BECE Past Questions

BECE 2004 English Language Past Questions and Answers

40 objective questions and 4 theory questions from the 2004 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.

Once, in the world of animals, there was a great famine and the animals were dying.For about three months, Tortoise and his family had eaten very little. Tortoise's body rattled in his empty shell as he walked. One day as he thought of a way to get food, his throat began to itch. He would go to the next village where he had heard there was still some food. He would steal some for himself and his family. He took the bush path and arrived at the village after sunset. The people were preparing their meals and the smell made his mouth water. How would he get this food? Not far away from him was the village playground where there was a big hollow log leaning against a tree. This log was the drum used to summon the villagers for very important announcements. When he reached the tree he decided to climb it so that he could see the village better. Unfortunately, as he was climbing, he fell because he was very weak and hungry. His shell hit the drum, sending out a loud 'kpom! kpom!' noise. When they heard this noise, the villagers ran to the playground, believing they had been called, thereby leaving the food cooking in their homes. Very quickly Tortoise disappeared into nearby bush and ran to the village. He filled his empty shell,with as much of the food as he could carry and returned home.
  1. There was famine means that ......
    1. A. all the animals died.
    2. B. food was scarce.
    3. C. there were no farmers.
    4. D. food was not sold.
    Answer: B
  2. Which of the following statements is true?
    1. A. Tortoise had not eaten for three months
    2. B. The villagers gave food to tortoise
    3. C. Tortoise got food from his own farm
    4. D. Tortoise stole the villagers' food
    Answer: D
  3. Tortoise arrived at the nearby village ......
    1. A. at sunset.
    2. B. in the night.
    3. C. at dawn.
    4. D. in the afternoon.
    Answer: A
  4. The villagers went to the playground because ......
    1. A. they wanted to find out who made the noise.
    2. B. they wanted to hear an announcement.
    3. C. Tortoise had fallen.
    4. D. the drum had fallen.
    Answer: B
  5. The villagers did not see Tortoise at the playground because he ......
    1. A. ate fast.
    2. B. hid in the drum.
    3. C. stole their food.
    4. D. hid in the bush.
    Answer: D

Passage 2

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

In the centre of the town, the town clock chimed two o'clock. In an abandoned house on the outskirts of the town an owl hooted as if to signal Sergeant Abora and Abaidoo to wake up from slumber. They had patrolled the town for hours and were heavy with sleep. The night was very dark and so cold that in spite of his thick overcoat, the Sergeants were chattering. He was about to speak when he heard a faint sound down the road that led to the town. Abaidoo also picked the sound. Both listened attentively and realised that a late traveller was coming up the road. They took cover behind two opposing trees. As he reached where Abaidoo was hiding, the traveller stumbled over what looked like the root of tree. Then Constable Abaidoo quickly flashed his torchlight and bawled out, 'Stop or I shoot!' Abora's gun was held in readiness. The traveller who carried a heavy load on his left shoulder panicked, dropping his cutlass in the process. 'Who are you? Where are you from? What's in your bag? Speak out or I shoot! We've got you at last!' Abora exclaimed. Trembling with fear and stammering for words the traveller gave his name as Nsiah. He was returning from Fosa with a bag of plantain and cassava. But his cutlass and bag, both dripping with blood, gave him away. After a search, the police found a human head and triumphantly marched him to police station.
  1. Abora's teeth chattered because ......
    1. A. he had a toothache.
    2. B. the night was cold.
    3. C. he wore a clock.
    4. D. the owl hooted.
    Answer: B
  2. From the beginning the police knew where the traveller was when ......
    1. A. he made a noise.
    2. B. the blood dripped.
    3. C. he stammered.
    4. D. the torchlight flashed.
    Answer: A
  3. Sergeant Abora and Corporal Abaidoo hid themselves in order to ......
    1. A. keep warm.
    2. B. avoid being seen.
    3. C. load their guns.
    4. D. have some sleep.
    Answer: B
  4. The police arrested the late traveller ......
    1. A. behind the trees.
    2. B. near the police station.
    3. C. in the centre of the town.
    4. D. near the town.
    Answer: C
  5. '... gave him away' in the passage means ......
    1. A. frightened him.
    2. B. warned him.
    3. C. exposed him.
    4. D. disgraced him.
    Answer: C

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. Mary's mother is confident that her daughter will win a prize.
      1. A. anxious
      2. B. proud
      3. C. certain
      4. D. determined
    2. The troops retreated when they were attacked.
      1. A. escaped
      2. B. scattered
      3. C. fought
      4. D. withdrew
    3. Our teacher advised us to be courteous always.
      1. A. punctual
      2. B. mannerly
      3. C. hard-working
      4. D. kind
    4. All latecomers were promptly punished.
      1. A. immediately
      2. B. mercilessly
      3. C. roughly
      4. D. severely
    5. We should all learn to restrain our anger.
      1. A. avoid
      2. B. control
      3. C. apply
      4. D. delay

    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 two brothers are always quarrelling; they never see eye to eye.
      1. A. agree with
      2. B. admire
      3. C. respect
      4. D. trust
    2. You must be off your head if you really believe that the moon is a huge cake.
      1. A. crazy
      2. B. joking
      3. C. unintelligent
      4. D. dreaming
    3. Amale does not earn much, but she has some money put by.
      1. A. to live on.
      2. B. for charity.
      3. C. saved for the future.
      4. D. to pay her children's fees.
    4. Several passengers were killed in the accident, but the driver escaped by the skin of his teeth.
      1. A. missed death narrowly.
      2. B. lost all his teeth.
      3. C. ran into the bush.
      4. D. had only a scratch on his skin.
    5. When the armed robbers could no longer fight the police, they gave in.
      1. A. fled.
      2. B. surrendered.
      3. C. shot themselves.
      4. D. cried for help.

    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 Prefect was commended for his good work.
      1. A. admired
      2. B. promoted
      3. C. rejected
      4. D. rebuked
    2. The teacher's stern looks helped maintain discipline in the class.
      1. A. proud
      2. B. indifferent
      3. C. friendly
      4. D. concerned
    3. Our Assemblyman had declined our invitation to talk to us.
      1. A. regretted
      2. B. denied
      3. C. rejected
      4. D. accepted
    4. Though her friend asked for some water, Divine callously drank all of it.
      1. A. mercifully
      2. B. greedily
      3. C. playfully
      4. D. intentionally
    5. Rain makes the soil moist for planting.
      1. A. fertile
      2. B. loose
      3. C. solid
      4. D. dry

    Section E

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

    1. The students can go home when they ...... the work.
      1. A. had finished
      2. B. finished
      3. C. finish
      4. D. will finish
    2. Most people are not kind to animals, ......?
      1. A. weren't it
      2. B. isn't it
      3. C. wasn't it
      4. D. are they
    3. Afua ...... her clothes on the line to dry.
      1. A. hung
      2. B. folder
      3. C. hang
      4. D. stretched
    4. Kwesi went to school after he ...... his teeth.
      1. A. had brushed
      2. B. has brushed
      3. C. brushing
      4. D. brushed
    5. Kate is the ...... pupil in her class.
      1. A. well-behaved
      2. B. more-behaved
      3. C. very well-behaved
      4. D. most well-behaved
    6. A bag of money, with some documents ...... stolen from the car.
      1. A. were
      2. B. are
      3. C. was
      4. D. have been
    7. It is necessary sometimes to resort ...... violence.
      1. A. through
      2. B. to
      3. C. into
      4. D. with
    8. Clara understood all ...... her teacher taught.
      1. A. what
      2. B. which
      3. C. that
      4. D. this
    9. Ali agrees that the rice project is ...... good.
      1. A. so
      2. B. much
      3. C. too
      4. D. very
    10. Charles does not expect ...... his teacher today.
      1. A. seeing
      2. B. having seen
      3. C. being seen
      4. D. to see
    11. Kweku thinks that life is difficult ...... you are old.
      1. A. if
      2. B. while
      3. C. when
      4. D. as
    12. Many countries ...... the world use English.
      1. A. across
      2. B. inside
      3. C. by
      4. D. on
    13. Do you like this dress? I made ...... myself.
      1. A. for
      2. B. that
      3. C. which
      4. D. it
    14. Ashanti Goldfields is the ...... of gold.
      1. A. nation's producer largest
      2. B. largest nation's producer
      3. C. producer nation's largest
      4. D. nation's largest producer
    15. Neither Kwesi nor Yaw ...... there when I got to the house.
      1. A. are
      2. B. is
      3. C. was
      4. D. were

    Paper 2: Theory

    1. Your teacher has selected a programme for your senior secondary school course. Write a letter to him explaining why you would prefer a different one.
    2. With the consent of your parents, write a letter inviting your friend to spend part of the long vacation with you.
    3. Describe an interesting function you attended recently.
    4. Would you like to attend a girls/boys school or a mixed school? Give at least three reasons for your choice.

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