In each of the following sentences, there is one word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A - D, choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentences.

Good teaching stimulates the interest of students, whereas bad teaching.............it

A. dampens

B. encourage

C. supersedes

D. retracts

Some youths of this generation are often hard-hearted compared to those of past generations who were.................

A. indifferent

B. fastidious

C. proficient

D. compassionate

The doctor does not think the patient will recover; the signs are ominous rather than............

A. encouraging

B. feasible

C. obvious

D. gloomy

The purpose of education is to enhance progress and not to...........it

A. proscribe

B. intercept

C. impede

D. confuse

The teacher gave him high marks and wrote complimentary remarks in the margin, which surprisingly gave him...........feelings.

A. doubtful

B. secret

C. unpleasant

D. serious

Many people find cod liver oil disgusting but soldiers find it...............

A. refreshing

B. medicinal

C. pleasant

D. bitter

The investigator relied solely on conjectures, which were not as reliable as...........

A. facts

B. hearsay

C. figures

D. fabrications

It was obvious that Modou committed the crime,but his friends were still.............

A. unhappy

B. doubtful

C. suspicious

D. confident

The government was blamed for implementing polices that favoured the elite at the expense of the................

A. workers

B. wealthy

C. masses

D. oppressed

His suggestion on how to deal with the thief was invaluable, but the police considered it................

A. useless

B. impossible

C. necessary

D. timely

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences:

The woman's behaviour clearly shows that her love for her husband was merely,.............

A. superstitious

B. superlative

C. elusive

D. superficial

The man was told in his own interest to.................the statement he had made.

A. cancel

B. recast

C. erase

D. retract

Mum made soothing remarks in order to............dad

A. incense

B. pacify

C. rekindle

D. protect

Ebou maintained his stand in.............of the principal's orders.

A. defiance

B. deference

C. obedience

D. defence

The outgoing president warned his successor to beware of ................who praise every action of government, good or bad.

A. enthusiasts

B. sycophants

C. radicals

D. favourites

Salimata came into............when she won the beauty contest.

A. public

B. limelight

C. focus

D. view

The current economic crisis has led to the.............of many workers.

A. rejection

B. retrenchment

C. isolation

D. ejection

We all agree that the television is a more powerful.............of communication than the radio

A. agent

B. way

C. instrument

D. medium

He won the election by a ..............of 500 votes.

A. consensus

B. margin

C. surplus

D. gap

Daylight armed-robbery is a common.........in big cities.

A. plan

B. site

C. exercise

D. phenomenon