UTME Past Questions

English · 2022

60 questions
Progress 1 / 60
Question 01
Objective Structured Questions. Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Nandu and the Merchant

One day Nandu rode his horse to the village fair. On his way back he met Somendra the merchant. The merchant was a crafty man, ready to do anything to earn some money. The village knew this; in fact, no one knew what trick he would be up to next. Now, Nandu was poor and had no one in the world to call his own except a beautiful, white horse. He loved it more than anything else in the world. The merchant had his eye on the horse for a long time and tried to think of a way to get it for himself.

Seeing Nandu, the merchant thought, "Nandu is a simpleton. Let me see if I can trick him out of his horse." So he said to Nandu, "You live all alone. How do you manage? What does a young boy like you need with a horse? Sell it to me and I shall make you rich in return." Nandu replied, "No, I don't want to sell my horse."

But the merchant refused to give up so easily. Finally, when the offer reached five hundred gold coins, it seemed like a good price. "But I have a condition. If you agree to it, I shall give you my horse." "What is it?" the merchant asked impatiently. "Give me the money right now, and I shall give you my horse when I have given you ten lashes." The merchant thought that after all, he would resell the horse for over a thousand gold coins in the market; he would take twenty lashes for such a gain. He agreed instantly. He ran home, got the money for Nandu, and brought along his whip as well.

Nandu counted the money carefully. He then took the whip, and the lashes fell on the merchant's back in quick succession. By the eighth lash the merchant was almost in tears, but he told himself that there were only two lashes to go and the horse would be his. The merchant held his breath, waiting for the final lashes. But Nandu had mounted his horse and was riding off. "Wait!" shouted the merchant in anger. "What about the last lashes? Where are you going with the horse? We had a deal."

Nandu stopped and said, "I agreed to give you the horse only after I have given you ten lashes, but it is upsetting my horse. I'll give you the last lashes later. Till then, goodbye!" "Come back, you cheat!" the merchant shouted. But the crowd that had gathered around agreed with Nandu — a deal was a deal, and till the last lash was given, the horse could not belong to the merchant. Nandu rode away richer by five hundred coins, and Somendra waited in vain for several days for the final lash, which never came.

Why did the merchant offer to buy Nandu's horse?

Question 02

Which of the following is true in the context of the passage? 1. Nandu was an orphan. 2. The merchant was very persevering. 3. The merchant was fond of Nandu's horse.

Question 03

Why did Nandu set the condition of giving the merchant ten lashes?

Question 04

Why did the bystanders take Nandu's side in the argument? 1. They hoped Nandu would give them a reward from the five hundred coins he had earned. 2. They were sure the merchant would ill-treat the horse and wanted to prevent that. 3. They knew the merchant was a cheat and Nandu would be miserable without his horse, of whom he was very fond.

Question 05

What reason did Nandu cite for not giving the merchant the final lash?

Question 06
These questions are based on Khadijat Abubakar Jalli's The Life Changer.

Who is described as meddlesome in the story?

Question 07

What position is Bint in the family?

Question 08

Which of the following best describes the story?

Question 09

The significance of Omar's admission is that it _________

Question 10

What was Tale charged with?

Question 11

The title of the head of the village of Lafayette is _________

Question 12

Who has a flair for music?

Question 13

"Ummi" is translated in Arabic as _________

Question 14

In which examination was Salma caught cheating?

Question 15

The full meaning of "EMAIL" is

Question 16
For these questions, choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

The principal bent over backwards to admit the students into school. This means the principal

Question 17

The students had hardly come in when the bell rang. This means that

Question 18

All our plans fell through at the last moment. This means that we

Question 19

After the prison experience, Etim decided to go straight. This means he decided to

Question 20

They did not know what to expect, so they decided to play it by ear. This means

Question 21
For these questions, choose the option that best completes the gap.

Don't believe all _________ he has told you.

Question 22

He succeeded _________ the odds he faced.

Question 23

If I had known that he was going, _________ him the book.

Question 24

During the surgery, the doctor realized that the patient's legs _________

Question 25

_________ guests enjoyed themselves at Joy's birthday party.

Question 26

For the management, your remark amounts to a slap _________ the face.

Question 27

The chairman told members he was open _________ suggestions.

Question 28

The portion is to be shared between _________

Question 29

If found guilty, he will _________ all the wealth he amassed illegally.

Question 30

To _________ Nigerians, corruption in high places is not strange.

Question 31

The man, as well as his son, _________ in the band.

Question 32

_________ escalating food prices, government seems to have no solution.

Question 33

The poor _________ our attention and kindness.

Question 34

The conference turned out to be an enlightening _________ experience.

Question 35

My _________ to you students is to be diligent.

Question 36

People are afraid of Mr Niyi because he is _________

Question 37
Choose the word nearest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

The doctor diagnosed the tumour as MALIGNANT.

Question 38

It soon became obvious that a confrontation was INEVITABLE.

Question 39

The police announced that they were yet to APPREHEND the criminals.

Question 40

He is easily recognizable because of a CONSPICUOUS birthmark on his face.

Question 41

There are some drugs that could EXACERBATE a particular illness.

Question 42
Choose the appropriate option.

I cannot concentrate; there is too much _________

Question 43

Bus _________ are going to increase, so commuters are worried.

Question 44

Chinese _________ met foreign office officials in London.

Question 45

His belief that he could do this is his _________

Question 46

Which of these is the correct spelling?

Question 47
In each of the following sentences, the underlined word carries the emphatic stress. Choose the option that best fills the gap in relation to it.

The minister was accused of making utterances that could increase rather than _________ anxiety among the citizenry.

Question 48

At the end of the crisis, the leader declared that there was no victor and no _________

Question 49

I was impressed by the man's eagerness but was rather put off by his wife's _________

Question 50

He is a famous artist but has a _________ drinking habit.

Question 51

The first twin is so vain and the second so _________ that one could think they were not brothers.

Question 52
Choose the question to which the given sentence, with its emphatic stress, is an appropriate answer.

MARY loves brown shoes.

Question 53

It rained ALL day yesterday.

Question 54
Choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol.

Which word contains the sound represented by /u:/?

Question 55

Which word contains the sound represented by /j/?

Question 56
Choose the word that rhymes with the given word.

Roam

Question 57

Bough

Question 58

Rain

Question 59

Knight

Question 60

Jeer

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