1|T H E FED ERAL POL YTE CH NIC ILARO

English Language Past Questions

1
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
In the match against the uplanders team, the sub mariners turned out to be the dark horse
 A. played most brilliantly
 B. played below their usual form
 C. won unexpectedly
 D. lost as expected
2
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
Only the small fry get punished for such social misdemeanours
 A. small boys
 B. unimportant people
 C. frightened people
 D. frivolous people
3
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
He spoke with his heart in his mouth
 A. with fright and agitation
 B. with such unusual cowardice
 C. with a lot of confusion in his speech
 D. without being able to make up his mind
4
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
The leader in today's issue of our popular newspaper focuses on inflation
 A. president
 B. headline
 C. editorial
 D. columnist
5
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
From the ways my friend talks, you can see he is such a bore
 A. rude
 B. brilliant
 C. uninteresting
 D. overbearing
6
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
His jail terms were to run concurrently
 A. simultaneously
 B. uniformly
 C. laboriously
 D. consecutively
7
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
There is some obvious symmetry in the whole presentation
 A. confusion
 B. hesitation
 C. excitement
 D. orderliness
8
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
The bill has to wait as we are now insolvent
 A. overworked
 B. bankrupt
 C. unsettled
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 D. insoluble
9
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
All his plans fell through
 A. failed
 B. were accomplished
 C. had to be reviewed
 D. were rejected
10
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
The balance sheet at the end of the business year shows that we broke even
 A. lost heavily
 B. made profit
 C. neither lost nor gained
 D. had no money to continue business
11
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
He was appointed specifically to put the recruits through
 A. assign them to work
 B. train them
 C. discipline them
 D. assist them at work
12
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
The result of his experiment represents a break through in medical science
 A. an outstanding success
 B. catastrophe
 C. an end to such experiments
 D. breaking point

13
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
Being an optimist, our professor always sees the bright side of most things
 A. cheerful
 B. illumined
 C. brilliant
 D. pleasing

14
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
The state government appointed a commission of inquiry to go into the community's complaints carefully and without prejudice
 A. investigate
 B. search
 C. look for
 D. account for
15
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
The traffic situation in Lagos can lead to disastrous consequences; a man lost a very lucrative job because he was held up by it
 A. confused
 B. delayed
 C. annoyed
 D. intrigued
16
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
Mrs. Dada has been deserted by her husband because he feels she has a heart of stone
 A. she has a heavy heart
 B. she has little warmth of feeling
 C. she has a hard heart
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 D. she is hard hearted

17
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
Mr. Jack could be a successful businessman if he paid more attention to the more intricate aspects of his account
 A. Mr Jack will undoubtedly succeed
 B. Mr Jack cannot succeed
 C. Jack will have a very good chance of succeeding
 D. Mr. Jack will find it difficult to succeed
18
If my father had not arrived, I would have starved. This sentence means
 A. My father did arrive and I didn't starve
 B. I had to starve because my father didn't come
 C. my father didn't arrive and I didn't starve
 D. I should have starved but I didn't
19
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
The two sprinters were running neck and neck
 A. exactly level
 B. very slowly
 C. very fast
 D. with their necks together
20
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
He stared at her
 A. glanced
 B. peeped
 C. looked
 D. gazed
21
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in the following sentence;
When the man was caught by police he presented a bold front
 A. he attacked the policemen boldly
 B. he walked up to the policemen
 C. he faced the situation with apparent boldness
 D. he bravely attempted to give them a present
22
Choose the option that best convey the meaning of the underlined portion in each of the following sentence;
I have been able to observe him at close quarters
 A. in government house nearby
 B. within a short space of time
 C. in a small family house
 D. at close range
23
Choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined portion in each of the following sentence;
At the site of the ghastly accident the poor woman's hair stood on end
 A. the woman was frightened
 B. the wind blew her hair upwards
 C. the woman was unmoved
 D. the woman disarranged her hair
24
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
When the beggar was tired he ..... down by the roadside
 A. lied
 B. laid
 C. layed
 D. lay
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25
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
He did not like .... leaving the class early
 A. we
 B. us
 C. our
 D. ourselves
26
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Before the operation, the dentist found that his patient's teeth....
 A. have long decayed
 B. have long been decayed
 C. have long being decayed
 D. had long decayed
27
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
The employer, not the salesman and his representative .... responsible for the loss
 A. is
 B. are being
 C. are never
 D. have been
28
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
The boy was born before his parents actually got married and so the court has declared him ....
 A. illegal
 B. illegitimate
 C. illicit
 D. unlawful
29
As he was still owing me two naira, i was careful not to .... him any more money
 A. lend
 B. loan
 C. borrow
 D. extend
30
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Last week the .... at the theater was the longest i had ever seen
 A. assembly
 B. congregation
 C. convention
 D. audience
31
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
If you travel by air you will be given an allowance to cover ....
 A. a luggage
 B. luggage
 C. luggages
 D. a baggage
32
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Tennyson and Browning lived about the same time and therefore .... poets
 A. contrary
 B. contractual
 C. contemporaneous
 D. contemporary
33
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
The green snake which lives in the green grass is using a perfect ....
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 A. ambush
 B. under cover
 C. camouflag
 D. shelter
34
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
In order to carry out necessary examination the dead body was ....
 A. extracted
 B. extradited
 C. exiled
 D. expelled
35
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Remember this matter is strictly .....
 A. between you and i
 B. among you and me
 C. among you and me
 D. between you and me
36
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
He went abroad with a view .... a business partner
 A. to find
 B. to be finding
 C. to have found
 D. to finding
37
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
He had just entered the office .... the telephone rang
 A. as
 B. before
 C. since
 D. when
38
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
They .... receive visitor on short notice
 A. use to
 B. are used to
 C. used to
 D. are always
39
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
His suggestion are completely .... the point and cannot be accepted
 A. to
 B. about
 C. beside
 D. on
40
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;

For .... he is a secretary we shall not have correct minutes

 A. because
 B. as long as
 C. so long
 D. in as much
41
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
He went up quickly and returned ....
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 A. fastest
 B. fastly
 C. as fastly
 D. as fast
42
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Invariably, he ends his letters .... amicably
 A. you
 B. your's
 C. yours'
 D. yours
43
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
If i went to the cinema i .... early
 A. shall return
 B. am returning
 C. would return
 D. had return
44
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space; The traditional folktales form
an .... to the book
 A. appendix
 B. insertion
 C. information
 D. overview
45
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
the frightening explosion in the factory .... whole wing
 A. washed out
 B. wiped out
 C. rooted out
 D. flushed out
46
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Out plane was scheduled to .... at 10.00 hrs but it was delayed because of the bad weather
 A. fly out
 B. take off
 C. start out
 D. shoot off
47
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
As luck would have it, the weather brightened almost immediately and after six hours flight we .... at Heathrow Airport
 A. touched down
 B. dropped
 C. came down
 D. flew down
48
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Before we left the airport, each passenger was made to .... certain form
 A. fill in
 B. write in
 C. enter in
 D. go through
49
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
My father cannot bear the .... of the concoction that emanates from my mothers soup pot
 A. sweet
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 B. savouring
 C. aroma
 D. smell
50
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
I would not have condescended to appease the traffic policeman but i happened .... traffic regulation
 A. to have broken
 B. to be breaking
 C. to break
 D. to break in
51
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
The managing director did not pay his staff last month ....?
 A. didn't he
 B. had he not
 C. is not it
 D. did he
52
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Although he is in all respects a poor student, he has managed to buy a tape recorder to improve his .... of french
 A. mastery
 B. mastering
 C. speaking
 D. ideas
53
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Granted you are my senior by one year, you cannot .... me around as if i were your servant
 A. control
 B. dribble
 C. order
 D. ask
54
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
.... mark an important step in the history of industrial revolution
 A. The invention of the locomotive engine
 B. The discovery of locomotion
 C. The discovery of the engine
 D. The process of locomotion

55
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Because the referee was partial and his opponent rough, the loser of the wrestling match received .... cheers than the winner
 A. thunderous
 B. many more
 C. overwhelming
 D. a little more
56
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;The boxer was highly rated
.... his doggedness and ability to absorb heavy punches
 A. by
 B. through
 C. for
 D. about
57
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Many lives are lost on Nigerian roads .... lack of consideration for other road users by many crazy drivers
 A. in view of
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 B. resulting in
 C. owing totally to
 D. through
58
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
The man no longer feared his opponent after their spokesman had assured him that they were well disposed .... him
 A. to
 B. toward
 C. around
 D. about
59
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
My little boy is hyper-active and he is therefore prone .... accidents
 A. with respect to
 B. for
 C. to
 D. about
60
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
His horrible high-pitched laugh .... on my nerves
 A. jags
 B. jabs
 C. jams
 D. jars
61
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
The train rattled along .... full speed
 A. in
 B. at
 C. with
 D. by
62
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
If this had happened to you, what .....?
 A. would you do
 B. have you done
 C. would you have done
 D. will you do
63
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
What a relief that the strike .... when it did!
 A. would end
 B. was ending
 C. ended
 D. has ended

64
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
We should take care .... the robbers come back
 A. in case
 B. should in case
 C. perhaps
 D. probably
65
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
By the time the rainy season ended, all the young cocoa trees .... in size
 A. have double
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 B. had doubled
 C. were doubling
 D. doubled
66
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
There were so many children ....
 A. that she couldn't feed them all
 B. than she could feed
 C. that she couldn't feed
 D. that she could feed them all
67
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
Isn't it high time you .... your office?
 A. are leaving
 B. do leave
 C. leave
 D. left
68
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
In West Africa the .... of sickle cell is about 25 percent
 A. incident
 B. incidence
 C. accident
 D. accidence
69
Complete each of the following sentences by choosing the option that most suitably fills the space;
We got to the hall after the play ....
 A. is started
 B. was starting
 C. had started
 D. has started
70
Substitute for the underlined word in the following sentence the word that most closely expresses the opposite meaning:
The plaintiff made very cogent submissions to the trail judge
 A. bailiff
 B. prosecutor
 C. lawyer
 D. defendant
71
Choose the option which is nearest in meaning to the sentences in each of the following questions:
The dog was limping. It appeared that one of its legs might have been injured
 A. The dog was limping as if it had an injured leg
 B. The dog was limping as it had an injured leg
 C. The dog was limping so it had an injured leg
 D. The dog was limping so as it had an injured leg
72
Choose the option which is nearest in meaning to the sentences in each of the following questions:
I can walk that distance and have done so many times
 A. I am used to walk that distance
 B. I used to walk that distance
 C. I used to walking that distance
 D. I am used to walking that distance
73
Choose the option which is nearest in meaning to the sentences in each of the following questions:
For all he cared, his parent might have been dead for years
 A. although concern about his parent,he had been unable to find out if they were alive
 B. He cared for no one except his parents, and it was possible that they had died long before
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 C. he did not care whether his parents were alive or had died long before
 D. He was concerned about everyone not just his parents, who might have died long before
74
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
....for the team for six years, he decided to join another
 A. When he played
 B. Playing
 C. Having played
 D. In playing
75
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
The bridge connecting the two cities was .... by the enemy
 A. blown up
 B. blown down
 C. blown off
 D. blown over
76
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
My little boy is suffering .... jaundice
 A. from
 B. of
 C. for
 D. with
77
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
They went to the market and bought a suitcase and .... bag
 A. a big leather brown
 B. a leather brown big
 C. a big brown leather
 D. a brown big leather
78
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
By the end of this year, .... in this town for eleven years
 A. i'm living
 B. i'd be living
 C. i'll live
 D. i'll have lived
79
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
If he had left home earlier, he .... late
 A. would not have been
 B. would have not be
 C. would not been
 D. would have been not
80
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
I saw you walking in that direction but i did not know exactly ....
 A. where are you going
 B. where you were going
 C. where were you going to
 D. to where were you going
81
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
The hill behind the town was so steep ....
 A. that no man could find a foot-hold on
 B. that any man could find a foot-hold on it
 C. for no man to find a foot-hold on
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 D. that no man could find a foot-hold on it

82
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
Walking down the street ....
 A. the boy was knocked down by a car
 B. a car knocked the boy down
 C. the boy was knocked down by car
 D. a car collided with the boy
83
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
The project which seemed very near realization .... because of lack of funds
 A. fell over
 B. fell through
 C. fell off
 D. fell in
84
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentence:
The chairman of the company was very sympathetic .... his staff
 A. to
 B. at
 C. for
 D. from
85
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
Jane asked James ....
 A. whether could she meet him later
 B. could she meet him later
 C. if she could meet him later
 D. she could meet him later
86
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
After our series of quarrels, it would be ....to pretend that i have any more regard for him
 A. hypothetical
 B. essential
 C. hypocritical
 D. necessary
87
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
If the company had any delay at the customs office, it was .... their own making
 A. at
 B. of
 C. from
 D. with
88
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
There is an obvious need to ward .... enemy attacks
 A. off
 B. against
 C. out
 D. apart
89
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
David can only become more mature through .... to life outside his home
 A. posting
 B. exposure
 C. exposition
 D. exposing
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90
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
Many of those who .... the country's educational policy have taught for many years
 A. formulate
 B. fabricate
 C. organize
 D. scheme
91
Mr. Thomas talked .... about the successes of his institute in the past year
 A. at a great length
 B. for great length
 C. at great length
 D. for a great length
92
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
The governor commended the society's .... services to the nation
 A. humanitarian
 B. humanist
 C. humanity
 D. humanistic
93
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
The member of the panel were ....
 A. discussing about it
 B. discussing on it
 C. discussing upon it
 D. discussing it
94
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
This writer analyses the evil society ....
 A. so masterly
 B. very masterly
 C. in such a masterly way
 D. in a masterly way
95
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
The Nigerian society of Engineers has set up .... to study the nation's problems
 A. a task force
 B. a tribunal
 C. an inquiring
 D. an inquest
96
Choose the expression or word which best complete each sentences:
It was a long poem but he learnt it ....
 A. off head
 B. in memory
 C. by heart
 D. at heart
97
Choose the correct option that completes the following sentence:
The young teacher was surprised that is promotion was approved by the old inspector who is generally known to ....
 A. be generous
 B. be friendly to young people
 C. like young people
 D. be hard to please
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98
Complete the following with the appropriate answer to the question:

John would you mind lifting this box?

 A. yes, i mind
 B. no, i don't
 C. no, i do
 D. yes, i don't mind
99
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined statement or words:
Had she asked me earlier, i might have been able to employ him
 A. i employed her
 B. i did not employ him
 C. i did not employ her
 D. i employed him
100
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined statement or words:
If he were to apologize i would probably forgive him
 A. i shall not forgive him even if he apologize
 B. he is likely to apologize and be forgiven
 C. i shall definitely forgive him if he apologizes
 D. if he apologize i shall decide whether or not to forgive him
101
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined words : As he was a gullible leader his followers took advantage of him
 A. He was weak and unable to enforce his authority
 B. He was partial and unfair in dispensing justice
 C. He was simple minded to a fault
 D. He was slow to act
102
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined words :
His summary of the meeting was brief and to the point
 A. careful
 B. precise
 C. accurate
 D. exact

103
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined words :
Do you have the same aversion as i do for way film?
 A. bitterness
 B. dislike
 C. criticism
 D. indignation
104
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined words :
I didn't think she could be so easily taken in by his pretences
 A. flattered
 B. deceived
 C. enamoured
 D. overcome
105
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined words :
The crux of the matter is that the president has just become aware of the mismanagement
 A. The part of the problem that has just surfaced
 B. The result of the matter
 C. The most important aspect of the problem
 D. The ways to solved the problem
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106
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined words :
The witness was guilty of swearing to a statement he knew to be false
 A. forgery
 B. perjury
 C. libel
 D. slander
107
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined words :
The story told by the suspect was difficult to believe
 A. incredulous
 B. credible
 C. incredible
 D. credulous
108
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined words :
Publishers say that newsprint has become more expensive
 A. newspaper
 B. paper for printing
 C. printers' salaries and wages
 D. fines for publishing libels
109
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined words :
After completing half of the journey, all the travellers could do was trudge along
 A. walk lazily
 B. run briskly
 C. walk and stop intermittently
 D. walk wearily
110
Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined words :
He got a standing ovation for his speech
 A. He stood up to receive the applause
 B. The audience stood up and applauded as he finished his speech
 C. Both he and the audience stood up at the end of his speech
 D. He stood up to make the speech
15 | T H E F E D E R A L P O L Y T E C H N I C I L A R O

ANSWER

1. C 54. A 107. C
2. B 55. B 108. B
3. A 56. C 109. D
4. C 57. C 110. B
5. C 58. B
6. A 59. C
7. D 60. D
8. B 61. A
9. A 62. C
10. C 63. C
11. B 64. A
12. A 65. B
13. A 66. A
14. A 67. D
15. B 68. B
16. D 69. C
17. C 70. D
18. A 71. A
19. A 72. D
20. D 73. C
21. C 74. C
22. D 75. A
23. A 76. A
24. D 77. C
25. C 78. D
26. D 79. E
27. A 80. B
28. B 81. D
29. A 82. A
30. D 83. B
31. B 84. A
32. D 85. C
33. C 86. C
34. E 87. B
35. D 88. A
36. D 89. B
37. D 90. A
38. C 91. C
39. C 92. A
40. B 93. D
41. D 94. C
42. D 95. A
43. C 96. C
44. E 97. D
45. B 98. B
46. B 99. B
47. A 100. D
48. A 101. A
49. D 102. B
50. A 103. B
51. D 104. B
52. A 105. C
53. C 106. B