Precious Cornerstone University, Oyo (PCU) Direct Entry Past Questions and Answers

English Language

1. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:

A. The girl said “I am tired.”

B. The girl said, “I am tired.”

C. The girl, said, “I am tired.”

D. The girl said “I am tired”.

Answer: B. The girl said, “I am tired.”

2. Pick the correct phrase:

No sooner had he left ___ it started to rain.

A. that

B. but

C. than

D. when

Answer: C. than

3. Choose the most appropriate completion:

If I had seen her earlier, I ___ spoken to her.

A. should

B. will have

C. shall

D. would have

Answer: D. would have

4. Select the appropriate preposition:

He insisted ___ seeing the manager.

A. at

B. to

C. for

D. on

Answer: D. on

5. Fill in the blank:

The students, as well as the teacher, ___ present at the meeting.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. were

Answer: B. was

Mathematics

6. Evaluate: Log⁡₁₀1000

A. 10

B. 4

C. 2

D. 3

Answer based on “Logarithms” computation: D. 3

7. Solve the following matrix equation:

| 2      3 |
| 1      4 |

A. -2

B. 11

C. 5

D. 8

Answer based on “Matrix” computation: C. 5

8. Find the derivative:

If y = 4x³ − 2x + 7, find ^dy/_dx

A. 8x² − 1

B. 4x² − 2

C. 3x² − 2

D. 12x² − 2

Answer: D. 12x² − 2

9. What is the angle subtended at the center of a circle by a semicircle?

A. 60°

B. 90°

C. 180°

D. 120°

Answer based on “Circle Geometry” computation: C. 180°

10. Simplify: (3x² - 2x - 5) ÷ (x - 2)

A. 3x - 4, remainder 3

B. 3x + 4, remainder 3

C. 3x - 4, remainder -3

D. 3x + 4, remainder -3

Answer: C. 3x - 4, remainder -3

Precious Cornerstone University Direct Entry Past Questions for Arts Students

Economics

11. Which of the following is not a function of money?

A. Medium of exchange

B. Unit of account

C. Standard of borrowing

D. Store of value

Answer: C. Standard of borrowing

12. What is the primary function of the Central Bank?

A. Providing foreign aid

B. Controlling inflation

C. Giving loans to individuals

D. Printing newspapers

Answer: B. Controlling inflation

13. Terms of trade is defined as the ratio of:

A. GDP to exports

B. Imports to GNP

C. Exports to imports

D. Imports to exports

Answer: C. Exports to imports

Literature in English

14. A narrative poem that tells a story, often of heroic deeds, is called:

A. Epic

B. Elegy

C. Ode

D. Limerick

Answer: A. Epic

15. The setting of a literary work refers to the:

A. Time and place of the story

B. Plot and theme

C. Language of narration

D. Main idea of the novel

Answer: A. Time and place of the story

16. Who wrote the play The Lion and the Jewel?

A. Ola Rotimi

B. John Pepper Clark

C. Chinua Achebe

D. Wole Soyinka

Answer: D. Wole Soyinka

Precious Cornerstone University Direct Entry Past Questions for Science Students

Physics

17. Which of the following is not a unit of energy?

A. Electronvolt

B. Joule

C. Calorie

D. Newton

Answer: D. Newton

18. Which of these quantities is conserved in an inelastic collision?

A. Neither

B. Kinetic energy only

C. Both kinetic energy and momentum

D. Momentum only

Answer: D. Momentum only

19. A transformer has 200 turns in the primary coil and 1000 turns in the secondary coil. What is the type of transformer?

A. Power transformer

B. Step-down

C. Equal ratio

D. Step-up

Answer: D. Step-up

Chemistry

20. Which allotrope of carbon is the hardest naturally occurring substance?

A. Graphite

B. Diamond

C. Coal

D. Fullerene

Answer: B. Diamond

21. The process by which a liquid changes to gas at the surface at any temperature is called:

A. Evaporation

B. Sublimation

C. Vaporization

D. Boiling

Answer: A. Evaporation

22. Which of the following is a strong acid?

A. HCl

B. NH₄OH

C. H₂CO₃

D. CH₃COOH

Answer: A. HCl

Biology

23. Which of the following diseases is caused by a virus?

A. Malaria

B. Tuberculosis

C. HIV/AIDS

D. Cholera

Answer: C. HIV/AIDS

24. The mode of nutrition in fungi is:

A. Autotrophic

B. Saprophytic

C. Parasitic

D. Photosynthetic

Answer: B. Saprophytic

25. Which of the following is a function of the xylem in plants?

A. Transport of enzymes

B. Photosynthesis

C. Transport of food

D. Transport of water

Answer: D. Transport of water

Agricultural Science

26. Green manuring improves soil fertility by:

A. Adding organic matter

B. Raising the water table

C. Making the soil alkaline

D. Increasing soil erosion

Answer: A. Adding organic matter

27. Which of the following is a physical agent of weathering?

A. Acid rain

B. Frost

C. Carbon dioxide

D. Bacteria

Answer: B. Frost

28. Which of these is an example of a monocot plant?

A. Cowpea

B. Maize

C. Groundnut

D. Tomato

Answer: B. Maize

Precious Cornerstone University Direct Entry Past Questions for Social Science Students

Geography

29. Which of the following is a non-renewable natural resource?

A. Solar energy

B. Wind

C. Coal

D. Forest

Answer: C. Coal

30. The compass direction between North and East is:

A. Southwest

B. Northeast

C. Southeast

D. Northwest

Answer: B. Northeast

31. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

A. Mesosphere

B. Stratosphere

C. Thermosphere

D. Troposphere

Answer: B. Stratosphere

Government

32. The principle of checks and balances works best in a:

A. Unitary system

B. Democratic system

C. Federal government

D. Military regime

Answer: B. Democratic system

33. The tenure of a Nigerian President is:

A. 4 years

B. 5 years

C. 6 years

D. 3 years

Answer: A. 4 years

34. The process through which people acquire political attitudes and values is called:

A. Political development

B. Political socialization

C. Political ideology

D. Political participation

Answer: B. Political socialization