BECE 2015 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. Ntim's careless driving resulted........... a fatal road accident.
   1. A. in
   2. B. to
   3. C. into
   4. D. with
   Answer: A
2. Abibatu takes........... her mother in many ways.
   1. A. by
   2. B. on
   3. C. up
   4. D. after
   Answer: D
3. Araba goes to school........... foot.
   1. A. by
   2. B. in
   3. C. on
   4. D. with
   Answer: C
4. The doctor advised the patient to abstain........... smoking.
   1. A. by
   2. B. from
   3. C. upon
   4. D. with
   Answer: B
5. The relationship........... group A and group B is cordial.
   1. A. of
   2. B. with
   3. C. among
   4. D. between
   Answer: D
6. Edwin prefers fish........... meat.
   1. A. to
   2. B. for
   3. C. from
   4. D. than
   Answer: A
7. His neighbor complained that the radio was........... loud.
   1. A. far
   2. B. too
   3. C. much
   4. D. enough
   Answer: B
8. The white horse is........... than the black one.
   1. A. the fastest
   2. B. very faster
   3. C. much the faster
   4. D. very much faster
   Answer: D
9. I........... him; then I changed my mind.
   1. A. had told
   2. B. have told
   3. C. am telling
   4. D. was going to tell
   Answer: D
10. By the end of the day
    
    I........... the house.
    1. A. shall paint
    2. B. shall be painting
    3. C. shall have painted
    4. D. shall have been painting
    Answer: C

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11. You are a member of the society, ............?
    1. A. isn't it
    2. B. are you
    3. C. aren't you
    4. D. weren't you
12. Our captain is not a very reliable person, ............?
    1. A. is he
    2. B. isn't he
    3. C. does he
    4. D. doesn't he
13. You have been to Lagos, ............?
    1. A. did you
    2. B. have you
    3. C. didn't you
    4. D. haven't you
14. Joseph is the ............ in the class.
    1. A. cleverer
    2. B. cleverest
    3. C. more clever
    4. D. very clever
15. The triplets love ............ very much.
    1. A. each other
    2. B. themselves
    3. C. theirselves
    4. D. one another
16. ............ the watch is old, it is still working.
    1. A. Since
    2. B. Besides
    3. C. Although
    4. D. However
17. The students set ............ early on their journey.
    1. A. up
    2. B. in
    3. C. out
    4. D. about

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. If you are a true friend you will not disclose a secret.
    1. A. give
    2. B. show
    3. C. display
    4. D. reveal
19. As John waited for the interview, he was very nervous.
    1. A. sad
    2. B. afraid
    3. C. alarmed
    4. D. uneasy
20. Patricia was satisfied with the result of the examination.
    1. A. pleased
    2. B. convinced
    3. C. pampered
    4. D. encouraged
21. The attitude of the gateman was very hostile.
    1. A. harsh
    2. B. strange
    3. C. abusive
    4. D. unfriendly
22. It was not his intention to hurt his younger brother.
    1. A. aim
    2. B. decision
    3. C. interest
    4. D. ambition

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. Ibrahim registered for the course at the eleventh hour. This means that Ibrahim registered ...........
    1. A. at eleven o'clock.
    2. B. a few hours before closing time.
    3. C. during eleven hours of registration.
    4. D. when it was almost too late.
24. Bob lives within a stone's throw of the Jubilee Park. This means that Bob ...........
    1. A. travels on the stony road.
    2. B. lives in a hut in the park.
    3. C. lives very close to the park.
    4. D. often throws stones at the park.
25. When James heard the sound of gun-shot, his hair stood on end. This means that James ...........
    1. A. was worried.
    2. B. started crying.
    3. C. was frightened.
    4. D. became inactive.
26. Mary has gone to cheer up her friend. This means that Mary has gone to ...........
    1. A. shout at her.
    2. B. give her gifts.
    3. C. tell her stories.
    4. D. make her happy.
27. The teacher's abrupt question threw the pupil off balance. This means that the pupil was ...........
    1. A. hurt.
    2. B. annoyed.
    3. C. worried.
    4. D. confused.

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. While the majority voted for a change, the ............ were against any change.
    1. A. rivals
    2. B. members
    3. C. minority
    4. D. opposition
29. Imported rice is expensive these days.
    1. A. free
    2. B. cheap
    3. C. testy
    4. D. scarce
30. The student was condemned for his poor work.
    1. A. cheered
    2. B. praised
    3. C. rewarded
    4. D. recommended
31. Although he had applied for a permanent post, he was only given a ............ one.
    1. A. useful
    2. B. boring
    3. C. labouring
    4. D. temporary
32. Some people pay much attention to their physical needs.
    1. A. basic
    2. B. moral
    3. C. financial
    4. D. spiritual

Section E

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

33. A comedy is a play that ............
    1. A. ends sadly
    2. B. ends happily
    3. C. condemns society
    4. D. preaches honesty
34. The main female character in a play is ............
    1. A. hero
    2. B. chorus
    3. C. heroine
    4. D. persona
35. Expressions that appeal to the senses are collectively called ............
    1. A. irony
    2. B. device
    3. C. pictures
    4. D. imagery
36. The purpose of a comic relief is to ............
    1. A. reduce tension
    2. B. teach a moral lesson
    3. C. set a moral standard
    4. D. compound a character's problems
37. A play is better enjoyed when ............
    1. A. acted
    2. B. read
    3. C. discussed
    4. D. memorized
38. A narrative poem usually ............
    1. A. praises actions
    2. B. tells a story
    3. C. mourns the dead
    4. D. condemns actions
39. Read the following extract below and answer question below: _So fair art thou my bonnie lass So deep in luve am I And I will luve thee still my dear Till all the sea gang dry_ The last line is a/an ............
    1. A. litotes
    2. B. hyperbole
    3. C. euphemism
    4. D. understatement
40. Read the following extract below and answer question below: _So fair art thou my bonnie lass So deep in luve am I And I will luve thee still my dear Till all the sea gang dry_ The rhyme scheme of the stanza is ............
    1. A. abcd
    2. B. abca
    3. C. abcb
    4. D. abba

Paper 2: Theory

1. Write a letter to the Presiding Member of your district assembly telling him or her about two of the achievements of your community over the last five years and the plans for the future.
2. Your friend has informed you that his or her uncle has decided not to look after him or her in school anymore. Write to your friend's uncle giving him at least, two reasons why he should change his mind.
3. Write arguments for or against the topic: It is more advantageous to live in the village than in the city.
4. Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follow.
   
   The dry season was very long. The people waited anxiously for the rains to plant their seeds. The rain clouds that appeared occasionally were deceptive. To while away the time, they wove baskets and kente; others carved stools or sat under trees, playing games and drinking palm wine.
   
   Sentu and his family were on the verge of starvation. They had just one cassava farm left to feed on. The maize in the barn was all gone. In fact, they had started eating the seed maize. Sentu kept wondering how he would get seeds to plant when the rainy season eventually started. He went to inspect the traps he had set for the rodent that had been feasting on the cassava. If the traps caught any animals, it would be a double blessing; he would get meat and reduce the population of 'his enemies', the pests. While inspecting his traps, he saw some smoke. He dashed towards it. He tried to put out the fire but could not. He shouted for help. In a twinkling of an eye, the whole farm had been destroyed. Sentu wept uncontrollably.
   
   When he reached the village, his neighbours rushed to his house to console him. They gave him foodstuff and promised to help him get back on his feet. Tutu, the palm-wine tapper, visited Sentu that evening. He was accompanied by two elderly and highly respected men in the village. Their mission was simple. Tutu had asked them to apologize to Sentu on his behalf. It was the fire from Tutu's torch that had caused the havoc and brought such agony to Sentu's family. What could Sentu do or say?
   
   Questions:
   
   a) i) What was the main occupation of the people?
   
   ii) State two other things they did that could earn them an income.
   
   b) i) What does 'pests' refer to?
   
   ii) Why did the writer refer to the pests as 'his enemies'?
   
   c) i) How did Sentu feel when his farm was burnt?
   
   ii) Why did he feel that way?
   
   d) For what two reasons did Tutu choose the elderly and highly respected men to accompany him to visit Sentu?
   
   e) Explain the following expressions in your own words.
   
   i) a double blessing
   
   ii) wept uncontrollably
   
   iii) get back on his feet
   
   f) For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same and can fit into the passage;
   
   i) anxiously
   
   ii) deceptive
   
   iii) dashed
   
   iv) mission
   
   v) agony

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