BECE 2017 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. John has given............ smoking.
   1. A. in
   2. B. off
   3. C. out
   4. D. up
   Answer: D
2. The crowd was............ large that the Director became frightened.
   1. A. quite
   2. B. so
   3. C. too
   4. D. very
   Answer: B
3. When we got there, the buses............ left.
   1. A. are
   2. B. had
   3. C. have
   4. D. were
   Answer: B
4. The book was............ to me.
   1. A. gave
   2. B. given
   3. C. giving
   4. D. to give
   Answer: B
5. Aunties is the lady to............ I gave the list.
   1. A. who
   2. B. whom
   3. C. which
   4. D. whose
   Answer: B
6. He's your friend,............?
   1. A. doesn't he
   2. B. does he
   3. C. isn't he
   4. D. isn't it
   Answer: C
7. Kay: You didn't go to Accra, did you? Lee:............
   1. A. No, I did
   2. B. No, I didn't
   3. C. Yes, did I
   4. D. Yes, I didn't
   Answer: B
8. You had better............ now.
   1. A. left
   2. B. leave
   3. C. be leaving
   4. D. to leave
   Answer: B
9. Kwame asked his friend to............ him a pen.
   1. A. borrow
   2. B. excuse
   3. C. lend
   4. D. spare
   Answer: C
10. She ended the letter,............
    1. A. 'Yours sincerely'
    2. B. 'Your's sincerely'
    3. C. 'Yours' sincerely'
    4. D. 'Your sincerely'
    Answer: A

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11. The woman refused to sell me............ kerosene.
    1. A. any
    2. B. little
    3. C. plenty
    4. D. some
12. 'Yes,............ a book,' he said.
    1. A. is
    2. B. its
    3. C. it's
    4. D. it
13. I know you are much............ than Esi.
    1. A. tall
    2. B. taller
    3. C. tallest
    4. D. the taller
14. Neither John nor his friend,............ a play to the end.
    1. A. watch
    2. B. watches
    3. C. was watching
    4. D. were watching
15. Araba and Osei are a devoted couple who love............
    1. A. each other
    2. B. one another
    3. C. themselves
    4. D. the other

Section B

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

16. The welfare of students should be the concern of teachers.
    1. A. growth
    2. B. joy
    3. C. wealth
    4. D. well-being
17. He said the practice was alien to him.
    1. A. boring
    2. B. new
    3. C. modern
    4. D. unfamiliar
18. He said the story was fictitious.
    1. A. artificial
    2. B. false
    3. C. interesting
    4. D. real
19. The man placed an order for rice and stew at the restaurant.
    1. A. a command
    2. B. a demand
    3. C. a request
    4. D. a directive
20. There is nothing with which to compare the infinite knowledge and power of Providence.
    1. A. endless
    2. B. immeasurable
    3. C. incomplete
    4. D. inconstant

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.

21. Nimo worked hard after his business had collapsed and soon found his feet. This means that he............
    1. A. bought a new fleet of cars.
    2. B. could walk again.
    3. C. revived the business.
    4. D. sold the rest of the business.
22. Manna lay aside some money for Baaba's party. This means that Manna............
    1. A. refused to host the party.
    2. B. saved money for the party.
    3. C. spent money on the party.
    4. D. took a loan to organise the party.
23. Mary described the occasion as a red-letter day. This means that the occasion was............
    1. A. bloody
    2. B. enjoyable
    3. C. memorable
    4. D. rough
24. George has been relieved of his post. This means that George has been............
    1. A. dismissed.
    2. B. given another assignment.
    3. C. demoted.
    4. D. promoted.
25. Foli and Adzovi hit it off quite well. This means they............
    1. A. fight often
    2. B. get on very well
    3. C. play as a team.
    4. D. present good arguments.

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.

26. People in our village polite to strangers.
    1. A. cruel
    2. B. mean
    3. C. rude
    4. D. unfair
27. Fishes are plentiful in the pond.
    1. A. little
    2. B. scarce
    3. C. small
    4. D. unusual
28. The price of petrol has fallen for no reason.
    1. A. aggravated
    2. B. doubled
    3. C. risen
    4. D. weakened
29. Cann worked hard to stock the shop.
    1. A. decorate
    2. B. empty
    3. C. fill
    4. D. reinforce
30. There was mayhem as the crowd scattered.
    1. A. anger
    2. B. fear
    3. C. order
    4. D. riot

Paper 2: Theory

PART A ESSAY WRITING

Answer one question only from this part. Your composition should be about 250 words long.

1. You have been installed a chief in your hometown. Write a letter to your friend in another school telling him or her, at least, two things you intend doing to develop the town.
2. Write an article for publication in one of the national newspapers on the topic: The usefulness of the mobile phone.
3. Write a story that ends with the expression: So it pays to be kind to strangers.

PART B COMPREHENSION

Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follow.

4. Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follow.
   
   My desire to win gold and also see the sea drove me to a small coastal village. Though I had little food and drink, I covered a great distance. Towards dusk, I could sight the sea from a distance. I was really excited. Its immense size stretched as far as the eyes could see.
   
   As the stars appeared in the sky, I ascended the hill and saw the village of my quest. I was dead with fatigue. To worsen my plight, there were blisters on my heel so I had to take a rest. But as I descended the hill, I was welcomed by the quietness of the place.
   
   The villagers were enjoying the cool evening air. From the lagoon came the croaking of frogs. Children played and ran about excitedly. The village life was natural and simple. I sat on a bench close by. How good it was to rest!
   
   I resolved to rest on the bench. As I lay there, a sheet of mist rolled in from the sea and settled upon the village. In a few minutes, the village was filled with mist and everybody was running helter-skelter. I was drenched to the skin.
   
   I had decided to move to the next village when a woman suddenly walked up to me. For some time I had seen her gazing at me with pity. Now, as if she read my thoughts, she said, 'If you would accept my hospitality, you will be sheltered till the morning. Just charity.' She was about thirty years of age, dressed in black with a pale face and dark eyes.
   
   Papaye hut held special appeal for its serene environment. For many days, I was well catered for and this enabled me to replenish my energy. It was with a heavy heart, when the time for departure arrived, that I bade farewell to my benefactress.
   
   Questions:
   
   a) State why the writer went to the coast.
   
   b) i) How did the writer find life in the village?
   
   ii) Why did the writer decide to go to the next village?
   
   c) i) '............ my plight.' What does this refer to?
   
   ii) '............ everybody was running helter-skelter.' What do you think had happened?
   
   d) i) What two adjectives would you use to describe the character of the woman?
   
   ii) What does the appearance of the woman suggest?
   
   e) Explain the following expressions in your own words:
   
   i) drenched to the skin
   
   ii) she read my thoughts
   
   iii) with a heavy heart.
   
   f) For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same, and can fit into the passage:
   
   i) immense
   
   ii) ascended
   
   iii) resolved
   
   iv) serene
   
   v) replenish

PART C LITERATURE

Answer all the questions in this part.

5. SACKEY J. A. AND DARMANI L. (COMP): The Cockcrow
   
   Questions 5(a) to 5(c) are based on one of the prescribed short stories for your study. Provide short answer to them.
   
   MERRILL CORNEY: Debbies, Sandy and Pepe
   
   a) What is referred to as Poor little thing in the story?
   
   b) What is the setting of the story?
   
   c) The attitude of the girls to the baby bird is that of............
   
   Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 5(d) and 5(e)
   
   KAAKYIRE AKOSOMO NYANTAKYI: Tell My Son to Hold On to His Gun
   
   'Be courageous, be courageous, Kwame, be courageous!'
   
   'I will be, Father, I will be' I answered, and entered the thick forest...... [page 93]
   
   d) 'Be courageous, be courageous, Kwame, be courageous' is an example of the use of a literary device term...............
   
   e) How did Kwame show that he was courageous at the end of the story?
   
   Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 5(f) and 5(g)
   
   JEAN WATSON: The Old Man And His Children
   
   Once there was an old man who had seven sons. They should have been his pride and joy. But they were not. [page 17]
   
   f) The above extract is a/an............ to a story.
   
   g) The idea expressed in the second sentence is that of............
   
   Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 5(h) and 5(j)
   
   AMA ATA AIDOO: The Dilemma of a Ghost
   
   Yes, my young woman, I shall remember you. I shall remember you in the hours of the night In my sleepless sleep. [page 62]
   
   h) '............ young woman' refers to............
   
   i) The 'sleepless sleep' of the speaker is caused by............
   
   j) '............ sleepless sleep' shows that the speaker is ............

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