NDA USE OF ENGLISH 2011 PAST QUESTIONS
Section A - Comprehension, Section B - Lexis and Structure
Answer all questions in your Answer SheetSECTION A - COMPREHENSION
Instruction: Read
the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it. From the
four options lettered A to D given in each question, choose one which most
accurately reflects the meaning of the passage, and shade your answer sheet
accordingly.
A short puff of wind extinguished the candle I was carrying. Laying it carefully down at my feet so that I could easily find it again in the dark. I quickly went through my pockets to see if I still had the box of matches which I had thoughtfully put there that morning when I set out to explore the cave. But a thorough search revealed nothing with which to re-light the candle and left me desperately trying to recall how the matches could have gone astray.
A. because he was thoughtful
B. because he needed it in exploring the cave
C. in order to relight his candle, should it go out
D. because he envisaged the wind
2. Which of the alternatives has the same meaning as the following word or phrase as they appear in the passage? "Gone Astray"
A. got lost
B. been misplaced
C. gotten missing
D. been thrown away
3. "The only thing for it means
A. the alternative
B. the only alternative
C. the last option
D. the one choice
4. In what condition did the writer return?
A. he returned stumbling out into the light
B. he returned feeling foolish and thoughtless
C. he returned bruised and tired
D. he returned longing for a cigarette
5. Why did the writer realize that he had been a fool?
A. because he had lost his box of matches
B. because he had allowed his candle to go out
C. because he had bruised himself from the constant collisions with the projecting rocks
D. because he had foolishly thought he had nothing with Which to relight the candle when he had his lighter all the while
6. Which of the alternatives is opposite in meaning to these words or phrases in the passage? "Flicker"
A. glow steadily
B. burn steadily
C. burn out
D. blow out
7. ''Instinctively''
A. thoughtfully
B. thoughtlessly
C. carefully
D. at once
8. "Stumbled'
A. staggered
B. walked uprightly
C. steadily
D. dazedly
9. Which of the following alternatives is the same as: "A short puff of wind"
A. A gentle wind
B. A small breeze
C. A breath of wind
D. A hiss of breeze
10. "To grope"
A. to walk slowly
B. to find the way by feeling it with your hand
C. carefully
D. to search
11. The Accountant falsified records in order to feather his own nest. This means that the Accountant tried to ___.
A. Deceive his Boss
B. Put a feather in his cap
C. Make himself rich
D. Avenge a wrong done to him by his Boss.
12. The Cashier wanted to pull the wool over my eyes by making me sign for the money I did not receive. This means that the cashier wanted to
A. deceive me
B. blindfold
C. rub my eyes with cotton wool
D. have my support
13. The man's decision to withdraw his daughter from school because of her
misbehaviour really amounts to cutting off his own nose to spite his face. This means that
A. the decision does not affect the daughter
B. it will cause the man pain to his nose and face
C. The decision does the man no good at all
D. The decision will make the daughter sober
14. The officer urged the soldiers to gird their loins for the task ahead. This means that the soldiers should
A. wake up early the next morning
B. guard heir hungry lions
C. wear a new battle uniform
D. be on full alert
From the alternatives A-D, choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
15. The journalist refused to divulge the source or his information
A. confirm
B. inform
C. disclose
D. Affirm
16. Asabe was sceptical about the story Ladidi told her
A. ignorant
B. doubtful
C. confused
D. convinced
17. The lawyer remarked that the fact that the accused did nothing when the innocent boy was being lynched made him culpable.
A. liable
B. untrustworthy
C. guilty
D. Blameworthy
18. Spain was once a very powerful nation but her influence has waned over the years
A. disappeared
B. repealed
C. diminished
D. re-appeared
19. The politician made a very scurrilous remark about his opponent
A. mild
B. intolerable
C. false
D. sharp
In each of the following questions, there is a word or group of words underlined. Choose from the word or group of words almost opposite in meaning to the underlined word.
20. The birth of the disabled girl beautified the family.
A. discomposed
B. discredited
C. disappointed
D. disintegrated
21. The warder has an antipathy towards juvenile prisoners.
A. sympathy
B. affection
C. apathy
D. inclination
22. Mallam Khalil is covetous of his neighbour's horse
A. indifferent
B. insensitive
C. envious
D. inconsiderate
23. Despite his father's discouragement, the young man opted for a military career.
A. warning
B. exhortation
C. intervention
D. commendation
24. The rain turned the football match into a success.
A. spectacle
B. festival
C. fiasco
D. ceremony
25. The enemies subdued our soldiers without much resistance.
A. capitulated to
B. agreed with
C. conferred with
D. benefited from
26. The spirit of the old saint soared to empyrean heights as he gazed at the dwell.
A. hellish
B. earthly
C. mundane
D. global
27. The aroma of fresh fish pepper soup stimulates my salivary glands.
A. odour
B. glamour
C stench
D. appearance
In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)
28. When I met Amadi yesterday it was the first time I ......him for six months.
A. had seen
B. saw
C. have seen
D. have been
29. A student's natural ability should be a factor in his choosing a course of
study at the university
A. determined
B. determining
C. determinant
D. determinate
3. Many unrelated issues were touched upon in the of the discussion.
A. cause
B. course
C. coarse
D. curse
31. The traveller had to run in order to ..... the train
A. first/catch
B. fast/cash
C. fast/catch
D. first cash
32. When the driver lost control of his vehicle the pedestrians began to run for _ .
A. their dear lives
B. their dear life
C. dear lives
D. dear life
33. My uncle is one of the .......of the society
A. elitists
B. elites
C. elite
D. elitist
34. The new singlet factory is built on the of Aba township.
A. outstretch
B. outskates
C. outskirts
D. outskirt
35. If Kaka hadn't tried to stand up in the boat, he .
A. wouldn't have fallen
B. will not
C. will not have fallen
D. wouldn't have fell
36. The soldiers were sufficiently equipped with boys
A. arms and ammunition
B. arms and ammunitions
C. arm and ammunitions
D. arm and ammunition
37. My younger brother is going to the stream with boys.
A. two other little
B. other little two
C. two little other
D. other two little
In each of questions 38 to 40, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
38. In spite of his humble beginning. Audu now throws his weight around.
A. Despite his obvious poverty. Audu is a proud man
B. Audu is arrogant despite his simple upbringing
C. From his poor background. Audu is now a rich man
D. His noble birth notwithstanding, Audu is a corrupt man
39. Ngozi has always considered her father to be an impassioned man.
A. Her father is an emotional man
B. Her father is a very strict man
C. Her father is a very lively man
D. Her father is a disciplined man
40. The manager paid us in hard currency.
A. We were paid in foreign currency
B. We were paid in dollars and pound sterling
C. We were paid in a strong and stable currency
D. We were paid in new notes
2. B
3. B
4. C
5. A
6. C
7. C
8. A
9. C
10. B
11. C
12. A
13. C
14. D
15. C
16. B
17. C
18. C
19. B
20. B
21. B
22. A
23. D
24. D
25. B
26. B
27. A
28. C
28. B
30. B
31. C
32. A
33. B
34. D
35. A
36. B
37. A
38. C
39. B
40. A
A short puff of wind extinguished the candle I was carrying. Laying it carefully down at my feet so that I could easily find it again in the dark. I quickly went through my pockets to see if I still had the box of matches which I had thoughtfully put there that morning when I set out to explore the cave. But a thorough search revealed nothing with which to re-light the candle and left me desperately trying to recall how the matches could have gone astray.
I then remembered that, half an hour before I had taken a short rest and eaten a bar of chocolate. While doing so, I had rested the candle on a convenient rock in order to leave my hand free to unwrap the chocolate, and just as now, a breath of wind had made the candle flicker and finally go out. It was then that I had the occasion to use my matches and I can only suppose that I had thoughtlessly felt the box on the rock where the candle had been standing, I reckoned that. I must be about half a mile from the entrance and that the only thing for it was to grope my way back again. About an hour later, bruised from my frequent collisions with projecting rocks. I stumbled into the daylight. The first thing I thought of was a cigarette. Instinctively, l drew out my lighter from my trouser pocket. It was only when I had it in my hand that I realized what a fool I had been.
QUESTIONS
1. Why did the Writer take a box of matches into the cave with him?A. because he was thoughtful
B. because he needed it in exploring the cave
C. in order to relight his candle, should it go out
D. because he envisaged the wind
2. Which of the alternatives has the same meaning as the following word or phrase as they appear in the passage? "Gone Astray"
A. got lost
B. been misplaced
C. gotten missing
D. been thrown away
3. "The only thing for it means
A. the alternative
B. the only alternative
C. the last option
D. the one choice
4. In what condition did the writer return?
A. he returned stumbling out into the light
B. he returned feeling foolish and thoughtless
C. he returned bruised and tired
D. he returned longing for a cigarette
5. Why did the writer realize that he had been a fool?
A. because he had lost his box of matches
B. because he had allowed his candle to go out
C. because he had bruised himself from the constant collisions with the projecting rocks
D. because he had foolishly thought he had nothing with Which to relight the candle when he had his lighter all the while
6. Which of the alternatives is opposite in meaning to these words or phrases in the passage? "Flicker"
A. glow steadily
B. burn steadily
C. burn out
D. blow out
7. ''Instinctively''
A. thoughtfully
B. thoughtlessly
C. carefully
D. at once
8. "Stumbled'
A. staggered
B. walked uprightly
C. steadily
D. dazedly
9. Which of the following alternatives is the same as: "A short puff of wind"
A. A gentle wind
B. A small breeze
C. A breath of wind
D. A hiss of breeze
10. "To grope"
A. to walk slowly
B. to find the way by feeling it with your hand
C. carefully
D. to search
SECTION B: LEXIS
Instructions: Choose from alternatives A-D, which is the most appropriate interpretation for each sentence11. The Accountant falsified records in order to feather his own nest. This means that the Accountant tried to ___.
A. Deceive his Boss
B. Put a feather in his cap
C. Make himself rich
D. Avenge a wrong done to him by his Boss.
12. The Cashier wanted to pull the wool over my eyes by making me sign for the money I did not receive. This means that the cashier wanted to
A. deceive me
B. blindfold
C. rub my eyes with cotton wool
D. have my support
13. The man's decision to withdraw his daughter from school because of her
misbehaviour really amounts to cutting off his own nose to spite his face. This means that
A. the decision does not affect the daughter
B. it will cause the man pain to his nose and face
C. The decision does the man no good at all
D. The decision will make the daughter sober
14. The officer urged the soldiers to gird their loins for the task ahead. This means that the soldiers should
A. wake up early the next morning
B. guard heir hungry lions
C. wear a new battle uniform
D. be on full alert
From the alternatives A-D, choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
15. The journalist refused to divulge the source or his information
A. confirm
B. inform
C. disclose
D. Affirm
16. Asabe was sceptical about the story Ladidi told her
A. ignorant
B. doubtful
C. confused
D. convinced
17. The lawyer remarked that the fact that the accused did nothing when the innocent boy was being lynched made him culpable.
A. liable
B. untrustworthy
C. guilty
D. Blameworthy
18. Spain was once a very powerful nation but her influence has waned over the years
A. disappeared
B. repealed
C. diminished
D. re-appeared
19. The politician made a very scurrilous remark about his opponent
A. mild
B. intolerable
C. false
D. sharp
In each of the following questions, there is a word or group of words underlined. Choose from the word or group of words almost opposite in meaning to the underlined word.
20. The birth of the disabled girl beautified the family.
A. discomposed
B. discredited
C. disappointed
D. disintegrated
21. The warder has an antipathy towards juvenile prisoners.
A. sympathy
B. affection
C. apathy
D. inclination
22. Mallam Khalil is covetous of his neighbour's horse
A. indifferent
B. insensitive
C. envious
D. inconsiderate
23. Despite his father's discouragement, the young man opted for a military career.
A. warning
B. exhortation
C. intervention
D. commendation
24. The rain turned the football match into a success.
A. spectacle
B. festival
C. fiasco
D. ceremony
25. The enemies subdued our soldiers without much resistance.
A. capitulated to
B. agreed with
C. conferred with
D. benefited from
26. The spirit of the old saint soared to empyrean heights as he gazed at the dwell.
A. hellish
B. earthly
C. mundane
D. global
27. The aroma of fresh fish pepper soup stimulates my salivary glands.
A. odour
B. glamour
C stench
D. appearance
In questions 28 to 37, choose the word(s) or phrase(s) which best fill(s) the gap(s)
28. When I met Amadi yesterday it was the first time I ......him for six months.
A. had seen
B. saw
C. have seen
D. have been
29. A student's natural ability should be a factor in his choosing a course of
study at the university
A. determined
B. determining
C. determinant
D. determinate
3. Many unrelated issues were touched upon in the of the discussion.
A. cause
B. course
C. coarse
D. curse
31. The traveller had to run in order to ..... the train
A. first/catch
B. fast/cash
C. fast/catch
D. first cash
32. When the driver lost control of his vehicle the pedestrians began to run for _ .
A. their dear lives
B. their dear life
C. dear lives
D. dear life
33. My uncle is one of the .......of the society
A. elitists
B. elites
C. elite
D. elitist
34. The new singlet factory is built on the of Aba township.
A. outstretch
B. outskates
C. outskirts
D. outskirt
35. If Kaka hadn't tried to stand up in the boat, he .
A. wouldn't have fallen
B. will not
C. will not have fallen
D. wouldn't have fell
36. The soldiers were sufficiently equipped with boys
A. arms and ammunition
B. arms and ammunitions
C. arm and ammunitions
D. arm and ammunition
37. My younger brother is going to the stream with boys.
A. two other little
B. other little two
C. two little other
D. other two little
In each of questions 38 to 40, select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
38. In spite of his humble beginning. Audu now throws his weight around.
A. Despite his obvious poverty. Audu is a proud man
B. Audu is arrogant despite his simple upbringing
C. From his poor background. Audu is now a rich man
D. His noble birth notwithstanding, Audu is a corrupt man
39. Ngozi has always considered her father to be an impassioned man.
A. Her father is an emotional man
B. Her father is a very strict man
C. Her father is a very lively man
D. Her father is a disciplined man
40. The manager paid us in hard currency.
A. We were paid in foreign currency
B. We were paid in dollars and pound sterling
C. We were paid in a strong and stable currency
D. We were paid in new notes
ANSWERS
1. C2. B
3. B
4. C
5. A
6. C
7. C
8. A
9. C
10. B
11. C
12. A
13. C
14. D
15. C
16. B
17. C
18. C
19. B
20. B
21. B
22. A
23. D
24. D
25. B
26. B
27. A
28. C
28. B
30. B
31. C
32. A
33. B
34. D
35. A
36. B
37. A
38. C
39. B
40. A
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