BECE 2012 English Language Past Questions and Answers

Paper 1: Objectives

Section A: LEXIS AND STRUCTURE

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

1. Two people perished........... the spot.
   1. A. upon
   2. B. in
   3. C. on
   4. D. through
   Answer: C
2. Oyo fell ill........... measles.
   1. A. at
   2. B. by
   3. C. of
   4. D. with
   Answer: C
3. The doctor gave........... to the patient.
   1. A. some good advice
   2. B. much good advices
   3. C. many good advice
   4. D. some good advices
   Answer: A
4. All girls were supposed to wear........... during the Speech Day.
   1. A. new, white, long, dresses
   2. B. new, long, white, dresses
   3. C. long, white, new, dresses
   4. D. white, new, long, dresses
   Answer: B
5. 'I think you know........... already', said the host to all the participants.
   1. A. one another
   2. B. each other
   3. C. themselves
   4. D. ourselves
   Answer: A
6. The girls asserted that both tennis requests were...........
   1. A. of Akologos.
   2. B. Akologo's
   3. C. Akologo's own
   4. D. Akologo
   Answer: B
7. Children usually take........... their parents in appearance.
   1. A. after
   2. B. from
   3. C. to
   4. D. up
   Answer: A
8. We haven't had........... rice to eat this week.
   1. A. some
   2. B. little
   3. C. any
   4. D. many
   Answer: C
9. The chief praised the........... during the students' demonstration.
   1. A. policemen's behaviours
   2. B. policemen behaviour
   3. C. policemen's behaviour
   4. D. policemans' behaviour
   Answer: C
10. When the lights went off
    
    I........... my supper.
    1. A. have eaten
    2. B. have been eating
    3. C. am eating
    4. D. was eating
    Answer: D

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11. The doctor said she........... if she had not kept strictly to her diet.
    1. A. has died
    2. B. will die
    3. C. would die
    4. D. would have died
12. We saw the plane........... for Kumasi.
    1. A. take on
    2. B. take of
    3. C. take off
    4. D. take out
13. There are many big houses in our area,...........?
    1. A. isn't it
    2. B. aren't they
    3. C. weren't there
    4. D. aren't there
14. You have cut the grass,...........?
    1. A. haven't you
    2. B. did you
    3. C. didn't you
    4. D. had you
15. The new airport........... next year.
    1. A. will be completed
    2. B. shall complete
    3. C. will be completing
    4. D. shall have completed
16. Walking in the rain is not good,...........?
    1. A. is not
    2. B. is it
    3. C. must not
    4. D. must it
17. Go over your work carefully,...........?
    1. A. do
    2. B. will
    3. C. may
    4. D. shall

Section B

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

18. About fifty houses were demolished to make way for the new road.
    1. A. removed
    2. B. attacked
    3. C. destroyed
    4. D. display
19. The headmaster took drastic action against the culprits.
    1. A. bold
    2. B. dangerous
    3. C. necessary
    4. D. severe
20. It was forecast that there would be floods this year.
    1. A. deduced
    2. B. predicted
    3. C. imagined
    4. D. observed
21. Many people revered the old man for his charity to the poor.
    1. A. glorified
    2. B. respected
    3. C. feared
    4. D. praised
22. When they reached the frontier, the custom officer stopped the car.
    1. A. fence
    2. B. gate
    3. C. entrance
    4. D. border

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.

23. Awuni normally feels at home in my house. This means that Awuni............ in my house.
    1. A. feels comfortable
    2. B. lives
    3. C. moves
    4. D. eats
24. The students were advised to stop building castles in the air. This means that the students should............
    1. A. be serious and realistic
    2. B. not worry about castles
    3. C. be serious and hardworking
    4. D. not build any more castles
25. The chief told his linguist not to beat about the bush. This means that the linguist must............
    1. A. not stammer
    2. B. go straight to the point
    3. C. not enter the bush
    4. D. cut down the bush
26. Immediately Ekuba's mother left the house, she let the cat out of the bag. This means that Ekuba............
    1. A. bought a cat
    2. B. took the cat from the bag
    3. C. left her house
    4. D. revealed the secret
27. The teacher poured cold water on Sena's suggestion. This means that the teacher............
    1. A. challenged Sena's suggestion
    2. B. approved of Sena's suggestion
    3. C. discouraged Sena
    4. D. provoked Sena

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.

28. He had applied for a permanent job.
    1. A. a boring
    2. B. a dull
    3. C. an exacting
    4. D. a temporary
29. He has a violent temper.
    1. A. mild
    2. B. natural
    3. C. flexible
    4. D. pleasant
30. His position made him humble.
    1. A. stubborn
    2. B. wicked
    3. C. arrogant
    4. D. selfish
31. That is a genuine painting.
    1. A. bad
    2. B. fake
    3. C. damaged
    4. D. poor
32. The soldier climbed the mountain carefully.
    1. A. descended
    2. B. circled
    3. C. fell off
    4. D. looked up

Section E

From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that correctly answers each question or completes the sentence.

33. The main idea in a novel or play is the............
    1. A. suspense
    2. B. plot
    3. C. gist
    4. D. theme
34. The three main forms of literature are prose, drama and............
    1. A. novel
    2. B. satire
    3. C. poetry
    4. D. prosody
35. Read the following stanza and answer the question below:
    
    Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
    
    Bears all its sons away.
    
    They fly forgotten, as a dream
    
    Dies at the opening day.
    
    Question: Time in the stanza is being used as............
    1. A. symbol
    2. B. simile
    3. C. synecdoche
    4. D. personification
36. Read the following stanza and answer the question below:
    
    Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
    
    Bears all its sons away.
    
    They fly forgotten, as a dream
    
    Dies at the opening day.
    
    Question: The rhyme scheme of the stanza is............
    1. A. abba
    2. B. bbaa
    3. C. abab
    4. D. baba
37. The place and time of the action of a play or novel is its............
    1. A. background
    2. B. setting
    3. C. scene
    4. D. atmosphere
38. One of the following helps best to create interest in a work of art:
    1. A. rhythm
    2. B. preface
    3. C. epilogue
    4. D. suspense
39. The main function of imagery in literature is to make readers / listeners............
    1. A. appreciate the great efforts of writers.
    2. B. understand clearly what writers put across.
    3. C. admire how learned writers are.
    4. D. know literature is different from other uses of language.
40. A character in a play that opposes the hero or heroine is the............
    1. A. antagonist
    2. B. challenger
    3. C. opponent
    4. D. protagonist

Paper 2: Theory

1. Write a letter to the Member of Parliament of your constituency, telling him/her about the rise in armed robbery in your area. Suggest at least two ways to check it.
2. Write a story which ends with the sentence: We arrived just in time to save the situation.
3. Your father has received the 'National Best Farmer's Award'. Write a letter to your brother who is outside the country, describing the ceremony.
4. Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follow.
   
   Cholera is a very dangerous disease which can kill many people within a short time. Indeed, it has ruined several communities particularly in the developing countries. It must therefore be prevented at all cost.
   
   The disease is generally spread by germs which thrive in filthy and unhygienic areas. There could be an outbreak of cholera when drinking water becomes polluted by floods after a downpour. Human carriers also cause the disease to spread from place to place. For example, a person carrying the cholera germs would vomit or pass frequent stools. Flies would then carry the germs on their hairy legs and deposit them on exposed food or in water. When a person eats this contaminated food or drinks the polluted water, he or she is likely to contract the disease unknowingly.
   
   On the whole, the main symptoms of cholera are severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which may result in loss of weight. The stool tends to be watery. As a lot of fluid is lost from the body, the patient quickly becomes dehydrated, thin, and weak. The rapid loss of body fluid can soon result in death, unless the lost fluid is replaced immediately.
   
   The first thing for the patient to do is replenish as much fluid as is lost by taking, from time to time, boiled water which has been allowed to cool and mixed with salt and sugar. Then, he should seek medical attention.
   
   Questions:
   
   a) Where do cholera germs usually breed?
   
   b) Mention the two main carriers of cholera germs.
   
   c) I. State the two signs of cholera.
   
   II. Give one effect of the disease.
   
   d) What advice does the writer give to the cholera patient?
   
   e) Explain the following expressions in your own words:
   
   I. it has ruined several communities
   
   II. at all cost
   
   III. after a downpour
   
   f) For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same and can fit into the passage:
   
   I. thrive
   
   II. deposit
   
   III. rapid
   
   IV. replenish
   
   V. seek

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