English Language past questions: NECO SSCE 2003

37 objective questions, with answers. Free to read and practise.

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37 questions, one at a time, marked as you go or at the end. No account needed.

1.
After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider MOST APPROPRIATE for each sentence Nwanze enjoys taking people foraride. This means that Nwanze enjoys
1. A.cheating others
2. B.disrespecting them
3. C.driving various brands of cars
4. D.giving people a ride in his car
5. E.helping his fellow humans
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Answer: A cheating others
2.
After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider MOST APPROPRIATE for each sentence When Babangida was asked to state his case, he began to beat about the bush. This means that Babangida
1. A.failed to deal with the real issue
2. B.felt ashamed to say anything
3. C.stated his case very vividly
4. D.started fighting his opponent in the bush
5. E.went through a bushy path
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Answer: A failed to deal with the real issue
3.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has a different stress pattern from the other four.
1. A.fumble
2. B.cushion
3. C.whisper
4. D.eclipse
5. E.custom
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Answer: D eclipse
4.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has a different stress pattern from the other four. A. impound B. logic C. piper D. table E. true
1. A.C
2. B.D
3. C.E
4. D.A
5. E.B
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Answer: D A
5.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has a different stress pattern from the other four. A. lesson B. blessing C. service D. reason E. replace
1. A.B
2. B.D
3. C.A
4. D.C
5. E.E
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Answer: E E
6.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the correct stress with the word given. In each word only one syllable has the main/primary stress and the syllable is written in capital letters IMAGINATION
1. A.I-ma-gi-na-tion
2. B.i-MA-gi-na-tion
3. C.i-ma-GI-na-tion
4. D.i-ma-gi-NA-tion
5. E.i-ma-gi-na-TION
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Answer: D i-ma-gi-NA-tion
7.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the correct stress with the word given. ln each word only one syllable has the main/primary stress and the syllable is written in capital letters PHOTOSYNTHESIS
1. A.PHO-to-syn-the-sis
2. B.pho-TO-syn-the-sis
3. C.pho-to-SYN-the-sis
4. D.photo-syn-THE-sis
5. E.pho-to-syn-the-SIS
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Answer: C pho-to-SYN-the-sis
8.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the correct stress with the word given. ln each word only one syllable has the main/primary stress and the syllable is written in capital letters PRODUCTIVITY
1. A.PRO-duc-ti-vi-ty
2. B.pro-DUC-ti-vi-ty
3. C.pro-duc-TI-vi-ty
4. D.pro-duc-ti-Vl-ty
5. E.pro-duc-ti-vi-TY
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Answer: C pro-duc-TI-vi-ty
9.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s). swindle
1. A.dew
2. B.few
3. C.mow
4. D.slow
5. E.wind
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Answer: E wind
10.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the emboldened letter(s). gold
1. A.giro
2. B.glow
3. C.gnome
4. D.large
5. E.ocean
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Answer: B glow
11.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s). card
1. A.bad
2. B.bag
3. C.bard
4. D.lad
5. E.ward
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Answer: C bard
12.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s). chief
1. A.chide
2. B.field
3. C.self
4. D.ship
5. E.sweat
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Answer: B field
13.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s). dog
1. A.bag
2. B.chord
3. C.cord
4. D.tog
5. E.pony
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Answer: D tog
14.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s). first
1. A.thirst
2. B.vest
3. C.will
4. D.wire
5. E.wiry
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Answer: A thirst
15.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s). sick
1. A.beast
2. B.check
3. C.pretty
4. D.seek
5. E.seize
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Answer: C pretty
16.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s). war
1. A.core
2. B.cut
3. C.hot
4. D.work
5. E.worm
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Answer: A core
17.
Choose from the options lettered A - E, the one that rhymes with the word given. son
1. A.crone
2. B.spoon
3. C.sum
4. D.sun
5. E.tune
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Answer: D sun
18.
Choose from the options lettered A to E, the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol. /dʒ/
1. A.cheat
2. B.cheek
3. C.chevron
4. D.judge
5. E.teach
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Answer: D judge
19.
Choose from the options lettered A to E, the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol. /l:/
1. A.bearing
2. B.beat
3. C.beauty
4. D.bit
5. E.lie
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Answer: B beat
20.
Choose from the options lettered A to E, the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol. /W/
1. A.whom
2. B.house
3. C.wholesale
4. D.wholesome
5. E.whoop
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Answer: E whoop
21.
Choose from the options lettered A to E, the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol. /θ/
1. A.text
2. B.that
3. C.they
4. D.thing
5. E.there
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Answer: D thing
22.
Choose from the options lettered A to E, the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol. /Λ/
1. A.burn
2. B.bounce
3. C.True
4. D.trust
5. E.turn
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Answer: D trust
23.
From the list of words or group of words lettered A to E, choose the one that is MOST NEARLY OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word or group of words and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence. The police officer averted that his rifle went off but his victim insisted that he acted deliberately.
1. A.accidentally
2. B.carelessly
3. C.eagerly
4. D.knowingly
5. E.willfully
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Answer: A accidentally
24.
From the list of words or group of words tettered A to E, choose the one that is MOST NEARLY OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word or group of words and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence. Although Onyinye always discusses freely with her peers, she talks about her private life ___________.
1. A.Cautiously
2. B.daily
3. C.often
4. D.seldom
5. E.usually
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Answer: D seldom
25.
From the list of words or group of words tettered A to E, choose the one that is MOST NEARLY OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word or group of words and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence. The cause of the woman's untimely death is mysterious unlike her father whose death was
1. A.abominable
2. B.gruesome
3. C.hidden
4. D.Known
5. E.sorrowful
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Answer: D Known
26.
From the list of words or group of words tettered A to E, choose the one that is MOST NEARLY OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word or group of words and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence. Whether in victory or in .......... politicians should always exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship.
1. A.Defeat
2. B.despair
3. C.distress
4. D.failure
5. E.success
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Answer: A Defeat
27.
From the options lettered A to E, choose the one that BEST COMPLETES each of the following sentences. Although l am watching television, l_________ you are saying
1. A.am hears what
2. B.can hear what
3. C.does hear all that
4. D.have heard everything
5. E.was hearing all the things
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Answer: B can hear what
28.
From the options lettered A to E, choose the one that BEST COMPLETES each of the following sentences. As couple, Paul and Linda are deeply in love with_________
1. A.Every other
2. B.each other
3. C.one another
4. D.theirselves
5. E.themselves
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Answer: B each other
29.
From the options lettered A to E, choose the one that BEST COMPLETES each of the following sentences. The boy______________ his father in all things.
1. A.makes about
2. B.makes for
3. C.takes from
4. D.takes after
5. E.takes through
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Answer: D takes after
30.
From the options lettered A to E, choose the one that BEST COMPLETES each of the following sentences. The earlier we leave for Jos, the___________
1. A.earlier we shall arrive
2. B.better for us
3. C.more earlier we get there
4. D.more better it'll be for us
5. E.early we can't be late
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Answer: B better for us
31.
From the options lettered A to E, choose the one that BEST COMPLETES each of the following sentences. The magistrate had hardly finished pronouncing his judgement_______ the accused collapsed.
1. A.As
2. B.and
3. C.instead
4. D.when
5. E.while
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Answer: D when
32.
From the options lettered A to E, choose the one that BEST COMPLETES each of the following sentences. This is the kind of soft drink______________
1. A.l do not like the taste of which
2. B.of which taste I do not like
3. C.the taste of which l do not like
4. D.which its taste l do not like
5. E.whose i do not like the taste of it
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Answer: C the taste of which l do not like
33.
From the options lettered A to E, choose the one that BEST COMPLETES each of the following sentences. We had better make_______ what is available
1. A.do with
2. B.on of
3. C.out about
4. D.over for
5. E.up with
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Answer: A do with
34.
From the words lettered A to E, choose the one that BEST COMPLETES each of the following sentences. Cigarette .......... has been banned.
1. A.Advertising
2. B.campaign
3. C.discussion
4. D.encouragement
5. E.publicity
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Answer: A Advertising
35.
From the words lettered A to E, choose the one that BEST COMPLETES each of the following sentences. I crave your .......... to formally introduce the compere for this august gathering.
1. A.Approval
2. B.co-operation
3. C.indulgence
4. D.permission
5. E.release
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Answer: C indulgence
36.
From the words of group of words lettered A to E below each of the following sentences, choose the word or group of words that is NEAREST IN MEANING to the underlined word or group of words. Although she refused to assist me when l needed her most. l shall however forgive her wholeheartedly
1. A.again
2. B.besides
3. C.conditionally
4. D.notwithstanding
5. E.never
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Answer: D notwithstanding
37.
From the words of group of words lettered A to E below each of the following sentences, choose the word or group of words that is NEAREST IN MEANING to the underlined word or group of words. The hostess treated her guests to a very expensive meal at her birthday party.
1. A.Aromatic
2. B.exclusive
3. C.sumptuous
4. D.tasteful
5. E.unwanted
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Answer: C sumptuous

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