BECE Past Questions

BECE 2006 English Language Past Questions and Answers

40 objective questions and 4 theory questions from the 2006 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.

Amma, Amma, get up and sweep the compound! MaaTee shouted. However, Amma had decided she wasn’t going to work that day. What do I do to escape these chores? Amma asked. I'll pretend to be ill, then Mama can't insist that I do any work. This is a brilliant idea. I'm not so daft after all, she thought. When Amma told MaaTee about her headache, MaaTee suspended everything she was doing and ordered her to get ready for the hospital. Poor Amma, her plan had backfired! On their way to the hospital Amma prayed that the doctor would be absent, but she was out of luck that day. The doctor examined Amma and found her as fit as a fiddle. He then guessed that Amma had feigned illness because she wanted to dodge her usual Saturday morning chores. I'm sorry MaaTee, Amma is very ill. Take her to the injection room for three injections. They will... Before the doctor could finish speaking, Amma rushed out of the consulting room with lightning speed and would not stop anywhere till she reached home. The doctor then looked at MaaTee and burst out laughing as he asked MaaTee to go home. By the time MaaTee got home, Amma had finished all the household chores.
  1. MaaTee suspended everything she was doing because
    1. A. she did not believe what Amma said.
    2. B. Amma had annoyed her.
    3. C. She wanted to take Amma to the hospital.
    4. D. Amma wanted to go to the hospital.
    Answer: C
  2. The word daft in the passage means
    1. A. disobedient.
    2. B. good.
    3. C. strange.
    4. D. unintelligent.
    Answer: D
  3. According to the passage, Amma
    1. A. was very ill.
    2. B. enjoyed sweeping.
    3. C. was ordered to go and sweep.
    4. D. was really not ill.
    Answer: D
  4. From the passage, it can be said that MaaTee was a ...... mother.
    1. A. bad
    2. B. caring
    3. C. strong
    4. D. weak
    Answer: B
  5. Amma rushed out of the consulting room because she
    1. A. was afraid of the doctor.
    2. B. wanted to do her work at home.
    3. C. pitied her mother.
    4. D. was afraid of injection.
    Answer: D

Passage 2

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

Grandpa is a robust centenarian. At his age, his eyesight is as clear as a child's and his memory at equally sharp. We have always wondered what has kept him going all these years. I have a secret theory of life, is the reply he gives to anyone who asks. Grandpa's secret theory is, after all, quite simple when he explains it. He talks of a joyful attitude to life. He says that joy begets enthusiasm and a burning desire to encourage others. He never walks anyone away who needs help, even though Grandpa can never be described as rich. Grandpa believes that as we see ourselves in a mirror, so do others see us. The mirror merely reflects what is before it. So if we are wicked, people will see us as wicked and if we are honest, we will not suspect others of being deceitful. One part of Grandpa's secret theory that he holds dearest is his love for truth. He thinks that truth enables one to live a free life devoid of stress and worries. Let your nay be nay, he says, whenever he finds one of us telling a lie in order to avoid trouble. He believes that if we tell lies, we will have to create more lies to cover them. On the other hand truth never changes. Grandpa never ends his explanation without rolling his eyes excitedly and advising us to be true to ourselves so that we can't be false to others.
  1. Which of the following is true? Grandpa is ...... man
    1. A. a poor
    2. B. a sick
    3. C. an old
    4. D. a lonely
    Answer: C
  2. People ...... Grandpa.
    1. A. fear
    2. B. admire
    3. C. dislike
    4. D. tolerate
    Answer: B
  3. devoid of in the passage means
    1. A. unless
    2. B. despite
    3. C. against
    4. D. without
    Answer: D
  4. According to the passage, the mirror ...... what a person is.
    1. A. reproduces
    2. B. changes
    3. C. enlarges
    4. D. extends
    Answer: A
  5. Grandpa advises us to be true to ourselves in order
    1. A. not to be poor.
    2. B. to be a man.
    3. C. to be kind.
    4. D. not to lie.
    Answer: D

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.

    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. All the pupils are skillful at using the computer.
      1. A. interested
      2. B. lazy
      3. C. expert
      4. D. happy
    2. The parent who donated the books to our school wants to remain anonymous.
      1. A. quiet
      2. B. rich
      3. C. unimportant
      4. D. unknown
    3. Kofi is the most popular man in the village.
      1. A. wanted
      2. B. respected
      3. C. liked
      4. D. feared
    4. The P.T.A meeting has been postponed.
      1. A. delayed
      2. B. cancelled
      3. C. announced
      4. D. held
    5. Issah is gentle but his sister is arrogant.
      1. A. shy
      2. B. proud
      3. C. clever
      4. D. tough

    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. Your father's car is expensive; my father bought his for a song. This means my father's car was
      1. A. a used car
      2. B. cheap
      3. C. beautiful
      4. D. a gift
    2. Fatimah warned her brother that his friend had a loose tongue. This means his friend
      1. A. could not keep quiet.
      2. B. could not keep secrets.
      3. C. was a stammerer.
      4. D. was dishonest.
    3. Adzo's bad manners make her the black sheep of the family. This means Adzo is a
      1. A. bully.
      2. B. destroyer.
      3. C. disgrace.
      4. D. liar.
    4. When I went to Accra, Mr. Asah put me up for the night. This means Mr. Asah
      1. A. received me.
      2. B. entertained me very well.
      3. C. gave me a place to sleep.
      4. D. was angry with me.
    5. The Education Ministry takes the lion's share of the budget. This means that the Education Ministry
      1. A. uses all the money.
      2. B. is given the largest amount of the money.
      3. C. is given the smallest amount of the money.
      4. D. borrows money.

    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. Everyday was happy because we had a fruitful discussion.
      1. A. long
      2. B. useless
      3. C. short
      4. D. frank
    2. Abiola complained that the work was tedious.
      1. A. boring
      2. B. dirty
      3. C. good
      4. D. easy
    3. The students rushed towards the nearest entrance.
      1. A. closure
      2. B. opening
      3. C. exit
      4. D. departure
    4. I believe that Fusena is guilty of the crime.
      1. A. ignorant
      2. B. aware
      3. C. innocent
      4. D. careless
    5. Mrs. Addo is our hostess for the show.
      1. A. guest
      2. B. speaker
      3. C. guide
      4. D. sponsor

    Section E

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

    1. Mary and Comfort are ...... arriving this weekend.
      1. A. both
      2. B. all
      3. C. either
      4. D. neither
    2. Abukari prefers dancing ...... swimming.
      1. A. by
      2. B. for
      3. C. than
      4. D. to
    3. All ...... you are saying is true.
      1. A. what
      2. B. that
      3. C. which
      4. D. as
    4. My boss says you are ...... for his liking.
      1. A. slow
      2. B. much slow
      3. C. slower
      4. D. too slow
    5. Panyin is ...... taller than Kakra.
      1. A. more
      2. B. much
      3. C. so
      4. D. too
    6. Baby Tee has been missing ...... Saturday.
      1. A. since
      2. B. from
      3. C. until
      4. D. for
    7. Akua could you ...... me your English book?
      1. A. lend
      2. B. borrow
      3. C. afford
      4. D. buy
    8. Kofi insisted ...... painting the house for us.
      1. A. in
      2. B. at
      3. C. on
      4. D. with
    9. This book is mine and that is ......
      1. A. your
      2. B. yours'
      3. C. your's
      4. D. yours
    10. If Asi had gone to Beseasi, she ...... her mother.
      1. A. would meet
      2. B. would have met
      3. C. will meet
      4. D. had met
    11. You had too much to eat, ......
      1. A. didn't you?
      2. B. don't you?
      3. C. haven't you?
      4. D. isn't it?
    12. He came in while I ...... my dinner.
      1. A. am having
      2. B. had
      3. C. have
      4. D. was having
    13. The prisoner would neither talk ...... eat.
      1. A. yet
      2. B. but
      3. C. or
      4. D. nor
    14. Afote gave his friend ...... of his bread.
      1. A. little
      2. B. few
      3. C. some
      4. D. any
    15. John and Anita have always loved ......
      1. A. each other
      2. B. one another
      3. C. themselves
      4. D. each one

    Paper 2: Theory

    1. Write a letter to your Assemblyman suggesting three ways in which you can help improve sanitation in your area.
    2. Write a letter to your brother living in another region of your country informing him about the latest news at home.
    3. You are a speaker in an inter-school debate on the topic: Television is doing more harm than good to students. Write your speech for or against the topic.
    4. Your PTA has introduced a Best Teacher Award Scheme for your school. Which of your teachers would you nominate for the award and why?

    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

    ← 2007 2005 →

    All 38 English Language papers

    Other 2006 papers

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