BECE 1992 English Language Past Questions and Answers

Paper 1: Objectives

Section A: COMPREHENSION

Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. Njoman was on the path because he wanted to ......
   1. A. cross the stream
   2. B. bath in the stream.
   3. C. spy on the women
   4. D. meet Ragini
   5. E. meet Putu
   Answer: D
2. How did Ragini behave when she was invited by Njoman?
   1. A. She pretended she was in great pain and misery.
   2. B. She talked to the women furiously
   3. C. She just walked off with her basket of fruits
   4. D. She greeted the women noisily
   5. E. She danced about with joy
   Answer: A
3. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?
   1. A. The women teased Njoman
   2. B. Putu held Ragini's hand
   3. C. All the women definitely knew his reason for coming
   4. D. Njoman waited for sometime before Ragini arrived
   5. E. Njoman had a secret plan to follow
   Answer: B
4. The expression pretending not to know means
   1. A. not knowing what to do.
   2. B. behaving well after knowing.
   3. C. behaving as if everybody knew what to say.
   4. D. behaving as if one did not know something was happening.
   5. E. not knowing how to behave.
   Answer: D
5. The expression feigned distress means
   1. A. fainted upon seeing the women.
   2. B. pretended to be upset and having pain.
   3. C. pretended to be very hungry on seeing the fruits.
   4. D. fell down with flushed face.
   5. E. stood still and watched the women.
   Answer: B
6. The word abductor means
   1. A. a thief
   2. B. an armed robber
   3. C. a hijacker
   4. D. a kidnapper
   5. E. a murderer
   Answer: D

Passage 2

Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions that follow.

7. According to the passage, proteins ......
   1. A. make us well satisfied
   2. B. help us grow well
   3. C. fill our bodies
   4. D. give us energy
   5. E. help to maintain our tradition
   Answer: B
8. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?
   1. A. Children must eat roots only
   2. B. Old people think meat makes boys thieves
   3. C. Children who are given milk and eggs will grow well
   4. D. The intelligent mother has to do away with some bad traditions
   5. E. Grains do not contain much protein
   Answer: A
9. Cow milk is expensive means it is
   1. A. sweet
   2. B. white
   3. C. good
   4. D. strong
   5. E. dear
   Answer: E
10. What happens to children who are not given food containing proteins regularly?
    1. A. They often become liars
    2. B. They often become thieves
    3. C. They often become ill
    4. D. They should preserve tradition
    5. E. Their traditions often help them
    Answer: C

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11. What advice did the writer give to mothers?
    1. A. They should eat foods containing proteins
    2. B. They should accept traditions
    3. C. They should do away with bad traditions
    4. D. They should preserve traditions
    5. E. They should feed their children on roots and grains only

Section B

Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence

12. Adiza's mother prepares very palatable dishes
    1. A. expensive
    2. B. rich
    3. C. tasty
    4. D. colourful
    5. E. interesting
13. Sindi was brought up by a very strict woman
    1. A. saved
    2. B. reared
    3. C. born
    4. D. taught
    5. E. beaten
14. Janet promised to attend to her mother-in-law who was ill
    1. A. look after
    2. B. look at
    3. C. look into
    4. D. look for
    5. E. look on
15. The printing company has over a thousand agents here.
    1. A. vendors
    2. B. caretakers
    3. C. deputies
    4. D. correspondents
    5. E. representatives
16. The police Inspector asked all drivers to obey the speed-limit regulations.
    1. A. understand
    2. B. notice
    3. C. recognize
    4. D. observe
    5. E. answer

Section C

In each of the following sentences a word or group of words has been underlined. Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one that best explains the underlined word or group of words.

17. It is very difficult for many workers to make ends meet.
    1. A. do two jobs at a time
    2. B. make workers and managers come together
    3. C. live within their means
    4. D. feed two people
18. Since the thief came out of prison he has turned over a new leaf. This means he has
    1. A. changed his style of stealing
    2. B. started growing flowers
    3. C. changed for the better
    4. D. grown even more stubborn
    5. E. got a new job
19. When the army stormed the village, all the inhabitants took to their heels. This means ......
    1. A. the army came to the village in the storm
    2. B. the inhabitants were frightened and stood still
    3. C. the inhabitants had their shoes removed
    4. D. the inhabitants danced around on their heels
    5. E. the inhabitants were frightened and so ran away
20. Berko is in two minds about resigning from his job. This means that Berko has
    1. A. not really decided to resign
    2. B. written his resignation letter
    3. C. decided not to resign
    4. D. withdrawn his resignation letter
    5. E. been advised to resign
21. The teacher advised Kofi not to beat about the bush. This means Kofi was asked to .....
    1. A. clear the bush
    2. B. beat others in the bush
    3. C. go straight to the point
    4. D. waste no more time
    5. E. stop clearing the bush

Section D

From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word underlined in each sentence.

22. He seldom comes here.
    1. A. never
    2. B. sometimes
    3. C. rarely
    4. D. nearly
    5. E. always
23. The police officer was harsh on the criminal
    1. A. soft to
    2. B. lenient with
    3. C. mild with
    4. D. cruel to
    5. E. rough
24. Musa was arrested for printing counterfeit cedi notes
    1. A. correct
    2. B. new
    3. C. acceptable
    4. D. genuine
    5. E. fine
25. My father was a very stout man
    1. A. handsome
    2. B. short
    3. C. lean
    4. D. ill
    5. E. weak
26. I agreed to everything Lucy said.
    1. A. mocked at
    2. B. stood by
    3. C. interfered with
    4. D. took in
    5. E. objected to

Section E

From the alternatives lettered A to D, choose the one which most suitably completes each sentence.

27. Help him to pay his fees, ......?
    1. A. will you
    2. B. must you
    3. C. can't you
    4. D. won't you
28. Kwasi, you are coming to see me tomorrow, ......?
    1. A. isn't it
    2. B. aren't you
    3. C. won't you
    4. D. don't you
29. If Mary had known she wouldn't have come, ......?
    1. A. wasn't it
    2. B. hadn't she
    3. C. did she
    4. D. would she
30. She dances so beautifully, ......?
    1. A. not so
    2. B. can't she
    3. C. doesn't she
    4. D. isn't it
31. JSS students work hard, ......?
    1. A. don't they
    2. B. shouldn't they
    3. C. can't they
    4. D. haven't they
32. The chief with his linguists ...... coming to the durbar ground.
    1. A. is
    2. B. are
    3. C. were
    4. D. have been
33. Most people find it hard to live up ...... their ideals.
    1. A. by
    2. B. to
    3. C. for
    4. D. with
34. The football match was put ...... until next week.
    1. A. in
    2. B. out
    3. C. off
    4. D. away
35. These days, students are not keen ...... improving their English
    1. A. with
    2. B. of
    3. C. about
    4. D. on
36. When the plane arrived Kofi ...... nowhere to be found.
    1. A. will be
    2. B. had been
    3. C. was
    4. D. would have been
37. The boys swore that the books were ......
    1. A. his
    2. B. theirs
    3. C. their's
    4. D. theirs'
38. Unless your father reports at the police station we ...... all be whipped
    1. A. will
    2. B. shall
    3. C. should
    4. D. would
39. The bell will go ...... the next ten minutes
    1. A. between
    2. B. under
    3. C. from within
    4. D. within
40. The heavy rains have ...... early this year.
    1. A. set in
    2. B. set out
    3. C. set up

Paper 2: Theory

1. Write a letter to a friend in another school telling him or her about a sports competition held in your area.
2. You have not returned to school after vacation. Write a letter to your headmaster/headmistress explaining why you are still at home.
3. You saw a fight between two of your classmates and your class teacher has asked you to give an account of the fight. Write your account.
4. Write an article to a newspaper on at least two problems which worry the people of your town or village and suggest what can be done to solve them.

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