BECE Past Questions

BECE 2000 English Language Past Questions and Answers

40 objective questions and 4 theory questions from the 2000 BECE English Language paper. Answers and worked solutions for questions 1 to 10 are below; the rest are free in the app.

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Paper 1: Objectives

Section A: COMPREHENSION

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

Mr. Kobi, the next speaker, said that although he left the school many years ago, he still remembered with thanks all that the headmaster had done to make sure that his pupils were well prepared for life. He was sorry that the headmaster had decided to retire at so early an age. This would deprive the pupils of his assistance long before it was necessary to do so. However, he wished the headmaster the best of luck in his retirement and offered him a silver tray as a sign of the high esteem in which his old pupils held him.

After the tray had been handed over, the retiring headmaster came forward to make his speech of thanks. He began by giving a brief summary of the time he had spent as headmaster of the school. He added that it had always been his aim to do his best for the pupils under his charge. He expressed his gratitude to the masters who had been on his staff for their hard work and sacrifice. Finally, he said how glad he was that he was being succeeded as headmaster by Mr. Smith, who had been teaching in the school for many years. He believed that Mr. Smith was generally admired and respected by all who knew him. He asked all his old pupils to take an interest in the school after he had gone, and promised that he would certainly do so himself.
  1. Mr. Kobi was sorry about the headmaster's early retirement because ......
    1. A. it was necessary to do so.
    2. B. he would deny the pupils of his help.
    3. C. he had done a lot.
    4. D. the pupils were well prepared for life.
    Answer: B
  2. Which of the following is not true of the headmaster?
    1. A. He was hated by the people
    2. B. He had worked hard
    3. C. He was happy
    4. D. He had worked for a long time
    Answer: A
  3. Brief in the passage means ......
    1. A. necessary
    2. B. good
    3. C. true
    4. D. short
    Answer: D
  4. According to the passage, Mr. Smith was ......
    1. A. liked by many people.
    2. B. liked by the headmaster only.
    3. C. a disciplinarian.
    4. D. a gentleman.
    Answer: A
  5. The retiring headmaster said he would continue ...... the school.
    1. A. praising
    2. B. to teach in
    3. C. visiting
    4. D. to do his best for
    Answer: D

Passage 2

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



It is easy to see why television is so attractive to both children and adults. It is available in the home and we

can watch it in comfort whenever we please. Besides, it provides entertainment after a day's work. Television

also enables us to see places and people and their ways of life. Even people with little or no formal education

can watch and enjoy the programmes.

Unfortunately, television takes up much of our time. To watch it we must sit in front of it, watch as long as a

programme lasts, and do little else. This exclusive aspect of television, the fact that it prevents us from doing

other things, poses more serious problems than is commonly realised. While television may provide an

acceptable form of relaxation for adults after a day's work, it robs children of the time they must use to learn

other things. In addition, not everything that television offers is good. Even when children's programmes are

provided, we are not sure that these are the only ones they will watch. In fact, these days children watch

more programmes meant for adults than for them.

One likely outcome of this is that children may learn about the adult world too soon, at a time when they can

easily be influenced
  1. People like to watch television because it ......
    1. A. is very beautiful.
    2. B. solves serious problems.
    3. C. is available.
    4. D. provides relaxation.
    Answer: D
  2. The writer feels that children should ......
    1. A. watch television with parents.
    2. B. do nothing while watching television.
    3. C. not watch all programmes.
    4. D. learn about adult life.
    Answer: C
  3. Poses in the passage means ......
    1. A. solves
    2. B. increases
    3. C. presents
    4. D. determines
    Answer: C
  4. According to the passage, which of the following is not true about television?
    1. A. I is a source of entertainment
    2. B. It helps us to see unknown places and people
    3. C. People with little education can also watch it.
    4. D. Everybody has one
    Answer: D
  5. From the passage, we realise that the writer ......
    1. A. dislikes adult programmes.
    2. B. is not happy about the present situation.
    3. C. produces television programmes.
    4. D. wants television to be banned.
    Answer: B

Section B

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

    Answers and solutions for questions 11 to 40 are free in the BECE Past Questions app, with timed practice and offline study.

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    1. The Headmaster asked the school prefect to summon a meeting of the Students' Council.
      1. A. chair
      2. B. call
      3. C. cancel
      4. D. postpone
    2. The attitude of the security officer was very hostile.
      1. A. strange
      2. B. disturbing
      3. C. unfriendly
      4. D. interesting
    3. After the hard day's work he returned home completely exhausted.
      1. A. disturbed
      2. B. worn out
      3. C. unhappy
      4. D. broken down
    4. The auditor's job was to go over the accounts carefully.
      1. A. present
      2. B. calculate
      3. C. settle
      4. D. inspect
    5. The paint used for the outside of the building was durable.
      1. A. lasting
      2. B. expensive
      3. C. attractive
      4. D. decorative

    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.

    1. Musa told his friend to mind his own business. This means that Musa's friend should ......
      1. A. worry about his own work.
      2. B. do his own buying and selling.
      3. C. not interfere in other people's affair.
      4. D. not help other people.
    2. Mother buys the best clothes for Patrick because he is the apple of her eye. This means that Patrick is ......
      1. A. the one she loves most.
      2. B. the most hard-working son.
      3. C. her most respectable son.
      4. D. her last child.
    3. It is difficult for most people to make ends meet these days. This means most people ......
      1. A. live very comfortable.
      2. B. are unable to eat delicious meals.
      3. C. are unable to live within their income.
      4. D. buy expensive clothes.
    4. Esi was so good a leader that we were all encouraged to take a leaf out of her book. This means we were all encouraged to ......
      1. A. try and beat her record.
      2. B. take her advice.
      3. C. follow her example.
      4. D. treat her with respect.
    5. Before I left for the market, I asked my neighbour to keep an eye on my children. This means my neighbour should ......
      1. A. play with the children.
      2. B. look after the children.
      3. C. follow the children around.
      4. D. look at the children.

    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.

    1. My friend did everything to hinder my work.
      1. A. reduce
      2. B. do
      3. C. understand
      4. D. assist
    2. It is wise to preserve works of art for the future.
      1. A. produce
      2. B. destroy
      3. C. condemn
      4. D. abolish
    3. The director engaged Mary as a sales woman.
      1. A. disqualified
      2. B. exempted
      3. C. dismissed
      4. D. excused
    4. This soil is very fertile for the growing of vegetables.
      1. A. poor
      2. B. shallow
      3. C. porous
      4. D. hard
    5. Formerly, we walked a very long distance to attend school.
      1. A. sometimes
      2. B. now
      3. C. recently
      4. D. usually

    Section E

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

    1. When the lights went off, I ...... my supper.
      1. A. have eaten
      2. B. am eating
      3. C. have been eating
      4. D. was eating
    2. The factory had to ...... many workers because of the fall in production.
      1. A. lay down
      2. B. put off
      3. C. put away
      4. D. lay off
    3. We ...... to play a return match last Friday.
      1. A. have
      2. B. were
      3. C. ought
      4. D. are
    4. It was not obvious ...... he was pointing to.
      1. A. the one to which
      2. B. which one
      3. C. one which
      4. D. as to that
    5. I have forgotten all ...... you told me.
      1. A. that
      2. B. which
      3. C. what
      4. D. those
    6. Selfish people always consider ...... first.
      1. A. oneself
      2. B. yourselves
      3. C. themselves
      4. D. himself
    7. ...... the watch is old, it is still working.
      1. A. Although
      2. B. Despite
      3. C. Since
      4. D. Because
    8. Teye asked me how ...... French I knew.
      1. A. many
      2. B. few
      3. C. little
      4. D. much
    9. Kwaku's evidence ...... to be checked.
      1. A. needing
      2. B. needs
      3. C. is needing
      4. D. will have need
    10. The headmistress said they could not postpone ...... the school any longer.
      1. A. re-opening
      2. B. re-open
      3. C. to have re-opened
      4. D. having re-opened
    11. You know very well that it was no fault of ......
      1. A. my
      2. B. I
      3. C. me
      4. D. mine
    12. You are not hurt, ......?
      1. A. were you
      2. B. did you
      3. C. are you
      4. D. do you
    13. I don't mind ...... home early.
      1. A. you go
      2. B. your go
      3. C. you to go
      4. D. your going
    14. All ...... is good health.
      1. A. what I need
      2. B. to need
      3. C. that I need
      4. D. to be needed
    15. If anyone greets you, it is polite to return ...... greeting.
      1. A. your
      2. B. its
      3. C. their
      4. D. anyone

    Paper 2: Theory

    1. Write a letter to the Chairman of the Town Development Committee of your area telling him about the poor sanitation in your community. Suggest at least two ways of improving the sanitation.
    2. Write a letter to your friend in another town describing not less than two interesting things in your hometown.
    3. Narrate to your friends an interesting story your grandmother told you.
    4. As the Senior Prefect of your school, you have been invited to tell the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) what your school needs most. Write your speech.

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