General Instructions

Answer all the questions.
Each question is followed by four options lettered A to D. Find the correct option for each question and shade in pencil on your answer sheet, the answer space which bears the same letter as the option you have chosen. Give only one answer to each question.
Be sure you understand the instructions at the beginning of each section before you try to answer the questions that follow them.
Do not spend too much time on a question. If you find a question difficult, leave it and try it again later.
Use HB pencil throughout. If you wish to change an answer, erase your first answer completely and shade the appropriate space for the new answer.
Do all rough work on this question paper.

SECTION 1

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined. An example is given below.

Example: bark

A. mass

B. ant

C. spa

D. ward

The correct answer is C because only spa contains the same vowel sound as the one underlined in bark. Therefore, answer space C would be shaded.

Now answer the questions that follow.

1. thought

A. lout

B. flat

C. claw

D. coach

2. farm

A. apple

B. sat

C. bare

D. starry

3. tent

A. make

B. many

C. code

D. may

4. ahead

A. treaty

B. mango

C. exact

D. complain

5. perch

A. girdle

B. heart

C. parch

D. bet

6. soup

A. double

B. put

C. mouth

D. brood

7. fake

A. grey

B. dye

C. plaid

D. when

8. fawn

A. gaunt

B. tower

C. game

D. goal

9. fleece

A. pet

B. raise

C. gift

D. key

SECTION 2

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined. An example is given below.

Example: ten

A. depot

B. listen

C. attack

D. christen

The correct answer is C because only attack has the same consonant sound as the one underlined in ten. Therefore, answer space C would be shaded.

Now answer the questions that follow.

10. bat

A. cattle

B. merchant

C. bake

D. bark

11. mutt

A. worm

B. ride

C. put

D. month

12. took

A. pool

B. tool

C. full

D. dull

13. voice

A. soggy

B. idiot

C. employ

D. cloud

14. load

A. cow

B. blow

C. tad

D. do

15. village

A. gist

B. bait

C. set

D. beat

16. barbed

A. sober

B. thumb

C. bomber

D. debt

17. tusk

A. axe

B. calls

C. scene

D. scam

18. thaw

A. light

B. athlete

C. whine

D. worthy

19. motion

A. cushion

B. fusion

C. scion

D. mason

20. choice

A. change

B. chorus

C. chic

D. sure

21. ghetto

A. gem

B. harm

C. gain

D. gnat

SECTION 3

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for each sentence.

21. As a school prefect, I must be whiter than white.
This means that I must be

A. bright

B. honest

C. eloquent

D. attractive

22. My mother advised my father not to let the grass grow under his feet. This means that my father should

A. not allow others to progress

B. not be lazy

C. act without delay

D. face challenges

23. Had he confessed much earlier, she would have trusted him. This means that he

A. had confessed earlier on, but he wasn’t trusted

B. had confessed much earlier on, and he was trusted

C. hadn’t confessed much earlier on, and he was trusted

D. hadn’t confessed earlier on, and he wasn’t trusted

24. Investing in the business is a long shot. This means that investing in the business

A. has very little chance of success

B. requires huge capital

C. will be profitable

D. will take a long time to yield profit

25. To get to school early, we woke up at the crack of dawn. This means that we woke up

A. at sunrise

B. when the light was put on

C. very early in the morning

D. in the morning light

26. Recent demonstrations have put the rector in the hot seat. This means that the rector

A. is in a position to make a difficult decision

B. is about to be removed

C. wants to voluntarily quit the position

D. has been attacked in the demonstration

27. Ekpong knew that there was little food for him at home. This means that

A. Ekpong was sure of some food

B. Ekpong was not sure of any food

C. Ekpong had hidden some food before going out

D. Ekpong’s share of the food would not satisfy him

28. The manager is on the ball; he has improved sales. This means that the manager is

A. friendly and lively

B. smart and neat

C. energetic and sporty

D. competent and efficient

29. The man’s withdrawal of his son from that school was like cutting off his nose to spite his face. This means that the decision

A. caused the man much pain

B. affected his son badly

C. was a big blow to the school

D. did the man no good at all

30. The company was granted a stay of execution. This means that the action against the company should be

A. executed

B. prioritised

C. suspended

D. disregarded

SECTION 4

From the words lettered A to D below, each of the following sentences, choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence.

31. Improvement in technology has extended the frontiers of knowledge.

A. borders

B. bounds

C. partitions

D. precincts

32. This type of music is inappropriate for such a solemn ceremony.

A. unfashionable

B. indecent

C. unsuitable

D. insufficient

33. Solitude is not good for the aged; it makes them lonely.

A. independence

B. privacy

C. grief

D. seclusion

34. The recalcitrant boy was not appointed prefect, much to his chagrin.

A. dishonest

B. wicked

C. unruly

D. unrepentant

35. The professor’s explanation was incisive.

A. dull

B. clear

C. brief

D. apt

36. People often describe his father as jocular.

A. caring

B. hilarious

C. kind

D. happy

37. The electorate misconstrued the intention of the candidate during the debate.

A. misinterpreted

B. misplaced

C. misapplied

D. misdirected

38. Most of his suggestions were absurd.

A. unexpected

B. evocative

C. expressive

D. ridiculous

39. Ann’s behaviour has been weird recently.

A. wicked

B. strange

C. lousy

D. dangerous

40. The headmaster advised his pupils to exhibit some amount of decorum.

A. decency

B. gentility

C. intellect

D. smartness

43. [word list item]

A. sketchy

B. comma

C. abrupt

D. duty

44. [word list item]

A. humane

B. exchange

C. request

D. purchase

45. [word list item]

A. mango

B. pepper

C. cassette

D. bathroom

SECTION 5

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.

41. ______ football, I also play basketball.

A. Except

B. Besides

C. Except for

D. Beside

42. Passengers are not allowed to carry ______ on this flight.

A. many luggage

B. few luggages

C. much luggage

D. a luggage

43. The class visited the apiary ______.

A. in two weeks

B. two weeks ago

C. since two weeks

D. during two weeks

44. If she had prepared well for the examination, she ______ certainly won the scholarship.

A. may have

B. could have

C. might have

D. would have

45. Peter and Paul come often, ______?

A. have they

B. doesn’t they

C. won’t they

D. don’t they

46. My family ______ Freedom Square twice in the 1990s.

A. used to visit

B. visited

C. would visit

D. visits

47. The ______ who attended the seminar appreciated the frank talk of the speaker.

A. fathers-in-law

B. father-in-laws

C. fathers-in-laws

D. father’s-in-law

SECTION 6

In each of the following sentences, the word that receives the emphatic stress is written in CAPITAL LETTERS. From the questions lettered A to D, choose the one to which the given sentence is the appropriate answer. An example is given below.

Example: Ngozi loves POUNDED yam.

A. Does Ngozi love boiled yam?

B. Does Jane love pounded yam?

C. Does Ngozi hate pounded yam?

D. Does Ngozi love pounded plantain?

The correct answer is A because Ngozi loves POUNDED yam answers the question, Does Ngozi love boiled yam? Therefore, answer space A would be shaded.

46. Thomas likes chocolate CAKE.

A. Does Thomas dislike chocolate cake?

B. Does James like chocolate cake?

C. Does Thomas like vanilla cake?

D. Does Thomas like chocolate cookies?

47. Nengi always brushes her teeth AFTER meals.

A. Does Nengi always brush her teeth before meals?

B. Does Nengi seldom brush her teeth after meals?

C. Does Nengi always rinse her teeth after meals?

D. Does Ama always brush her teeth after meals?

48. Ada bought her father a big HOUSE.

A. Did Ada buy her mother a big house?

B. Did Obi buy her father a big house?

C. Did Ada buy her father a big car?

D. Did Ada buy her father a small house?

49. Tolu watched the football match with Tope’s BROTHER.

A. Did Tolu watch the hockey match with Tope’s brother?

B. Did Tolu watch the football match with Ann’s brother?

C. Did Tolu watch the football match with Tope’s sister?

D. Did Emeka watch the football match with Tope’s brother?

50. Adaku travelled by road to Kano last MONTH.

A. Did Amina travel by road to Kano last month?

B. Did Adaku travel by road to Abuja last month?

C. Did Adaku travel by road to Kano last week?

D. Did Adaku travel by air to Kano last month?

SECTION 7

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol. An example is given below.

Example: /θ/

A. bother

B. without

C. path

D. bathe

The correct answer is C because only path contains the sound represented by the given symbol. Therefore, answer space C would be shaded.

51. /ŋ/

A. ankle

B. teen

C. hinge

D. barge

52. /k/

A. know

B. hike

C. cell

D. knife

53. /s/

A. purse

B. pause

C. rose

D. hose

54. /ɑː/

A. had

B. sergeant

C. make

D. sang

55. /aɪ/

A. calm

B. take

C. month

D. eye

56. /ɜː/

A. class

B. berserk

C. exile

D. supper

57. /oʊ/

A. slow

B. howl

C. feud

D. salt

58. /ɔː/

A. boss

B. lawn

C. sue

D. tongue

59. /dʒ/

A. course

B. edge

C. zoom

D. give

60. /t/

A. worth

B. spat

C. depot

D. chalet

Answers
SECTION 1 – Same Vowel Sound

1. D. coach
2. C. bare
3. B. many
4. D. complain
5. D. bet
6. B. put
7. A. grey
8. C. game
9. B. raise

SECTION 2 – Same Consonant Sound

10. C. bake
11. D. month
12. C. full
13. C. employ
14. B. blow
15. D. beat
16. B. thumb
17. D. scam
18. B. athlete
19. B. fusion
20. A. change
21. D. gnat

SECTION 3 – Interpretation of Sentences

21. B. honest
22. C. act without delay
23. D. hadn’t confessed earlier on, and he wasn’t trusted
24. A. has very little chance of success
25. C. very early in the morning
26. A. is in a position to make a difficult decision
27. D. Ekpong’s share of the food would not satisfy him
28. D. competent and efficient
29. D. did the man no good at all
30. C. suspended

SECTION 4 – Nearest in Meaning

31. B. bounds
32. C. unsuitable
33. D. seclusion
34. C. unruly
35. B. clear
36. B. hilarious
37. A. misinterpreted
38. D. ridiculous
39. B. strange
40. A. decency
41. C. abrupt
42. C. request
43. B. pepper

SECTION 5 – Sentence Completion

41. B. Besides
42. C. much luggage
43. B. two weeks ago
44. D. would have
45. D. don’t they
46. B. visited
47. A. fathers-in-law

SECTION 6 – Emphatic Stress

46. A. Does Thomas dislike chocolate cake?
47. A. Does Nengi always brush her teeth before meals?
48. C. Did Ada buy her father a big car?
49. B. Did Tolu watch the football match with Ann’s brother?
50. C. Did Adaku travel by road to Kano last week?

SECTION 7 – Phonetic Symbols

B. spat

C. hinge

D. knife

A. purse

B. sergeant

D. eye

B. berserk

A. slow

B. lawn

B. edge