All practice questions

Despite the festive atmosphere pervading the hall following the announcement of the election results, the defeated candidate maintained a LUGUBRIOUS demeanor throughout the evening. Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to the bold word as used in the sentence?

The chairman criticized the committee member for his trenchant observations regarding the board's financial mismanagement during the emergency hearing. Which word is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as used in the sentence?

Read the passage below carefully and answer the question that follows:

The West African Rice Development Association (WARDA) was formed in 1971 by eleven West African countries to boost regional rice production and decrease dependency on foreign imports. Originally headquartered in Monrovia, Liberia, the intergovernmental organization established research stations across various agro-ecological zones to breed high-yielding rice varieties suitable for local soil conditions. In 1987, WARDA became an official member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), which expanded its funding and technical partnership capabilities. Facing civil unrest in Liberia in the late 1980s, the association relocated its principal research headquarters to Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, in 1988, where it intensified work on interspecific rice hybrids.

According to the passage, why did the West African Rice Development Association move its principal research headquarters to Côte d'Ivoire in 1988?

After months of disagreement, the two business partners decided to bury the hatchet and work together on the new project.

What does the expression 'bury the hatchet' mean in this context?

Read the statement below carefully.

Far from being SANGUINE about the company's financial recovery following the severe economic downturn, the chief executive officer expressed grave concern regarding its future prospects.

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to SANGUINE as used in the passage above?

During the press briefing, the government spokesman gave a candid assessment of the state's economic challenges. Which word is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as used in the sentence?

Read the passage below carefully and answer the question that follows.

Across expanding metropolitan centers in West Africa, the exponential growth of urban populations has severely strained municipal waste management infrastructure. Traditional state-funded sanitation services frequently struggle with inadequate logistical capacity, leaving vast quantities of solid waste uncollected in low-income residential districts. In response to this governance deficit, informal recycling cooperatives organized by community residents and private micro-entrepreneurs have emerged as indispensable agents of urban sanitation. These grassroots networks systematically collect, sort, and process recyclable plastics, metals, and organic matter, effectively diverting thousands of tons of refuse away from overflowing municipal landfills each year. Beyond their evident environmental utility, these informal operations provide vital economic livelihoods for vulnerable urban populations who face persistent unemployment in the formal sector. However, despite their substantial contribution to urban sustainability, municipal authorities often marginalize informal recyclers, treating them as unregulated public nuisances rather than essential service providers. Urban policy experts argue that rather than attempting to eradicate or suppress these informal workers, municipal governments must formally integrate recycling cooperatives into official urban sanitation planning. Granting these workers legal recognition, access to protective gear, and fair compensation frameworks would not only dignify their labor but also dramatically enhance the structural efficiency of city-wide waste management systems. Ultimately, transforming urban environmental governance requires recognizing informal recycling networks as crucial partners in building resilient, sustainable cities.

Which of the following best summarizes the central argument of the passage?

Read the passage below carefully:

The rapid escalation of global soybean meal prices has significantly inflated operational costs for poultry farmers across Ogun State. To counteract this dependency, local agribusinesses have pioneered the large-scale cultivation of black soldier fly larvae fed on organic market waste. This bioconversion process rapidly transforms discarded organic matter into high-protein insect meal while simultaneously mitigating municipal waste accumulation. Empirical trials confirm that replacing commercial soybean rations with processed larvae meal maintains bird growth rates without compromising egg yield. Consequently, this innovation offers a dual benefit: drastically reducing feed expenditure for livestock owners and alleviating urban waste management pressures.

Which of the following best summarizes the central message of the passage in a single concise statement?

The investigative committee was constituted to look ______ the financial irregularities reported in the ministry. Which of the following prepositions correctly completes the sentence?

After his release from the correctional facility, Timothy resolved to turn over a new leaf by enrolling in a vocational training center. What does the idiomatic expression 'turn over a new leaf' mean in this context?

Read the passage excerpt below carefully:

"During the three-week expedition through the dense rainforest, the unrelenting humidity and rugged terrain began to severely tax the physical endurance of the researchers."

What is the contextual meaning of the word tax as used in the excerpt?

Read the passage below carefully:

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) was established in 1980 by Chief S. L. Edu as a non-governmental organization dedicated to nature conservation and environmental protection in Nigeria. Officially registered under the Land (Perpetual Succession) Act in 1982, the foundation launched its flagship conservation initiative, the Lekki Conservation Centre, in 1990 to protect the flora and fauna of the Lekki Peninsula from rapid urban encroachment. Over the decades, the NCF has partnered with international environmental bodies to preserve biodiversity and advocate for sustainable resource management across West Africa.

According to the passage, what milestone was achieved by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation in 1990?

The operative made a surreptitious exchange of documents in the crowded train station to avoid detection. Which word is nearest in meaning to the underlined word?

Read the passage below carefully and answer the question that follows:

Established in 1956 under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) was originally named the Institute of Applied Technical Research. Located in Lagos, Nigeria, the institute's foundational mandate focused primarily on evaluating indigenous raw materials to accelerate local industrial growth. During its initial decade, FIIRO prioritized research into agricultural processing, notably mechanizing cassava production into gari to enhance post-harvest food preservation. Funding for FIIRO's early infrastructural developments was provided directly by the British Colonial Development and Welfare Fund, rather than local municipal levies or private commercial loans. By 1977, FIIRO had expanded its activities to facilitate technology transfer to small-scale enterprises across West Africa.

According to the passage, from which source was the initial capital for early infrastructural developments at FIIRO derived?

In English dialogue, when a speaker attaches a question tag to a statement—such as in 'She hasn't arrived yet, has she?'—and delivers the tag with an ascending pitch, what function does this intonation serve?

Read the sentence below and choose the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

Despite facing repeated setbacks during the legal reform campaign, the attorney remained indefatigable in her pursuit of justice.

Which of the following options is nearest in meaning to the underlined word?

The chairman delivered a PROTRACTED speech during the university convocation ceremony, causing several dignitaries to lose interest. Which word is opposite in meaning to the capitalized word as used in the sentence?

Although the senior parliamentarian held strong personal reservations regarding the proposed constitutional amendment, party leaders made it clear that he was expected to _____ the line during the final vote. Which of the following words correctly completes the fixed expression in the sentence?

During the public hearing, the tribunal chairman insisted that the key witness _______ the assembly before the final ruling was delivered. Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence?

To prevent further economic instability, the financial regulatory body urged all commercial banks to ________ wasteful expenditure and speculative lending. Which of the following phrasal verbs correctly completes the sentence?