BECE Past Questions

BECE 2005 English Language Past Questions and Answers

40 objective questions and 4 theory questions from the 2005 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.

They are approaching the school building, holding hands as they walk to school. Ayele and Esinam are friends who attend the same school and are in the same class. Today, Ayele is not talking, though Esinam expects her to say something about her new bag. "So is that how you are? You're not passing any comment about my schoolbag? Dad gave it to me when he returned from America yesterday." Ayele's reply is a mere grunt, but Esinam is in no mood to be unhappy. Ignoring her friend's mood, she breaks into a song about her parents' many acts of love. "Mum and Dad buy me dresses, shoes and anything I wish for, if I ask. It's great to be young!" Ayele is strapping on her back an old school bag once used by her elder sister. The brown colour has faded because she washes it too many times. When she breaks her silence she speaks solemnly and without regret. "I've grown used to old dresses, bags and shoes Mum buys. She says she can't do more. I trust her and love." There is a tremble in her voice, as though she is about to cry. But her eyes gradually brighten up as she speaks on: "I'm in J.S.S 3, like you, and we are both doing well. It's great to look to the future with hope." Esinam nods her agreement as the school bell rings and breaks their walk into a gallop.
  1. Why is Ayele not talking today?
    1. A. She does not like Esinam's new bag.
    2. B. She wants to get to school early.
    3. C. She is moody.
    4. D. Esinam is making her angry.
    Answer: C
  2. For Esinam, It's great to be young means
    1. A. having everything one wants.
    2. B. being able to go to school.
    3. C. having a mum and dad.
    4. D. being cheerful.
    Answer: A
  3. We learnt from the passage that Ayele's parents are ......
    1. A. sort of poor.
    2. B. rich but miserly.
    3. C. hardworking.
    4. D. honest and cheerful.
    Answer: A
  4. In the passage, Ayele comes across as one who is ......
    1. A. proud.
    2. B. hard to please.
    3. C. hardworking.
    4. D. thoughtful.
    Answer: D
  5. The word tremble means
    1. A. disturbance.
    2. B. quiver.
    3. C. drop.
    4. D. loudness.
    Answer: B

Passage 2

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

There are two questions that people often ask about laughter. These are: what makes people laugh, and what laughter does to them. When you try to think of what makes people laugh or what they consider funny you start thinking about how one person behaves towards another in different situations. For example, why do people laugh when they see others behaving awkwardly, or see some kind of weakness in other person? The explanation is often quite simple. We laugh when we see people behaving or acting in an odd manner. For example, if on your way to work or to school you see a big fat man in a leafy green suit, wearing a tiny blue straw hat, or at a party, you encounter a very short man dancing with a big tall woman, you will naturally laugh, won't you? These things are funny and queer. Apart from the strange things that make people laugh, laughter is good for our body and health. It is good for our lungs and allows us to release extra energy. It also has a great social value. If you enjoy laughter you invite good company. Indeed, in most societies, laughter is used as a way of keeping people who do not do the right things in check. Thus laughter is a way of ensuring discipline.
  1. According to the passage, people laugh when they ......
    1. A. wear new clothes.
    2. B. see something funny.
    3. C. are at a party.
    4. D. are going to school.
    Answer: B
  2. From the passage we learn that laughter makes people look ......
    1. A. strong.
    2. B. healthy.
    3. C. queer.
    4. D. ugly.
    Answer: B
  3. People who laugh a lot ......
    1. A. look strange.
    2. B. blame others.
    3. C. hurt their bodies.
    4. D. make friends easily.
    Answer: D
  4. Societies can use laughter to ......
    1. A. create fun.
    2. B. annoy people.
    3. C. correct behaviour.
    4. D. praise people.
    Answer: C
  5. The word awkwardly in the passage means
    1. A. foolishly.
    2. B. happily.
    3. C. respectably.
    4. D. eagerly.
    Answer: A

Section B

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

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    1. Our dependable goalkeeper saved us from disgrace.
      1. A. reliable
      2. B. tall
      3. C. smart
      4. D. muscular
    2. A neutral referee handled the final match.
      1. A. foreign
      2. B. local
      3. C. impartial
      4. D. athletic
    3. The pupils were jubilating because they had passed their examinations.
      1. A. singing
      2. B. shouting
      3. C. dancing
      4. D. rejoicing
    4. Kuuku's dream is to become a celebrated musician.
      1. A. gospel
      2. B. rich
      3. C. famous
      4. D. reggae
    5. Appiah is a talented football player.
      1. A. strong
      2. B. gifted
      3. C. dull
      4. D. lucky

    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. Andy returned to school after playing truant for three days. This means that Andy was ......
      1. A. expelled
      2. B. kidnapped
      3. C. deliberately absent
      4. D. very sick
    2. Ama was the only one who was close-lipped about the theft. This means that Ama ......
      1. A. did not cry
      2. B. was serious
      3. C. did not talk
      4. D. was relaxed
    3. Issah was asked to toe the line or quit the team. This means that Issah was asked to ......
      1. A. apologize
      2. B. resign
      3. C. change
      4. D. obey
    4. The students were advised to give up smoking. This means that the students were asked to ...... smoking.
      1. A. suspend
      2. B. stop
      3. C. prevent
      4. D. hate
    5. Mrs. Vesa has a heart of gold. This means that Mrs. Vesa is very ......
      1. A. bright
      2. B. clever
      3. C. kind
      4. D. smart

    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 grandfather is a robust ninety-year-old.
      1. A. troublesome
      2. B. inquisitive
      3. C. weak
      4. D. cheerful
    2. I consented to his suggestion because it was useful.
      1. A. disagreed
      2. B. submitted
      3. C. replied
      4. D. applied
    3. A sharp cutlass is one of the items on the prospectus.
      1. A. new
      2. B. used
      3. C. short
      4. D. blunt
    4. The J.S.S students are reading the abridged versions of Shakespeare's Macbeth.
      1. A. old
      2. B. original
      3. C. cheap
      4. D. paperback
    5. The best pupil was awarded a prize.
      1. A. rewarded
      2. B. shown
      3. C. denied
      4. D. robbed

    Section E

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

    1. Ashia is used to ...... her parents every weekend.
      1. A. visit
      2. B. have visited
      3. C. visited
      4. D. visiting
    2. ...... students were present.
      1. A. The whole
      2. B. The several
      3. C. Much of the
      4. D. All the
    3. Jenny has ...... on her head.
      1. A. plenty hair
      2. B. a lot of hair
      3. C. many hairs
      4. D. much hairs
    4. Korkoi is a ...... of twelve
      1. A. tall, shapely, girl
      2. B. shapely, tall, girl
      3. C. girl, shapely, tall
      4. D. tall, girl, shapely
    5. The man of God preached that we should love ......
      1. A. another.
      2. B. each other.
      3. C. one another.
      4. D. one other.
    6. Mansah is ...... beautiful than any of her three sisters
      1. A. very
      2. B. most
      3. C. more
      4. D. much
    7. Appiah was appointed prefect of his class, ......
      1. A. wasn't it?
      2. B. didn't he?
      3. C. isn't he?
      4. D. wasn't he?
    8. Anytime Ataa went to school, she ...... into trouble.
      1. A. got
      2. B. gets
      3. C. is getting
      4. D. has got
    9. My dream school is for ...... only
      1. A. boy
      2. B. boy's
      3. C. boys
      4. D. boys'
    10. Sam, have you ever ...... in this river?
      1. A. swam
      2. B. swum
      3. C. swim
      4. D. swims
    11. Susie and Tim are friends; they like ......
      1. A. each other
      2. B. themselves
      3. C. the other
      4. D. one another
    12. Aunt Ekuwa ...... be able to solve the problem.
      1. A. can
      2. B. has
      3. C. will
      4. D. ought
    13. For one week I went to school ...... foot.
      1. A. by
      2. B. on
      3. C. at
      4. D. in
    14. The committee has been meeting over the case ...... 2pm.
      1. A. over
      2. B. by
      3. C. since
      4. D. until
    15. I hope you are not ...... tired to run an errand for me.
      1. A. very
      2. B. so
      3. C. as
      4. D. too

    Paper 2: Theory

    1. Write a letter to your mother who lives abroad asking her to buy you three important things and explaining why you need them.
    2. Write a letter to your District Director of Education applying for the post of messenger. State why you are the one most qualified for the job.
    3. You live about ten kilometres away from your school. Write accurate directions to a friend who wishes to visit you.
    4. Write a story which ends, '.............but everybody was happy'.

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