BECE 2023 English Language Past Questions and Answers

30 objective questions and 5 theory questions from the 2023 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.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, ......?
1. A. shan't it
2. B. isn't it
3. C. doesn't it
4. D. can't it
Answer: C
You cannot swim in the sea, ...... you?
1. A. couldn't
2. B. can
3. C. don't
4. D. did
Answer: B
It is no use ...... over spilt milk.
1. A. cry
2. B. of crying
3. C. crying
4. D. to cry
Answer: C
Some of the pineapples are ...... sour to be eaten.
1. A. more so
2. B. more too
3. C. much too
4. D. much so
Answer: C
......, learners must behave well.
1. A. The last but not least
2. B. The last but not the least
3. C. Last but not least
4. D. Last but not the least
Answer: C
Where ...... Asana and Betty spending their next holidays?
1. A. is
2. B. are
3. C. were
4. D. was
Answer: B
The messenger did not ...... anyone in the house.
1. A. meet
2. B. met
3. C. meets
4. D. meeting
Answer: A
She lives in her ...... house.
1. A. father-in-laws'
2. B. fathers-in-laws'
3. C. father's-in-law's
4. D. father-in-law's
Answer: D
Their sister wore a ...... to the party.
1. A. beautiful silk pink dress
2. B. silk pink beautiful dress
3. C. pink beautiful silk dress
4. D. beautiful pink silk dress
Answer: D
It was ...... late to go out alone.
1. A. too
2. B. very
3. C. much
4. D. so
Answer: A

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

This is the boy ...... rescued us.
1. A. whose
2. B. which
3. C. whom
4. D. who
The nurse made me ...... a lot of water.
1. A. drink
2. B. drank
3. C. drunk
4. D. to drink
It is not easy to identify ...... voice it was.
1. A. who
2. B. whom
3. C. who's
4. D. whose
Neither the parents nor the child ...... at home yesterday.
1. A. are
2. B. is
3. C. were
4. D. was
Her clothes would look better if she ...... them.
1. A. will wash
2. B. washes
3. C. washed
4. D. would wash

Section B

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

We will not allow him to dampen our spirits.
1. A. suppress
2. B. break
3. C. destroy
4. D. lower
The commotion at the stadium was avoidable.
1. A. trouble
2. B. confusion
3. C. issue
4. D. violence
What transpired between them remains a secret.
1. A. manifested
2. B. translated
3. C. existed
4. D. happened
Lance only talks about trivial matters.
1. A. unimportant
2. B. unpleasant
3. C. unacceptable
4. D. unexciting
The robbers ransacked the house.
1. A. torched
2. B. destroyed
3. C. invaded
4. D. looted

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 was informed at the eleventh hour about his decision to leave town.
1. A. very late
2. B. at eleven o'clock
3. C. immediately
4. D. in good time
We tried all we could to amuse her but she kept a straight face. This means that she
1. A. did not listen to us
2. B. looked straight ahead
3. C. refused to laugh
4. D. cried all the more
When we went to Nina's house, we were told that she had gone away bag and baggage.
1. A. leaving all her children
2. B. leaving all her belongings
3. C. without informing anyone
4. D. with all her belongings
Samantha's main problem is that she can see no further than her nose.
1. A. lacks foresight
2. B. is easily deceived
3. C. has a long nose
4. D. cannot think
When he lost his job, Yaro was left to sink or swim. This means that Yaro
1. A. had to find another job
2. B. shouted for help
3. C. had to survive on his own
4. D. was depressed

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.

She accidentally tore her dress.
1. A. intentionally
2. B. willingly
3. C. carelessly
4. D. foolishly
The story was written in simple language.
1. A. foreign
2. B. strange
3. C. local
4. D. complex
The arrogant storekeeper lost all his customers.
1. A. respectful
2. B. obedient
3. C. modest
4. D. sympathetic
We finished several projects last year.
1. A. initiated
2. B. concluded
3. C. stopped
4. D. organized
The unfavourable weather affected their health.
1. A. beautiful
2. B. pleasant
3. C. cool
4. D. promising

Paper 2: Theory

PART A ESSAY WRITING

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

Write a letter to the Director of Health of your district, discussing two ways in which the activities of some food sellers affect the health of people in your community and suggest one solution to the problem.
Narrate an interesting story that ends with the statement, 'Indeed, it was a great achievement.'
Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on two effects of poor disposal of waste on the people and suggest two ways of solving the problem.

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 that follow.

The new Headmistress of Beso Junior High School was impressed with the infrastructure and equipment in the school. She was also pleased with the staff and student population. However, one thing puzzled her. The students' performance was very poor, according to the records. She had a discussion with the staff who complained of student absenteeism due to ill health. A nurse in the community told her that the children were often under the weather. They had malaria, although every family had been given insecticide-treated mosquito nets. It seemed however that the people did not use these nets as they should, and therefore the numerous mosquitoes in the environment continued to bite them.

While visiting some of the sick children in the community, the Headmistress noticed that there were several pits filled with water. At a general PTA meeting, she explained how mosquitoes could breed in the stagnant water in the pits. She also pointed out the effects of the poor health of the children on their academic performance. She then appealed for help to destroy the breeding places of the mosquitoes so that the children would become healthier and perform better in school.

Although some of the parents did not understand the connection between the water in the pits and the performance of the students, they agreed to help her. During the next dry season, work started. All hands were on deck. The people worked very hard and the pits were filled. Trees and flowers were planted on the reclaimed land. The community now looked more beautiful than before. Soon, the children's health improved and, later, their performance in the final examinations became better.

Questions:

a) Mention two things that Headmistress liked about the school.

b) In which two ways did the children's poor health affect them?

c) Why did the Headmistress involve the parents in solving the problem?

d) i) What made the community succeed in filling the pits?

ii) What two benefits did the filling of the pits bring to the community?

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

i) 'one thing puzzled her';

ii) 'often under the weather';

iii) 'All hands were on deck.'

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

i) noticed;

ii) pits;

iii) appealed;

iv) perform;

v) connection.

PART C LITERATURE

Answer all the questions in this part.

Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 5(a) to 5(c).

KEN SARO-WIWA: Home Sweet Home

"My friend, Sira, was Waale's only daughter. As I said, we had grown up together, and had attended school together. She had not been able to complete her elementary schooling, although she was a brilliant girl."

(a) Who is Waale?

(b) Sira could not complete her elementary schooling because ......

(c) Sira was not among the people who came to welcome the writer because ......

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

AMA ATA AIDOO: The Girl Who Can

"They say that I was born in Hasodzi; and it is a very big village in the Central Region of our country, Ghana."

(d) The extract is the ...... of the story.

(e) 'They say that I was born ......' shows that ......

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

AMA ATA AIDOO: The Dilemma of a Ghost

MONKA [To herself]: I remember the time he was preparing to go to the white man's land ...... The money ...... the money ...... This is something which no one should hear anything about.

(f) According to Monka, one of the things no one should hear anything about is ......

(g) The extract is an example of a/an ......

(h) The money ...... the money ...... is an example of a literary device called ......

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

EVELYN TOOLEY HUNT: Mama Is a Sunrise

When she comes slip-footing through the door, she kindles us like lump-coal lighted and we wake up glowing.

(i) The extract brings out the theme of ......

(j) ... she kindles us like lump-coal lighted ... The dominant figure of speech in the lines above is ......