English Language past questions: NECO SSCE 2005

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

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

1.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word or expression and at the same time fill in the gap. The eagerness with which the passenger takes instructions shows that he will perform his duties without___________
1. A.complaint
2. B.disrespect
3. C.hindrance
4. D.protesting
5. E.reluctance
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Answer: E reluctance
2.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word or expression The same power that relegated him can still ………… him if he is repentant.
1. A.uphold
2. B.humiliate
3. C.escalate
4. D.elevate
5. E.defend
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Answer: D elevate
3.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word or expression What belongs to_________belongs to nobody
1. A.anybody
2. B.everybody
3. C.no one
4. D.somebody
5. E.someone
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Answer: B everybody
4.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined People respect my aunt because she is very industrious.
1. A.faithful
2. B.hardworking
3. C.skillful
4. D.upright
5. E.versatile
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Answer: B hardworking
5.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is the most appropriate interpretation for each of the following statement He undertook the journey without a second thought for the risks involved. This means he did it without.......... of the risks
1. A.a clear understanding
2. B.a re-assessment
3. C.a recollection
4. D.a proper consideration
5. E.any previous knowledge
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Answer: D a proper consideration
6.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is the most appropriate interpretation for each of the following statement if my children were older, l would emigrate. This means
1. A.children below a certain age are not allowed to emigrate
2. B.l would emigrate though my children are young
3. C.l would not emigrate no matter my children's ages
4. D.it's wrong to emigrate with young children
5. E.my children are too young now for me to emigrate
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Answer: E my children are too young now for me to emigrate
7.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is the most appropriate interpretation for each of the following statement The man was advised to always watch his tongue whenever he speaks in the public. This means he should always
1. A.avoid addressing a large crowd
2. B.be careful about what he said in order not to offend somebody
3. C.be sincere in his public utterances
4. D.be specific while addressing many people
5. E.say only what he was sure of
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Answer: B be careful about what he said in order not to offend somebody
8.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is the most appropriate interpretation for each of the following statement The old politician is held in high regard by members of his community. This means the politician is highly
1. A.dreaded
2. B.feared
3. C.honored
4. D.recommended
5. E.respected
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Answer: E respected
9.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence He asked what l would do if I .............. a jackpot.
1. A.had won
2. B.have won
3. C.was winning
4. D.win
5. E.won
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Answer: E won
10.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence I saw ames in Lagos .............. last year.
1. A.at a time
2. B.one time
3. C.sometime
4. D.some time
5. E.sometimes
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Answer: C sometime
11.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence It's important for you and ..............to be there.
1. A.himself
2. B.I
3. C.me
4. D.myself
5. E.they
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Answer: C me
12.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence Most rich men prefer travelling by air…………travelling by road.
1. A.against
2. B.from
3. C.over
4. D.than
5. E.to
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Answer: E to
13.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence My friends were lucky .............. the scene before the accident happened.
1. A.they have left
2. B.to be leaving
3. C.to had left
4. D.to have left
5. E.to leave
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Answer: D to have left
14.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence My neighbor owns twenty__________
1. A.head of cattles
2. B.head of cattle
3. C.heads of cattles
4. D.herds of cattle
5. E.herds of cattles
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Answer: B head of cattle
15.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence Surprisingly enough, Sola though a teenager behaved like a..............man
1. A.mature
2. B.matured
3. C.maturedly
4. D.matures
5. E.maturing
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Answer: A mature
16.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence The boy was given____________
1. A.a lot of meats
2. B.a meat
3. C.a piece of meat
4. D.meats
5. E.some meats
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Answer: C a piece of meat
17.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence The man was advised to abstain from smoking .............. he refused.
1. A.and
2. B.but
3. C.so
4. D.then
5. E.yet
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Answer: B but
18.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence The students mainly ..............to school in the past
1. A.are walking
2. B.have walked
3. C.walk
4. D.walked
5. E.walks
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Answer: D walked
19.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence The suspects did not know that the security agents were ..............their trail.
1. A.about
2. B.after
3. C.in
4. D.on
5. E.with
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Answer: D on
20.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence The witness insisted he had seen the accused ..............the money from the complainants pocket.
1. A.being taken
2. B.take
3. C.taken
4. D.takes
5. E.took
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Answer: B take
21.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence The______student has been________punished.
1. A.offending/duly
2. B.offending/duely
3. C.offending/merely
4. D.offensive/duly
5. E.offensive/duely
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Answer: A offending/duly
22.
Choose from the options lettered A- E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics My confidence in humanity suddenly began to wane.
1. A.develop
2. B.diminish
3. C.disappear
4. D.intensify
5. E.remove
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Answer: B diminish
23.
Choose from the options lettered A- E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined All the illegal structures within the school compound will soon be demolished.
1. A.pulled down
2. B.pushed clown
3. C.put down
4. D.put off
5. E.taken down
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Answer: A pulled down
24.
Choose from the options lettered A- E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined The man was convalescing at home after his discharge from the hospital
1. A.enjoying
2. B.recuperating
3. C.rejuvenating
4. D.relaxing
5. E.resting
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Answer: B recuperating
25.
Choose from the options lettered A- E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined We need fortitude to survive this trying period.
1. A.capability
2. B.courage
3. C.resilience
4. D.vigilance
5. E.wisdom
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Answer: B courage
26.
Choose from the options lettered A- E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined We now have refugees flooding into our country from the warring neighboring countries.
1. A.deportees
2. B.fugitives
3. C.immigrants
4. D.invaders
5. E.mercenaries
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Answer: B fugitives
27.
Choose from the options lettered A- E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined We should all imbibe the spirit of forgiveness for peace to reign.
1. A.acknowledge
2. B.adopt
3. C.conjure
4. D.embrace
5. E.emulate
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Answer: D embrace
28.
Choose from the options lettered A- E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined. Nobody as extravagant as my uncle should realistically expect to be rich
1. A.extraordinary
2. B.flamboyant
3. C.prodigal
4. D.rascally
5. E.temperamental
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Answer: C prodigal
29.
Choose from the options lettered A- E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined. We had no doubt about the sufficiency of our grains to see us through the rainy season.
1. A.accuracy
2. B.adequacy
3. C.availability
4. D.efficacy
5. E.efficiency
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Answer: B adequacy
30.
Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E Action has to be ............... on the construction work if the project will be completed on schedule.
1. A.activated
2. B.expedited
3. C.gingered
4. D.provided
5. E.supplied
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Answer: B expedited
31.
Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E Children are not________ to be rude to elders
1. A.allowed
2. B.conditioned
3. C.imagined
4. D.intended
5. E.supposed
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Answer: E supposed
32.
Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E The foreign investor was advised to stop...............and take a firm decision at once.
1. A.contemplating
2. B.differing
3. C.dithering
4. D.meditating
5. E.procrastinating
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Answer: E procrastinating
33.
Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E The man who was__________ to have died, was seen strolling about.
1. A.announced
2. B.certified
3. C.confirmed
4. D.declared
5. E.rumored
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Answer: E rumored
34.
Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E He ............... great confidence that he would win even when his opponent seemed to be gaining the upper hand.
1. A.asserted
2. B.exerted
3. C.explored
4. D.expounded
5. E.exuded
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Answer: E exuded
35.
Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E Her promotion letter was found in a file after a _________search.
1. A.composite
2. B.concrete
3. C.diligent
4. D.fluent
5. E.through
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Answer: C diligent
36.
Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E I always wonder why many married men are so reluctant to accept their............... as parents.
1. A.commitments
2. B.functions
3. C.obligations
4. D.responses
5. E.responsibilities
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Answer: E responsibilities
37.
Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E My friend was lucky to secure the first appointment he ............... for.
1. A.applied
2. B.asked
3. C.demanded
4. D.registered
5. E.requested
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Answer: A applied
38.
Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E The Radio Station promised to________ a commentary of the football match.
1. A.announce
2. B.arrange
3. C.cover
4. D.produce
5. E.relay
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Answer: E relay

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