BECE 1997 English Language Past Questions and Answers

Paper 1: Objectives

Section A: COMPREHENSION

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

1. The children ran helter-skelter because ......
   1. A. they were expecting a car.
   2. B. of the sudden screeching of the car.
   3. C. they hadn't seen a car before.
   4. D. the car was marvellous.
   Answer: B
2. The villagers got to know that Akwasi Seth was arriving on that day because ......
   1. A. the car stopped in front of Mr Opiah's house.
   2. B. the gong-gong beater had announced it.
   3. C. Mr Opiah had told them about it.
   4. D. The children ran to Mr Opiah's house.
   Answer: B
3. Mr Opiah's family members were anxious because they ......
   1. A. were afraid he might not come
   2. B. were planning what to do for him.
   3. C. thought Akwasi Seth would not recognize them.
   4. D. were surprised at how greatly Akwasi Seth had changed.
   Answer: A
4. According to the passage, Akwasi Seth
   1. A. was a truant.
   2. B. was immaculately dressed.
   3. C. shed tears of joy
   4. D. was loved very much.
   Answer: D
5. Marvelled in the passage means
   1. A. laughed.
   2. B. surrounded
   3. C. wondered.
   4. D. entered
   Answer: C
6. Akwasi's mother shed tears of joy because ......
   1. A. Akwasi looked strange..
   2. B. she was ill.
   3. C. she was very happy.
   4. D. Akwasi remembered his culture.
   Answer: C

Passage 2

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

7. The school was to be found ......
   1. A. on the outskirts of the village.
   2. B. in the centre of the village.
   3. C. near Mr Kodwo Twum.
   4. D. with the houses.
   Answer: A
8. According to the passage the school was surrounded by ......
   1. A. shady trees.
   2. B. the games field.
   3. C. the best schools.
   4. D. the village.
   Answer: A
9. Which of the following is not true of Mr Twum?
   1. A. He was respected
   2. B. He was a disciplinarian
   3. C. He was hated by many people
   4. D. He was liked by all his people
   Answer: C
10. Insolent in the passage means ......
    1. A. ruffian
    2. B. difficult
    3. C. disrespectful
    4. D. lazy
    Answer: C

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11. Mr Twum and the catechist were able to gossip most of the time because they were ......
    1. A. adults
    2. B. free
    3. C. very good neighbours.
    4. D. members of the church.

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. She is very sincere with the people she works with.
    1. A. free
    2. B. careful
    3. C. good
    4. D. honest
13. We could not stand the scent in the market.
    1. A. rush
    2. B. sight
    3. C. smell
    4. D. noise
14. My brother needs somebody to assist him complete the wor
    1. A. help
    2. B. encourage
    3. C. join
    4. D. guide
15. The chief's palace was demolished by the rainstorm.
    1. A. opened
    2. B. built
    3. C. destroyed
    4. D. painted
16. The visitors were happy about the calm nature of the village.
    1. A. neat
    2. B. good
    3. C. lovely
    4. D. peaceful

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. Ekua visits her grandmother once in a blue moon. This means Ekua visits her grandmother ......
    1. A. every month
    2. B. once a week
    3. C. occasionally
    4. D. often
18. Joana is a clever girl and will come out of her examination with flying colours. This means ......
    1. A. she will pass in her favourite subjects.
    2. B. she will excel in some subjects.
    3. C. her results will be very good
    4. D. she will work hard.
19. The Manager hit the nail on the head in his speech to his workers. This means the manager .....
    1. A. spoke the truth.
    2. B. was not straight forward.
    3. C. spoke harshly.
    4. D. was not happy with his workers.
20. Akosua will go to the cinema if Adjei will foot the bill. This means Akosua will go to the film show if ......
    1. A. Adjei will take her there on foot.
    2. B. the two of them will go together
    3. C. Adjei will pay for her.
    4. D. she will walk there with others.
21. The Pastor advised Yaw and Mensah to bury the hatchet. This means Yaw and Mensah are to ......
    1. A. keep their cutlass in a safe place.
    2. B. work together on their farm.
    3. C. forget about their quarrel.
    4. D. bury their old cutlass.

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. This room is too dim.
    1. A. bright
    2. B. shining
    3. C. clear
    4. D. lit
23. That box contains very expensive jewellery.
    1. A. beautiful
    2. B. cheap
    3. C. better
    4. D. fine
24. They are waiting in the arrival hall.
    1. A. departure
    2. B. return
    3. C. acceptance
    4. D. common
25. It is very unlikely that he will report before Saturday.
    1. A. similar
    2. B. credible
    3. C. close
    4. D. possible
26. This is made from artificial materials.
    1. A. new
    2. B. preserved
    3. C. wonderful
    4. D. natural

Section E

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

27. I object ...... your joining our school team.
    1. A. on
    2. B. by
    3. C. at
    4. D. to
28. This secret should remain ...... you and me.
    1. A. for
    2. B. with
    3. C. in
    4. D. between
29. The kind woman gave ...... a box of sweets.
    1. A. all and each one
    2. B. all and everyone
    3. C. each and all
    4. D. each and everyone
30. Tokyo is the ...... expensive city in the world.
    1. A. most
    2. B. much
    3. C. more
    4. D. very
31. You have to help your parents ......?
    1. A. have you
    2. B. you do
    3. C. isn't it
    4. D. don't you
32. The car my uncle bought was the ......
    1. A. model latest of the Benz
    2. B. Benz latest of the model
    3. C. latest model of the Benz
    4. D. latest Benz of the model
33. I will wash my clothes when I ...... home.
    1. A. went
    2. B. have gone
    3. C. could go
    4. D. go
34. She is very jovial ...... she is an orphan.
    1. A. since
    2. B. as
    3. C. though
    4. D. even
35. If you ...... more attentive you wouldn't have been in such a bad situation.
    1. A. are
    2. B. were
    3. C. had been
    4. D. could
36. Kwabena often ...... his grandfather after school.
    1. A. had visited
    2. B. visited
    3. C. has visited
    4. D. visit
37. The farmer had saved ...... money for his son's education.
    1. A. few
    2. B. enough
    3. C. most
    4. D. plenty
38. This is my book; that one is ......
    1. A. your's
    2. B. your
    3. C. yours
    4. D. yours'
39. Birds fly, don't they?
    1. A. Yes, they don't
    2. B. No, they do
    3. C. Yes, they do
    4. D. Yes, they can't
40. The rains had ...... stopped when we set off.
    1. A. yet
    2. B. either
    3. C. already
    4. D. now

Paper 2: Theory

1. You have been offered admission into a senior secondary school but you have not been able to report at the school. Write a letter to the head of the school telling him about your problems and asking him to give you a few more days to report.
2. You spent the Christmas holidays with a friend. Write a letter to your brother telling him all about the holidays.
3. You once got lost when you were a child. Narrate to your classmates why you got lost, what you went through and how you were finally found.
4. Describe an interesting place you have visited and say what you gained in the visit.

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