JAMB and WAEC English Language questions

922 questions with answers and explanations. Tap an option to check yourself.

1. Question 541· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'Bisi was on cloud nine after the results came out' means that Bisi was

   • Aextremely happy
   • Bconfused
   • Cabsent
   • Dworried

   Show answer

   Answer: A. extremely happy

   Explanation and discussion

2. Question 542· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'Not until the bell rang did the students leave.' This means that the students

   • Aleft only when the bell rang
   • Bleft before the bell rang
   • Cnever left
   • Drang the bell

   Show answer

   Answer: A. left only when the bell rang

   Explanation and discussion

3. Question 543· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'My uncle is a man of straw' means that he is

   • Aa builder
   • Ba farmer
   • Cvery strong
   • Da person of no real substance or means

   Show answer

   Answer: D. a person of no real substance or means

   Explanation and discussion

4. Question 544· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

   'No sooner had she arrived than she started complaining.' This means that she

   • Abegan to complain immediately after arriving
   • Bcomplained before arriving
   • Cdid not arrive
   • Darrived late

   Show answer

   Answer: A. began to complain immediately after arriving

   Explanation and discussion

5. Question 545· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

   Which option best explains the sentence 'Musa is a man of his word'?

   • AMusa talks a lot
   • BMusa keeps his promises
   • CMusa is a good speaker
   • DMusa tells the truth only sometimes

   Show answer

   Answer: B. Musa keeps his promises

   Explanation and discussion

6. Question 546· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'The thief took to his heels when he saw the police.' This means that the thief

   • Asurrendered
   • Bfell down
   • Chid his shoes
   • Dran away

   Show answer

   Answer: D. ran away

   Explanation and discussion

7. Question 547· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'The new manager is a hard nut to crack.' This means that the manager is

   • Aeasily defeated
   • Bfond of nuts
   • Cvery strong
   • Ddifficult to persuade or deal with

   Show answer

   Answer: D. difficult to persuade or deal with

   Explanation and discussion

8. Question 548· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'The minister's appeal fell on deaf ears' means that

   • Ait was in sign language
   • Bit was too loud
   • Cno one paid attention to it
   • Dit was widely praised

   Show answer

   Answer: C. no one paid attention to it

   Explanation and discussion

9. Question 549· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'The minister's appeal fell on deaf ears.' This means that the appeal was

   • Atoo loud
   • Bignored
   • Cwidely praised
   • Dbroadcast on radio

   Show answer

   Answer: B. ignored

   Explanation and discussion

10. Question 550· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

    'Hardly had we sat down when the lights went off.' This means that

    • Awe did not sit down
    • Bthe lights went off immediately after we sat down
    • Cthe lights were off before we sat
    • Dwe stood for a long time

    Show answer

    Answer: B. the lights went off immediately after we sat down

    Explanation and discussion

11. Question 551· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'Emeka is regarded as the black sheep of the family.' This means that Emeka is

    • Aconsidered a disgrace to the family
    • Bthe eldest child
    • Cthe darkest in the family
    • Dthe family's shepherd

    Show answer

    Answer: A. considered a disgrace to the family

    Explanation and discussion

12. Question 552· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'Had Bola known about the test, she would have studied harder.' This means that Bola

    • Aknew about the test and studied hard
    • Bstudied hard but still failed
    • Cdid not know about the test
    • Drefused to study

    Show answer

    Answer: C. did not know about the test

    Explanation and discussion

13. Question 553· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'Were I in your position, I would accept the offer.' This means that the speaker

    • Ais not in the listener's position
    • Bhas already accepted the offer
    • Cis in the listener's position
    • Drefuses the offer

    Show answer

    Answer: A. is not in the listener's position

    Explanation and discussion

14. Question 554· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'The new library is still on the drawing board.' This means that the library is

    • Aalready built
    • Bstill being planned
    • Cbeing drawn by artists
    • Dabandoned

    Show answer

    Answer: B. still being planned

    Explanation and discussion

15. Question 555· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'The students burnt the midnight oil before the examination' means that they

    • Astudied late into the night
    • Bset the hostel on fire
    • Cwasted kerosene
    • Dslept early

    Show answer

    Answer: A. studied late into the night

    Explanation and discussion

16. Question 556· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

    Which option best explains the sentence 'Ada's success has gone to her head'?

    • AShe has become proud because of it
    • BShe has become cleverer
    • CShe is worried about it
    • DShe has forgotten about it

    Show answer

    Answer: A. She has become proud because of it

    Explanation and discussion

17. Question 557· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

    'My uncle is a man of means.' This means that my uncle

    • Ais wise
    • Bis mean
    • Cis hardworking
    • Dis wealthy

    Show answer

    Answer: D. is wealthy

    Explanation and discussion

18. Question 558· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'No sooner had she sat down than the phone rang.' This means that

    • Athe phone rang before she sat down
    • Bthe phone rang immediately after she sat down
    • Cshe never sat down
    • Dshe answered the phone while standing

    Show answer

    Answer: B. the phone rang immediately after she sat down

    Explanation and discussion

19. Question 559· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'Bisi was given the cold shoulder at the party.' This means that Bisi

    • Awas deliberately ignored
    • Bcaught a cold
    • Cwas given cold food
    • Ddanced all night

    Show answer

    Answer: A. was deliberately ignored

    Explanation and discussion

20. Question 560· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

    'Ngozi would rather starve than beg.' This means Ngozi

    • Ais starving now
    • Blikes begging
    • Cwill beg if hungry
    • Dprefers starving to begging

    Show answer

    Answer: D. prefers starving to begging

    Explanation and discussion