BECE 2020 English Language Past Questions and Answers

30 objective questions and 5 theory questions from the 2020 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: LEXIS AND STRUCTURE

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

Seth has bought and ............ a loaf of bread.
1. A. ate
2. B. eats
3. C. eaten
4. D. eating
Answer: C
My mum and............ visited Joseph.
1. A. I
2. B. myself
3. C. me
4. D. ourselves
Answer: A
The tiger............ in wait for its prey.
1. A. lie
2. B. lain
3. C. laid
4. D. lay
Answer: D
It's about time we......... studying hard.
1. A. start
2. B. should start
3. C. started
4. D. are starting
Answer: C
Ben now wishes he............ his studies early.
1. A. began
2. B. begun
3. C. begins
4. D. has begun
Answer: A
This is exactly............ our mum tried to make you understand.
1. A. all what
2. B. all that
3. C. something that
4. D. something which
Answer: B
Would you rather we........... tomorrow?
1. A. should leave
2. B. are leaving
3. C. leave
4. D. left
Answer: D
She is my........... sister.
1. A. senior
2. B. elder
3. C. older
4. D. matured
Answer: B
We cannot make tea because we have........... sugar left.
1. A. a little
2. B. very little
3. C. a few
4. D. very few
Answer: B
You should not tell.......... about our plans.
1. A. no other
2. B. nobody
3. C. any other
4. D. anyone
Answer: D

Answers and solutions for questions 11 to 30 are free in the BECE Past Questions app, with timed practice and offline study.

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On Android? Get it on Google Play

The leader........... suffer alone.
1. A. needs not
2. B. need not
3. C. needs not to
4. D. need not to
The flower pot is made.......... clay.
1. A. with
2. B. by
3. C. of
4. D. in
Let's go out and play,..........?
1. A. will you
2. B. shall we
3. C. can you
4. D. would you
Sarah would have passed her examination........... she studied hard.
1. A. should
2. B. had
3. C. has
4. D. could
The four brothers haven't seen........... since June last year.
1. A. theirself
2. B. each another
3. C. themselves
4. D. each 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.

Celia shook with fright.
1. A. excitement
2. B. cheerfulness
3. C. hope
4. D. fear
The radio is a potent medium of communication.
1. A. fast
2. B. necessary
3. C. powerful
4. D. sound
Trading is a lucrative economic activity.
1. A. profitable
2. B. legitimate
3. C. desirable
4. D. cherished
The scarcity of doctors is a matter of public concern.
1. A. weakness
2. B. shortage
3. C. suffering
4. D. indiscipline
My twin brother is very inquisitive.
1. A. curious
2. B. brilliant
3. C. friendly
4. D. talkative

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.

I'm going to make you eat your words. That means that you will..........
1. A. become shocked
2. B. be punished
3. C. admit you are wrong
4. D. face the consequences of your actions
Those children were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. This means that the children were born...
1. A. with their mouth full of silver
2. B. in good health
3. C. in happy homes
4. D. in wealth and luxury
The driver passed out soon after the accident occurred. This means that the driver..........
1. A. ran away
2. B. died
3. C. fainted
4. D. vomited
Susan was on edge after that incident. This means that she was............
1. A. confused
2. B. surprised
3. C. nervous
4. D. unhappy
We were taken to the police station like a lamb to the slaughter. This means that we were taken there............
1. A. with our clothes removed
2. B. without resistance
3. C. with difficulty
4. D. in a violent manner

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.

These simple rules were infringed.
1. A. observed
2. B. violated
3. C. changed
4. D. formulated
His expressions are rather colloquial.
1. A. informal
2. B. archaic
3. C. formal
4. D. modern
The visitor's timidity surprised us.
1. A. hostility
2. B. sincerity
3. C. boldness
4. D. carelessness
Opaque ballot boxes are no longer used in elections.
1. A. covered
2. B. transparent
3. C. painted
4. D. dark
Dave walked briskly to the meeting.
1. A. slowly
2. B. carefully
3. C. reluctantly
4. D. clumsily

Paper 2: Theory

PART A ESSAY WRITING

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

Write an article for the publication in a national newspaper on the topic, The harmful effects of examination malpractice.
As the senior prefect of your school, write a letter to the headmaster, discussing two reasons why the school should instill moral values into the students.
Write a speech you should give to the people in your community on how to keep the environment clean.

PART B COMPREHENSION

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

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

The academic performance of students in the olden days was golden. Students knew the essence of education and made efforts to achieve excellence. Reading whatever material, they came across not only helped their mental development but also made them self-reliant and confident. Students burned the midnight oil in order to make grades and to come out of the school as better people.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of students today. Whatever students achieved in the past is considered archaic. The emergence of improved technology has bedeviled society. Students prefer staying in touch with friends and loved ones. The use of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has taken over their entire being. Reading useful materials like dailies, storybooks, and others is now a thing of the past. The negative influence of social media has deprived students of achieving excellence. Examination malpractices, mass failure in examinations, and bad language have become the order of the day.

Modern technology has its benefits. In addition to serving as a great tool for businesses, it enables students to access information easily. What is more, it enables easy interactions between friends and loved ones. As much as these are important, students should realize that, without good moral practices, education, and reading, the future remains blurred. Students can eradicate the negative effects of modern technology on them if only they remain focused on their academic work.

a) State two benefits of reading mentioned in the passage.

b) For what two reasons did students study late into the night in the past?

c) State two benefits of modern technology.

d) How can students get rid of the harmful influence of social media?

e) Explain in your own words the following expressions as used in the passage:

I. Burn the midnight oil;

II. Taken over their being;

III. The order of the day.

f) For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same, and can fit into the passage:

I. golden;

II. excellence;

III. archaic;

IV. blurred;

V. eradicate.

PART C LITERATURE

Answer all the questions in this part.

SACKEY J.A and DARMANI L. (COMP): The Cockcrow

Questions 5(a) to 5(c) are based on the abridged and simplified version of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist.

CHARLES DICKENS: Oliver Twist

'Oliver was given a slice of bread and a simple outfit with a brown cap to wear outside. He meekly followed him outside the workhouse to his new home. Once there, he was brought before a committee of ten men.'

5a. Write the name of the one referred to as 'him' in the extract.

5b. One thing Oliver learns from 'committee of ten men' is..........

5c. How does Oliver react to the information he gets from the committee?

Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 5(d) and 5(e)

PETER PAUL ADOLINAMA; Ripples

'Abi, which of your sons died recently or was it your business which collapsed?............ You have not been yourself these few days.'

5d. Identify the speaker in the extract.

5e. What is Abi worried about?

Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 5(f) to 5(h)

AMA ATA AIDOO: The Dilemma of a Ghost.

1st WOMAN:

If her son gets goodly bag by the month. Why has Esi Kom still not..........'

2nd WOMAN: They never ask 'Why'. Is it not the young man's wife?

1st WOMAN: What has she done now?

2nd WOMAN: Listen. I hear she swallows money as a hen does corn.

5f. Who is referred to as 'the young man's wife'?

5g. State the literary device used in 'Is it not the young man's wife?'.

5h. What is the meaning of 'she swallows money as a hen does corn'?

Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 5(i) and 5(j).

A. A. AMOAKO: Sleep Without Wake

'You put me through my infant paces

On Gold Coast Ga ShikpƆŋ

Taa taa, tuu tuu, in your maternal steps,

Maame Tutuaa, condolences!'

5i. Identify the main literary device used in the title of the poem 'Sleep Without Wake.'

5j. The words 'Taa taa, tuu tuu' appeal to the reader's sense of............