10 questions from the JAMB 2018 English paper, with answers and explanations. Tap "Show answer" under each one when you are ready.
JAMB 2018Question 1 · Lexis and Structure
Choose the option that best completes the gap, I'll find time for my _________ when I get _________with this difficult assignment.
A.past-time/over
B.pass-time/over
C.passtime/through
D.pastime/through
Show answer
Answer: D. pastime/through
The correct spelling is 'pastime' (one word), and 'get through' means to finish a difficult task.
JAMB 2018Question 2 · Lexis and Structure
Choose the option that best completes the gap. The young man looked carefully at the long document, but he couldn't make __________ what it meant
A.up
B.out
C.off
D.through
Show answer
Answer: B. out
'Make out' means to understand/decipher.
JAMB 2018Question 3 · Lexis and Structure
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined. As a Journalist, Bola has always had a nose for stories
A.an instinct
B.a command
C.soft comment
D.cynical statement
Show answer
Answer: A. an instinct
'A nose for stories' means a natural instinct for finding stories.
JAMB 2018Question 4 · Lexis and Structure
Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence. Adawo is an Imp
A.Adawo behaves queenly
B.Adawo behaves differently
C.Adawo behaves decently
D.Adawo behaves badly
Show answer
Answer: D. Adawo behaves badly
An 'imp' is mischievous; the closest match among the options is that Adawo behaves badly.
JAMB 2018Question 5 · Lexis and Structure
Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) or phrase in italics. The severity of the harmattan helped me to complete my writing assignment in record time because i had no choice but to lock myself indoors
A.warmth
B.mildness
C.moderation
D.leniency
Show answer
Answer: B. mildness
'Severity' means harshness; its opposite is 'mildness'.
JAMB 2018Question 6 · Lexis and Structure
Choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap. I would have been surprised if you ____________ the orange
A.plucked
B.have plucked
C.had plucked
D.did pluck
Show answer
Answer: C. had plucked
The third conditional (unrealized past event) requires past perfect: 'had plucked'.
JAMB 2018Question 7 · Lexis and Structure
Choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap. If it had rained, we would have had to postpone the concert. It didn't rain, so ____________
A.we won't have to
B.we would have had to
C.we wouldn't have to
D.we didn't have to
Show answer
Answer: D. we didn't have to
Since the rain (the conditional cause) did not happen, the real-world result is stated in simple past: 'we didn't have to'.
JAMB 2018Question 8 · Lexis and Structure
choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in italics. Everyone testifies to the unique taste of our flavor.
A.Offensive
B.Common
C.Uncommon
D.Sufficient
Show answer
Answer: B. Common
'Unique' means one-of-a-kind/distinctive; its opposite is 'common'.
JAMB 2018Question 9 · Lexis and Structure
choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s). The pastor asked the women to _________ their hearts to God in prayers.
A.Bare
B.Bear
C.Bar
D.Barrr
Show answer
Answer: A. Bare
'Bare their hearts' means to openly expose their feelings.
JAMB 2018Question 10 · Lexis and Structure
select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence. The team adapted to the new tactic as clean as a whistle .
A.They adapted to the pattern perfectly
B.They needed a whistle to be able to adapt to the pattern.
C.They adapted to the tactic with little errors
D.They found it difficult to adapt to the new tactic.
Show answer
Answer: A. They adapted to the pattern perfectly
'As clean as a whistle' means perfectly/without error.
Practise all 69 JAMB 2018 English questions free
Answer them on Acelume, timed like the CBT, see the answer straight away and get a list of the topics you need to work on.