JAMB Use of English 2024 past questions

Checked by the Skolra question team · Last updated 23 October 2026

Ten questions from the 2024 JAMB Use of English paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 209 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

JAMB Use of English 2024 questions and answers

1. 1.

   In each of the following questions, choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

   Public

   1. A
      Receipt
   2. B
      People
      Correct
   3. C
      Cupboard
   4. D
      Raspberry
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   Answer: B

   The word Public is pronounced /ˈpʌblɪk/ — the underlined P is fully sounded as the ordinary consonant /p/, the sound you make by closing and releasing the lips with a puff of air.

   We need the option in which the letter P makes that same sounded /p/.

   People is pronounced /ˈpiːpəl/ — the P at the start is clearly sounded, exactly like the P in "Public". This is the correct answer.

2. 2.

   In each of the following questions, choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

   Gap

   1. A
      photograph
   2. B
      napkin
      Correct
   3. C
      cupboard
   4. D
      pneumonia
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   Answer: B

   The word gap is pronounced /ɡæp/, so the underlined letter stands for the voiceless bilabial plosive /p/ — the sound you make when both lips close, block the air and then release it sharply with no voicing.

3. 3.

   Select the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

   It is highly improbable that it will snow in June.

   1. A
      It is quite certain that snow will fall in June
   2. B
      It has never once snowed in the month of June
   3. C
      It is very unlikely that snow will fall in June
      Correct
   4. D
      It is entirely impossible for snow to fall in June
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   Answer: C

   This question tests your understanding of the word improbable. Break it up: the prefix im- means not, and probable means likely. So improbable = not likely = unlikely, and highly improbable simply means very unlikely.

   That is why it is very unlikely that snow will fall in June carries exactly the same information as the given sentence — same meaning, plainer words.

4. 4.

   The word in capital letters has the emphatic stress. Choose the option to which the given stress relates.

   My mother is expected to be back by this time TOMORROW.

   1. A
      She will not be back today
      Correct
   2. B
      She will not be back this evening
   3. C
      She will not be back yesterday
   4. D
      She will not be back next week
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   Answer: A

   When a word carries emphatic stress, it is being contrasted with something the speaker wants to rule out or correct. Here, the stress falls on TOMORROW, so the speaker is emphasising the specific day she will be back, as opposed to a day one might wrongly assume — namely today.

5. 5.

   Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

   The attempt by the robbers to break into the bank was futile.

   1. A
      Fruitful
   2. B
      Unsuccessful
      Correct
   3. C
      Hostile
   4. D
      Feeble
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   Answer: B

   Futile describes an effort that produces no useful result — it fails to achieve its purpose. In the sentence, the robbers tried to break into the bank, but the attempt was futile, meaning it did not succeed.

   The word nearest in meaning is therefore unsuccessful — an attempt that came to nothing.

6. 6.

   In each of the following questions, the word in capital letter has the emphatic stress. Choose the option to which the given words relate.

   His reign was noted for PEACE.

   1. A
      What was noted for peace?
   2. B
      Was his reign noted for peace?
   3. C
      Whose reign was noted for peace?
   4. D
      What was his reign noted for?
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   In emphatic stress questions, the word written in capital letters carries the new or contrasted information. The trick is simple: turn the sentence into the question that the stressed word answers.

   Here the stress is on PEACE, which is the complement of "noted for". Remove it and put a question word in its place: "What was his reign noted for?" — the natural answer is "peace". That is why this option is correct.

7. 7.

   Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

   Everyone thinks Ojo's decision to be a demagogue is ill-advised.

   1. A
      a demographer
   2. B
      a pedagogue
   3. C
      a rabble-rouser
      Correct
   4. D
      a statesman
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   Answer: C

   A demagogue is a leader who wins followers by stirring up the emotions, fears and prejudices of the crowd rather than by reasoned argument. The word comes from Greek demos (the people) + agogos (leader). Its closest single-word equivalent in English is a rabble-rouser — one who rouses the rabble, the mob.

8. 8.

   Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentences.

   Moses won the contest hands down.

   1. A
      Moses won the contest without any difficulty
      Correct
   2. B
      Moses won the contest by a narrow margin
   3. C
      Moses won the contest after a long struggle
   4. D
      Moses won the contest through unfair means
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   Answer: A

   The expression to look at here is the idiom "hands down". It is an adverb of manner, and it simply means easily, effortlessly, without any serious challenge. So the sentence tells us that Moses won the contest without any difficulty.

9. 9.

   Choose the option that is nearest in meaning to the word or phrase underlined.

   Most celebrities usually have a tinge of dishonour in their life.

   1. A
      burden
   2. B
      abundance
   3. C
      stain
   4. D
      trace
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   The word tinge means a very small amount of something — a slight touch or trace of a quality or a colour. We say "a tinge of sadness in her voice" or "the sky had a tinge of red". So the sentence simply means that most celebrities have a small trace of dishonour in their life.

10. 10.

    Choose the option that best explains the information conveyed in the sentence.

    Titi was the cynosure of all eyes at the party.

    1. A
       Titi attracted the admiration and attention of everyone at the party
       Correct
    2. B
       Titi's eyes were fixed on everything happening at the party
    3. C
       Titi was surrounded by a large crowd at the party
    4. D
       Titi was the object of ridicule for everyone at the party
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    Answer: A

    Meaning of the idiom: "Cynosure" comes from Cynosura, the old name for the constellation containing the North Star — the star sailors fixed their eyes on to find direction. From this, "cynosure" came to mean a person or thing that draws everyone's attention and admiration. So "the cynosure of all eyes" is a set idiomatic phrase meaning the centre of everyone's attention.

The questions come from past JAMB, WAEC and NECO papers. We use software to help write the answer options and explanations, and every answer is checked twice before it goes on the site. How we check

Spotted a wrong answer? Tell us from the app or on the contact page and we check it.

Practise all 209 questions we hold from the 2024 paper, on a timed CBT screen

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