1. Angela is very indolent but her sister Mary is one of the most ........... girls in the school.

A. perfect
B. trustworthy
C. diligent ✔
D. devoted

Explanation:
“Indolent” means lazy, while “diligent” means hardworking, which is the direct opposite.

2. Rather than support the Chairman, the members of his board expressed ........... to his plans.

A. denial
B. opposition ✔
C. indifferent
D. doubt

Explanation:
The opposite of “support” is “opposition.”

3. In any group, there are people who display apathy and others who show a lot of ...........

A. enthusiasm ✔
B. patience
C. respect
D. tolerance

Explanation:
“Apathy” means lack of interest, while “enthusiasm” means strong interest.

4. Femi was very ........... about his political ambition but his sister was open about it.

A. silent
B. withdrawn
C. closed
D. secretive ✔

Explanation:
“Secretive” is the opposite of being open.

5. Ngozi's beauty is natural but her sister's is rather ...........

A. unnatural
B. artificial ✔
C. awkward
D. fake

Explanation:
The direct opposite of “natural” beauty is “artificial” beauty.

6. The testimony of the witness was so vague that it was difficult to learn the details ........... of the case.

A. specific ✔
B. minute
C. transport
D. hidden

Explanation:
“Vague” contrasts with “specific.”

7. It is amazing how Jide became so proud, his parents have always been ...........

A. humble ✔
B. friendly
C. generous
D. reserved

Explanation:
The opposite of “proud” is “humble.”

8. The workshop was intended to ........... the workers who had been confused by management's decisions.

A. train
B. enlighten ✔
C. address
D. confound

Explanation:
To “enlighten” is to remove confusion.

9. Johnson is consistently assertive but his twin brother is rather ...........

A. cautious
B. coward
C. reserved ✔
D. respectful

Explanation:
“Reserved” is the opposite of being assertive.

10. The country aviation industry has lost at least four ........... this year alone.

A. vessels
B. aircraft ✔
C. coaches
D. equipment

Explanation:
Aircraft are used in the aviation industry.

11. My cousin has married for fourteen years but has no ...........

A. siblings
B. brothers
C. offspring ✔
D. survivor

Explanation:
“Offspring” means children.

12. Corruption is one of the ills in this country which must be ...........

A. exterminated
B. eradicated ✔
C. destroyed
D. broken

Explanation:
“Eradicated” best fits social problems like corruption.

13. The boys covered their noses because of the ........... odour in the area.

A. annoying
B. smelling
C. offensive ✔
D. repressive

Explanation:
An “offensive” odour is unpleasant.

14. It is ........... on parents to advise their children against keeping bad company.

A. incumbent ✔
B. necessary
C. imperative
D. required

Explanation:
“It is incumbent on” is the correct idiomatic expression.

15. The man said that he would no longer ........... his step son because of his bad behaviour.

A. condone ✔
B. accommodate
C. concede
D. bear

Explanation:
“To condone” means to tolerate or allow.

16. The accused was charged with ........... because he caused his brother's death.

A. killing
B. fratricide ✔
C. fraud
D. negligence

Explanation:
“Fratricide” is the killing of one’s brother.

17. The judge acquitted Musa because he was a first ...........

A. defendant
B. accused
C. complainant
D. offender ✔

Explanation:
A “first offender” is someone committing an offence for the first time.

18. He rendered ........... assistance to the community.

A. variable
B. invaluable ✔
C. intrusive
D. valued

Explanation:
“Invaluable” means extremely useful.

19. The team manager looked ........... when his boys lost the match.

A. down
B. denied
C. dejected ✔
D. deserted

Explanation:
“Dejected” describes deep disappointment.

20. We left Kaduna one year ago to the day. This means that we left Kaduna ...........

A. exactly one year ago ✔
B. one year minus a day
C. one year and a day
D. about a year ago

Explanation:
“To the day” means exactly.

21. Tamuno's statement is true to a degree. This means that his statement is ...........

A. very true
B. very wrong
C. not yet proved
D. partly true ✔

Explanation:
“True to a degree” means partly true.

22. Both the doves and the hawks agreed on this issue. This means there was agreement by both ...........

A. those who prefer peace and those who want the use of force ✔
B. the poor and the rich
C. the government side and the opposition
D. those supporting changes and those against them

Explanation:
“Doves” prefer peace, while “hawks” favour force.

23. Japan has blazed a trail in the production of electronics. This means that Japan ...........

A. has learnt a lot
B. is leading others ✔
C. is making more inventions
D. is competing with others

Explanation:
“To blaze a trail” means to be a leader or pioneer.

24. Mohammed Ali won the fight hands down. This means Mohammed Ali won ...........

A. after a very tough fight
B. only narrowly
C. without using his hands
D. very easily ✔

Explanation:
“Hands down” means with ease.

25. The scientist has broken new ground in his research. This means that the scientist has ...........

A. made a new discovery ✔
B. taken up a new interest
C. changed his laboratory
D. offered a new explanation for his discovery

Explanation:
“Broken new ground” means achieved something new.

26. The chief decided to obtain the land by hook or by crook. This means that the chief decided to get the land ...........

A. through negotiation
B. by paying for it
C. by any means possible ✔
D. through litigation

Explanation:
“By hook or by crook” means by all means.

27. The lady swallowed the whole story hook, line and sinker. This means that the lady ...........

A. totally disbelieved the story
B. totally believed the story ✔
C. had her doubts about the story
D. thoroughly enjoyed the story

Explanation:
The idiom means complete belief.

28. He went too far by insulting the Director's wife. This means that ...........

A. he went out with the Director's wife and insulted her
B. he walked too long for the Director's wife
C. he was too close to the Director's wife
D. he should not have gone to the extent of insulting the Director's wife ✔

Explanation:
“Went too far” means exceeded acceptable limits.

29. The decision to dismiss the night watchman was taken in my absence. This means that the decision was ...........

A. taken as I was leaving
B. taken at my back
C. taken without my knowledge ✔
D. not disclosed to the night watchman

Explanation:
“In my absence” means without my knowledge.

30. You failed to heed the warning about your marriage.

A. consider
B. notice
C. ignore
D. disregard ✔

Explanation:
“To heed” means to pay attention; its nearest meaning here is “disregard” (in negative form).

31. The scholarship committee has endorsed the student's bursary.

A. reduced
B. increased
C. approved ✔
D. revised

Explanation:
“To endorse” means to approve.

32. All my efforts to settle the quarrel between the two friends were futile.

A. fruitful
B. clumsy
C. baseless
D. unproductive ✔

Explanation:
“Futile” means producing no result.

33. My uncle made the right choice of career as a detective because he is a very observant man.

A. watchful ✔
B. sensitive
C. cautious
D. intelligent

Explanation:
“Observant” means watchful.

34. I cannot continue the argument because you are biased.

A. stupid
B. convinced
C. prejudiced ✔
D. worried

Explanation:
“Biased” means prejudiced.

35. Guidance counsellors should regard all the information given by students as confidential.

A. secret ✔
B. reliable
C. authentic
D. malicious

Explanation:
“Confidential” means secret.

36. It is advisable to buy durable clothes nowadays.

A. expensive
B. lasting ✔
C. fashionable
D. comfortable

Explanation:
“Durable” means long-lasting.

37. There are various options open to you in this matter.

A. doors
B. choices ✔
C. skills
D. factors

Explanation:
“Options” means choices.

38. To drive on through the red light is an infringement of the law.

A. a trespass
B. an offence
C. a breach ✔
D. an invasion

Explanation:
“Infringement” means a breach of the law.

39. Kate .......... tears of joy when she heard about her success.

A. broke into ✔
B. broke out
C. broke up in
D. broke with

Explanation:
The correct idiom is “broke into tears.”

40. The workers' strike was .......... as a result of the Director's intervention.

A. called back
B. called in
C. called off ✔
D. called out

Explanation:
“To call off” means to cancel.