All 55 questions from the Post-UTME Screening (Post-UTME) English Language 2015 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
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Mrs Ahmed made the promise with her tongue in her cheek.
"Tongue in cheek" means something said ironically or not seriously.
The cashier attends the board meeting sparingly.
"Sparingly" means rarely, i.e. he seldom attends.
When he was presented with a huge estimate for the project, the manager hit the roof.
"To hit the roof" idiomatically means to become very angry.
Youths see the world through rose-coloured spectacles.
"Rose-coloured spectacles" is an idiom for viewing things overly optimistically.
Since the agreement among them was not serious, it blew over quickly.
"Blew over" means the matter ended/subsided quickly.
Our economy is now buoyant.
The opposite of "buoyant" (thriving) is "bleak".
The House of Assembly ratified the controversial bill.
Per the source key, "reviewed" is marked as the answer (note: "ratified" more precisely means formally approved).
Musa has a burning desire to be a successful businessman.
"A keen desire" is the marked nearest match to "burning desire" per the source key.
One should guard against making sacrilegious remarks.
Per the source key, "Reverent" is marked (note: "blasphemous" is the more literal synonym of sacrilegious).
My mother is very daring.
Per the source key, option B is marked as the answer in this set.
In writing, we must choose appropriate words to express our ideas.
Per the source key, option D is marked as the answer in this set (note: "apt" (C) is the more literal synonym).
The Supreme Court quashed the judgement of the lower court.
Per the source key, option D is marked as the answer in this set (note: "annulled" (C) is the more literal synonym of quashed).
The girl was in ebullient mood.
Per the source key, option C is marked as the answer in this set (note: "joyous" (A) is the more literal synonym of ebullient).
The engineer had inadvertently pushed the wrong button.
Per the source key, option A is marked as the answer in this set (note: "carelessly"/accidentally is the literal meaning of inadvertently).
The recently released musical album considered obscene by many music fans.
Per the source key, option D is marked as the answer in this set.
The criminal case was handled in a subtle manner
Per the source key, option B is marked as the answer in this set.
Many citizens live in penury.
Per the source key, option A is marked as the answer in this set (note: "poverty" (B) is the literal synonym of penury).
Pity is often akin to love.
Per the source key, option B is marked as the answer in this set.
The lecture seemed interminable.
"Interminable" means seemingly endless.
The goal lifted the team from the agony of defeat
Per the source key, option D is marked as the answer in this set.
My mother was lost in thought so she toyed with her lunch.
"Toyed with" (in the context of food) means to fiddle with/play with absentmindedly.
Prisoners often undergo torture.
"Torture" is nearest in meaning to "torment".
The journalist refused to divulge the source of his information.
"Divulge" means to disclose or reveal information.
He looked miserable.
"Forlorn" (sad, pitiful) is nearest in meaning to "miserable".
A cursory look at the book shows that it was hurriedly written.
"Cursory" means quick and not thorough, i.e. casual.
She left the village to live a licentious life in the city.
"Licentious" means sexually immoral, matching option B.
The man gave me a baleful look when the pot fell off my head.
Per the source key, option D is marked as the answer in this set (note: "sinister"/menacing (B) is the literal synonym of baleful).
The man's speech was full of invectives instead of thanks.
"Invectives" are abusive or insulting language, i.e. curses.
Jummai was so engrossed in her knitting that she forgot her visitor.
"Engrossed" means completely absorbed/occupied in something.
It is clear that he has more aptitude for academics than his mates
Per the source key, option C is marked as the answer in this set (note: "ability"/potential (A/D) are close synonyms of aptitude).
These days traders are notorious for their extortionate prices.
"Extortionate" prices are excessively/unfairly high, i.e. exorbitant.
The computer which is an integral part of occidental culture had dominated the world.
"Occidental" means Western (as opposed to Oriental/Eastern).
Many rural dwellers suffer acute fever.
"Acute" (in a medical context) means severe/sharp.
There was a commemoration of Nigeria's independence.
"Commemoration" means a ceremony/celebration in honour of an event.
Tade was making passes at the beautiful girl.
"Making passes at" someone means making romantic/flirtatious advances.
My daughter has never seen Bar Beach, ...' have my sons.
"...but neither have my sons" correctly continues the negative parallel structure.
Inside that letter, there ... good news about your application for employment.
"There is some good news" - "news" is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
I have been thinking of... places there are to visit.
"All the many other interesting places" follows correct determiner-adjective order.
More often than not, the law... individual freedom.
"Encroaches on" is the idiomatic collocation for a law gradually intruding on freedoms.
A ... expanse of land has been given for the university buildings.
"A vast expanse of land" is the standard idiomatic collocation.
We were ... disappointed in the man.
"Deeply disappointed" is the standard idiomatic collocation.
The public offer is for both existing and ... shareholders.
"Existing and potential shareholders" is the correct standard phrase.
It is high time the government ... the problem of petroleum scarcity in the country.
"Addressed the problem" is the correct idiomatic collocation.
Obi could.... what was going to happen next.
"Could only see too clearly" is the correct word order for this idiomatic expression.
The employer, not the salesman and his representative, ... responsible for the loss.
The subject "the employer" (singular) governs the verb, giving "is".
The man said he wasn't coming, and I don't think she will ...
"Won't... either" is the correct negative agreement structure.
He looked carefully at the blue prints, but couldn't make .... what they meant.
"Make out" means to understand or decipher.
They believe I have them, ... they?
The tag matches the present tense "believe", giving "don't they?"
The ... will make quite a boost on the nation's education.
"Recently inaugurated educational programme" follows correct adverb-participle-adjective-noun order.
The neighbourhood is most noted ... its beautiful architectural edifices.
"Noted for" is the correct preposition collocation.
The athlete has all it takes to ... all his opponents at the race.
"Outflank" fits the context of surpassing opponents in a competitive race, per the source key.
Mr. Kura actually did the job, although he ... that he wouldn't
"He previously said" is correct standard word order and tense.
Ugbesia never ... sight of Osagiede whenever he passes.
"Loses sight of" is the correct present-tense spelling and idiom ("loses", not "looses").
He is going to apply, and I sincerely hope [ ] be able to impress the interviewer
"I hope... would be able" fits the conditional/hopeful register of the sentence per the source key.
One of the boys who… at Yaba … in ha[nds]
"One of the boys who live at Yaba... believes" - "who" refers back to "boys" (plural, "live"), while the main subject "one" is singular ("believes").
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