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UTME 2024

JAMB Use of English past questions and answers

10 questions from the most recent UTME Use of English papers in our bank, across different topics. Try each one, then open the answer to see a worked solution.

  1. Question 1 · UTME 2024 · Rhymes

    Choose the word that rhymes with the given word: permit (verb)

    1. Aenlist
    2. Bcommit
    3. Cmeat
    4. Dprofit
    Show answer and solution

    Answer: B. commit

    What the question is asking: The word that rhymes with 'permit'.

    Key idea: The verb per-MIT ends in stressed /ˈmɪt/, like com-MIT. profit is stressed on the first syllable and ends in unstressed /ɪt/.

  2. Question 2 · UTME 2024 · Word Stress

    Choose the option that shows the correct stress pattern (the stressed syllable is in capitals): productivity

    1. APROductivity
    2. BproDUCtivity
    3. CproducTIvity
    4. DproductiVIty
    Show answer and solution

    Answer: C. producTIvity

    What the question is asking: Where the stress falls in 'productivity'.

    Key idea: Words ending in -ity are stressed on the syllable just before it: pro-duc-TIV-i-ty.

  3. Question 3 · UTME 2024 · Vowels

    Choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letters in capitals: bUsy

    1. Avineyard
    2. Bautomobile
    3. Ctwilight
    4. Disland
    Show answer and solution

    Answer: A. vineyard

    What the question is asking: Which word has the vowel of 'busy'.

    Key idea: The 'u' in busy is pronounced /ɪ/ (/ˈbɪzi/). The 'i' in vineyard is also /ɪ/ (/ˈvɪnjəd/), though 'vine' has /aɪ/. twilight and island have /aɪ/.

    Common trap: vineyard looks as if it contains 'vine', but it is pronounced VIN-yard.

  4. Question 4 · UTME 2024 · Consonants

    Choose the word that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letters in capitals: cloTHe

    1. Acloth
    2. Bsmooth
    3. Cgood
    4. Dthesis
    Show answer and solution

    Answer: B. smooth

    What the question is asking: Which word has the 'th' sound of 'clothe'.

    Key idea: The 'th' in clothe is voiced /ð/, as in smooth. cloth and thesis have voiceless /θ/.

  5. Question 5 · UTME 2024 · Prescribed Novel

    This question is based on Khadija Abubakar Jalli's The Life Changer. 'The quiet one' in the text is

    1. ASalma Mohammed
    2. BHabib Lawal
    3. CTalle
    4. DTomiwa
    Show answer and solution

    Answer: C. Talle

    What the question is asking: A detail from the novel.

    Key idea: Talle was known as 'the quiet one' because of his reticent nature.

  6. Question 6 · UTME 2024 · Sentence Interpretation

    Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence: He was building a castle in the air.

    1. AHe was building flying fortresses.
    2. BHe was imagining a terrible future.
    3. CHe was imagining a possible future as a famous architect.
    4. DHe was imagining a wonderful and rather impossible future.
    Show answer and solution

    Answer: D. He was imagining a wonderful and rather impossible future.

    What the question is asking: The meaning of 'building castles in the air'.

    Key idea: To build castles in the air is to daydream about wonderful things that are unlikely ever to happen.

  7. Question 7 · UTME 2024 · Antonyms

    Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word(s) in capitals: The judge declared the two accused GUILTY.

    1. Arude
    2. Binnocent
    3. Cflawed
    4. Dconvicted
    Show answer and solution

    Answer: B. innocent

    What the question is asking: The opposite of 'guilty'.

    Key idea: Guilty means having committed the offence. The opposite is innocent.

  8. Question 8 · UTME 2024 · Synonyms

    Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word(s) in capitals: The lecturer's wife has become quite UNCONSCIONABLE.

    1. Aunquestionable
    2. Bunbecoming
    3. Csuspicious
    4. Dreprehensible
    Show answer and solution

    Answer: D. reprehensible

    What the question is asking: The meaning of 'unconscionable'.

    Key idea: Unconscionable means not guided by conscience – shockingly unfair or wrong. Of the options, 'reprehensible' (deserving strong blame) is closest; 'unbecoming' only means not suitable.

  9. Question 9 · UTME 2024 · Word Classes and Usage

    Choose the option that best fills the gap: Sally assisted me in buying my ____ yesterday.

    1. Avery first party dress
    2. Bfirst very party dress
    3. Cparty very first dress
    4. Dparty dress first very
    Show answer and solution

    Answer: A. very first party dress

    What the question is asking: The correct word order before the noun.

    Key idea: 'Very' intensifies 'first' and comes right before it; 'party' describes the kind of dress and sits next to the noun: my very first party dress.

  10. Question 10 · UTME 2024 · Tenses and Verb Forms

    Choose the option that best fills the gap: You know that you ____ it before tomorrow.

    1. Amight do
    2. Bought to do
    3. Clike to do
    4. Dmay do
    Show answer and solution

    Answer: B. ought to do

    What the question is asking: The modal for obligation.

    Key idea: 'You know that you ought to do it' expresses duty – you are aware it is expected of you. 'Might' and 'may' express only possibility.

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