BECE 2013 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. The lion............ under the tree waiting for its prey.
   1. A. lie
   2. B. lain
   3. C. lay
   4. D. laid
   Answer: C
2. I wish Ato............ come to see us tomorrow.
   1. A. will
   2. B. is to
   3. C. would
   4. D. may
   Answer: C
3. It's high time we............ the items out.
   1. A. move
   2. B. are moving
   3. C. moved
   4. D. were moving
   Answer: C
4. This amount is all............ I have on me.
   1. A. what
   2. B. that
   3. C. which
   4. D. this
   Answer: B
5. The harder you study ............ your chance of success.
   1. A. the great
   2. B. greater
   3. C. greatest
   4. D. the greater
   Answer: D
6. Please, I would rather you............ not disturb me.
   1. A. did
   2. B. will
   3. C. may
   4. D. do
   Answer: A
7. That pair of trousers is worn............
   1. A. in
   2. B. out
   3. C. into
   4. D. on
   Answer: B
8. Atsu is looking forward to............
   1. A. see
   2. B. be seeing
   3. C. seeing
   4. D. have seen
   Answer: C
9. The minister is my............ brother.
   1. A. senior
   2. B. older
   3. C. elder
   4. D. junior
   Answer: C
10. We have............ sugar, so we cannot have breakfast.
    1. A. a few
    2. B. little
    3. C. few
    4. D. a little
    Answer: B

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11. I wouldn't say this to............
    1. A. no other
    2. B. any other
    3. C. nobody
    4. D. anyone else
12. This vase is made............ glass.
    1. A. on
    2. B. of
    3. C. with
    4. D. by
13. Mrs. Akwei is blind............ the faults of her children.
    1. A. on
    2. B. over
    3. C. to
    4. D. by
14. Shika was absent yesterday,............
    1. A. isn't she
    2. B. has she
    3. C. didn't she
    4. D. wasn't she
15. Come and see me tomorrow,............?
    1. A. shall
    2. B. will
    3. C. may
    4. D. don't
16. If Kofi had studied hard, he............ his examination.
    1. A. would pass
    2. B. would be passing
    3. C. will be passing
    4. D. would have passed
17. The boy likes his............ dog.
    1. A. little pretty brown
    2. B. pretty brown little
    3. C. pretty little brown
    4. D. brown little pretty

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. The radio is a very potent means of communication.
    1. A. necessary
    2. B. powerful
    3. C. widespread
    4. D. sound
19. Benjamin deserves the prize because he is industrious.
    1. A. polite
    2. B. hardworking
    3. C. intelligent
    4. D. funny
20. Farming is lucrative.
    1. A. easy
    2. B. profitable
    3. C. necessary
    4. D. good
21. The recklessness of the driver caused the woman's death.
    1. A. drunkenness
    2. B. arrogance
    3. C. carelessness
    4. D. ignorance
22. The doctors have been discussing the shortage of nurses.
    1. A. indiscipline
    2. B. love
    3. C. scarcity
    4. D. efficiency

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. Adzo takes after her mother. This means that Adzo...........
    1. A. likes her
    2. B. resembles her
    3. C. is unlike her
    4. D. always follows her
24. Board members are paid five Ghana Cedis a day across the board. This means that...........
    1. A. every member receives five Ghana Cedis.
    2. B. some members receive five Ghana Cedis.
    3. C. members are given five Ghana Cedis for food.
    4. D. only deserving members are given five Ghana Cedis.
25. Advise Peter not to poke his nose into my affair.
    1. A. interfere
    2. B. enter
    3. C. speak
    4. D. believe
26. During the lecture, Sarfo was miles away. This means that Sarfo...........
    1. A. was self-conscious.
    2. B. had travelled.
    3. C. had slept.
    4. D. was absent-minded.
27. Ato was at his wits' end. This means that Ato...........
    1. A. was collecting his ideas together.
    2. B. had come to the end of his talk.
    3. C. did not know what to do next.
    4. D. did not have much to do.

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. We are surprised at her hostility to us.
    1. A. faithfulness
    2. B. attitude
    3. C. manner
    4. D. friendliness
29. She timidly faced her accusers.
    1. A. boldly
    2. B. calmly
    3. C. angrily
    4. D. smilingly
30. The minister is sincere in her promise.
    1. A. unrealistic
    2. B. uncertain
    3. C. dissatisfied
    4. D. dishonest
31. The flag was hoisted during the golden jubilee celebration.
    1. A. sunk
    2. B. dipped
    3. C. lowered
    4. D. dropped
32. Transparent ballot boxes are used in elections.
    1. A. dark
    2. B. opaque
    3. C. coated
    4. D. painted

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 sequence of events in a play is the............
    1. A. theme
    2. B. plot
    3. C. conflict
    4. D. resolution
34. An address directed at oneself is known as............
    1. A. monologue
    2. B. dialogue
    3. C. apostrophe
    4. D. soliloquy
35. 'O incomprehensible God!
    Shall my pilot be
    My inborn stars to that
    Final call to thee'?
    
    The poem is a kind of............
    1. A. sermon
    2. B. apostrophe
    3. C. dirge
    4. D. sonnet
36. 'O incomprehensible God!
    Shall my pilot be
    My inborn stars to that
    Final call to thee'?
    
    The theme of the above extract is............
    1. A. life
    2. B. neglect
    3. C. war
    4. D. death
37. 'O incomprehensible God!
    Shall my pilot be
    My inborn stars to that
    Final call to thee'?
    
    Which of the following expressions from the extract suggests the theme above?
    1. A. incomprehensible God
    2. B. inborn stars
    3. C. Final call
    4. D. my pilot
38. The main character in a play or a novel is called............
    1. A. hero
    2. B. villain
    3. C. dramatist
    4. D. antagonist
39. The conversation between two characters is known as............
    1. A. a dialogue
    2. B. a monologue
    3. C. an aside
    4. D. a soliloquy
40. Miming refers to............
    1. A. the use of song in drama
    2. B. acting without the use of words
    3. C. imitating of a character
    4. D. the use of dialogue in acting

Paper 2: Theory

1. Write a letter to your friend telling him or her three ways in which the computer has made learning easier for students.
2. Write an article for publication in a national newspaper discussing at least two reasons why students should cultivate the habit of reading.
3. Describe one national event that took place recently and state at least two effects it had on the people in your area.
4. Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follow.
   
   Nobody wanted Ananse to succeed in drinking the cup of hot water and win, Adiefe, the Chief's beautiful daughter.
   
   Ananse grabbed the cup of hot water, bowed as gracefully as possible and smiled confidently. He lifted the cup and said, slowly and calmly, 'Nana, look...................!' Nana Apo barked
   
   'yes, it's hot. Drink it right now!'
   
   But Ananse kept a cool head. Then, in the full glare of all present, he shook the cup vigorously for some time in order to cool its content. After this, he began to sip the now-lukewarm water as if it was still hot. Between the sips, the pain he seemed to be going through made him frown. He shut the left eye and his right eye shone brightly. He deliberately let his left hand drop loosely by his side.
   
   Nana Apo smiled. Queen Amola grinned. Adiefe giggled - all in happy anticipation of Ananse's failure. Suddenly Ananse began to drink the warm water more quickly and noisily. Soon, all was gone. He turned the cup upside down towards Nana and, indeed, there was not a single drop in it. Lo and behold, Kweku Ananse, the notorious trickster, had succeeded where all others had failed. There was complete silence. Even the wind seemed to have stopped blowing. The impossible had happened and people's expectation that Kweku Ananse would lose the contest had failed. Eventually, Kweku Ananse's victory had won him the hand of the pretty Princess Adiefe.
   
   Nana Apo and Queen Amola, with great reluctance, led their daughter, Adiefe, and handed her over to victorious Kweku Ananse.
   
   Questions:
   
   a) What was the attitude of the people present before the contest?
   
   b) Why do you think Ananse shook the cup?
   
   c) State the three tricks Ananse used to show that he was in pain.
   
   d) i) Why did Ananse turn the cup upside down?
   
   ii) What was the mood of Nana Apo and Queen Amola in the end?
   
   e) Explain the following expressions in your own words:
   
   i) 'Ananse kept a cool head'
   
   ii) 'all was gone'
   
   iii) 'The impossible had happened'
   
   f) For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same and can fit into the passage:
   
   i) grabbed
   
   ii) barked
   
   iii) deliberately
   
   iv) eventually
   
   v) pretty

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