JAMB and WAEC English Language questions: Sentence interpretation

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

1. Question 41· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'Hardly had the thief left when the police arrived.' This means that

   • Athe thief was caught inside
   • Bthe police arrived before the thief
   • Cthe police arrived just after the thief left
   • Dthe thief arrived after the police

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   Explanation and discussion

2. Question 42· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

   Which option best explains the sentence 'The principal gave the latecomers a piece of her mind'?

   • AShe scolded them
   • BShe advised them
   • CShe forgave them
   • DShe praised them

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   Explanation and discussion

3. Question 43· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'The minister's resignation was a foregone conclusion.' This means that the resignation was

   • Areversed
   • Ba surprise
   • Cnever expected
   • Dcertain to happen

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   Explanation and discussion

4. Question 44· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'Her speech brought the house down.' This means that the speech

   • Acaused the building to collapse
   • Bwas received with loud applause
   • Cwas boring
   • Dended the meeting early

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5. Question 45· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'The headmaster gave the latecomers a piece of his mind.' The headmaster

   • Aadvised them gently
   • Bscolded them severely
   • Cshared his ideas with them
   • Dforgave them

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   Explanation and discussion

6. Question 46· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

   Which option best explains the sentence 'The manager said the proposal was a non-starter'?

   • AIt was excellent
   • BIt would start later
   • CIt was the first proposal
   • DIt had no chance of succeeding

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7. Question 47· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

   'Social media can be a double-edged sword for students' means that it

   • Ais very dangerous to hold
   • Bcan both help and harm them
   • Cis always useless
   • Dis only for adults

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8. Question 48· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

   'Tunde is still green in the job.' This means that Tunde

   • Ais jealous
   • Bis inexperienced
   • Cis very hardworking
   • Dis ill

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   Explanation and discussion

9. Question 49· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

   'The principal turned a deaf ear to our complaints.' This means that the principal

   • Apunished us
   • Bcould not hear well
   • Clistened carefully
   • Dignored our complaints

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10. Question 50· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

    'Ade spoke off the cuff at the meeting.' This means that Ade

    • Aspoke angrily
    • Bspoke without preparing
    • Cspoke for too long
    • Drefused to speak

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11. Question 51· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'All their efforts came to nought.' This means that their efforts

    • Awere rewarded
    • Bachieved nothing
    • Cwere counted
    • Dwere doubled

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    Explanation and discussion

12. Question 52· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'Chidi has a chip on his shoulder about his poor background' means that Chidi

    • Ais resentful and easily offended about it
    • Bis proud of it
    • Ccarries heavy loads
    • Dhas forgotten it

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13. Question 53· Sentence interpretation· WAEC

    Which option best explains the sentence 'The thief took to his heels when he saw the police'?

    • AHe hid
    • BHe surrendered
    • CHe ran away
    • DHe fought back

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14. Question 54· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'Ade has turned over a new leaf' means that Ade has

    • Astarted a new book
    • Bbecome a farmer
    • Cchanged his behaviour for the better
    • Dbecome lazy

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15. Question 55· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'The new policy was dead on arrival.' This means that the policy

    • Awas very popular
    • Bwas introduced by a dead person
    • Carrived late
    • Dfailed from the very start

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16. Question 56· Sentence interpretation· JAMB

    'Chinedu is not one to blow his own trumpet.' This means that Chinedu

    • Acannot play music
    • Bdoes not boast about himself
    • Cis very noisy
    • Ddislikes praise from others

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    Explanation and discussion