BECE Past Questions

BECE 2008 English Language Past Questions and Answers

40 objective questions and 4 theory questions from the 2008 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.

Since the building of the District Hospital at Kpota, there had sprung up some residential structures around the hospital. One particular cluster of houses took the fancy of Mr. Akpaloo, who told himself that if ever he wanted to build a house, it would be like one of those. When Mr. Akpaloo thought he was ready to put up his own building, one of the things he did was to look for the plan of the houses that he so admired. He went to the office of Dr. Agbetor, the Hospital Administrator to ask for it. Dr. Agbetor explained that those houses in which Mr. Akpaloo was interested had actually been built by Dr. Grant who still had the blueprint of the structure. Obviously, the person to see was Dr. Grant. Mr. Akpaloo went and saw Dr. Grant in his magnificent house at Tokoe. The latter explained that it was not prudent to give out the plan that had been specifically designed for those projects. However, he advised Mr. Akpaloo to go to the site and see the caretaker who would show him the rooms. Mr. Akpaloo could then make a sketch of the building. To the site Mr. Akpaloo went. When he arrived, the caretaker took him around. What had looked like a two-bedroom house from afar, was at close quarters, four-bedroom affair. The difference that distance can make!
  1. When were the residential structures built at Kpota?
    1. A. When the hospital was begun.
    2. B. Long before the hospital was started.
    3. C. After the hospital had been built.
    4. D. They were built together with the hospital.
    Answer: B
  2. Dr. Grant did not give the plan to Mr. Akpaloo because
    1. A. the houses belonged to him.
    2. B. Mr. Akpaloo can make a design for himself.
    3. C. it was not a wise thing to do.
    4. D. the caretaker had the plan.
    Answer: C
  3. What did Mr. Akpaloo do when he was ready to build a house? He
    1. A. made a sketch of the building.
    2. B. sent a plan to Dr. Grant.
    3. C. looked for the plan of the house.
    4. D. made sure he had enough money.
    Answer: C
  4. The word magnificent means
    1. A. massive.
    2. B. beautiful.
    3. C. good.
    4. D. expensive.
    Answer: B
  5. ... One particular cluster of houses took the fancy of Mr. Akpaloo ... This means Mr. Akpaloo
    1. A. laughed at the houses.
    2. B. was confused by the houses.
    3. C. found the houses attractive.
    4. D. detested the houses.
    Answer: C

Passage 2

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

One day a poor fisherman went fishing and caught nothing. He was just about to go home when he felt the net suddenly grow heavy. He thought he had caught a large fish. But when he dragged it ashore, he found only a heavy copper pot sealed with lead. He took it and feeling sure it contained something valuable, he took his knife, cut the lead top and turned it upside down. For a moment nothing came out; and then it started to smoke, and this smoke slowly rose right up to the sky like a thick fog. It suddenly turned into a huge genie. 'Bow down' said the genie 'and let me kill you'. 'Why?' asked the fisherman. 'Have you forgotten that I set you free?' 'Yes, but I have sworn to kill you,' said the genie. 'I'm a spirit that rebelled against the Creator and to punish me he shut me up in this copper pot. During the first century of my captivity, I swore to make anyone who freed me rich. During my second century, I swore I would grant him any three things. But after these centuries, in anger I swore to kill my liberator without mercy'. 'Well, die I must,' said the fisherman, 'but swear that you really were in that pot. It is too small to hold even your little finger. Unless I see it, I shall not believe it.' 'See then and believe' said the genie. He slowly changed back into smoke and entered the pot. The fisherman immediately put back the lead cover and threw it into the sea.
  1. According to the passage, the fisherman caught
    1. A. a pot of gold.
    2. B. a lead pot.
    3. C. a big fish.
    4. D. no fish.
    Answer: D
  2. What is the genie?
    1. A. A big fish
    2. B. A copper pot
    3. C. Smoke
    4. D. A spirit
    Answer: D
  3. The word captivity in the passage, means
    1. A. loss.
    2. B. birth.
    3. C. imprisonment.
    4. D. defeat.
    Answer: C
  4. How many times did the genie swear?
    1. A. Once
    2. B. Twice
    3. C. Three times
    4. D. Four times
    Answer: C
  5. According to the passage, the
    1. A. fisherman freed himself.
    2. B. fisherman killed the genie.
    3. C. genie made many people rich.
    4. D. genie saved the fisherman from troubles.
    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

    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. Ama was persuaded by her brother to change her course.
      1. A. convinced
      2. B. commanded
      3. C. told
      4. D. advised
    2. The talented footballer scored three goals.
      1. A. trained
      2. B. serious
      3. C. gifted
      4. D. skilled
    3. Araba was saddened because she failed to win the beauty contest.
      1. A. furious
      2. B. amazed
      3. C. excited
      4. D. sorrowful
    4. Charles behaved in an unruly manner towards the teacher.
      1. A. impolite
      2. B. strange
      3. C. indecent
      4. D. wicked
    5. My mother is very enthusiastic about my success.
      1. A. anxious
      2. B. frank
      3. C. aware
      4. D. hopeful

    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 accused died without clearing his name. This means, the man did not
      1. A. prove his innocence.
      2. B. erase his name.
      3. C. make a will.
      4. D. prove his case.
    2. The teacher advised us to go over our work before submitting them. This means the teacher asked us to ...... our work.
      1. A. rewrite.
      2. B. remember.
      3. C. repeat.
      4. D. review.
    3. You didn't have to be so high and mighty about your own opinion. This means
      1. A. positive.
      2. B. confused.
      3. C. strong.
      4. D. arrogant.
    4. Mr. Ala urged Peter and Paul to mend their fences. This means Peter and Paul should
      1. A. repair their broken fences.
      2. B. make peace.
      3. C. be careful.
      4. D. defend themselves.
    5. He was asked not to attend the party but he turned a deaf ear to the advice. This means that he ...... the advice.
      1. A. did not hear
      2. B. laugh at
      3. C. was angry at
      4. D. ignored

    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. Everyone knows Musa to be very generous.
      1. A. stingy
      2. B. selfish
      3. C. strict
      4. D. serious
    2. The headmaster rebuked the students who came in late.
      1. A. admitted
      2. B. praised
      3. C. admired
      4. D. embraced
    3. Naa answered the questions with confidence.
      1. A. joy
      2. B. firmness
      3. C. timidity
      4. D. uncertainty
    4. Judges are expected to be impartial.
      1. A. biased
      2. B. proud
      3. C. disrespectful
      4. D. bold
    5. Our father advised us not to exalt ourselves.
      1. A. humble
      2. B. raise
      3. C. decorative
      4. D. train

    Section E

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

    1. I promised my parents that I ...... study very hard.
      1. A. would
      2. B. should
      3. C. will
      4. D. can
    2. If Kofi ...... me, I would have helped him.
      1. A. had asked
      2. B. asks
      3. C. has asked
      4. D. asked
    3. Let's leave now, Akosua, ......?
      1. A. may we
      2. B. can we
      3. C. must we
      4. D. shall we
    4. Adjo is ...... young to marry.
      1. A. so
      2. B. very
      3. C. too
      4. D. much
    5. Give that book of ...... to Mansah.
      1. A. their
      2. B. yours
      3. C. my
      4. D. your's
    6. ...... the warning of the weatherman, the fishermen went to sea.
      1. A. In spite of
      2. B. Apart from
      3. C. In case of
      4. D. Instead of
    7. We've been living here ...... 2001.
      1. A. since
      2. B. by
      3. C. in
      4. D. for
    8. Kofi told the court that he had met the suspect two days ......
      1. A. before
      2. B. ago
      3. C. now
      4. D. then
    9. Kwame has been accused ...... stealing the money.
      1. A. with
      2. B. for
      3. C. of
      4. D. on
    10. This is the man ...... I met at the bus stop.
      1. A. who
      2. B. whose
      3. C. whom
      4. D. which
    11. My friend is good ...... English.
      1. A. on
      2. B. at
      3. C. for
      4. D. with
    12. I hear the programme was interesting; I wish I ...... there.
      1. A. am
      2. B. were
      3. C. was
      4. D. have been
    13. Our pastor is now the ...... senior of the pastors in the church.
      1. A. much
      2. B. more
      3. C. most
      4. D. far
    14. I prefer oranges ...... mangoes.
      1. A. to
      2. B. than
      3. C. against
      4. D. from
    15. I hope the team ...... perform better next year.
      1. A. would
      2. B. will
      3. C. should
      4. D. shall

    Paper 2: Theory

    1. Your father's friend has promised to grant you anything you wish if you successfully completed school. Write a letter to him describing, at least, three things you want him to do for you and why.
    2. Write a letter to the chairman of your school's Parent-Teacher Association (P.T.A) on the need to provide recreational facilities in your school.
    3. As a Senior Prefect of your school, write a speech you would give to fresh students telling them, at least, three things that can make their stay in the school successful.
    4. Write a story that explains the saying: Two heads are better than one.

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