All 70 questions from the Post-UTME Screening (Post-UTME) English Language 2013 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
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The young engineer is good at terminating other people's projects but has not been capable of ..................... any of his own.
The opposite of 'terminating' (ending) is 'initiating' (starting).
The manager who expected to be given respect was treated with ..................
The opposite of 'respect' is 'scorn' (contempt).
Those who had invitation cards were admitted to the party while those who had none were .....................
The opposite of 'admitted' is 'barred' (kept out).
Too many theories will not help us: we need to be .............
The opposite of 'theoretical/theories' is 'practical'.
Nobody expects him to show ................. for his children but he certainly bestows too much affection on them
The opposite of 'affection' is 'hatred'.
The challenger was crude and inexperienced in comparison to the champion who was ..................
The opposite of 'crude' (unrefined) is 'refined'.
What should have been a source of motivation for him proved a terrible source of ..................
The opposite of 'motivation' is 'discouragement'.
Ade is very conservative in his political ideas whereas Bala expresses ............. views always
The opposite of 'conservative' is 'radical'.
The government has been spending more money on preventive rather than on ...... medicine
The opposite of 'preventive' medicine is 'curative' medicine.
The fisherman threw a stone into the river and this caused a ......
A stone thrown into water causes a 'splash'.
The play was so interesting that the ................. clapped for quite a long time at the end.
The standard word for people watching a play is 'audience'.
The building ..................... because of weak structural foundation
A building with a weak foundation is best described as having 'collapsed'.
The magazine was ..................... by the government for an offensive publication.
A publication banned by government is 'proscribed'.
Many people reacted to the brutal murder of the popular journalist with strong ...
A strong feeling in reaction to injustice is 'indignation'.
The Governor frowned at the ........... which slowed down the implementation of policy decisions
Slow implementation of policy is classically blamed on 'bureaucracy' (red tape).
The doctor ............ the illness as yellow fever not malaria
Identifying an illness by its medical name is to 'diagnose' it.
Since the writer did not indicate his name, the editor decided not to publish such .......... article.
An article without the author's name is 'anonymous'.
Mrs. Alabi was not around when her case was called and none of her colleagues was willing to hold brief for her. This means that:
'Hold brief for' means to represent someone in their absence; none being willing means none wanted to represent her.
Telling lies has become second nature to Kunle. This means that Kunle
'Second nature' means an automatic, habitual behaviour, i.e. he always/habitually tells lies.
For us to accomplish the task successfully, all hands must be on deck. This means that everybody,
'All hands on deck' is an idiom meaning everyone must cooperate/contribute.
The wedding was attended by the cream of the society. This means that the wedding was attended by
'The cream of society' refers to the most important/elite people.
I want you to keep an eye on that child. This means that I want you to:
'Keep an eye on' means to watch/monitor closely.
It appears Sade's success at the last examination has gone to her head. This means that Sade is
'Gone to her head' means success has made her conceited/arrogant.
Little Sheila is always as lively as a kitten. This means that Sheila is always
'Lively as a kitten' emphasises playful, cheerful energy.
This masquerade appears once in a blue moon. This means that the masquerade appears
'Once in a blue moon' is an idiom meaning very rarely.
Okon is quite hardworking but his problem is that he has too many irons in the fire. This means that Okon
'Too many irons in the fire' means taking on more tasks/projects than one can manage.
It takes a great deal of stamina to run the marathon race. The underlined word 'stamina' is nearest in meaning to:
'Stamina' refers to physical/mental endurance, closest to 'energy'.
But for the principal actor the play would have been dull. The underlined word 'principal' is nearest in meaning to:
'Principal actor' means the 'main' actor.
An open car has no protection against the elements. The underlined phrase 'the elements' is nearest in meaning to:
'The elements' idiomatically refers to weather conditions (rain, wind, sun etc.).
He was reluctant to grant my request. The underlined word 'reluctant' is nearest in meaning to:
'Reluctant' means unwilling.
Kunle is very pessimistic about our chance of success. The underlined word 'pessimistic' is nearest in meaning to:
'Pessimistic' (expecting the worst) is nearest in meaning to 'desponded' (in low spirits/hopeless).
After the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the one most appropriate: 'If Kunle had been transferred to Kano, his wife would not have resigned her teaching job.' This means that:
The third conditional implies the opposite happened in reality: Kunle was not transferred, yet his wife resigned her job anyway.
After the following sentence, choose the most appropriate interpretation: 'I'll call at your house this evening if it doesn't rain.' This means that I:
Calling ('visiting') depends on it not raining, so if it rains he may not visit.
Though Ibrahim was provoked, he ought to have controlled himself. This means that Ibrahim
'Ought to have controlled himself' means he should have exercised restraint (implying he didn't).
The members of staff told the principal that they took exception to his comments. This means that the members of staff
'Took exception to' means objected to.
Okon is too quiet for my liking. This means that Okon
Being 'too quiet for my liking' suggests the quietness comes across as odd or suspicious.
The teacher said all but one of the sixty candidates scored below a credit grade. This means that
'All but one' scored below credit means exactly one candidate scored a credit grade or higher.
He was charged with complicity ........ the abortive coup
'Complicity in' is the correct preposition.
He was convicted .......... stealing some bags of cocoa
'Convicted of' is the correct preposition.
Mary said she was acting ............... the instructions of the principal
'Acting on instructions' is the correct expression.
................ normal circumstances, it is rare to get all registered voters to vote.
'Under normal circumstances' is the standard idiom.
Lekan has tried to live ................. to his parents' expectations.
'Live up to expectations' is the correct idiom.
The minister's daughter boasted she would have her way and she really.................
The emphatic auxiliary 'did' matches the past tense narrative.
As at yesterday only nomination papers in respect of three candidates..........
Plural subject 'papers' takes 'have been filed'.
They embraced passionately as if they.......... seen each other for years
'As if they had seen' (past perfect) fits the unreal past comparison.
You are not sure where you place the book.............?
A negative statement ('are not sure') takes a positive tag: 'are you?'
We arrived when the hall .............. arranged, so we stood outside.
The action was ongoing (in the process of being arranged) at the time of arrival: 'was being arranged'.
She doesn't know you like your food hot .............?
The negative main clause 'doesn't know' takes a positive tag: 'does she?'
It's certain we shall travel by train .........?
With 'shall' in the main clause, the tag repeats 'shall we?'
............. of what he said made no sense
'Much' fits as an uncountable quantifier taking the singular verb 'made'.
That isn't your book, it is ...........
The correct singular possessive form is 'John's'.
Nana Sawara is a queen and demands to be treated .............
'As such' correctly means 'in that capacity' (as a queen).
It is pretty difficult to choose ................. those three boys
Choosing among more than two options grammatically takes 'among'.
................. of the five boys was able to show me the way to the zoo.
'None' correctly refers to more than two items (five boys) with a negative outcome.
We will leave ............ you are ready.
'Whenever' fits naturally: leaving is tied to whatever time readiness occurs.
This ........... be David's handwriting. I know his handwriting well enough
Knowing the handwriting well implies certainty that this is NOT his: 'can't be'.
The book is not in his locker and it's not in that cupboard ...............
'Either' correctly follows a second negative statement.
...... things she had in the room were thrown out.
'The few things' refers to the specific limited items she had.
The party had hardly started ............ the lights went off.
'Hardly...when' is the correct correlative pairing.
There were five boys ............
'Two of whom were beaten' is the grammatically correct relative clause.
This is the man ............. told me the story
'Who I said' correctly keeps 'who' as the subject of 'told'.
I feel you are none .............. for experiencing that shock.
'None the worse for' is the standard idiom meaning unharmed despite something.
Many students find Mathematics ................ than English
A comparison with 'than' requires the comparative form 'more difficult'.
Tunde is the ........... qualified person for that job
A superlative ('the most qualified') is needed here.
It is such a bad place ................. I will never dream of going there another time
'Such...that' is the correct result-clause structure.
He has not been seen by his parents ......... seven days
'For' is used with a duration ('for seven days').
He has not been seen by his parents ........... last month.
'Since' is used with a point in time ('since last month').
Please, let me ......... you in your car to the railway stations
'Let me go with you' correctly expresses accompanying someone.
The .............. came here last week
Standard English adjective order places opinion (handsome) before size (tall) before age (young): 'handsome tall young man'.
The activities marking the golden jubilee celebrations of the club were .............. with a party.
'Rounded off' is the correct idiom meaning concluded.
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