English Language Past Questions and Answers

In the following passages the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the below each passage, five choices are offered in columns lettered A to E. For each question choose the word that is the most suitable to fill the numbered gap in the passage.
Locusts have from time to time been the cause of terrible -71- of farms. -72- of locusts can, in a few hours, strip vast areas of green and fertile country of all signs of -73-. They are -74- or periodic -75-. After a heavy -76- of an area, they may not reappear for ten or fourteen years. Now that more is known of the life of locusts, there periodic -77- are better understood and consequently more -78-. Scientists now know the regions in which the gregarious phase of locusts may occur, and can even sometimes -79- when an -80- will take place. By modern methods of dusting and -81- the young locusts, such as the -82- can be destroyed on a large -83- before they do much -84-. The D.DT -85- has proved particularly effective.
The main source of -86- to the government is -87-, which can be direct. While the former is based on one's -88- the latter is imposed on goods and -89- and is paid only when these are -90-. Other sources include -91-, such as those paid by mining companies, and sale of -92- for dogs, guns, hotels e.t.c. Another major source is -93-, which is different from others because it has to be repaid. From these and other sources, government is able to raise -94- with which it carries out its -95- which include administration and the -96- of services.
Besides, it is able to control the country's -97- by imposing taxes sometimes to prevent -98- or by altering patterns of -99- through the raising of -100- against certain foreign products.


In question numbered 100 above, choose the best option from letters A - E that best completes the gap.

From the words or group of words lettered A to E below each of the following sentences, choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word or group of words.
This year's budget was designed to consolidate the gains of the economic recovery programme.

The topic of an essay competition organised by the Young Writers Club for final year students is: Our traditional marriage system is more suitable for the present generation of Nigerians than the English system. Write your entry for or against the topic:

You were one of those arrested by the police at the scene of a crime. Write a letter to the Commissioner of Police giving details of the crime, pleading your innocence and requesting to be released.

You witnessed the campaigns that preceded a local government election in your area in which the favourite candidate was defeated. Give a vivid account of the events before, during and after the election to your friends, explaining why you think the candidate lost.