BECE 1999 English Language Past Questions and Answers

Paper 1: Objectives

Section A: COMPREHENSION

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

1. Why was everybody surprised when the bell rang?
   1. A. the students bumped into each other.
   2. B. they ran to the assembly hall.
   3. C. the students saw the headmaster standing before them.
   4. D. they did not expect the bell to ring at that time.
   Answer: D
2. The students raced to the assembly hall because the...
   1. A. the headmaster was annoyed.
   2. B. the headmaster asked them to come.
   3. C. the bell rang many times.
   4. D. the bell rang at the normal time.
   Answer: C
3. There was laughter in the assembly hall because...
   1. A. Mr Amoh stood before them with a grim face.
   2. B. Kofi Smith the footballer was involved.
   3. C. Akwesi Ameko surprised them.
   4. D. Akwasi Osei the cripple was also involved.
   Answer: D
4. The expression 'at a loss' means...
   1. A. dissatisfied.
   2. B. angry.
   3. C. confused.
   4. D. surprised.
   Answer: C
5. What did the headmaster do to the thieves?
   1. A. warned them not to repeat the offence.
   2. B. asked a teacher to cane them.
   3. C. sent them home to call their parents.
   4. D. asked them to stay away from school.
   Answer: D

Passage 2

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

6. Obu was inattentive in church because of ..........
   1. A. the Christmas.
   2. B. the harmattan.
   3. C. his new dress.
   4. D. his embroidery.
   Answer: C
7. Obu's shoes were special to him because they ..........
   1. A. were called 'stand by'.
   2. B. were his first.
   3. C. made noise.
   4. D. looked very beautiful.
   Answer: B
8. According to the passage the choristers ..........
   1. A. disliked their robes.
   2. B. did not like singing.
   3. C. wanted to display their dresses.
   4. D. preferred sitting to standing.
   Answer: C
9. Obu went outside the church ..........
   1. A. since it was so warm inside.
   2. B. because he did not like the catechist.
   3. C. in order to relieve himself.
   4. D. so that he could wear his cap.
   Answer: D
10. He was not alone tells us that Obu was not the only one who was ........
    1. A. in church that day.
    2. B. happy.
    3. C. wearing new clothes.
    4. D. celebrating.
    Answer: C

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11. The word relieve in the passage means .......
    1. A. lessen his suffering.
    2. B. show his new clothes.
    3. C. play happily.
    4. D. sing melodiously.

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. The team's performance made the coach very anxious.
    1. A. hopeful
    2. B. angry
    3. C. jealous
    4. D. worried
13. The Disciplinary Committee was asked to investigate the theft.
    1. A. condemn
    2. B. look for
    3. C. determine
    4. D. make out
14. The class teacher could not bear the noise.
    1. A. tolerate
    2. B. take in
    3. C. understand
    4. D. make out
15. Due to anger the pupil spoke to the teacher in an impolite way.
    1. A. foolish
    2. B. rude
    3. C. brave
    4. D. loud
16. Florence Nightingale was a renowned nurse.
    1. A. strict
    2. B. humble
    3. C. famous
    4. D. brave

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. The news of the inspector's visit kept the pupils on their toes. This means the pupils ......
    1. A. stood up.
    2. B. ran away.
    3. C. were alert.
    4. D. were fatigued.
18. During my preparation for the examination, I left no stone unturned. This means that I ......
    1. A. found it difficult to study.
    2. B. studied thoroughly.
    3. C. was sure to pass.
    4. D. took all the stones away.
19. For the sake of peace Kofi gave in to his friend after their bitter quarrel. This means that Kofi ......
    1. A. accepted defeat.
    2. B. avoided his friend.
    3. C. his friend abandoned him.
    4. D. his friend was defeated.
20. John was far ahead of our class but we soon caught up with him. This means that ......
    1. A. John was the tallest in the class.
    2. B. John kept himself away from the class.
    3. C. we soon found John in front of us.
    4. D. we reached the same level with John.
21. Kwadwo turned a deaf ear to his mother's advice. This means that Kwadwo ......
    1. A. turned his deaf ear to his mother.
    2. B. refused to listen.
    3. C. stopped his ear.
    4. D. could not hear well.

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. She is hopeful of passing the English Language test.
    1. A. mindful.
    2. B. afraid.
    3. C. careful.
    4. D. doubtful.
23. The Headmaster condemned the Prefect's behaviour.
    1. A. reported.
    2. B. pardoned.
    3. C. confirmed.
    4. D. praised.
24. Mary looked very attractive in her new dress.
    1. A. comfortable.
    2. B. clumsy.
    3. C. happy.
    4. D. proud.
25. The melodious song put the baby to sleep.
    1. A. triumphant.
    2. B. old.
    3. C. strange.
    4. D. discordant.
26. My father was indifferent to my brother's suffering.
    1. A. similar.
    2. B. concerned.
    3. C. stern.
    4. D. kind.

Section E

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

27. We always look ...... our parents for help.
    1. A. about
    2. B. up to
    3. C. at
    4. D. up for
28. Finish the work quickly and ...... your exercise books.
    1. A. hand up
    2. B. hand out
    3. C. hand down
    4. D. hand over
29. You don't believe that, ......?
    1. A. isn't it
    2. B. do you
    3. C. won't you
    4. D. don't you
30. Amina is a good girl, ......?
    1. A. isn't it
    2. B. doesn't she
    3. C. does she
    4. D. isn't she
31. Don't pay him ...... he finishes the work.
    1. A. since
    2. B. until
    3. C. as
    4. D. yet
32. This is the boy ...... book I took.
    1. A. whom
    2. B. which
    3. C. who
    4. D. whose
33. She ...... when her father called her.
    1. A. swept
    2. B. is sweeping
    3. C. has swept
    4. D. was sweeping
34. After the fight, the two boxers congratulated ......
    1. A. one another
    2. B. each other
    3. C. one other
    4. D. each another
35. Everybody said my father was the ...... hardworking man in the village.
    1. A. very most
    2. B. very more
    3. C. most
    4. D. more
36. The chief went to the durbar grounds ...... horseback.
    1. A. on
    2. B. by
    3. C. from
    4. D. above
37. Nii isn't in his office; he is ...... near this place.
    1. A. thereby
    2. B. sometimes
    3. C. somewhat
    4. D. nowhere
38. Kweku discovered later that ...... has many advantages.
    1. A. to be telling the truth
    2. B. tell the truth
    3. C. having told the truth
    4. D. telling the truth
39. The Oseis are our neighbours; they ...... near us for twenty years now.
    1. A. stay
    2. B. were stayed
    3. C. stayed
    4. D. have stayed
40. He was sure he gave the pan to ...... else.
    1. A. anyone
    2. B. someone
    3. C. somebody
    4. D. everybody

Paper 2: Theory

1. Write a letter to your brother giving him at least two reasons why he should attend your school.
2. Write a letter to your Assemblyman or woman telling him or her two things that should be done for the people in your area.
3. The schools in your district recently held a sports competition. Describe what happened.
4. Your parents left you in charge of the house for one day. Tell your friends what you did.

Worked solutions to the theory questions are free in the app.

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