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SECTION 1
JAMB Use of English 2026/2027
50 Likely Objective Questions with Answers and Explanations | The Lekki Headmaster | A1 English
JAMB Use of English 2026/2027 Likely Questions and Answers
This section contains 50 carefully selected Use of English questions covering all the major topics in the JAMB 2026/2027 syllabus. The approved novel for 2026 is The Lekki Headmaster. Read each question, select your answer, then check the answer box below.
Lexis and Structure
Q1. Choose the option that best completes the sentence. Neither the students nor the teacher ______ prepared for the sudden power outage.
A. were B. was C. are D. have been
ANSWER: B. wasWith ‘neither…nor,’ the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. The subject closest to the verb is ‘the teacher’ (singular), so ‘was’ is correct.
Q2. Choose the word or phrase that means the same as the underlined word. The politician’s VERBOSE speech bored the audience.
A. Short and direct B. Using too many words C. Passionate and emotional D. Poorly organised
ANSWER: B. Using too many wordsVerbose means using or containing more words than necessary. A verbose speaker talks at excessive length. The opposite would be concise or succinct.
Q3. Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined phrase. The minister said the new policy would be implemented without DELAY.
A. soon B. later C. carefully D. haphazardly
ANSWER: A. soonWithout delay means immediately or very soon. This is the closest in meaning to the underlined phrase.
Q4. From the options, choose the word that correctly fills the gap. The suspect was ______ innocent until the court proved otherwise.
A. assumed B. presumed C. concluded D. decided
ANSWER: B. presumedThe correct legal and formal expression is ‘presumed innocent.’ In legal language, a person is presumed (assumed as a starting point) innocent until proven guilty. This is a standard fixed expression.
Q5. Choose the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word. The chairman’s CANDID remarks surprised many at the meeting.
A. honest B. evasive C. lengthy D. encouraging
ANSWER: B. evasiveCandid means truthful and straightforward. Its antonym is evasive, meaning deliberately avoiding giving a clear or direct answer. Honest is a synonym, not an antonym.
Q6. Identify the grammatically correct sentence.
A. She have been waiting since morning. B. They was given the assignment yesterday. C. The committee has submitted its report. D. Neither of the boys have eaten.
ANSWER: C. The committee has submitted its report.Option C is correct. ‘Committee’ is a collective noun treated as singular in formal Nigerian English, taking ‘has.’ Option A should use ‘has been.’ Option B should use ‘were.’ Option D: ‘neither’ takes a singular verb ‘has.’
Q7. Select the option that best fills the gap. Despite being late, she arrived at the venue ______ before the ceremony began.
A. barely B. hardly C. shortly D. scarcely
ANSWER: C. shortly‘Shortly’ means a short time before or after a stated time, making it the most natural and logical choice. ‘Barely’ and ‘scarcely’ mean almost not, which would create a different meaning. ‘Hardly’ also means barely.
Q8. Choose the option that correctly replaces the underlined expression. The new CEO decided to TURN OVER A NEW LEAF in the company.
A. change the company’s logo B. bring in new furniture C. make a fresh start by changing behaviour D. fire all existing staff
ANSWER: C. make a fresh start by changing behaviourTo turn over a new leaf is an idiom meaning to begin to act or behave in a better way, to make a fresh start. It describes a change in conduct or attitude, not literal physical action.
Q9. In the options below, choose the one that has the same stress pattern as the word PHOTOGRAPHY.
A. pho-TO-gra-phy B. PHO-to-gra-phy C. pho-to-GRA-phy D. pho-to-gra-PHY
ANSWER: C. pho-to-GRA-phyThe word ‘photography’ is stressed on the third syllable: pho-TO-GRA-phy. The primary stress falls on ‘GRA.’ This follows the pattern of many words ending in ‘-graphy.’
Q10. Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence. By 2030, Nigeria ______ celebrating its 70th independence anniversary.
A. will be B. would be C. is D. was
ANSWER: A. will beThis sentence refers to a future point in time (2030) and uses a future continuous action (celebrating). The correct form is the future continuous: ‘will be celebrating.’
Oral Forms and Phonetics
Q11. Which of the following words has the same vowel sound as the underlined letters in the word CAUGHT?
A. Cut B. Cat C. Court D. Cup
ANSWER: C. CourtThe vowel sound in CAUGHT is the /ɔː/ long vowel sound. COURT has the same /ɔː/ sound. CUT, CAT, and CUP have different vowel sounds (/ʌ/, /æ/, and /ʌ/ respectively).
Q12. Identify the word in which the underlined letters are NOT pronounced. RECEIPT
A. p B. e C. i D. t
ANSWER: A. pIn the word RECEIPT, the letter ‘p’ is silent. This is a common feature of words derived from Latin and French. The word is pronounced /rɪˈsiːt/.
Q13. Choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the underlined letter in PSYCHOLOGY.
A. Photograph B. Pneumonia C. Plumber D. Precise
ANSWER: B. PneumoniaThe ‘p’ in PSYCHOLOGY is silent. Similarly, in PNEUMONIA, the ‘p’ at the beginning is silent. In PHOTOGRAPH, the ‘ph’ is pronounced /f/. In PLUMBER, the ‘b’ is silent but ‘p’ is pronounced.
Q14. Which of the following is a minimal pair?
A. Cat and dog B. Ship and sheep C. Table and chair D. Book and cook
ANSWER: B. Ship and sheepA minimal pair consists of two words that differ by only one phoneme. ‘Ship’ /ʃɪp/ and ‘sheep’ /ʃiːp/ differ only in the vowel sound (/ɪ/ vs /iː/), making them a minimal pair.
Q15. Which syllable carries the primary stress in the word ECONOMY?
A. First syllable (E-) B. Second syllable (-co-) C. Third syllable (-no-) D. Fourth syllable (-my)
ANSWER: B. Second syllable (-co-)ECONOMY is stressed on the second syllable: e-CO-no-my. This is the standard British and Nigerian English pronunciation of the word.
Q16. In which of the following sentences is the intonation pattern RISING?
A. The examination has been cancelled. B. What a wonderful day! C. Are you ready for the exam? D. Go and study your books.
ANSWER: C. Are you ready for the exam?Yes/No questions in English typically use rising intonation. Statements and exclamations generally use falling intonation. Commands also use falling intonation.
Q17. Identify the word in which the ‘gh’ combination is pronounced as /f/.
A. Ghost B. Though C. Enough D. Through
ANSWER: C. EnoughIn ‘enough,’ the ‘gh’ is pronounced as /f/, giving /ɪˈnʌf/. In ‘ghost,’ ‘gh’ gives /g/. In ‘though’ and ‘through,’ the ‘gh’ is silent.
Q18. The word IMPORT has how many syllables?
A. One B. Two C. Three D. Four
ANSWER: B. TwoIMPORT has two syllables: IM-PORT. When used as a noun, stress falls on the first syllable (IM-port). When used as a verb, stress falls on the second syllable (im-PORT). This is called a heteronym.
Q19. Which of the following represents the correct phonetic transcription of the word JUDGE?
A. /dʒʌd/ B. /dʒʌdʒ/ C. /gʌdʒ/ D. /dʒʌg/
ANSWER: B. /dʒʌdʒ/The word JUDGE begins and ends with the affricate sound /dʒ/. The middle vowel is the short /ʌ/ as in ‘cup.’ The full transcription is /dʒʌdʒ/.
Q20. Choose the option that has a different vowel sound from the others.
A. Height B. Bite C. Night D. Weight
ANSWER: D. WeightHEIGHT, BITE, and NIGHT all have the diphthong /aɪ/ sound. WEIGHT has the diphthong /eɪ/ sound (as in ‘late’ or ‘mate’). It is therefore the odd one out.
Reading Comprehension and Summary
Q21. In a comprehension passage, the phrase ‘the author argues that education is the bedrock of development’ means the author believes education is:
A. an obstacle to progress B. the foundation of development C. one of several equal factors D. a recent development
ANSWER: B. the foundation of development‘Bedrock’ is a metaphor meaning the fundamental basis or foundation of something. The author is arguing that education is the most fundamental basis upon which development rests.
Q22. Which of the following is NOT a skill tested in the JAMB Reading Comprehension section?
A. Identifying the main idea B. Understanding implied meaning C. Evaluating the author’s purpose D. Predicting tomorrow’s weather
ANSWER: D. Predicting tomorrow’s weatherJAMB comprehension tests skills such as identifying main ideas, understanding vocabulary in context, drawing inferences, and evaluating the author’s intent. Weather prediction is not a reading skill.
Q23. A summary question asks you to:
A. copy the passage word for word B. write the passage in your own words, capturing key ideas C. add your own opinions to the passage D. rewrite the passage using different examples
ANSWER: B. write the passage in your own words, capturing key ideasSummary writing in English requires the ability to restate the main ideas of a passage concisely in your own words, without directly copying from the passage and without adding personal opinions.
Q24. Which of the following is a FACT rather than an OPINION?
A. Nigeria is the most beautiful country in Africa B. Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria by population C. Nigerians are the friendliest people in the world D. The Nigerian economy is poorly managed
ANSWER: B. Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria by populationA fact is verifiable and objectively true. Lagos’s population status is a statistical fact. Options A, C, and D are subjective opinions that cannot be verified objectively.
Q25. The tone of a passage that uses words like ‘unfortunately,’ ‘regrettably,’ and ‘sadly’ is best described as:
A. celebratory B. melancholic C. satirical D. aggressive
ANSWER: B. melancholicWords like ‘unfortunately,’ ‘regrettably,’ and ‘sadly’ convey sadness or sorrow. The overall tone of such a passage would be melancholic (expressing sadness or depression).
Figures of Speech and Literature
Q26. Identify the figure of speech in: ‘The classroom was a zoo during the break period.’
A. Simile B. Personification C. Metaphor D. Alliteration
ANSWER: C. MetaphorA metaphor directly states that one thing IS another without using ‘like’ or ‘as.’ The classroom is directly compared to a zoo. If it said ‘like a zoo,’ it would be a simile.
Q27. Which figure of speech is used in: ‘Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.’?
A. Onomatopoeia B. Alliteration C. Assonance D. Hyperbole
ANSWER: B. AlliterationAlliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in closely connected words. Here, the /p/ sound is repeated at the beginning of multiple words: Peter, Piper, picked, peck, pickled, peppers.
Q28. ‘I have told you a thousand times to be quiet.’ This is an example of:
A. Understatement B. Irony C. Hyperbole D. Euphemism
ANSWER: C. HyperboleHyperbole is deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for effect or emphasis. The speaker has not literally said it a thousand times. The exaggeration emphasises frustration.
Q29. ‘He passed away last night’ is an example of:
A. Metaphor B. Euphemism C. Irony D. Oxymoron
ANSWER: B. EuphemismA euphemism is a mild or indirect word or expression used in place of one that might be harsh or blunt. ‘Passed away’ is used instead of the more direct word ‘died.’
Q30. In The Lekki Headmaster, what does the character of the headmaster primarily represent?
A. The corruption in Nigerian government B. The principled educator in a morally compromised community C. The power of traditional rulers D. The failure of the Nigerian educational system
ANSWER: B. The principled educator in a morally compromised communityThe Lekki Headmaster, written by Cyprian Ekwensi, centres on a headmaster who strives to maintain professional integrity, discipline, and educational standards in an environment that is socially compromised and resistant to those values.
Q31. Which of the following best describes dramatic irony?
A. When the audience knows something the character does not know B. When a character says the opposite of what they mean C. When events turn out opposite to expectations D. When a writer exaggerates for comic effect
ANSWER: A. When the audience knows something the character does not knowDramatic irony occurs when the audience or reader has information that a character in the story lacks, creating tension or humour. This is different from verbal irony (saying the opposite of what you mean).
Q32. The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words is called:
A. Alliteration B. Assonance C. Consonance D. Rhyme
ANSWER: B. AssonanceAssonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in neighbouring words (e.g., ‘the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain’). Alliteration repeats consonant sounds at the start of words. Consonance repeats consonant sounds at the end or middle of words.
Grammar, Concord and Sentence Structure
Q33. Choose the sentence with the correct use of the apostrophe.
A. The childrens’ books were scattered. B. The children’s books were scattered. C. The childrens books were scattered. D. The children’s’ books were scattered.
ANSWER: B. The children’s books were scattered.‘Children’ is already the plural of ‘child.’ To show possession, we add apostrophe + s: children’s. We do not add ‘apostrophe + s’ after a word that already ends in s to form a plural (like teachers’), but children is irregular.
Q34. Which of the following sentences uses the passive voice correctly?
A. The students wrote the examination. B. The teacher is teaching the class. C. The report was submitted by the committee. D. They will announce the results tomorrow.
ANSWER: C. The report was submitted by the committee.Passive voice uses the structure: subject + to be + past participle (+ by agent). ‘The report was submitted by the committee’ fits this pattern exactly. The other options are all in active voice.
Q35. Identify the type of sentence: ‘Although it rained heavily, the match continued.’
A. Simple sentence B. Compound sentence C. Complex sentence D. Compound-complex sentence
ANSWER: C. Complex sentenceA complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause. Here, ‘Although it rained heavily’ is the dependent clause and ‘the match continued’ is the independent clause, joined by the subordinating conjunction ‘although.’
Q36. The underlined clause in ‘The book THAT WAS PUBLISHED LAST YEAR is out of stock’ functions as a:
A. Noun clause B. Adverbial clause C. Relative (adjective) clause D. Conditional clause
ANSWER: C. Relative (adjective) clauseThe clause ‘that was published last year’ modifies the noun ‘book,’ answering the question ‘which book?’ Clauses that modify nouns are called relative or adjective clauses.
Q37. ‘She is taller than I.’ The underlined word ‘I’ is used because:
A. ‘I’ is always used in formal English B. the full implied clause is ‘I am’ C. it comes after ‘than’ which requires subject pronouns D. it sounds more educated
ANSWER: B. the full implied clause is ‘I am’The full sentence is ‘She is taller than I am.’ In formal English, the pronoun after ‘than’ in such comparisons functions as the subject of an implied clause. ‘I am’ is implied, so ‘I’ is the correct subject pronoun.
Q38. Choose the correct word to complete: ‘Each of the students ______ expected to submit an assignment.’
A. are B. were C. is D. have been
ANSWER: C. is‘Each’ is an indefinite pronoun that is always singular and takes a singular verb. ‘Each of the students IS’ is correct. The phrase ‘of the students’ does not affect the verb agreement.
Q39. Which of the following words is correctly spelt?
A. Mischieveous B. Conscientious C. Questionaire D. Embarassed
ANSWER: B. ConscientiousConscientious is spelled correctly. Mischievous (not mischieveous) has no second ‘e.’ Questionnaire has double ‘n’ and double ‘r.’ Embarrassed has double ‘r’ and double ‘s.’
Q40. The word BENEVOLENT means:
A. strict and demanding B. well-meaning and kind C. cunning and deceptive D. cold and distant
ANSWER: B. well-meaning and kindBenevolent comes from Latin ‘bene’ (well) + ‘volvere’ (to wish). It describes someone who is well-meaning, kindly, and charitable. Its antonym is malevolent (wishing harm).
The Lekki Headmaster and Mixed Topics
Q41. In The Lekki Headmaster, the setting of the story is primarily:
A. A rural village in the North B. The Lekki community in Lagos State C. A government ministry in Abuja D. A university campus in Ibadan
ANSWER: B. The Lekki community in Lagos StateThe novel is set in the Lekki area of Lagos, which gives the book its title. The setting is significant because Lekki was undergoing rapid urban development and social change at the time the story is set.
Q42. Choose the sentence that correctly uses the word ‘EFFECT.’
A. The new law will effect all citizens. B. The medicine did not effect the patient. C. The noise had a negative effect on concentration. D. We need to effect a change in attitude.
ANSWER: C. The noise had a negative effect on concentration.As a noun, ‘effect’ means result or outcome. ‘A negative effect on concentration’ is correct noun usage. Note: ‘affect’ is usually the verb (to have an impact on), while ‘effect’ as a verb means ‘to bring about’ (less common).
Q43. Choose the word that is the ODD ONE OUT based on meaning. HAPPY, ELATED, JOYFUL, MELANCHOLY, CHEERFUL
A. Happy B. Elated C. Joyful D. Melancholy
ANSWER: D. MelancholyHappy, Elated, Joyful, and Cheerful all describe positive emotional states. Melancholy means a feeling of deep sadness or depression. It is the odd one out because it describes a negative emotion.
Q44. A word that sounds like another word but has a different meaning and spelling is called a:
A. Homograph B. Homophone C. Synonym D. Antonym
ANSWER: B. HomophoneA homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but has a different meaning and often different spelling. Examples: ‘hear’ and ‘here,’ ‘right’ and ‘write,’ ‘there’ and ‘their.’
Q45. The sentence ‘Were I the president, I would build more schools’ uses which mood?
A. Indicative B. Imperative C. Subjunctive D. Interrogative
ANSWER: C. SubjunctiveThe subjunctive mood is used to express hypothetical, conditional, or contrary-to-fact situations. ‘Were I the president’ uses the subjunctive because the speaker is not actually the president. Note: ‘were’ is used instead of ‘was’ in the subjunctive.
Q46. Choose the sentence that contains a dangling modifier.
A. Running quickly, he caught the bus. B. Having finished the exam, the papers were submitted. C. Laughing loudly, the children played in the garden. D. Walking home, she noticed a strange car.
ANSWER: B. Having finished the exam, the papers were submitted.A dangling modifier is a phrase that does not clearly or correctly attach to the noun it is supposed to modify. Here, ‘Having finished the exam’ seems to modify ‘the papers,’ but papers cannot finish exams. It should be: ‘Having finished the exam, the students submitted the papers.’
Q47. In the sentence ‘He gave her the book,’ the underlined word ‘her’ functions as a:
A. Direct object B. Indirect object C. Subject D. Object complement
ANSWER: B. Indirect objectIn this sentence, ‘he’ is the subject, ‘gave’ is the verb, ‘the book’ is the direct object (what was given), and ‘her’ is the indirect object (to whom it was given). Indirect objects usually answer ‘to whom’ or ‘for whom.’
Q48. The author of The Lekki Headmaster is:
A. Chinua Achebe B. Wole Soyinka C. Cyprian Ekwensi D. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
ANSWER: C. Cyprian EkwensiThe Lekki Headmaster was written by Cyprian Ekwensi, one of Nigeria’s pioneering fiction writers. He is also known for works such as Jagua Nana and People of the City.
Q49. Choose the option that best explains the meaning of the proverb: ‘When the music changes, so does the dance.’
A. Dancing and music are inseparable arts B. One must adapt when circumstances change C. Music is more important than dancing D. Change is always painful
ANSWER: B. One must adapt when circumstances changeThis proverb advises flexibility and adaptability. When the situation changes (the music), your response or approach must also change (the dance). It encourages people to adjust to new realities.
Q50. Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence. The ambassador, together with his aides, ______ invited to the state dinner.
A. were B. are C. was D. have been
ANSWER: C. wasWhen a singular subject is followed by a phrase beginning with ‘together with,’ ‘along with,’ or ‘as well as,’ the verb agrees with the original singular subject. ‘The ambassador’ is singular, so ‘was’ is correct.
50 questions done. 50 answers understood. You are better prepared than you were an hour ago. Keep going every single day.
Next Steps for Use of English: Read The Lekki Headmaster from cover to cover at least once before exam day Practise 10 comprehension questions daily from past JAMB papers Learn 5 new vocabulary words and their antonyms every day Use PROMPT 1 in Section 1 to generate 50 more questions instantly Visit ibass.jamb.gov.ng to download the official Use of English syllabus
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