1. My uncle is a prosperous businessman; my aunt, unfortunately, is quite ..........

A. unskilful
B. dishonest
C. unsuccessful ✔
D. unqualified

Explanation:
The opposite of prosperous is unsuccessful.

2. The university has a large yearly intake: very few .............. take place.

A. turnouts
B. rejections ✔
C. expulsions
D. obstructions

Explanation:
A large intake implies that few applicants are rejected.

3. Rather than make derogatory remarks about the host, a guest should make .............. ones.

A. polite
B. complimentary ✔
C. interesting
D. honest

Explanation:
The opposite of derogatory remarks is complimentary remarks.

4. Our mechanized services contrast sharply with the .............. operations we had before

A. elections
B. obstructions
C. original
D. manual ✔

Explanation:
The opposite of mechanized is manual.

5. After Ade had listened to some advice, his rigid ideas became more ..........

A. friendly
B. compromising
C. flexible ✔
D. democratic

Explanation:
The opposite of rigid is flexible.

6. The policies of this government favour the elite rather than the ..........

A. masses ✔
B. oppressed
C. public
D. unemployed

Explanation:
The opposite of elite is masses.

7. God opposes the proud and rewards the ...............

A. poor
B. honest
C. humble ✔
D. faithful

Explanation:
The opposite of proud is humble.

8. The pilot says that it is easier to take off from the airport than to ............ on the tarmac

A. land ✔
B. come down
C. alight
D. drop

Explanation:
The opposite of take off is land.

9. Although Chide's manners are quite refined, his colleague's are rather ..........

A. bold
B. crude ✔
C. hostile
D. rash

Explanation:
The opposite of refined is crude.

10. I am quite outspoken but my brother is ...............

A. dumb
B. indolent
C. taciturn ✔
D. modest

Explanation:
The opposite of outspoken is taciturn.

11. All the people in the bus died in that ........ accident

A. serious
B. reckless
C. fatal ✔
D. dangerous

Explanation:
An accident in which people die is described as fatal.

12. What a .................! The more you look, the less you see.

A. wonder
B. miracle
C. challenge
D. paradox ✔

Explanation:
A statement that seems contradictory is called a paradox.

13. The soldiers pledged their ........ loyalty to the new government

A. enduring
B. tireless
C. complete ✔
D. questionable

Explanation:
Loyalty is often described as complete.

14. There is an interesting article in the ........ issue of West Africa

A. existing
B. current ✔
C. contemporary
D. actual

Explanation:
The most recent publication is called the current issue.

15. After interrogation, the police ........ the information from the suspect

A. exposed
B. wrung ✔
C. received
D. obtained

Explanation:
Information is often wrung from a suspect through questioning.

16. Mr Cham will never tell you everything; he's very ..........

A. secretive ✔
B. quiet
C. reserved
D. realistic

Explanation:
Someone who hides information is described as secretive.

17. The two trade unions decided to ........ in order to form a stronger organization

A. intermix
B. amalgamate ✔
C. consolidate
D. join

Explanation:
To form a single body, organizations amalgamate.

18. Many countries no longer have ........ punishment as the penalty for murder

A. mortal
B. corporal
C. capital ✔
D. fatal

Explanation:
The death penalty is known as capital punishment.

19. ........ packages should always be handled with care.

A. insecure
B. fragile ✔
C. weak
D. boxed

Explanation:
Fragile items can break easily and must be handled carefully.

20. Because of the hard times, many workers live in ........ poverty

A. repulsive
B. ridiculous
C. abject ✔
D. unpardonable

Explanation:
Extreme poverty is described as abject.

21. It’s obvious that John set little store by our friendship. This means John

A. does not value our friendship ✔
B. does not remember our friendship
C. thinks we've been friends for too long
D. thinks it's easy to make friends

Explanation:
To set little store by something means not to value it.

22. The general wondered whether the new recruits were equal to the task ahead. This means that the general wasn’t sure whether the new recruits

A. were sufficient in number
B. were old enough
C. had enough experience
D. could do the job ✔

Explanation:
Being equal to a task means being able to do it.

23. Not a single member of the board put in a good word for him. This means that

A. all the members criticized him
B. none of the members said anything favourable about him ✔
C. some of the members disliked him
D. none of the members spoke kindly to him

Explanation:
No one spoke in his favour.

24. Joe is very down to earth. This means that Joe is

A. a good farmer
B. rather short
C. practical and sensible ✔
D. rough and dirty

Explanation:
Down to earth describes someone who is practical.

25. Mary kept her fingers crossed about hearing from John. This means that Mary

A. had her fingers crossed all day long
B. waited to see John
C. hoped that John would contact her ✔
D. refused to write to John

Explanation:
Crossing one’s fingers shows hope.

26. Researchers leave no stone unturned in their quest for solutions. This means that researchers

A. overturn everything
B. do everything possible ✔
C. disturb everybody
D. need a researcher

Explanation:
The expression means making every possible effort.

27. Ebrima's stepmother keeps his nose to the grindstone. This means that Ebrima's stepmother

A. makes Ebrima grind things all the time
B. makes Ebrima work all the time ✔
C. keeps her hand on his nose
D. forces him to grind stones

Explanation:
The idiom means forcing someone to work continuously.

28. Most people usually steer a middle course in all they do. This means that most people

A. travel quite slowly
B. work very hard
C. live and do things moderately ✔
D. do not drive very fast

Explanation:
To steer a middle course means to be moderate.

29. She delivered her speech without turning a hair. This means that she delivered her speech without

A. any emotion ✔
B. combing her hair
C. nodding
D. looking up

Explanation:
The phrase means without showing fear or emotion.

30. Although wrestling is popular, it is not my cup of tea. This means that wrestling

A. is rough
B. is a primitive game
C. does not interest me ✔
D. is not lucrative

Explanation:
Not one’s cup of tea means not of interest.

31. The marathon is a gruelling race

A. powerful
B. exhausting ✔
C. interesting
D. distant

Explanation:
Gruelling means extremely tiring.

32. The works of art in this gallery are priceless

A. irreplaceable
B. precious
C. invaluable ✔
D. durable

Explanation:
Priceless means too valuable to be priced.

33. The detective was perplexed when the clues pointed to several suspects

A. excited
B. worried
C. confused ✔
D. discouraged

Explanation:
Perplexed means confused.

34. My father was sceptical about the story I told him

A. ignorant
B. doubtful ✔
C. embarrassed
D. lukewarm

Explanation:
Being sceptical means being doubtful.

35. The suspect refused to divulge the source of his information

A. confirm
B. disclose ✔
C. extract
D. affirm

Explanation:
To divulge means to disclose.

36. My uncle was so engrossed in his work that he didn’t hear me come in

A. fascinated
B. thrilled
C. absorbed ✔
D. overwhelmed

Explanation:
Engrossed means fully absorbed.

37. The politician has an inordinate desire to become president

A. unproven
B. excessive ✔
C. incessant
D. incredible

Explanation:
Inordinate means excessive.

38. The chairman was given a tumultuous welcome

A. strange
B. pleasant
C. noisy ✔
D. well-organized

Explanation:
Tumultuous means loud and noisy.

39. Mr Okoro has implicit confidence in his son's ability

A. absolute ✔
B. normal
C. partial
D. faithful

Explanation:
Implicit confidence means absolute trust.

40. The evidence of the witness was corroborated by the accused

A. verified
B. alleged
C. confirmed ✔
D. signed

Explanation:
To corroborate evidence is to confirm it.