BECE Past Questions

BECE 2001 English Language Past Questions and Answers

40 objective questions and 4 theory questions from the 2001 BECE English Language paper. Answers and worked solutions for questions 1 to 10 are below; the rest are free in the app.

Practise this paper free, online or offline

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store

On an iPhone? Download on the App Store

On Android? Get it on Google Play

Paper 1: Objectives

Section A: COMPREHENSION

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

There stood an enormous tree in the centre of the town. Its big branches and dense foliage gave shelter in all weathers and so it had become a natural meeting place. Benches had been placed round the base of its huge trunk so that the elders of the town might sit in comfort and gossip or talk about serious affairs of the town. This particular morning, three old men were resting on one of the benches. They had chosen the side which overlooks the road entering the town. From there they could see the market, the lorry park and the Main Street. As they watched, a large bus drove into the lorry park. It was surrounded immediately by a jostling crowd. Those who whistled to travel hurried forward and food sellers rushed from all sides struggling to sell their wares. In the general uproar which followed, new passengers tried to get into the bus, whilst those who had reached their destination tried to alight. Others who were not willing to risk losing their seats stood blocking the doorway or leaned out of the bus windows so they bargained with the food sellers.
  1. According to the passage the elders sit under the tree to ......
    1. A. travel outside.
    2. B. buy and sell.
    3. C. discuss matters.
    4. D. drink palm wine.
    Answer: C
  2. Which of the following could the old men not see from where they sat?
    1. A. The benches
    2. B. The market
    3. C. The lorry
    4. D. The main street
    Answer: A
  3. Uproar in the passage means
    1. A. fight.
    2. B. movement.
    3. C. selling.
    4. D. confusion.
    Answer: D
  4. Some people in the bus tried to alight because they wanted to ......
    1. A. buy things.
    2. B. gossip.
    3. C. rest.
    4. D. go home.
    Answer: D
  5. Some of the passengers blocked the way because they ......
    1. A. did not like the food sellers.
    2. B. did not want to lose their seats.
    3. C. wanted to stop the new passengers.
    4. D. wanted to see the old men.
    Answer: B

Passage 2

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

As I stood by a street in Accra that late afternoon watching people rushing home from work, I felt very safe. My sense of security came from the fact that Ghanaians are generally kind and hospital people, particularly to strangers. Although I had just arrived from my village, I was a Ghanaian and in my own capital I should not fear anything. Just then, I felt a firm grip on my arm from behind. I did not feel threatened, rather I was relieved. I thought an old schoolmate must have spotted me, James Cuddle, and decided to play our old game on me. How welcome! The good old days are here again. I turned to look at the fellow in the face but the more, I turned to my left the faster he moved to my right as he tightened his grip on my wrist watch. Suddenly he let go of my arm and bolted. I saw him vanish into the thick crowd. Certain, this was not how to welcome a friend. People of the city are surely very strange! Totally confused, I made my way towards the lorry park to leave for my brother's house. In the gathering darkness, I tried to find out what time it was. To my utter surprise, I discovered that my wrist watch was gone. The rascal had made away with it. It was hardly new, not even expensive, yet the rogue found it worth stealing.
  1. The writer thought he was safe in Accra because ......
    1. A. he saw people rushing home from work.
    2. B. he had just arrived from his village.
    3. C. Ghanaians would welcome him.
    4. D. Ghanaians are famous for their kindness.
    Answer: D
  2. Spotted in the passage means ......
    1. A. looked at.
    2. B. recognized.
    3. C. marked.
    4. D. pointed at.
    Answer: B
  3. The writer turned to his left because he wanted to ......
    1. A. see the person behind.
    2. B. keep his wrist watch safe.
    3. C. welcome his old friend.
    4. D. play with his schoolmate.
    Answer: A
  4. According to the passage, the fellow grabbed Cudjoe's arm because ......
    1. A. he wanted to embrace.
    2. B. they were mates.
    3. C. he wanted to steal the watch.
    4. D. they stood together.
    Answer: C
  5. Rogue in the passage refers to ......
    1. A. a worker.
    2. B. the schoolmate.
    3. C. the thief.
    4. D. a citizen.
    Answer: C

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

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store

On an iPhone? Download on the App Store

On Android? Get it on Google Play

  1. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?
    1. A. People in Accra are strange.
    2. B. People in Accra are classmates.
    3. C. There are thieves in Accra.
    4. D. Workers in Accra return home in the evening.

Section B

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

  1. The director was humiliated when the theft was detected in his ministry.
    1. A. angered
    2. B. cautioned
    3. C. discouraged
    4. D. disgraced
  2. Nortey was industrious so he was duly rewarded.
    1. A. intelligent
    2. B. hardworking
    3. C. careful
    4. D. courageous
  3. Born and bred in an affluent home, he never experienced any hardships in life.
    1. A. respectable
    2. B. religious
    3. C. happy
    4. D. rich
  4. Dazzled by the bright headlights of the approaching vehicle, our driver drove into the bush.
    1. A. disturbed
    2. B. worried
    3. C. blinded
    4. D. discouraged
  5. He gave a precise definition of the word.
    1. A. learned
    2. B. hasty
    3. C. accurate
    4. D. short

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. After serving ten years in prison he returned home under a cloud.
    1. A. in dull weather
    2. B. very depressed
    3. C. in disgrace
    4. D. very secretly
  2. His father's death, which was a bolt from the blue, greatly affected his education.
    1. A. a disastrous event
    2. B. a complete surprise
    3. C. a mournful affair
    4. D. a blessing in disguise
  3. Kofi Mensah found it difficult to do away with his habits. This means that Kofi Mensah could not ...... his bad habits.
    1. A. continue
    2. B. hide
    3. C. stop
    4. D. talk about
  4. Many people dislike Abugri because he enjoys blowing his own trumpet. This means that Abugri is ......
    1. A. boastful
    2. B. greedy
    3. C. disrespectful
    4. D. shameful
  5. When Susan was caught stealing money, she shed crocodile tears.
    1. A. pretended she was sorry
    2. B. was annoyed
    3. C. was embarrassed
    4. D. cried like a crocodile

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. The health officer advised the people not to contaminate the water any further.
    1. A. fetch
    2. B. story
    3. C. purify
    4. D. use
  2. Theresa wanted to know the time arrival of the plane.
    1. A. scheme
    2. B. routine
    3. C. departure
    4. D. boarding
  3. I must consent to this proposal.
    1. A. ignore
    2. B. question
    3. C. disagree
    4. D. react to
  4. Yesterday my cousin looked very depressed.
    1. A. contented
    2. B. active
    3. C. surprised
    4. D. happy
  5. The level of the river subsided after the floods.
    1. A. outflow
    2. B. ascended
    3. C. enlarged
    4. D. rose

Section E

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

  1. I suggest that they ...... the piano instead.
    1. A. are playing
    2. B. play
    3. C. praying
    4. D. will play
  2. ...... frankly, I hate the idea.
    1. A. Speak
    2. B. Spoken
    3. C. To speak
    4. D. For speaking
  3. I think we ...... Kwesi's offer.
    1. A. better taking
    2. B. had better taken
    3. C. had better take
    4. D. better to take
  4. ...... the arable land was under cultivation.
    1. A. Most of
    2. B. Many of
    3. C. More of
    4. D. Much of
  5. In attempting to control us, the headmaster gave ...... a great deal of trouble.
    1. A. themselves
    2. B. himself
    3. C. ourselves
    4. D. yourself
  6. Do you believe in witches?
    1. A. Yes, I don't
    2. B. No I won't
    3. C. Yes I won't
    4. D. No, I don't
  7. Aba insisted that Adjoa ...... to the party.
    1. A. to have come
    2. B. has come
    3. C. to come
    4. D. should come
  8. Esi: I felt rather tired yesterday. Efua: Yes ......
    1. A. I did too
    2. B. so I did
    3. C. so did I
    4. D. I didn't
  9. The students complained that there was ...... sugar in their tea.
    1. A. plenty
    2. B. few
    3. C. little
    4. D. small
  10. One of the duties of the police is to ...... traffic.
    1. A. lead
    2. B. regulate
    3. C. direct
    4. D. move
  11. He decided to ...... the entrance examination again.
    1. A. have sat
    2. B. sit
    3. C. be sitting
    4. D. have been sitting
  12. We won the school debate ......?
    1. A. hadn't we
    2. B. isn't it
    3. C. couldn't we
    4. D. didn't we
  13. The plumber turned the pipe so hard that it ......
    1. A. will break
    2. B. breaks
    3. C. had broken
    4. D. broke
  14. He was introduced ...... the directors by his co-worker.
    1. A. by
    2. B. to
    3. C. through
    4. D. from

Paper 2: Theory

  1. Write a letter to your pen-pal telling him why you like your school.
  2. Write a letter to the Headteacher of your school complaining about at least two bad things your teachers do in the school.
  3. You are a speaker in a school debate on the topic 'Boys should not help in the kitchen.' Write your speech for or against the motion.
  4. You suddenly woke up when you heard someone shouting 'Help! Help!' Describe what you saw when you rushed out.

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

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store

On an iPhone? Download on the App Store

On Android? Get it on Google Play

More BECE English Language papers

← 2002 (Paper A) 2000 →

All 38 English Language papers

Other 2001 papers

All answers free on Google Play All answers free on the App Store