BECE Past Questions

BECE 2009 English Language Past Questions and Answers

40 objective questions and 4 theory questions from the 2009 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.

We were suddenly awakened at dawn by the screams of the tenants in our home. They were making a lot of commotion in the yard. Daddy quickly jumped from his bed and made for the door. Not long after, we heard him scream. We ran to the hall, switched on the lights and saw him lying flat on his back holding his forehead. In his haste to get to the hall door, he must have forgotten to switch on the lights thus running straight and crashing his head into the pillar in the middle of the hall. When we examined his forehead, we saw a big lump and blood oozing from a deep cut near his eyebrow. Mummy, a retired nursing sister, shouted instructions to me to get the first-aid box, some ice cubes and Daddy's towel. When the items were brought, she set to work first on the cut. She put some ice cubes in the towel and pressed the towel on the cut for about two minutes. She then wiped the blood gently. Afterwards, she put a little iodine on a piece of gauze, placed it on the cut and bandaged it. Turning to the lump, she massaged it with some ice cubes, which reduced the swelling. She then opened the front door and we beheld a pathetic scene. Lying in the middle of the house was the motionless body of one of the tenants. Trying to resist an attack from armed robbers, he had been butchered mercilessly and his body left in the middle of the house.
  1. What made the writer wake up?
    1. A. The father crashing into the pillar
    2. B. The noise made by his father
    3. C. The attack by the armed robbers
    4. D. The shouting of the tenants
    Answer: D
  2. The writer's father was holding his forehead because he
    1. A. had fallen flat on his back.
    2. B. had hit his head against the pillar.
    3. C. wanted to stop the blood from flowing.
    4. D. was thinking of what to do.
    Answer: B
  3. The purpose of the ice cubes was to
    1. A. stop the bleeding.
    2. B. heal the cut.
    3. C. manage the cut.
    4. D. reduce the swelling.
    Answer: D
  4. Pathetic in the passage means
    1. A. naughty.
    2. B. merciless.
    3. C. sad.
    4. D. strange.
    Answer: C
  5. What happened to the tenant?
    1. A. He opened the door.
    2. B. He was killed by the robbers.
    3. C. He fell down heavily.
    4. D. He saw a pathetic scene.
    Answer: B

Passage 2

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

Where is the musical performance of songbirds held? It is not in any concert hall but rather on trees, fences and telephone wires. It is from these places that little feathered creatures blend their voices in some of the most melodious songs sung in the world. Songbirds do not just make noise. The male voices in the choir, for instance, have two different messages. Firstly, it is a warning to other males not to come near their partners. Secondly, it is an invitation from the bachelors to the female birds. The most interesting songs which are sung with a lot of vigour are produced during the breeding season by the males to impress the lady birds. Songbirds are very remarkable. They sing three or four notes at a time. To the human ear it sounds like one beat but the birds can identify the different notes because of their keen sense of hearing. At times, what is heard may not be a song of our winged friends but simply an instruction to keep the flock together. It may also be a warning of an approaching danger. Just how birds compose their songs is an interesting subject. Some birds have their songs fixed in their brains at birth. Whilst some imitate others, other birds try to compose songs which are unique. They will never copy what they hear others sing.
  1. According to the passage, members of the choir can sing without difficulty because they
    1. A. are born good singers.
    2. B. easily learn to sing.
    3. C. have good songs.
    4. D. have to sing.
    Answer: A
  2. The male songbirds sing
    1. A. to instruct others.
    2. B. four notes at a time.
    3. C. to attract the females.
    4. D. what others have composed.
    Answer: C
  3. According to the passage, birds sing
    1. A. only in the breeding season.
    2. B. some of the sweetest songs.
    3. C. to invite the bachelors.
    4. D. only one note.
    Answer: B
  4. Unique in the passage means
    1. A. suitable.
    2. B. similar.
    3. C. exciting.
    4. D. special.
    Answer: D
  5. The writer suggests that
    1. A. human beings sing better than birds.
    2. B. birds can interpret notes better.
    3. C. birds make louder noise than human beings.
    4. D. birds compose more interesting songs.
    Answer: B

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. The house by sea has been abandoned.
      1. A. deserted
      2. B. destroyed
      3. C. infested
      4. D. robbed
    2. Most Ghanaians were optimistic about the Black Stars winning the African Cup.
      1. A. reasonable
      2. B. happy
      3. C. concerned
      4. D. hopeful
    3. The indigenous people provided the labour during the building of the school.
      1. A. skilled
      2. B. native
      3. C. expatriate
      4. D. urban
    4. The effort of the watchman which led to the arrest of the thieves was laudable.
      1. A. quick
      2. B. real
      3. C. constant
      4. D. praiseworthy
    5. Our parents deserve our appreciation.
      1. A. assistance
      2. B. gratitude
      3. C. concern
      4. D. encouragement

    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. Mr. Taiwoo took the clerk to task for losing the letters. This means that Mr. Taiwoo
      1. A. sacked the clerk.
      2. B. blamed the clerk.
      3. C. called the clerk a criminal.
      4. D. gave the clerk another work.
    2. The quarrel got out of hand. This means that the quarrel
      1. A. became uncontrollable.
      2. B. was prolonged.
      3. C. became boring.
      4. D. was unhealthy.
    3. On seeing the headmaster, the girl took to her heels. This means that the girl
      1. A. fainted.
      2. B. felt frightened.
      3. C. ran away.
      4. D. hid herself.
    4. Joseph lives within a stone's throw from the station. This means that Joseph
      1. A. lives in a stony house.
      2. B. lives very close to the station.
      3. C. goes to the station.
      4. D. often throws stones at the station.
    5. All his plans for building a new theatre came to naught. This means that
      1. A. the theatre was built.
      2. B. his plans were unsuccessful.
      3. C. the building collapsed.
      4. D. there was nothing in the theatre.

    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 father has a cordial relationship with all his neighbours.
      1. A. harsh
      2. B. hostile
      3. C. scornful
      4. D. different
    2. John's latest play is rather dull.
      1. A. interesting
      2. B. informative
      3. C. sensible
      4. D. educative
    3. The feeble old man spoke for about three hours.
      1. A. bold
      2. B. strong
      3. C. bright
      4. D. successful
    4. The thief descended the stairs hurriedly.
      1. A. consciously
      2. B. lazily
      3. C. slowly
      4. D. noisily
    5. The diligent student won a prize.
      1. A. careless
      2. B. lucky
      3. C. playful
      4. D. proud

    Section E

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

    1. My father wanted to find out how Abu was getting ...... at school.
      1. A. on
      2. B. down
      3. C. back
      4. D. up
    2. If the boat had been maintained properly it ...... capsized.
      1. A. have not
      2. B. will not have
      3. C. would not have
      4. D. might have not
    3. The white horse is ...... than the black one.
      1. A. faster
      2. B. very fast
      3. C. fast
      4. D. more fast
    4. They thought he would become a businesswoman, ......?
      1. A. wouldn't they
      2. B. didn't they
      3. C. wasn't they
      4. D. isn't they
    5. There were only two of us who ...... any idea of the answer.
      1. A. have
      2. B. had
      3. C. has
      4. D. would
    6. He had boarded a taxi, ......?
      1. A. wouldn't he
      2. B. hadn't he
      3. C. isn't it
      4. D. won't he
    7. Mrs. Mensah ...... in Saltpond since 1970.
      1. A. was living
      2. B. has been living
      3. C. has lived
      4. D. is living
    8. The booking clerk made him ...... a deposit.
      1. A. to pay
      2. B. paid
      3. C. to be paying
      4. D. pay
    9. Although all the dresses were beautiful, she liked ...... of them.
      1. A. any
      2. B. none
      3. C. neither
      4. D. both
    10. Kwesi and Ama are in love with ......
      1. A. themselves
      2. B. one another
      3. C. each other
      4. D. ourselves
    11. It is ...... to attempt in one day.
      1. A. too long and difficult a journey
      2. B. the journey too long and difficult
      3. C. long and difficult too a journey
      4. D. too long and difficult the journey
    12. The rain shouldn't deter you ...... going out.
      1. A. for
      2. B. on
      3. C. by
      4. D. from
    13. Ben is leaving ...... Takoradi this morning.
      1. A. for
      2. B. to
      3. C. by
      4. D. from
    14. Yesterday I met the man ......
      1. A. the car of whom I bought.
      2. B. whose car I bought.
      3. C. I bought his car.
      4. D. whom I bought his car.
    15. No sooner had the Minister opened the bank ...... the bank was filled to capacity.
      1. A. when
      2. B. for
      3. C. as
      4. D. than

    Paper 2: Theory

    1. An annual festival has recently been celebrated in your area. Write a letter to your friend in another part of the country, describing the festival and how you enjoyed it.
    2. Your teachers have complained about acts of indiscipline being practised in your school. As Senior Prefect, write a letter to the headmaster, describing two of such acts and suggesting ways of correcting them.
    3. You are a speaker in a debate on the motion: The use of mobile phones in school by students should be banned. Write your contribution for or against the motion.
    4. Your school performed very well in the inter-zonal athletics competition held recently. As Sports Prefect, write a report on the competition to your headmaster.

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