of expressing intimacy.D. People are always offended by searching eye contact.Explanation The passage opens by calling eye behaviour 'one of the most potent elements in body language', i.e. a non-verbal means of communication.
From the findings of the research described in the passage, one can reason that
A. innocent people maintain longer eye contact than the guilty onesB. guilty people make less frequent gazes during interrogationCorrect C. 'shifty eyes' are equally induced by innocence and guiltD. a feeling of guilt is occasioned by 'shifty eyes'Explanation Subjects who cheated met the interviewer's eyes less often than normal, showing guilty people avoid eye contact (fewer gazes).
Passage II gap-fill: Two thirds of children in .......... Societies no longer have family life.
A. industrializedCorrect B. socializedC. technologicalD. modernizedExplanation 'Industrialized societies' is the standard collocation describing modern societies where children are placed with minders early.
...They are virtually abandoned to child-minders from a very tender age. The .......... from their mothers brings suffering...
A. disregardB. indifferenceCorrect C. alienationD. inattentionExplanation 'Indifference from their mothers' fits the idea of emotional neglect causing suffering.
...The .......... in the number of suicides, the rates of drug addiction...
A. developmentB. increaseCorrect C. appreciationD. inflationExplanation A rising number of suicides is naturally described as an 'increase'.
...the rates of drug addiction and .......... among young people may be to a large extent, due to these premature separations...
A. delinquencyCorrect B. irresponsibilityC. SatanismD. truancyExplanation 'Delinquency' pairs naturally with drug addiction as a social problem among young people.
...which take place before sufficient time has .......... for attachment to develop.
A. materializedB. occurredC. surfacedD. elapsedCorrect Explanation Time 'elapses' - the standard collocation for time passing.
...breast-feeding is one of the basic cares which many children of this age are ..........
A. tantalized withB. denied ofCorrect C. left withD. spared ofExplanation The psychiatrist's argument is that many children are being deprived ('denied') of breast-feeding.
...breast-feeding extends into the world outside the womb, a liquid bond with the inside of the mother's body, a bond .......... that which the baby had with the placenta inside the uterus.
A. close toCorrect B. the same asC. unrelated toD. irrelevant toExplanation Breast-feeding is described as a bond similar/close to the earlier womb bond.
Rhythmic rocking to and fro is .......... of the movement that the child experienced before it was born.
A. an elongationB. a demonstrationC. a continuationCorrect D. a stretchingExplanation Rocking after birth continues (is 'a continuation of') the pre-birth movement.
As for the baby's .......... its mother's body, it reminds the child of the .......... pressure of the uterus (first gap)
A. squeezing againstCorrect B. separation fromC. likeness forD. pressure againstExplanation The child being pressed close ('squeezing against') the mother's body recalls womb pressure.
...it reminds the child of the .......... pressure of the uterus, and enables it to (second gap in same sentence)
A. reassuringCorrect B. uncomfortableC. amusingD. unpleasantExplanation Given the positive tone of the passage about breastfeeding, the pressure is described as 'reassuring'.
...and enables it to .......... the rhythms of its mother's breathing and heartbeat.
A. unearthB. rediscoverCorrect C. learnD. exploreExplanation Since the baby knew these rhythms in the womb, it 'rediscovers' rather than learns them anew.
If the rain hadn't fallen, we wouldn't have missed the match. Which option best explains the information conveyed?
A. The rain is falling, so we will miss the match.B. The rain fell, so we didn't watch the match.Correct C. The rain fell, so we watched the match.D. The rain didn't fall, so we didn't watch the match.Explanation A third conditional implies the opposite happened in reality: the rain did fall, and the match was missed (not watched).
The new Headmaster hoped that his men would pull together.
A. He expected that the men would cooperate with him.Correct B. He thought that the men would compose themselves at work.C. He was certain that they would resign en masse.D. He was certain that their condition would improve under him.Explanation 'Pull together' means to cooperate as a team.
If the trader paid in full, his order was not pruned down.
A. The trader who made full payment did not have his order reduced.Correct B. The trader who made some payment did not have his order delayed.C. Unless the trader paid in full his order would be rejected.D. As the trader did not increase his order, he did not need to pay in full.Explanation 'Pruned down' means reduced; full payment meant the order was not reduced.
The men were not pawns in someone else's political game.
A. The action they executed was their idea.Correct B. The men used someone else's plan.C. They were used by someone's political game.D. They loved playing political games.Explanation 'Not pawns' means they were not manipulated; their actions were their own idea.
The crisis ended as suddenly as it began.
A. The crisis had suddenly begun.B. The crisis will not end suddenly.C. The crisis stopped almost immediately.Correct D. The crisis will stop immediately.Explanation Since it ended just as suddenly as it began, it stopped almost immediately (past tense fits the sentence).
One thing I will not be complaining about in my new job is a lack of excitement.
A. The job is bad.B. The job is exciting.Correct C. The job is not too exciting.D. The job has been previously done.Explanation Double negative (not complaining about a lack) means there IS excitement - the job is exciting.
The Governor parried all the questions put to him by the journalist.
A. The Governor answered all the questions brilliantly.B. The Governor evaded all the questions.Correct C. The Governor failed all the questions.D. The Governor mastered all the questions.Explanation 'Parried' means skilfully avoided/evaded.
If I visited England, I might go to Manchester City.
A. When I go to England, I could go to Manchester City.B. Whenever I visit England, I must go to Manchester City.C. I did not go to England and could not go to Manchester City.Correct D. I could not visit Manchester City because I did not want to go to England.Explanation The second conditional expresses an unreal/hypothetical present, implying the speaker has not actually visited England.
The man puts his foot down whenever he is convinced of his action.
A. He desires to assert his will in the situation.B. He makes his mark wherever he goes.C. His attitude demonstrates someone who likes to oppress others around him.D. He demonstrates firmness of character.Correct Explanation 'Puts his foot down' is an idiom for being firm and decisive - i.e. demonstrating firmness of character.
No wonder Dekemi later became a detective; she has been very observant.
A. curiousB. perceptiveCorrect C. inductiveD. inquisitiveExplanation 'Observant' (noticing details keenly) is nearest in meaning to 'perceptive'.
Nigeria has been playing a vital role in the political and economic development of Africa.
A. creditableB. crucialCorrect C. respectableD. laudableExplanation 'Vital' means essential/crucial.
Emeka's painting was so realistic that it could almost have been a photograph.
A. picturesqueB. concreteC. livelyD. authenticCorrect Explanation 'Realistic' (true-to-life) is nearest in meaning to 'authentic' (genuine-looking).
Courteously, Ade stood back to let his teacher go first through the door.
A. PatientlyB. PolitelyCorrect C. CarefullyD. CalmlyExplanation 'Courteously' means politely.
Many people used to live in poverty.
A. instabilityB. wantCorrect C. difficultyD. the slumsExplanation 'Poverty' is nearest in meaning to 'want' (lack of basic necessities).
Accountability is certainly a desirable quality in a politician.
A. RespectabilityB. CourageC. ResponsibilityCorrect D. DiligenceExplanation 'Accountability' is nearest in meaning to 'responsibility'.
The common practice among some media practitioners is to be sensational in their reporting.
A. prevalentCorrect B. rampantC. ordinaryD. cogentExplanation 'Common' (widespread) is nearest in meaning to 'prevalent'.
That fateful decision changed the company's outlook in many ways.
A. wonderfulB. disastrousCorrect C. uncontrollableD. unsuccessfulExplanation 'Fateful' commonly implies momentous and often unfortunate/disastrous consequences.
The accident victim received a superficial wound from the crash.
A. a seriousB. a painlessC. an internalD. an externalCorrect Explanation A 'superficial' wound is a surface-level (external) wound, not a deep one.
The boxer fizzled out just in the sixth round.
A. knocked out his opponentB. showed off his talentsC. became tired but fought on spiritedlyD. surrendered rather disappointinglyCorrect Explanation 'Fizzled out' means to end weakly/disappointingly after a promising start.
The manager described Mfon as a man of vehement character.
A. weak and UninterestedB. strong and insistentCorrect C. troublesome and noisyD. clever and helpfulExplanation 'Vehement' means forceful, strong and insistent.
Obi's dog is old but still lively.
A. attractiveB. howlingC. barkingD. friskyCorrect Explanation 'Lively' (full of energy) is nearest in meaning to 'frisky'.
His taciturnity amazed everyone in the court during the legal tussle.
A. obliviousnessB. reticenceCorrect C. sensibilityD. pervasivenessExplanation 'Taciturnity' (habitual silence) is nearest in meaning to 'reticence'.
The greatness of the creator of the universe is always inexpressible to many adherents of certain faiths.
A. inevitableB. wonderfulC. ineffableCorrect D. unbearableExplanation 'Inexpressible' (too great to be described in words) is nearest in meaning to 'ineffable'.
We made a pile in the business deal.
A. lost a lot of moneyB. earned a lot of moneyCorrect C. broke evenD. cut cornersExplanation 'Made a pile' is an idiom meaning to earn a lot of money.
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