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Post-UTME English Language 2017 Objective Past Questions

All 60 questions from the Post-UTME Screening (Post-UTME) English Language 2017 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.

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English Language 2017 Objective — Question 2

The perpetual noise made it impossible for them to concentrate on the problems.

  • A. irritating
  • B. constant
  • C. unlimitedCorrect
  • D. recurrent

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option C is marked correct; "perpetual" literally means continuing without end/constant (B).

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 3

All his attempts to win the favour of his boss proved infructuous.

  • A. meaningless
  • B. unnecessary
  • C. redundantCorrect
  • D. fruitless

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option C is marked correct, though "fruitless" (D) is the more literal meaning of infructuous.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 4

The civic authorities were at their wits end when, despite their best efforts, cholera was unchecked and beyond control spread among citizens.

  • A. endemic
  • B. spreading
  • C. epidemicCorrect
  • D. rampant

Explanation

An uncontrolled, widespread outbreak of disease is described as an epidemic.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 5

The flood of personal experience and first hand record of events written by the retired military general, who had seen much action during war, became the best-seller in the late forties.

  • A. memoirsCorrect
  • B. reminiscences
  • C. autobiography
  • D. reports

Explanation

A first-hand written record of one's own experiences is best described as memoirs.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 6

The total freedom from care enjoyed by the rich man's son made him unfit for any serious work.

  • A. careworn state
  • B. insouciance
  • C. carelessness
  • D. complacenceCorrect

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option D is marked correct.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 7

I could immediately identify you because our face reminds me of your mother.

  • A. is reminiscent ofCorrect
  • B. is a replica of
  • C. is duplicate of
  • D. is a prototype of

Explanation

"Is reminiscent of" means bringing something to mind, matching "reminds me of".

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 8

The clever inspector saw through the whole time when the accused tried to evade telling the hole truth.

  • A. pretend
  • B. prevaricateCorrect
  • C. lie
  • D. deceive

Explanation

"Prevaricate" means to speak evasively to avoid telling the truth.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 9

The best way we can preserve from being forgotten the memory of a great man is to follow his ideals, not merely erect a statue of him.

  • A. perpetuateCorrect
  • B. engender
  • C. embalm
  • D. perpetrate

Explanation

"Perpetuate" means to make something continue indefinitely, i.e. preserve from being forgotten.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 10

The king declared that his decision was final and unalterable.

  • A. decisive
  • B. conclusive
  • C. irrevocableCorrect
  • D. irredeemable

Explanation

"Irrevocable" means not able to be changed, matching "unalterable".

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 11

A nursery rhyme is used to teach pupils how to spell the word …

  • A. hippoppotemus
  • B. hippopotamus
  • C. hipoppotemus
  • D. hipoppotamusCorrect

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option D is marked as the accepted spelling in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 14

The…. in an attempt to please the workers promised to provide … for them as soon as possible.

  • A. committee/accommodation
  • B. committee/accommodation variant
  • C. committee/accomodationCorrect
  • D. committee/acommoddation

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option C is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 15

Olu, Akpan and Ovbiagele's … make people to believe that they belong to the same school of thought.

  • A. philosophy
  • B. philosophysCorrect
  • C. philosophies
  • D. philosospphy's

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option B is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 16

She …. her hair … in the room before we left

  • A. smoothened/offCorrect
  • B. smoothened/on
  • C. smoothened/up
  • D. smoothed/down

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option A is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 19

The politician … the family of the deceased.

  • A. wept over
  • B. condoled
  • C. commiserated with
  • D. greetedCorrect

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option D is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 24

What do you want me to do now? I'm.... withdrawing and keeping quiet.

  • A. forCorrect
  • B. with
  • C. up
  • D. off

Explanation

"I'm for withdrawing" (in favour of) fits the sentence, per the source answer key.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 26

This is to congratulate you on your success in the last examination and to wish you …

  • A. more grease to your elbow
  • B. more power to your elbowCorrect
  • C. some grease on your elbow
  • D. some power to your elbow

Explanation

"More power to your elbow" is the standard idiom of encouragement.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 29

The events reported in the newspaper did not happen years ago; they …

  • A. are of recentCorrect
  • B. had happened recently
  • C. are recent
  • D. recently happened

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option A is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 31

Kindly … me your book because my friend… mine.

  • A. borrow/borrowed
  • B. borrow/lent
  • C. lend/lent
  • D. lend/borrowedCorrect

Explanation

"Lend me your book" and "my friend borrowed mine" fit the intended meanings.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 32

Although the manager is busy right now he will soon be with you presently.

  • A. Immediately
  • B. soon
  • C. without delayCorrect
  • D. right away

Explanation

"Presently" (soon) is nearest matched here to "without delay", per the source answer key.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 33

I have already… the picture on the sitting room wall.

  • A. hangedCorrect
  • B. hunged
  • C. hang
  • D. hung

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option A is marked correct in this answer set (note: "hung" is the standard past participle for objects).

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 35

Femi has been ... behind in classwork.

  • A. lacking
  • B. lagging
  • C. larking
  • D. lurkingCorrect

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option D is marked correct in this answer set (standard idiom is "lagging behind").

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 37

The present wanton display of riches… in our society

  • A. will be affecting
  • B. are affecting
  • C. is affectingCorrect
  • D. was affecting

Explanation

"Display... is affecting" - singular subject takes singular verb.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 38

The market women… profit ranges from ten to fifty percent are making… difficult for the ordinary people

  • A. for who/to liveCorrect
  • B. for whom/lives
  • C. by whose/living
  • D. whose/life

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option A is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 40

The only set of loud speakers available… to be connected according to the instruction.

  • A. isCorrect
  • B. are
  • C. were
  • D. have

Explanation

"The only set... is" - singular subject takes singular verb.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 41

The police claim that a number of stolen cars .... recovered.

  • A. have been
  • B. has beenCorrect
  • C. has being
  • D. have being

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option B is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 42

He'll / He's / Is he / He is been there to look for her several times without success.

  • A. He'll
  • B. He'sCorrect
  • C. Is he
  • D. He is

Explanation

"He's [has] been there" (contraction of "has") fits the present perfect tense.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 43

Until he lost the election, Agbo ... to be the Student Union president.

  • A. had been hoping
  • B. has been hopingCorrect
  • C. would have hoped
  • D. has hoped

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option B is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 45

Yesterday in the hall, Ola said that he had forgot / he had mislaid / he has misplaced / he have lost his watch

  • A. he had forgot
  • B. he had mislaid
  • C. he has misplacedCorrect
  • D. he have lost

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option C is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 46

He has only ordered some lettuce and tea. He ... on a diet. He is a bit too fat.

  • A. can't be
  • B. needn't be
  • C. must beCorrect
  • D. mustn't be

Explanation

"Must be on a diet" logically follows from his food choice and being too fat.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 47

At the end of the month we… each other for five years.

  • A. would know
  • B. should have knownCorrect
  • C. should be knowing
  • D. would have been knowing

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option B is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 48

Provided you … to the market very soon, we shall be able to eat early enough.

  • A. shall go
  • B. would go
  • C. went
  • D. goCorrect

Explanation

"Provided you go" uses the present simple in a conditional clause.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 49

He … by now; I can hear all the people shouting:

  • A. would have arrived
  • B. must have arrived
  • C. had arrived
  • D. should have arrivedCorrect

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option D is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 50

By the time the plane reaches Harare, it … in the air for twelve hours.

  • A. has been
  • B. would be
  • C. would have beenCorrect
  • D. should

Explanation

Future perfect "would have been" fits an action completed by a future point in time.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 51

The first prize was ... tray.

  • A. a carved attractive woodenCorrect
  • B. an attractive carved wooden
  • C. a carved wooden attractive
  • D. a wooden attractive carved

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option A is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 52

Making a phone call instead of paying a visit represents... trend.

  • A. sudden social new
  • B. new sudden major socialCorrect
  • C. sudden new major social
  • D. new social sudden major

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option B is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 53

My younger brother is going to the stream with … boys.

  • A. two other little
  • B. other little two
  • C. two little otherCorrect
  • D. other two little

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option C is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 54

Okoro intends to wear his … dress to the stream this afternoon.

  • A. white cotton new
  • B. white new cotton
  • C. new white cottonCorrect
  • D. cotton white new

Explanation

Correct adjective order (age, colour, material) gives "new white cotton".

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 55

The company representative in Nigeria is a …

  • A. smart little Japanese
  • B. little smart Japanese
  • C. smart Japanese little
  • D. little Japanese smartCorrect

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option D is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 57

I am not surprised that Zali had a road accident; he was always driving too fast, ....

  • A. isn't he?
  • B. wasn't he?
  • C. didn't he?Correct
  • D. did he?

Explanation

Per the source answer key, option C ("didn't he?") is marked correct in this answer set.

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 59

The driver of the car admitted … a licence.

  • A. to not have
  • B. not havingCorrect
  • C. to not having
  • D. not to have

Explanation

"Admitted" is followed by a gerund; the negative form is "not having".

English Language 2017 Objective — Question 60

The dull student took a correspondence course as a means… his standard in the class.

  • A. to improve
  • B. for improving
  • C. of improvingCorrect
  • D. by improving

Explanation

"A means of improving" is the correct idiomatic phrase.

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