English Language past questions: NECO SSCE 2008

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

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41 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 interpretation you consider most appropriate for each expression "I wish you more power to your elbow". This means that the speaker wishes the listener___________
1. A.a higher position
2. B.good health
3. C.greater attempts
4. D.more muscles
5. E.more strength
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Answer: E more strength
2.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the interpretation you consider most appropriate for each expression It was said that Njoku' s father kicked the bucket yesterday. This means that Njoku's father was________
1. A.a bit careless
2. B.angry
3. C.dead
4. D.in a hurry
5. E.impatient
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Answer: C dead
3.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the interpretation you consider most appropriate for each expression Shehu decided to take the bull by the horns and go to the Principal. This means that Shehu___________
1. A.decided not to fear the principal
2. B.invited the principal to intervene
3. C.put the matter boldly to the principal
4. D.was afraid of the bull and sought help from the principal
5. E.wrote a protest letter to the principal
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Answer: C put the matter boldly to the principal
4.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the interpretation you consider most appropriate for each expression The continuous hike in the prices of petroleum products makes many people live from hand to mouth, This means they
1. A.are comfortable
2. B.cannot make ends meet
3. C.eat a great deal
4. D.eat well but have no left-over
5. E.eat with their fingers
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Answer: B cannot make ends meet
5.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol /əʊ/
1. A.bough
2. B.month
3. C.mower
4. D.spouse
5. E.towel
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Answer: C mower
6.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol /g/
1. A.biology
2. B.foreign
3. C.good
4. D.sign
5. E.sing
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Answer: C good
7.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol /ʃ/
1. A.chalet
2. B.chronic
3. C.church
4. D.source
5. E.starch
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Answer: A chalet
8.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol /ts/
1. A.chauffeur
2. B.cheap
3. C.chef
4. D.sheep
5. E.ship
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Answer: B cheap
9.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol /u:/
1. A.book
2. B.choke
3. C.put
4. D.rude
5. E.rug
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Answer: D rude
10.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol /θ/
1. A.tank
2. B.teethe
3. C.thank
4. D.they
5. E.this
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Answer: C thank
11.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has a different stress pattern from the others:
1. A.Favour
2. B.country
3. C.Mother
4. D.impartial
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Answer: D impartial
12.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the underlined Letter(s). river
1. A.barn
2. B.bird
3. C.cart
4. D.girl
5. E.piracy
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Answer: E piracy
13.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the underlined Letter(s). thin
1. A.bathe
2. B.day
3. C.there
4. D.they
5. E.tooth
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Answer: E tooth
14.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the underlined Letter(s). wing
1. A.sin
2. B.thin
3. C.thine
4. D.tongue
5. E.win
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Answer: D tongue
15.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same stress with the word given. In each word, only one syllable has the main/primary and the syllable is written in capital letters desegregate
1. A.DE-seg-re-gate
2. B.de-SEG-re-gate
3. C.de-seg-RE-gate
4. D.de-seg-re-GATE
5. E.DE-seg-re-GATE
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Answer: B de-SEG-re-gate
16.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same stress with the word given. In each word, only one syllable has the main/primary and the syllable is written in capital letters Impenetrability
1. A.IM-pe-ne-tra-bi-li-ty
2. B.im-PE-ne-tra-bi-li-ty
3. C.im-pe-ne-TRA-bi-li-ty
4. D.im-pe-NE-tra-bi-li-ty
5. E.im-pe-ne-tra-BI-li-ty
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Answer: E im-pe-ne-tra-BI-li-ty
17.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same stress with the word given. In each word, only one syllable has the main/primary and the syllable is written in capital letters underprivileged
1. A.un-der-PRI-vileged
2. B.UN-der-pri-vi-leged
3. C.un-der-pri-vi-LEGED
4. D.unDER-pri-vi-leged
5. E.un-der-pri-VI-leged
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Answer: A un-der-PRI-vileged
18.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s) may
1. A.car
2. B.man
3. C.mark
4. D.mean
5. E.shake
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Answer: E shake
19.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined Letter(s). gear
1. A.badge
2. B.bridge
3. C.jeer
4. D.large
5. E.leg
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Answer: C jeer
20.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the expressions in italics My boss is strict with the children but ........ with the workers.
1. A.callous
2. B.calm
3. C.forceful
4. D.latent
5. E.lenient
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Answer: E lenient
21.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics His performance was adequate for promotion to the next class but not good enough for a scholarship.
1. A.acceptable
2. B.excellent
3. C.not satisfactory
4. D.stormily
5. E.heavily
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Answer: A acceptable
22.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics The governor was suspended from office by the state legislature.
1. A.expelled
2. B.impeached
3. C.removed permanently
4. D.removed temporarily
5. E.rusticated
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Answer: D removed temporarily
23.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics What made his erstwhile friends turn against him is still not clear to anybody.
1. A.cheerful
2. B.former
3. C.intimate
4. D.several
5. E.supportive
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Answer: B former
24.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined. My principal gives his candid opinion on every issue brought before him.
1. A.complete
2. B.fatherly
3. C.frank
4. D.honest
5. E.vague
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Answer: C frank
25.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence __________ are not allowed into the premises.
1. A.Passer's by
2. B.Passers' by
3. C.Passers by's
4. D.Passers by
5. E.Passer by's
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Answer: D Passers by
26.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence Bisi is a girl who can be relied_________
1. A.in
2. B.onto
3. C.out
4. D.through
5. E.upon
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Answer: E upon
27.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence I am playing host to my ........ this weekend.
1. A.parent in-law
2. B.parents in-laws
3. C.parent's in-law
4. D.parents-in-law
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Answer: D parents-in-law
28.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence Ifeanyi, the captain, boasted that our team, though inexperienced, would thrash our opponents and truly______ we.
1. A.did
2. B.do
3. C.has
4. D.have
5. E.should
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Answer: A did
29.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence Olu has returned the pencil he________him.
1. A.handed
2. B.borrowed
3. C.dashed
4. D.lent
5. E.given
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Answer: D lent
30.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence Paul together with his younger brother______discharged and acquitted by the magistrate last week.
1. A.are
2. B.have been
3. C.is
4. D.were
5. E.was
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Answer: E was
31.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence Several ....... attended the three-day summit.
1. A.heads of state
2. B.head of state
3. C.heads of states
4. D.head of states
5. E.heads of the states
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Answer: A heads of state
32.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence The evidence she gave was fraught________exaggerations.
1. A.again
2. B.by
3. C.in
4. D.on
5. E.with
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Answer: E with
33.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence The man could not simply bring himself ......... up all he had worked and lived for.
1. A.giving
2. B.to be giving
3. C.to giving
4. D.to have given
5. E.to give
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Answer: E to give
34.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence The patient's condition has gone from bad to___________
1. A.better
2. B.good
3. C.weak
4. D.worse
5. E.worst
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Answer: D worse
35.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence You think i'm being funny ......... ?
1. A.am I
2. B.aren't l
3. C.don't you
4. D.Isn't it
5. E.wasn't it
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Answer: C don't you
36.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence Zainab is scared to be taken to a place she is not accustomed_____________
1. A.about
2. B.by
3. C.in
4. D.to
5. E.with
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Answer: D to
37.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that rhymes with the word given course
1. A.coarse
2. B.corps
3. C.corpse
4. D.cause
5. E.force
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Answer: A coarse
38.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that rhymes with the word given sought
1. A.cloth
2. B.court
3. C.cut
4. D.hut
5. E.pot
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Answer: B court
39.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that rhymes with the word given tease
1. A.cheese
2. B.piece
3. C.kiss
4. D.prize
5. E.rise
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Answer: A cheese
40.
Choose from the options lettered A - E the question that is best answered by the statement containing the stressed word which is written in CAPITAL letters The speaker AND his deputy attended the ceremony.
1. A.Did the governor and his deputy attend the ceremony?
2. B.Did the speaker and his boss attend the ceremony?
3. C.Did the speaker and his deputy attend the meeting?
4. D.Did the speaker and my deputy attend the ceremony?
5. E.Did the speaker or his deputy attend the ceremony?
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Answer: E Did the speaker or his deputy attend the ceremony?
41.
Complete this statement with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E The suspect was to be_________in police custody until his case would come up for hearing
1. A.arraigned
2. B.Concealed
3. C.Condemned
4. D.incarcerated
5. E.remanded
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Answer: E remanded

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