English-Language Exam Past Questions and Answers | JAMB, WAEC and NECO

English is the study of the English language. The goal is to improve communication skills by practicing listening, speaking, reading, writing, and understanding language rules like pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

• Question 1501:

  In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase which best fills the gap:

  We later on discovered that some members _____ another meeting before the one advertised.

  Options:
  A) were holding
  B) have held
  C) have been holding
  D) had held
  Show Answer
  The correct answer is D .
• Question 1502:

  In the question below, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word or phase in italics.
  Accountability is certainly a desirable quality in a politician.

  Options:
  A) Respectability
  B) Courage
  C) Responsibility
  D) Diligence
  Show Answer
  The correct answer is C .
• Question 1503:

  In time past in Nigeria, being a secretary was perceived with utter disdain by many people. Other professionals such as teachers, lawyers, engineers, surveyors, estate officers and architects were revered. Many issues readily come to mind concerning the old perspective of secretaries as professionals.

  One, they were regarded as people with little or no education. Indeed, many of them were said to be mere typists who learnt how to punch keys on the typewriter. They hardly had any formal education but obtained doubtful certificates. This was made possible because anyone could easily learn to be a typist under the shade of a tree or in a personal office of a retired secretary or a chief typist from any business organization. As long as a short piece of work could be typed almost accurately and in record time, one then became a secretary. This unrealistic practice – to call an unqualified person a secretary – might have been introduced and sustained by people who did not know who a secretary was. The educated secretaries obtained a minimum of the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) or its equivalent from institutions in and outside Nigeria, particularly Great Britain, Canada or the United States of America.

  Two, they were mostly women and very few male secretaries, who suffered more humiliation than their female counterparts. They were regarded as men who did not succeed in life and did the work that normally women were supposed to do.

  Three, and deriving from the second reason, secretaries were, as a matter of fact, very close to their bosses. Most people, including husbands of secretaries, regarded such a mode of interaction as tempting – a kind of constant closeness which might engender a deliberation or unintentional amorous relationship between superior and subordinate officer. Quite often, such a situation could not be ruled out when body contacts was established inadvertently or deliberately between two people of opposite sex especially when either one or both people were attractive and attracted to each other.

  Moreover, we often talk of the devil and the havoc he is capable of causing in the lives of people, particularly the unguarded ones.

  In today’s world, these points of view concerning secretaries are fading fast. Now, there is a clear distinction between a typist and a secretary. Modern secretaries are trained in polytechnics and universities. Gone are the days when secretaries were taught only the art of punching the typewriters and various filling systems. They are also encouraged to take training courses other than secretarial duty. Many secretaries have had their training in faculties of business administration, law, art and mass communications of universities. They take relevant courses in administration and other social science departments that enhance their personality, carriage, interpersonal relations and office management.

  Obviously, secretaries, including the male ones, are more important and well respected today than in the past.

  modern secretaries are different from the old ones because they Options:
  A) are able to become graduates of different universities
  B) mat become teachers in polytechnics and universities
  C) are more educated and better exposed to professional trainig
  D) can use modern gadgets such as computers and other machines
  Show Answer
  The correct answer is C .
• Question 1504:

  In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fills the gap(s):

  The beautiful plan made for the expansion of the business fell _____ as soon as the manager died.

  Options:
  A) down
  B) out
  C) in
  D) through
  Show Answer
  The correct answer is D .
• Question 1505:

  fill in the blank spaces in the following sentences making use of the best of the five options :

  Maimuna wrote to ask if I could put her …. for the night

  Options:
  A) Up
  B) In
  C) Out
  D) Off
  E) Away
  Show Answer
  The correct answer is A .
• Question 1506:

  In the question below choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s):

  Because of the _____ he did to my car, i am going to sue him for _____

  Options:
  A) damage/damages
  B) damages/damage
  C) damages/damages
  D) damage/damage
  Show Answer
  The correct answer is A .
• Question 1507:

  In the question below choose the option opposite in meaning to the word underlined:

  The economic situation in the country is obviously gloomy

  Options:
  A) encouraging
  B) moody
  C) unknown
  D) regrettable
  Show Answer
  The correct answer is A .
• Question 1508: Fill the each gap with the most appropriate option from the list option from the list provided.A wide range of options _____ made available to the political parties during the recently concluded elections? Options:
  A) are
  B) were
  C) was
  D) is
  Show Answer
  The correct answer is B .
• Question 1509:

  Choose the option opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s).

  Akpan was able to douse the flames with the new piece of equipment?

  Options:
  A) reduce
  B) extinguish
  C) ignite
  D) reinforce
  Show Answer
  The correct answer is C .
• Question 1510: Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s).His success may be described as a Pyrrhic victory? Options:
  A) costly
  B) a deserving victory
  C) an easy victory
  D) indecisive
  Show Answer
  The correct answer is A .