2014 English Past Questions CBT

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

The minister considered the ministry’s budget to be a drop in the ocean in view of the number of projects in the pipeline.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

The police are looking for the woman who farmed her children out to her neighbours.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Jummai’s father remarked that pigs would fly before she passed.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

The president said that he found himself between a rock and a hard place when the press said that he has resigned.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Kunana is like a bear in the sore head.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Olu gave his brother a bumpy ride.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Adeola doesn’t have to go to the farm today.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

My boss asked me to take my eyes off the ball.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

The robber was hedged in by the people.

Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

Many workers are not happy because they live a hand-to-mouth life.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

Prolonged strike action debilitated the industry.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

The young girl was taken aback by her father’s gift of a car.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

Musa is a gifted but erratic player.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

The lamp shades were translucent.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

Some of my neighbours have an antipathy to dogs.

Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

The testimony of the witness was vague.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

The chairman admires incessant meetings.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

Today’s weather is favourable for a game of tennis.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

All the candidates looked aghast at the reading of the questions.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

Joke gave Muhammad a jaunty smile.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

The first round of the tournament was a doddle.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

The lazy man cast a lustful glance at his neighbour’s wife.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

They accused him of fomenting political unrest.

 Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

You can learn a great deal just from watching other players.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

All the researchers were asked to gather information on the new viral infection.

Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

The dispute between the two countries has resulted in the severing of diplomatic relations.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

The house and the senate will at noon next Wednesday, _________ to hear a special address by the president.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

At the _________ of the century, many ways of doing things were introduced.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

You may have the pencil, but you can’t have the ballpoint ________.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

The president said that the country was not out of the _____ yet.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

The invigilator _____ to know how long the examination _____ going on.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

The guard spent all night pacing _____.

 Choose the option that best completes the gap.

The woman refused to testify ______ her husband.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

The words _____ divided between the end of one line.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

Cooking has never been Jumoke’s _____.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

When the strike is over, there will probably be an increase in wages and a _____ increase in prices.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

My mother was _____ annoyed with me for coming late.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

The chairman is too much _____ an idealist for coming late.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

The clock _____ 12 o’clock two hours ago.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

What is the jury’s _____ the matter?

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

The unconscious man was _____ after receiving first aid.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

The laughter _____ his face for a moment.

Choose the option that best completes the gap.

She traced her family history _____ matrilineal.

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter underlined.

Cool.

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter underlined.

Odour.

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter underlined.

Palm.

Choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter underlined.

Vision.

Choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter underlined. 

Gnash.

Choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter underlined.

Epitaph.

Choose the option that rhymes with the given word.

Ever.

Choose the option that rhymes with the given word.

Keep.

 Choose the option that rhymes with the given word.

Tax.

Choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the options.

Valedictory.

Choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the option.

Congratulation.

Choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the option.

Conspiracy.

The word in capital letters has the emphatic stress. Choose the option in which the given sentence relates.

My mother bought a BICYCLE yesterday.

The word in capital letters has the emphatic stress. Choose the option in which the given sentence relates.

AMINA went to Abuja by air.

The word in capital letters has the emphatic stress. Choose the option in which the given sentence relates.

Musa is STAYING in Enugu.

Political change and social transformation in the form of revolutions have radically altered the course of human civilization and history. Today, the world is witnessing political and social changes arising from the desire of people all over the globe for greater freedom and a voice in the way they are governed and a better standard of living. Pan of these struggles and processes have become more pronounced in the Third World since the end of the East-West Cold War in the late 1980s, and in the face of the challenges being posed by the ongoing process of globalization.

While political and social changes may appear to be distinct phenomena, they are analytically inseparable. Political and social changes refer to alteration or transformations in human behaviour, norms and politico-social institutions. Such changes are often a collective response to the need to change, or as a tacit recognition of a shift in the prevalent power relations in the society. Therefore, the coming to power of a new set of rulers, or the establishment of new structure and processes of governance broadly typifies socio-political changes.

It is important to note that changes can either be positive or negative. In most cases, political and social changes are caused by certain factors or reasons. This push people to collectively organize themselves to struggle for a change in the existing power relations. Another reason is to capture political power in the hope of making life better for the generality of the people. If politics is defined as who gets what, when and how; It then implies that political change refers to an alteration in the form of power and the identity of the group or class which controls the wields states power.

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

Political change and social transformation in the form of revolutions have radically altered the course of human civilization and history. Today, the world is witnessing political and social changes arising from the desire of people all over the globe for greater freedom and a voice in the way they are governed and a better standard of living. Pan of these struggles and processes have become more pronounced in the Third World since the end of the East-West Cold War in the late 1980s, and in the face of the challenges being posed by the ongoing process of globalization.

While political and social changes may appear to be distinct phenomena, they are analytically inseparable. Political and social changes refer to alteration or transformations in human behaviour, norms and politico-social institutions. Such changes are often a collective response to the need to change, or as a tacit recognition of a shift in the prevalent power relations in the society. Therefore, the coming to power of a new set of rulers, or the establishment of new structure and processes of governance broadly typifies socio-political changes.

It is important to note that changes can either be positive or negative. In most cases, political and social changes are caused by certain factors or reasons. This push people to collectively organize themselves to struggle for a change in the existing power relations. Another reason is to capture political power in the hope of making life better for the generality of the people. If politics is defined as who gets what, when and how; It then implies that political change refers to an alteration in the form of power and the identity of the group or class which controls the wields states power.

It can be deduced from the passage that political and social changes are

Political change and social transformation in the form of revolutions have radically altered the course of human civilization and history. Today, the world is witnessing political and social changes arising from the desire of people all over the globe for greater freedom and a voice in the way they are governed and a better standard of living. Pan of these struggles and processes have become more pronounced in the Third World since the end of the East-West Cold War in the late 1980s, and in the face of the challenges being posed by the ongoing process of globalization.

While political and social changes may appear to be distinct phenomena, they are analytically inseparable. Political and social changes refer to alteration or transformations in human behaviour, norms and politico-social institutions. Such changes are often a collective response to the need to change, or as a tacit recognition of a shift in the prevalent power relations in the society. Therefore, the coming to power of a new set of rulers, or the establishment of new structure and processes of governance broadly typifies socio-political changes.

It is important to note that changes can either be positive or negative. In most cases, political and social changes are caused by certain factors or reasons. This push people to collectively organize themselves to struggle for a change in the existing power relations. Another reason is to capture political power in the hope of making life better for the generality of the people. If politics is defined as who gets what, when and how; It then implies that political change refers to an alteration in the form of power and the identity of the group or class which controls the wields states power.

A suitable title for this passage is

Political change and social transformation in the form of revolutions have radically altered the course of human civilization and history. Today, the world is witnessing political and social changes arising from the desire of people all over the globe for greater freedom and a voice in the way they are governed and a better standard of living. Pan of these struggles and processes have become more pronounced in the Third World since the end of the East-West Cold War in the late 1980s, and in the face of the challenges being posed by the ongoing process of globalization.

While political and social changes may appear to be distinct phenomena, they are analytically inseparable. Political and social changes refer to alteration or transformations in human behaviour, norms and politico-social institutions. Such changes are often a collective response to the need to change, or as a tacit recognition of a shift in the prevalent power relations in the society. Therefore, the coming to power of a new set of rulers, or the establishment of new structure and processes of governance broadly typifies socio-political changes.

It is important to note that changes can either be positive or negative. In most cases, political and social changes are caused by certain factors or reasons. This push people to collectively organize themselves to struggle for a change in the existing power relations. Another reason is to capture political power in the hope of making life better for the generality of the people. If politics is defined as who gets what, when and how; It then implies that political change refers to an alteration in the form of power and the identity of the group or class which controls the wields states power.

The word alteration, as used in the passage, means

Like all reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded, or more correctly, ectothermic – they cannot produce their own body heat; instead, they rely on the heat from the sun. Because they do not rely on energy from food to generate body heat, snakes can survive on an extremely meagre diet. some wait for months between successive meals and a few survive by eating a large meal just once or twice a year. When they do eat, snakes swallow their prey whole rather than biting off a small piece. Many snakes have specialized jaws that enable them to swallow animals that are far larger than their own heads. Although uncommon, some snakes, such as the African rock python, have been observed eating animals as large as an antelope or a small cow.

With over two thousand five hundred species belonging to more than ten families, snakes are large and successful groups. They owe much of this success to their versatility – snakes occupy habitat ranging from underground burrows to the top of the tree, to ocean depths as great as one hundred and fifty meters. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, and although they are most abundant in tropical areas, many survive in regions marked by extreme cold. The only places without snakes are parts of the polar regions and isolated islands, such as the Republic of Ireland and New-Zealand as opposed to places in Nigeria like Plateau and Gombe States in the Northern part where there is a large population of snakes.

It can be inferred from the passage that snakes are

Like all reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded, or more correctly, ectothermic – they cannot produce their own body heat; instead, they rely on the heat from the sun. Because they do not rely on energy from food to generate body heat, snakes can survive on an extremely meagre diet. some wait for months between successive meals and a few survive by eating a large meal just once or twice a year. When they do eat, snakes swallow their prey whole rather than biting off a small piece. Many snakes have specialized jaws that enable them to swallow animals that are far larger than their own heads. Although uncommon, some snakes, such as the African rock python, have been observed eating animals as large as an antelope or a small cow.

With over two thousand five hundred species belonging to more than ten families, snakes are large and successful groups. They owe much of this success to their versatility – snakes occupy habitat ranging from underground burrows to the top of the tree, to ocean depths as great as one hundred and fifty meters. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, and although they are most abundant in tropical areas, many survive in regions marked by extreme cold. The only places without snakes are parts of the polar regions and isolated islands, such as the Republic of Ireland and New-Zealand as opposed to places in Nigeria like Plateau and Gombe States in the Northern part where there is a large population of snakes.

The most notable thing about snakes, according to the passage, is that they

Like all reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded, or more correctly, ectothermic – they cannot produce their own body heat; instead, they rely on the heat from the sun. Because they do not rely on energy from food to generate body heat, snakes can survive on an extremely meagre diet. some wait for months between successive meals and a few survive by eating a large meal just once or twice a year. When they do eat, snakes swallow their prey whole rather than biting off a small piece. Many snakes have specialized jaws that enable them to swallow animals that are far larger than their own heads. Although uncommon, some snakes, such as the African rock python, have been observed eating animals as large as an antelope or a small cow.

With over two thousand five hundred species belonging to more than ten families, snakes are large and successful groups. They owe much of this success to their versatility – snakes occupy habitat ranging from underground burrows to the top of the tree, to ocean depths as great as one hundred and fifty meters. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, and although they are most abundant in tropical areas, many survive in regions marked by extreme cold. The only places without snakes are parts of the polar regions and isolated islands, such as the Republic of Ireland and New-Zealand as opposed to places in Nigeria like Plateau and Gombe States in the Northern part where there is a large population of snakes.

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

Like all reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded, or more correctly, ectothermic – they cannot produce their own body heat; instead, they rely on the heat from the sun. Because they do not rely on energy from food to generate body heat, snakes can survive on an extremely meagre diet. some wait for months between successive meals and a few survive by eating a large meal just once or twice a year. When they do eat, snakes swallow their prey whole rather than biting off a small piece. Many snakes have specialized jaws that enable them to swallow animals that are far larger than their own heads. Although uncommon, some snakes, such as the African rock python, have been observed eating animals as large as an antelope or a small cow.

With over two thousand five hundred species belonging to more than ten families, snakes are large and successful groups. They owe much of this success to their versatility – snakes occupy habitat ranging from underground burrows to the top of the tree, to ocean depths as great as one hundred and fifty meters. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, and although they are most abundant in tropical areas, many survive in regions marked by extreme cold. The only places without snakes are parts of the polar regions and isolated islands, such as the Republic of Ireland and New-Zealand as opposed to places in Nigeria like Plateau and Gombe States in the Northern part where there is a large population of snakes.

It can be deduced from the passage that snakes have

Like all reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded, or more correctly, ectothermic – they cannot produce their own body heat; instead, they rely on the heat from the sun. Because they do not rely on energy from food to generate body heat, snakes can survive on an extremely meagre diet. some wait for months between successive meals and a few survive by eating a large meal just once or twice a year. When they do eat, snakes swallow their prey whole rather than biting off a small piece. Many snakes have specialized jaws that enable them to swallow animals that are far larger than their own heads. Although uncommon, some snakes, such as the African rock python, have been observed eating animals as large as an antelope or a small cow.

With over two thousand five hundred species belonging to more than ten families, snakes are large and successful groups. They owe much of this success to their versatility – snakes occupy habitat ranging from underground burrows to the top of the tree, to ocean depths as great as one hundred and fifty meters. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, and although they are most abundant in tropical areas, many survive in regions marked by extreme cold. The only places without snakes are parts of the polar regions and isolated islands, such as the Republic of Ireland and New-Zealand as opposed to places in Nigeria like Plateau and Gombe States in the Northern part where there is a large population of snakes.

A suitable title for this passage is

Setting up a newspaper involves a lot of preparations. The __11__ has to employ a lot of people. Other people working with him are cartographers, editors, typesetters, readers, who work in various ways to produce the text of the newspaper, __12__, who go out and collect story and items of news, and __13__, who specialize in one kind of topic. Another important person who works closely with the Editor-in-Chief is the __14__, who has to choose the most important stories__15__ go through stories sent to them and make necessary adjustments.

The Editor-in-Chief could determine for instance, whether a particular journalist should write articles daily or weekly in a particular column. Such a journalist is known as __16__. The editorials of the newspaper will be coordinated by __17__. The publisher could decide to establish __18__ which would be on sale weekly, fortnightly, or monthly,__19__ the eyes-catching, screaming headlines and captions of newspapers on sale every day from the __20__.

Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled 11.

Setting up a newspaper involves a lot of preparations. The __11__ has to employ a lot of people. Other people working with him are cartographers, editors, typesetters, readers, who work in various ways to produce the text of the newspaper, __12__, who go out and collect story and items of news, and __13__, who specialize in one kind of topic. Another important person who works closely with the Editor-in-Chief is the __14__, who has to choose the most important stories__15__ go through stories sent to them and make necessary adjustments.

The Editor-in-Chief could determine for instance, whether a particular journalist should write articles daily or weekly in a particular column. Such a journalist is known as __16__. The editorials of the newspaper will be coordinated by __17__. The publisher could decide to establish __18__ which would be on sale weekly, fortnightly, or monthly,__19__ the eyes-catching, screaming headlines and captions of newspapers on sale every day from the __20__.

Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled 12.

Setting up a newspaper involves a lot of preparations. The __11__ has to employ a lot of people. Other people working with him are cartographers, editors, typesetters, readers, who work in various ways to produce the text of the newspaper, __12__, who go out and collect story and items of news, and __13__, who specialize in one kind of topic. Another important person who works closely with the Editor-in-Chief is the __14__, who has to choose the most important stories__15__ go through stories sent to them and make necessary adjustments.

The Editor-in-Chief could determine for instance, whether a particular journalist should write articles daily or weekly in a particular column. Such a journalist is known as __16__. The editorials of the newspaper will be coordinated by __17__. The publisher could decide to establish __18__ which would be on sale weekly, fortnightly, or monthly,__19__ the eyes-catching, screaming headlines and captions of newspapers on sale every day from the __20__.

Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled 13.

Setting up a newspaper involves a lot of preparations. The __11__ has to employ a lot of people. Other people working with him are cartographers, editors, typesetters, readers, who work in various ways to produce the text of the newspaper, __12__, who go out and collect story and items of news, and __13__, who specialize in one kind of topic. Another important person who works closely with the Editor-in-Chief is the __14__, who has to choose the most important stories__15__ go through stories sent to them and make necessary adjustments.

The Editor-in-Chief could determine for instance, whether a particular journalist should write articles daily or weekly in a particular column. Such a journalist is known as __16__. The editorials of the newspaper will be coordinated by __17__. The publisher could decide to establish __18__ which would be on sale weekly, fortnightly, or monthly,__19__ the eyes-catching, screaming headlines and captions of newspapers on sale every day from the __20__.

Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled 14.

Setting up a newspaper involves a lot of preparations. The __11__ has to employ a lot of people. Other people working with him are cartographers, editors, typesetters, readers, who work in various ways to produce the text of the newspaper, __12__, who go out and collect story and items of news, and __13__, who specialize in one kind of topic. Another important person who works closely with the Editor-in-Chief is the __14__, who has to choose the most important stories__15__ go through stories sent to them and make necessary adjustments.

The Editor-in-Chief could determine for instance, whether a particular journalist should write articles daily or weekly in a particular column. Such a journalist is known as __16__. The editorials of the newspaper will be coordinated by __17__. The publisher could decide to establish __18__ which would be on sale weekly, fortnightly, or monthly,__19__ the eyes-catching, screaming headlines and captions of newspapers on sale every day from the __20__.

Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled 15.

Setting up a newspaper involves a lot of preparations. The __11__ has to employ a lot of people. Other people working with him are cartographers, editors, typesetters, readers, who work in various ways to produce the text of the newspaper, __12__, who go out and collect story and items of news, and __13__, who specialize in one kind of topic. Another important person who works closely with the Editor-in-Chief is the __14__, who has to choose the most important stories__15__ go through stories sent to them and make necessary adjustments.

The Editor-in-Chief could determine for instance, whether a particular journalist should write articles daily or weekly in a particular column. Such a journalist is known as __16__. The editorials of the newspaper will be coordinated by __17__. The publisher could decide to establish __18__ which would be on sale weekly, fortnightly, or monthly,__19__ the eyes-catching, screaming headlines and captions of newspapers on sale every day from the __20__.

Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled 16.

Setting up a newspaper involves a lot of preparations. The __11__ has to employ a lot of people. Other people working with him are cartographers, editors, typesetters, readers, who work in various ways to produce the text of the newspaper, __12__, who go out and collect story and items of news, and __13__, who specialize in one kind of topic. Another important person who works closely with the Editor-in-Chief is the __14__, who has to choose the most important stories__15__ go through stories sent to them and make necessary adjustments.

The Editor-in-Chief could determine for instance, whether a particular journalist should write articles daily or weekly in a particular column. Such a journalist is known as __16__. The editorials of the newspaper will be coordinated by __17__. The publisher could decide to establish __18__ which would be on sale weekly, fortnightly, or monthly,__19__ the eyes-catching, screaming headlines and captions of newspapers on sale every day from the __20__.

Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled 17.

Setting up a newspaper involves a lot of preparations. The __11__ has to employ a lot of people. Other people working with him are cartographers, editors, typesetters, readers, who work in various ways to produce the text of the newspaper, __12__, who go out and collect story and items of news, and __13__, who specialize in one kind of topic. Another important person who works closely with the Editor-in-Chief is the __14__, who has to choose the most important stories__15__ go through stories sent to them and make necessary adjustments.

The Editor-in-Chief could determine for instance, whether a particular journalist should write articles daily or weekly in a particular column. Such a journalist is known as __16__. The editorials of the newspaper will be coordinated by __17__. The publisher could decide to establish __18__ which would be on sale weekly, fortnightly, or monthly,__19__ the eyes-catching, screaming headlines and captions of newspapers on sale every day from the __20__.

Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled 18.

Like all reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded, or more correctly, ectothermic – they cannot produce their own body heat; instead, they rely on the heat from the sun. Because they do not rely on energy from food to generate body heat, snakes can survive on an extremely meagre diet. some wait for months between successive meals and a few survive by eating a large meal just once or twice a year. When they do eat, snakes swallow their prey whole rather than biting off a small piece. Many snakes have specialized jaws that enable them to swallow animals that are far larger than their own heads. Although uncommon, some snakes, such as the African rock python, have been observed eating animals as large as an antelope or a small cow.

With over two thousand five hundred species belonging to more than ten families, snakes are large and successful groups. They owe much of this success to their versatility – snakes occupy habitat ranging from underground burrows to the top of the tree, to ocean depths as great as one hundred and fifty meters. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, and although they are most abundant in tropical areas, many survive in regions marked by extreme cold. The only places without snakes are parts of the polar regions and isolated islands, such as the Republic of Ireland and New-Zealand as opposed to places in Nigeria like Plateau and Gombe States in the Northern part where there is a large population of snakes.

Setting up a newspaper involves a lot of preparations. The __11__ has to employ a lot of people. Other people working with him are cartographers, editors, typesetters, readers, who work in various ways to produce the text of the newspaper, __12__, who go out and collect story and items of news, and __13__, who specialize in one kind of topic. Another important person who works closely with the Editor-in-Chief is the __14__, who has to choose the most important stories__15__ go through stories sent to them and make necessary adjustments.

The Editor-in-Chief could determine for instance, whether a particular journalist should write articles daily or weekly in a particular column. Such a journalist is known as __16__. The editorials of the newspaper will be coordinated by __17__. The publisher could decide to establish __18__ which would be on sale weekly, fortnightly, or monthly,__19__ the eyes-catching, screaming headlines and captions of newspapers on sale every day from the __20__.

Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled 19.

Setting up a newspaper involves a lot of preparations. The __11__ has to employ a lot of people. Other people working with him are cartographers, editors, typesetters, readers, who work in various ways to produce the text of the newspaper, __12__, who go out and collect story and items of news, and __13__, who specialize in one kind of topic. Another important person who works closely with the Editor-in-Chief is the __14__, who has to choose the most important stories__15__ go through stories sent to them and make necessary adjustments.

The Editor-in-Chief could determine for instance, whether a particular journalist should write articles daily or weekly in a particular column. Such a journalist is known as __16__. The editorials of the newspaper will be coordinated by __17__. The publisher could decide to establish __18__ which would be on sale weekly, fortnightly, or monthly,__19__ the eyes-catching, screaming headlines and captions of newspapers on sale every day from the __20__.

Choose the most appropriate option for the gap labelled 20.