BECE Past Questions

BECE 2002 (Paper A) English Language Past Questions and Answers

40 objective questions and 4 theory questions from the 2002 (Paper A) 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.

Antobam's first day in senior secondary school was the day he would never forget. That morning he got up earlier than usual ready for his father to take him to the new school. With the help of his father's houseboy, his trunk and chop box were packed into his father's car. At exactly eleven o'clock, the car sped off as Antobam happily waved goodbye to his brothers and sisters. After about one and a half hours' drive, they arrived at the school. Antobam beamed with smiles as the car pulled up in front of the administration block. Some huge boys rushed to the car shouting, 'Hommo, welcome! hommo, welcome!' Antobam misunderstood this for a warm welcome, but he was soon proved wrong. From the list of newcomers displayed on the notice board, Antobam's father saw his son's name under House Two and wanted to take the luggage there. But one of the boys politely said, 'Daddy, stop. We have a tradition here.' Before he knew what was happening, two of the boys had lifted his trunk and chop box and put them on Antobam's head. He had never carried any load on his head before, but here he was with the arduous task of carrying two heavy boxes. Tears started flowing as his father looked on in disbelief. He later left the school very disturbed, wondering what was going to happen to his beloved son.
  1. Antobam got up early that morning because he .....
    1. A. was very happy.
    2. B. was anxious to go to his new school.
    3. C. would never forget that day.
    4. D. was woken up by his father.
    Answer: B
  2. Antobam arrived at his new school at half past ......
    1. A. ten.
    2. B. eleven.
    3. C. twelve.
    4. D. two.
    Answer: C
  3. The senior boys made Antobam carry his boxes because they ......
    1. A. were following tradition.
    2. B. tried to seize his provisions.
    3. C. thought he was strong.
    4. D. welcome his father.
    Answer: B
  4. Arduous in the passage means
    1. A. strange
    2. B. new
    3. C. additional
    4. D. difficult
    Answer: D
  5. Antobam's father left the school ......
    1. A. a happy man.
    2. B. crying for his son.
    3. C. a worried man.
    4. D. promising to come back.
    Answer: C

Passage 2

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

Every year, thousands of African school leavers from the rural areas rush to the urban to seek employment. Apart from leaving the countryside thinly populated, these youths cause overcrowding in the cities. They cannot get any house to live in so they are found sleeping in market places and on verandas. Most of our youths regard agriculture as a poor man's business. They prefer white-collar jobs to farming and forget that one can gain fame or wealth through agriculture. Most of these youths are greatly disappointed in the townships. Lack of jobs and money force them to join bad companies, break into houses at night or snatch people's bags at lorry parks or in the street during the day. They often wear dirty clothes and are seen in the streets trying to find something to eat. One way of checking this movement is by setting up factories in the rural areas and establishing large farms where the school leavers can easily find work. Other ways are providing good means of transport and communication. Libraries, medical services and post offices are equally important amenities necessary in rural areas. These facilities together with good drinking water and electricity will make these areas attractive enough for the youth to remain and help grow food and cash crops for the country. They can also produce raw materials for our industries.
  1. School leavers migrate to the cities and towns to ......
    1. A. seek enjoyment.
    2. B. look for work.
    3. C. look for amenities.
    4. D. continue their education.
    Answer: B
  2. One of the results of the movement of the youth in the rural areas is that the ......
    1. A. towns are overcrowded.
    2. B. rural areas lack money.
    3. C. youth are greatly disappointed.
    4. D. rural areas lose their people.
    Answer: D
  3. White-collar jobs as used in the passage means ......
    1. A. working in the cities.
    2. B. working in offices.
    3. C. wearing white-collar shirts.
    4. D. working for white-men.
    Answer: B
  4. The word snatch means ......
    1. A. carry
    2. B. steal
    3. C. push
    4. D. damage
    Answer: B
  5. When the youth come into the cities ......
    1. A. there is over-population.
    2. B. amenities are provided.
    3. C. jobs are created.
    4. D. they become very happy.
    Answer: A

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. When the youth remain in the rural areas they can help produce ......
    1. A. electricity.
    2. B. food.
    3. C. libraries.
    4. D. water.

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. James was so wicked that all his mates abhorred him.
    1. A. dismissed
    2. B. beat
    3. C. hated
    4. D. ignored
  2. The students listened to the headmaster with rapt attention.
    1. A. true
    2. B. equal
    3. C. undivided
    4. D. single
  3. Sam was appointed the office boy because of his faithfulness.
    1. A. honesty
    2. B. cleverness
    3. C. punctuality
    4. D. neatness
  4. We were taught that banks give credit to needy businessmen.
    1. A. instalments
    2. B. debits
    3. C. transfers
    4. D. loans
  5. Most men normally do not wear costly jewellery.
    1. A. good
    2. B. expensive
    3. C. shiny
    4. D. new

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. The wall clock in the assembly hall is a white elephant. This means that the clock
    1. A. does not work accurately.
    2. B. is very big.
    3. C. does not work any longer.
    4. D. is very strong.
  2. His clothes are always out of date. This means that his clothes are ......
    1. A. torn.
    2. B. too tight.
    3. C. faded.
    4. D. old-fashioned.
  3. When it comes to honesty, Kweku is the odd one out. This means that Kweku
    1. A. is always absent.
    2. B. does not tell the truth.
    3. C. does not behave normally.
    4. D. is very tricky.
  4. I stopped going out with Joe because he is light-fingered. This means that Joe is a
    1. A. lazy person.
    2. B. liar.
    3. C. thief.
    4. D. dishonest friend.
  5. The manager's strange behaviour made the workers smell a rat. This means that the workers became ......
    1. A. rude.
    2. B. discouraged.
    3. C. disappointed.
    4. D. suspicious.

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 former headmaster has consented to be my referee.
    1. A. promised
    2. B. planned
    3. C. decided
    4. D. refused
  2. The suspect was guilty.
    1. A. free
    2. B. innocent
    3. C. discharged
    4. D. imprisoned
  3. When school starts the national flag is hoisted.
    1. A. lowered
    2. B. dropped
    3. C. saluted
    4. D. hung
  4. We could see that mother was very proud of her dark complexion.
    1. A. natural
    2. B. clean
    3. C. fair
    4. D. attractive
  5. That car needs a hard push in order to start.
    1. A. drag
    2. B. tow
    3. C. force
    4. D. pull

Section E

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

  1. The doctor advised the patient to stay away ...... Alcohol.
    1. A. for
    2. B. on
    3. C. from
    4. D. with
  2. You have not paid your fees, ......?
    1. A. will you
    2. B. won't you
    3. C. hadn't you
    4. D. have you
  3. His pair of trousers ...... torn.
    1. A. is
    2. B. are
    3. C. have
    4. D. has
  4. I prefer honey ...... sugar.
    1. A. to
    2. B. are
    3. C. from
    4. D. for
  5. If it rains I ...... my crops.
    1. A. have planted
    2. B. had planted
    3. C. will have planted
    4. D. shall plant
  6. I can ...... time for my homework.
    1. A. find enough easily
    2. B. find easily enough
    3. C. easily enough find
    4. D. easily find enough
  7. Have you heard that national anthem ...... in your language?
    1. A. sing
    2. B. sung
    3. C. sang
    4. D. sings
  8. This bag is ...... heavy for a child to carry.
    1. A. so
    2. B. very
    3. C. too
    4. D. much
  9. ...... you dislike the girl, you shouldn't beat her.
    1. A. Even if
    2. B. Since
    3. C. As
    4. D. Of course
  10. Ghana is over forty years, therefore she ...... of age.
    1. A. came
    2. B. comes
    3. C. has come
    4. D. is coming
  11. To be a teenager is indeed great ......?
    1. A. isn't it
    2. B. aren't you
    3. C. it is
    4. D. does it
  12. Alf and Pat look so identical that it is difficult to pick the ...... of the two.
    1. A. oldest
    2. B. old
    3. C. elder
    4. D. eldest
  13. Uncle Ebo brought a carpenter who easily climbed ...... the roof to repair the leakage.
    1. A. into
    2. B. on
    3. C. at
    4. D. onto
  14. Bola is the ...... beautiful of the three girls.
    1. A. more
    2. B. most
    3. C. much
    4. D. better

Paper 2: Theory

  1. Write a letter to the head of your school suggesting at least two ways of improving upon discipline in your school.
  2. Your father is angry with your sister because she is very disrespectful towards him. Write a letter to your sister giving her at least two reasons why she should behave well towards your father.
  3. Write on the topic, 'Why I would like to attend a boarding school or a day school'.
  4. Narrate the most interesting story you have read and say why you like it.

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