JAMB -UME USE OF ENGLISH 2009 PAST QUESTION

Read passage I,II,and III carefully and answer the question that follow.

JAMB -UME USE OF ENGLISH 2009 PAST QUESTION :PASSAGE I

Nigeria is currently faced with two major problems which necessitate the use of the broadcast media to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for qualitative education in the country. These are population explosion and debilitating mass poverty. Population explosion in the country has greatly increased the need for more school so much so that demand now far outstrips provision of education opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level. In addition, the Nigerian society is currently handicapped by a crippling economic crisis which has forced many people out of school as a result of growing inability to meet the cost of training, like tuition fees and boarding charges.

A way out of these problems lies in the provision of educational opportunities through the use of radio and television broadcasts. Only when radio and television are fully utilized for teaching and learning can the foundation be laid for mass education in the country. Besides, using the radio and television to transmit educational programmes can cut the cost of education as boarding and tuition will become unnecessary for most beneficiaries. At the moment, many Nigerians are unable to enroll or stay on in school because of the high cost of education and because government is unable to provide the staggering amount needed to finance mass education via the traditional school system.

Also of importance is the fact that radio and television will offer good opportunities for the standardization of education in the country. At the moment, the best school in term of facilities and qualified teacher are concentrated in the urban centres to the detriment of the rural areas. This has given rise to imbalance and uneven distribution of qualitative education in the country, so much so that experienced and qualified teacher often reject position to rural school, while over-concentration leads to under-utilization of capable hand in urban school. Since education broadcasting involves the best brains producing and broadcasting education   materials from one centre location and reaching out simultaneously to scattered audience in the rural and urban areas, the provision will be made even throughout the country

The usual argument against the use of radio and television for teaching is the absence of immediate feedback which is thought to be essential for learning. But this handicap is more than compensated for by the listener’s or watcher’s ability  to record and play back as often as he or she likes, any part of the lesson he or she may find confusing or difficult to understand. Beside, support facilities like telephone and postal services may be used to clarify difficulties or answer student’s question. In addition, since Nigeria is still largely an orate society, using radio and television for direct teaching will not pose a serious communication problem. A beginning must therefore be made to promote aggressive school broadcast in the country.

1. The passage suggests that the greatest problems of mass education in Nigeria are
(a) the absence of educational broadcast and under utilization of urban teachers
(b)   the reluctance of most teacher to work in rural areas and the fact that Nigeria is an orate society
(c)  the absence of immediate feedback in the teaching process and lack of teaching facilities
(d)    widespread penury and ever-increasing demand for formal education

2. Which of the following can be concluded from the passage?
(a) The Nigeria government does not support the use of radio and television.
(b) Telephone and postal service are inimical to effective school broadcasting
(c) The formal education system is more expensive than the non-school type
(d) Nigerians reject teaching and learning through radio and television because of lack of immediate feedback

3. According to the passage, the major advantage of educational broadcasts may be summarized as
(a) Mass outreach, reduced costs and equal education opportunities
(b) Mass education reduced poverty level and qualitative education
(c) Mass access to qualitative education and reduction of the crippling economics crisis
(d) Increased number of school, reduced cost of schooling and enhanced mass education

4. From the last sentenced of the passage, it can be deduced that educational broadcast is
(a) Unknown in Nigeria
(b) Rarely used in Nigeria
(c) Often used in Nigeria
(d) Randomly used in Nigeria

5. A suitable title for this passage is
(a) The role of radio and television in Nigerian Education
(b) Why Nigerian teachers should use radio and television for teaching
(c) The need to promote teaching and learning through radio and television in Nigeria
(d) Enhancing school broadcasting for effective teaching and learning in Nigeria.

JAMB -UME USE OF ENGLISH 2009 PAST QUESTION :PASSAGE II

The standardization processes of Nigeria pidgin seems to have started during the post-colonial period. Naturally, Nigerian pidgin appears to be the first choice of most Nigerians in informal situations, especially when they are among those from different ethnic and linguistic background. Thus, the selection process has tactically taken place. Among all the languages used in Nigeria today, English inclusive, Nigeria pidgin could be said to be the most widely spoken. Evidence abound in motor park, parties congregation, and most social occasion. There is also ample evidence in the electronic and print media, especially in political propaganda, campaigns and product advertisement. Thus, in terms of spread and extensive use, Nigerian pidgin could rightly be called a national lingua franca.

The used of Nigerian pidgin in contemporary Nigeria could be described as most productive, extensive and complex. It appears that the standardization processes- selection, codification, elaboration of functions and acceptance, which started in the post-colonial era, are now being completed in contemporary Nigeria. The reason for assumption is simple- apart from its complex use as a lingua franca, language of media advertisement, social interaction, un official military training and limited literary output, Nigeria pidgin has attained widespread acceptability in the media, political propaganda and campaigns as well as in the soap operas. It is also the language of radio and television jingles. Most electronic media now use appropriate percentage of their airtime to cast news and give reports in Nigerian pidgin. Even though its use in some newspaper columns has declined especially with the demise of the ‘Waka About’ column in the Daily Times, it is however, found extensively in some newspaper advertisements.

In places like Warri, Sapele and Port Harcourt, there were reports that teachers at the lower primary level taught their pupils in Nigerian pidgin. This unofficial adoption of Nigerian pidgin as the language of the lower primary education by those teachers is justifiable considering the provision of the National Policy on Education, which states that, in addition to English, the major languages in the child’s environment could be used at the elementary level of education. Similarly, Nigeria pidgin has become a language of religious preaching, especially, Christianity. In most rural and even urban centres where congregations are not all very well-educated, pastors resort to the use of Nigerian pidgin.

The use of Nigerian pidgin as a literally language tends to have started in the sixties with the works of Achebe, Soyinka and others. But it is in the contemporary times that it has become most widespread. The number of poems, novels and plays written and published in Nigerian pidgin is growing even more rapidly. Many more literary writers now attempts to experiment with the language. Therefore, the evidences of codification and elaboration of functions and the partial or tactical acceptance of Nigerian pidgin are clearly visible.

6. The reference to the National Policy on Education in the passage implies that
(a) the government recognizes Nigerian pidgin
(b) pidgin will continue to enjoy acceptance by many Nigerians
(c) it is simple to understand
(d) Nigerian pidgin is used at all levels.

7. From the passage, which of the following is the most important reason why Nigerian pidgin is popular?
(a) It is used in social occasions
(b) It has no ethnic affiliation
(c) It is extensively used along the coast
(d) It is used by many creative writers.

8. The style of this passage could best be described as
(a) narrative only
(b) narrative and expository
(c) persuasive and argumentative
(d) descriptive only

9. According to the passage, the phrase lingua franca means
(a) Nigerian pidgin
(b) common language
(c) second language
(d) mother tongue

10. The fact that Nigeria pidgins is used in primary education in places like Warri and Port Hacourt suggest that it is
(a) universally accepted
(b) a lingua franca
(c) a language of instruction
(d) Nigeria’s second lingua franca

JAMB -UME USE OF ENGLISH 2009 PAST QUESTION PASSAGE III

Millions of people today are in serious ‘debt’. This debt can be a major factor in wrecking their cars, damaging  their careers, and even ruining their marriages. It can adversely affect their health and lifespan. It is a deficit that contributes to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to various infections. Conditions as different as diabetes, heart disease, and extreme obesity, as well as other health problems, have been linked to it. Yet, most victims are obviously of this debt. The debtor is the one who does not have enough sleep needed for well-being. This can be caused by voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person’s life-style or by involuntary deprivation because of illness and other causes. Medical researchers estimate that the earth’s population is now on the average, an hour less sleep per night than what is needed. While this may seem slight; a ninety six-million-hour debt has become the focus of research in to both the variety of sleep-related illness and their impact on the quality of life.

 The medical world once viewed the chronic inability to sleep as just one disorder, commonly called insomnia. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognised 17 distinct sleep disorders. At any rate, insomnia has so many causes that it is often considered to be a symptom of other problems, much as fever suggests some sort of infection. Even occasional deprivation of sleep can be disastrous. Consider the case of Tom, although an experienced truck driver, he plunged his 18-wheel vehicle over an embankment, spilling 400 litres of sulphuric acid onto a major highway. Tom admits: ‘I fell asleep’. Studies of two U.S. highways estimated that drowsy drivers caused some 50 percent of the fatal crashes.

With hundreds of thousands of sleep-related auto and other accidents happening annually, the worldwide cost to productivity and family is enormous. What factors may contribute to lack of sleep? “One is the social phenomenon often called 24/7 – operating 24 hours a day, seven says a week. The newspaper, USA Today, describes this as a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live. Noting that a new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock. In many lands, people watch all-night television programmes and access the internet when they should be sleeping. Then there is the toll taken by emotional disorders, often involving anxieties heightened by stress occasioned by the pace of life. Also, there are a variety of physical disease that can contribute to lack of sleep.

Many doctors note how difficult is to get their parents to take sleep seriously. One doctor complained that chronic fatigue is even considered ‘a status symbol’ by some. And because their condition often worsens very gradually, victims of sleep deprivation may not recognise that they suffer from a serious sleep disorder. Many of them reason, ‘I am  just getting old’ or, ‘ I can’t cope with life, so I tend to shut down’ or, ‘I am tired of all the time because I can never get the long rest I need’.  Reversing this sleep debt is a complex challenge. But understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the sign of sleep debt can provide the motivation to change. Recognising the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder and save lives, and this should be a warning to many Nigerians, particularly those who engage in long night journeys.

11. Which of the following is true according to the passage
(a) Lack of sleep is caused by either a person’s lifestyle or involuntary sleep and not by both.
(b) Voluntary sleep deprivation can be attributed to the way in which an individual lives
(c) Some illnesses can cause sleep disorder, which can be both voluntary and involuntary
(d) Healthful sleep is needed only for one’s well-being

12. The passage suggest that
(a) medical doctors have found 17 distinct sleep disorders
(b) inability to sleep was once considered to be chronic
(c) Insomnia and fever are medical conditions that are indicative of other problems
(d) The U.S. Congress has recognized that insomnia is symptom of other problems

13. The expression ‘…. mocking the clock’ as used in the passage, captures the
(a) phenomenon of retailers making a lot of profits because they operate at night
(b) fact that retail business is a waste of time
(c) total disregard of time by retailers and services
(d) fact that the time available to retailers and services is not enough to do good business

14. In the first sentence of the passage, the word ‘debt’ is quoted because
(a) it has been used for a special effect
(b) it has been used in the first sentence
(c) of the seriousness of the matter it addresses
(d) it is capable of destroying people

15. From the passage, doctors find it hard to convince their patients of the gravity of lack of sleep because
(a) it is caused by a variety of reasons
(b) the patients are often tired and cannot get enough sleep
(c) people believe that it enhances one’s personality
(d) it impacts on the patient is slow

JAMB -UME USE OF ENGLISH 2009 PAST QUESTION :PASSAGE IV

The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each questions carries 2 marks.

The economic miracle of the so called Tigers was subject to much debate and analyses in the early 1990s among economists. There was basically two schools of….16….[A reasoning  B ideals  C practice D  thought ] one, that the Asian tigers’ economic miracle was a case of miracle beyond the free market and so to repeat such miracle or some thing near it, do not leave the…17… [A economy B structure C miracle D analyses] to the invisible hands of the free market with its sometimes profoundly anti- socials overtone. There was a place for, and indeed a great virtue in state…..18.. [  market  B intervention  C persuasion D enforcement]. The other group …19… [ A synthesized  B analysed C believed D recommended ] that it was not so much a miracle that was either beyond the free market or, for the matter, one induced by the equally unpredictable, even if visible, hands of politician and policy…20… [A decider B masters C executor D markers] the Asian…21… [ A experience B practice C logic D method ] was rather one of a cultural phenomenon blending with good policies to produce a delightfully desirable spectacles of progress and…22…  [ A purpose B affluence C prospect D prosperity]. The concern of the economics was how to safely…23… [A prescribe B guage  stimulate C re-orientate] and then apply the asian prescription to replicate such man-made in many other countries of the world enduring the ..24… [A anger B risk C throes D punishment ] of unrelenting and …25…[ A momentous B compelling C scorching D aggravating] poverty.

Adapted from the punch,7 November, 2005

JAMB -UME USE OF ENGLISH 2009 PAST QUESTION LEXIS, STRUCTTURE AND ORAL FORM

In each of question 26 to 35 , select the option that best explain the information conveyed in the sentences. Each question carries 2 marks.

26. the court brought out the fact that the selection were not free and fair
(a) the court said that the election were not rigged
(b) the court explained that the election were not marred
(c) the court made it clear that the election were not flawless
(d) the court saw that the election were properly conducted

27. the computer operator was sacked for incompetence
(a) the computer operator was sacked  for his foolishness
(b) the computer operator was sacked for his laziness
(c) the computer operator was sacked for lack of skill
(d) the computer operator was sacked for lateness

28. He was a member of the think tank of the previous administration
(a) as an expert, he criticized government
(b) He was an expert who gave advise to government
(c) He was an expert that government did not listen to.
(d). As an expert,  government  must have taken to his advice.

29 In spite of various criticisms, Bala sticks to his guns.
(a) Bala always goes out with his guns, ready to kill.
(b)People do not like Bala because hi s is violent.
(c) Bala is criticized because of his bad behaviour towards people.
(d)  Bala adheres to his belief even when others do not agree with him.

30. Chike plays to the gallery whenever he meets a group of people.
(a). Chike plays well with people at the gallery
(b). Chike seeks cheap popularity
(d). Chike shows distrust and hatred to people.

31. He kept a stiff upper lip over the accident.
(a). He sustained injury on his upper lip
(b). He endured the misfortune with courage
(c) he could not talk because of the accident
(d) His friends deserted him because of the accident.

32. He had travelled the length and breath of Africa
(a) He must have travelled to some big cities of Africa.
(b) He had travelled to many parts of Africa.
(c) He had travelled to all parts of Africa.
(d) He had travelled to all the villages in Africa.

33. She wriggled out of her wedding gown
(a) she could not take off her gown herself so she was assisted
(b) her dress got torn because of  the snake-like pattern
(c) no one could have Imagined that her dress was so tight
(d) it took her some time to remove her lose-fitting dress

34. Visitors who are observant don not outstay their welcome
(a) All visitors must  be alert so as to know when to leave a place
(b) some visitors know when to leave a place so as to make their host happy
(c) some visitors are unable to know when their host do not want them around
(d) All visitors, expect a few, know when to leave a place

35. the group had been made a scapegoat during the event
(a) members of the group had been punished for a sin that  they do not commit
(b) members of the group had been blamed for a sin that they do not commit
(c) the group had been punished so that no one would commit the sin again
(d) the group had been blamed merely to serve as a detainment for others

In each of question 36 to 50, chose the option opposite in meaning to the word or phrase in italics.
36. Sola is apathetic about his work
(a) indifferent
(b) enthusiastic
(c) half- hearted
(d) bored

37. The members of the family had a hasty breakfast before starting out on their journey
(a) hurried
(b) leisurely
(c) tasty
(d) nasty

38. the poverty level among the man’s eagerness
(a) arrogance
(b) saturated
(c) affluence
(d) influence

39, the chairman was accused for implemented policies that favored the elite
(a)oppressed
(b) executed
(c) jobless
(d) citizen

40. the manager was impressed by the man’s eagerness
(a) impatient
(b) indifferences
(c) negligence
(d) calmness

41. he is known for making threadbare arguments as a scholar
(a) justified
(b) baseless
(c) empty
(d) militant

42. the lecturer’s obscure publication counted against him during the promotion exercise
(a) widespread
(b) closed
(c) circulated
(d) restricted

43. The man found his wife physically repellant
(a) attractive
(b) fatuous
(c) unpleasant
(d) flamboyant

44. as an absolute ruler, Adayi brooks no opposition from his subordinate
(a) a despotic dictator
(b) a shameless king
(c) a benevolent leader
(d) a magnanimous democrat

45. the response to the advertisement has been phenomenal
(a) spiritual
(b) frightened
(c) unimpressive
(d) catastrophic

46. My father lived a Spartan life before his death
(a) extravagant
(b) peaceful
(c) quite
(d) luxurious

47. Bola’s parent went through an acrimonious divorce
(a) a bitter
(b) an acrid
(c) a sour
(d) a peaceful

48. lliya account of the  incident is appalling
(a)tasking
(b) fascinating
(c) horrifying
(d) ridiculous

49. she encapsulate her view of the nature of life in a poem
(a) summed up
(b) explained
(c) expatiated on
(d) reflected

50. we were held spellbound by his eloquence
(a) unimpressed
(b) freed
(c) deceived
(d) unenlightened

In each of question 51to 65, choose the option nearest to the word or phrase in italics.

51. We were at a loss to understand w0hy oli should retract his statement before the judge
(a) assert
(b) repeat
(c) withdraw
(d) reiterate

52. The workers hope to appear before the arbitration panel to resolve the lingering dispute
(a) trial
(b) legislative
(c) investigative
(d) reconciliatory

53. He went to the polls in defiance of sound advice and recorded an abysmal performance
(a) surprisingly good
(b) disappointingly bad
(c) mediocre
(d) landslide

54. he was not able to9 withstand the attack from his immediate family
(a) survive
(b) overcome
(c) match
(d) resist

55. Your effort to bring peace between us is futile because you are biased
(a) convinced
(b) clever
(c) prejudiced
(d) worried

56. Our front door is always kept ajar
(a) locked
(b) sealed
(c) half-closed
(d) permanently open

57. His embroidery was an exacting task for the tailor
(a) an unwarranted
(b) an exciting
(c) a demanding
(d) a disturbing

58. The student’s remonstrance were rebuffed by the authority
(a) protest
(b) suggestions
(c) complaints
(d) regrets

59. I had to make my way through the throng of people in the church
(a) group
(b) crowd
(c) gathering
(d) theme

60. The man’s wife has her misgiving about him
(a) fears for
(b) distrust of
(c) hatred for
(d) love for

61. Violent crime is only one of the maladies afflictions modern society
(a) damages
(b) illnesses
(c) wounds
(d) crises

62. Tade has an aquiline nose
(a) a large and curve nose
(b) a wide and straight nose
(c) a big and pointed nose
(d) a small and attractive nose

63. Everyone talking about the camaraderie in the club
(a) companionship
(b) quarrelsome
(c) commissioning
(d) disunity

64. you’re impossible; she said to me
(a) unreasoned
(b) unforgiving
(c) daft
(d) strong

65. I was being diorected by my sixth sense all through the ordeal
(a) intelligent
(b) judgment
(c) intuition
(d) imagination

In each of question 66 to 85, choose the option that best complete the gap(s)

66. they…. [A would get  B would have got C will Have get D had got]wet if they had gone out the rain

67. The students are still …. [ A very so B much too C very much D much so ] in the dark regarding the principal decision

68. When I came in, I ….. [  A laid on the floor B lie on the floor C lain on the floor D lay on the floor]

69. Either the teacher or the student… [ A is B are C has being D are being ]to blame

70. I will  pay my dept … [A instalmentally B by instalmentally C in instalments D in instalmentally ]

71. You should anticipate and prepare for changes …[A that has taken place B which takes place C taking place D that would take place] in your office

72. the scholar examined ….[ A three a part analyzed B a part- three analysis C a three-part analysis D three part analysis] of the subject

73. The litigants finally opted …[ by an out of court B in an out of court C to an out of court D for an out of court ] settlement

74. she refrained ….[ A at B off C from Din] smoking

75. Birds whistle while bears … [ A gibber B purr C growl D bellow ]

76. I am not surprised that Zali had a road accident; he was always too fast,… [A isn’t he B wasn’t he C didn’t he D did he]

77. Oduma had… enough money to pay the fines so he went to jail for disturbing libellious…. [A no/brochures B not/circular C no/publication D not/pamphlets]

78. the principal said he….. so many visitors that day that he…..[ A had been having/ felt  B has been having / feels C was having/feels D is having/felt] exhausted.

79. His mother always reprimands him for being a ….. [ A vicious B veracious C vivacious D voracious] reader  of cheap novels

80. femi has been… [A lacking B lagging C larking D lurking ] behinds in classroom

81. judging ……[A at B through C with D by ] his face, he is not guilty

82.  what were the ……[ A species B desserts C diets D condiments ]served in the restaurant

83. she… her hair…. In the room before we left [A smoothened/off B smoothened/on C smoothened/up  D smoothed/down ]

84. This is a village where… knows… [A everyone/everyone else B anyone/anyone C every person/themselves D someone/ someone else ]

85. did you say that you saw him…..[ A crossed B cross C to be crossing D  crosses] the road yesterday

In each of question 86 to 88, choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined

86. key    A sit B bet C seat D tread

87. taught  A law B aunt C count D plateau

88. Dutch  A lottery B love C loud D lurch

I n each of question 89to 91, choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the none represented by the letter(s) underlined

89. both A bother B thaw C the D there

90. bouquet A bucket B banquet C liquid D squeeze

91. houses A rice B rise C curse  D course

In each of question 92 to 94, choose the option that rhymes with the given words

92. say A treason B weigh C fright D saw

93. Knew A tool B dawn C. night D. Queue.

94.  Tony A. torn B.take  C. foil D. tour.

In each of question 95 to 97, choose the appropriate street pattern from the option. The syllables are written in capital letters

95.  Comfortable A. COMfortable B. Comfortable C. ComfortaBLE  d. ComfortTable

96.  Incapacitate A.inCAacitate B.  IncaFORtable C. Incapacitate D. incapacitate

97.  Encouragement A. Encouragement B. enCOU5ragement C. encouRAgement D. encouragement.

In each of question 98 to 100, the word in capital letter has the emphatic stress. Choose the option to which the given sentence relates.

98.  THEIR children speakbetter French than English. A. Do their husband’s speakbetter French than English?  B. What language do their children speak better than English?  C. Do their children speak better French than English?  D. Whose children speak better French than English?

99.  They RAN to the playground. A. Where did they run to?  B. Did they walk to the playground?  C. Who ran to the playground?  D. Did they run from the playground?

100.  Timi BOUGHT a new car   A did timi hire a new car B doe’s timi deals in cars? C has timi acquires a new car D does timi have a new car?