71 JAMB English Language 2008 questions with verified answers and worked explanations. Here are the first 10 — sign up free to practise the full paper.
select the option that bost explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
He needn't have bought that new table
The grammatical structure 'needn't have' followed by a past participle (like 'bought') is used to talk about a past action that was done but was not necessary. This means the person actually bought the table, but there was no reason for them to do so. Option B correctly captures both parts of this meaning: the action happened ('He bought the table') and it was unnecessary ('but it wasn't necessary').
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option C because they confuse 'needn't have bought' (which means the action happened unnecessarily) with 'didn't need to buy' (which implies the action did not happen).
select the option that bost explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
Thanks to that phone call, I was able to obtain the visa,
The phrase 'Thanks to' in the original sentence means 'because of' or 'as a result of'. It indicates that the phone call was the direct cause for obtaining the visa. Option B correctly captures this meaning by stating 'It was because of that phone call...', making it the best explanation of the information conveyed.
Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose option D, which is logically correct, but it restates the sentence as a conditional ('If... then...') rather than providing a direct paraphrase of the original statement like option B does.
select the option that bost explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
It is likely that the governor will exact his pound of flesh
The expression 'to exact his pound of flesh' is an idiom which means to cruelly insist on getting what one is owed or entitled to, without any mercy. This phrase originates from Shakespeare's play, 'The Merchant of Venice'. Therefore, the sentence means the governor will be unforgiving in demanding and taking everything he believes is his right. Option D correctly interprets this as demanding and getting all that is due to him.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option C because 'crushing new taxes' sounds harsh, but the idiom specifically refers to demanding what is due, not imposing a new burden.
select the option that bost explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
It was too cold for him to go out
The original sentence uses the structure 'too...to...', which shows a negative result. 'It was too cold for him to go out' means the cold was so much that it stopped him from going out. Option C, 'As it was very cold, he did not go out', correctly explains this cause and effect, making it the nearest in meaning.
Common mistake: Students might wrongly choose option A by confusing the word 'cold' (referring to the weather) with 'a cold' (referring to an illness).
select the option that bost explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
Ado and Abu are always together these days. They must be up to something.
This question tests your understanding of the idiomatic expression 'to be up to something'. This phrase is used to suggest that someone is secretly planning or doing something, usually something mischievous or dishonest. Option B correctly explains this meaning by stating that they are 'probably planning something bad'.
Common mistake: The most common mistake is choosing option C, as students might incorrectly think 'up to something' can mean planning a positive or praiseworthy activity, when the idiom typically implies something negative or suspicious.
select the option that bost explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
He wants the meeting to be adjourned,
To 'adjourn' a meeting means to officially stop it for a period of time with the plan to continue it later. The original sentence means the person wants to postpone the meeting. Option D, despite its grammatical error, correctly captures the main idea that the meeting should be moved 'to another day', which is the meaning of adjourning.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option B, 'cancelled', because they confuse adjourning a meeting with cancelling it; however, 'adjourn' means to postpone, not to end it completely.
select the option that bost explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
My father is one of the vociferous few challenging the company’s appointment of the manager.
The question requires you to find the option that best explains the original sentence. The word 'vociferous' means expressing opinions loudly and forcefully, and 'challenging' means objecting to or questioning something. Option C, 'objecting to the appointment', correctly captures the main idea of opposing the decision, which is the core meaning of the sentence.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option A because they focus only on the literal meaning of 'vociferous' (loud voice), but this misses the main action of 'challenging' the appointment, which is better expressed as 'objecting'.
select the option that bost explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
The voyagers fetched up in Nigeria
The phrasal verb 'fetched up' means to finally arrive or end up at a place, often after a long or difficult journey. Option D, 'The discoverers landed in Nigeria after a long journey,' best captures this full meaning. It correctly interprets 'fetched up' as landing after a significant journey, which is more precise than the other options.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option B because 'voyagers' are often associated with sea travel, but the original sentence does not specify the mode of transport.
select the option that bost explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
In those days in this school, everyone who spoke in a
This question asks you to find the option that best explains the meaning of the original sentence, which describes a school rule from the past. Option C is the correct answer because it accurately reflects that the rule applied to 'Everyone' and uses the phrase 'would pay' to show that this was a conditional rule or a repeated consequence in the past. It interprets the act of speaking another language as a punishable intention ('wanting to use'), which best explains the strictness of the school's policy.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D because it seems very direct, but its use of 'Those who spoke' suggests only some people broke the rule, while the original sentence implies the rule was a general one for 'everyone'.
select the option that bost explains the information conveyed in the sentence.
The officer has discussed the vexed issue of incessant power failure
The correct option is B because it accurately interprets the key phrases in the sentence. The phrase 'vexed issue' means a problem that is much debated or discussed, not that someone is angry. 'Incessant' means constant or frequent. Therefore, 'the officer added his voice to the much discussed problem of power cut' is the closest in meaning to the original sentence.
Common mistake: Students might wrongly choose option A because they confuse the meaning of 'vexed issue' (a much-discussed problem) with the officer being personally angry or 'vexed'.
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