BECE 2024 English Language Past Questions and Answers

40 objective questions and 5 theory questions from the 2024 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.

If Azameti had won gold, Ghanaians ......
1. A. will have jubilated
2. B. will jubilate
3. C. would have jubilated
4. D. would jubilate
Answer: C
We were served a ...... meal at that cozy restaurant.
1. A. Spanish delicious spicy
2. B. delicious spicy Spanish
3. C. delicious Spanish spicy
4. D. spicy Spanish delicious
Answer: B
Ali's parents have not bought ...... of the two recommended books.
1. A. any
2. B. none
3. C. neither
4. D. either
Answer: D
With exactly two books in a negative sentence, the word is "either"; "any" is for three or more.
Adwoa's daughter is allergic ...... dust.
1. A. about
2. B. against
3. C. with
4. D. to
Answer: D
Dauda saw the thief ...... out of the shop.
1. A. was running
2. B. is running
3. C. run
4. D. ran
Answer: C
Konlaan suggested that it was time they ...... for the meeting
1. A. have to leave
2. B. left
3. C. had to leave
4. D. leave
Answer: B
Last Wednesday, it rained heavily ...... the match was played.
1. A. and
2. B. so
3. C. for
4. D. yet
Answer: D
You haven't met each other before, ...... you?
1. A. hadn't
2. B. have
3. C. haven't
4. D. had
Answer: B
At my last interview, I faced ...... panel.
1. A. seven-members'
2. B. a seven-member
3. C. a seven-member's
4. D. seven-members
Answer: B
Which of the ...... fragrance(s) is milder?
1. A. two
2. B. one
3. C. most
4. D. all
Answer: A

Answers and solutions for questions 11 to 40 are free in the BECE Past Questions app, with timed practice and offline study.

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Last month, there was ......
1. A. an eclipse of a sun
2. B. the eclipse of a sun
3. C. an eclipse of the sun
4. D. the eclipse of the sun
Among the participants for the competition, Eugenia got here ...... early.
1. A. very
2. B. only
3. C. often
4. D. most
Afida's aunt, ...... lives in Tamale spoke to us very courteously.
1. A. who
2. B. whom
3. C. that
4. D. which
"I will keep my word", promised Kende.
The correct reported speech for the sentence above is
1. A. Kende promise to keep her word.
2. B. Kende is promising to keep her word.
3. C. Kende promises to keep her word.
4. D. Kende promised to keep her word.
For winning the first position in the Essay Competition, the school gave Linda a laptop. The correct passive form of the sentence above is For winning the first position in the Essay Competition, Linda ...... given a laptop by the school.
1. A. is
2. B. has been
3. C. was
4. D. is being

Section B

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

Little Asabea wondered why her grandfather walked so slowly.
1. A. was saddened that
2. B. felt frustrated that
3. C. was curious about why
4. D. thought about why
We're so excited because Amuzu's proposal has been accepted.
1. A. suggestion
2. B. offer
3. C. opinion
4. D. view
Mama said, "You can only fight off bullies if you are assertive."
1. A. muscular
2. B. strong
3. C. smart
4. D. bold
The rampant destruction of property must be checked.
1. A. common
2. B. regular
3. C. unpleasant
4. D. uncontrolled
The salient points of the topic have been thoroughly discussed.
1. A. highlighted
2. B. chosen
3. C. important
4. D. interesting

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.

The chief advised his subjects not to allow anger to get the better of them. This means that they should not let anger ...... them.
1. A. divide
2. B. sadden
3. C. control
4. D. deceive
"Do not be such a wet blanket, Afua. Your brother needs all the support you can give him," Auntie Araba chided her daughter. This means that Afua ...... her brother.
1. A. didn't care about
2. B. couldn't wash for
3. C. was too weak to help
4. D. liked to discourage
Asua had to eat his words when Asante Kotoko lost to Tano Bofoakwa FC. This means that Asua ......
1. A. admitted that he was wrong
2. B. denied everything he had said
3. C. became very ashamed
4. D. lost his appetite
The fraudster was paid back in his own coins. This means that he was ......
1. A. given a hot chase
2. B. swindled
3. C. punished
4. D. given new coins
Yaaba hit the nail on the head when she told us that we could only succeed through hardworking. This means that Yaaba ......
1. A. was a good hairdresser
2. B. told us the truth
3. C. tried to deceive us
4. D. showed that she disliked us

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.

Due to ongoing road construction, our shops have been temporarily closed down.
1. A. permanently
2. B. legally
3. C. deliberately
4. D. constantly
Some exercises may seem easy in theoretical terms but can be really difficult in ...... aspects.
1. A. practical
2. B. natural
3. C. logical
4. D. actual
It is good to get a cure for a disease, but it is better to ...... the disease.
1. A. prevent
2. B. protect
3. C. avoid
4. D. counter
It is hard to tell when this began or where it will ......
1. A. fall
2. B. cease
3. C. reside
4. D. remain
Regions with abundant rainfall are different from those having ...... moisture.
1. A. unpredictable
2. B. scanty
3. C. uncertain
4. D. reduced

Section E

In the following passage, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage are four options lettered A to D. For each numbered gap, choose from the options provided, the word that is most suitable.

The meeting began with the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting. The Chairman asked if there were any corrections to be made to the minutes. Then one member complained that after checking the ---31--- list, he realised that his name had been wrongly spelt. The Chairman apologised for the error and the matter was resolved. Two ---32--- were proposed and voted on.

At the end of the discussion, the Chairman asked a member to ---33--- for the closure of the meeting. Tetteh Oko did and he was ---34--- by Adjoa Mansa. The meeting was then ---35--- to a new date.

Choose from the options A to D, the word that is most suitable to fill the gap
1. A. register
2. B. compiled
3. C. present
4. D. attendance
Choose from the options A to D, the word that is most suitable to fill the gap
1. A. motions
2. B. ideas
3. C. decisions
4. D. intentions
Choose from the options A to D, the word that is most suitable to fill the gap
1. A. declare
2. B. call
3. C. recommend
4. D. move
Choose from the options A to D, the word that is most suitable to fill the gap
1. A. approved
2. B. seconded
3. C. upheld
4. D. supported
Choose from the options A to D, the word that is most suitable to fill the gap
1. A. adjourned
2. B. postponed
3. C. deferred
4. D. shifted

Section F : UNIT I

Choose from the options A to D, the one which has the same consonant sound as the word underlined in the sentences below.

Those two are arch rivals.
1. A. splash
2. B. patch
3. C. path
4. D. spark
Prosper is the new chef.
1. A. chord
2. B. chair
3. C. shield
4. D. scheme
Lariba sprang to her feet.
1. A. sprayed
2. B. struck
3. C. slew
4. D. splashed

Section F : UNIT II

Choose from the options A to D, the one which has the same vowel sound as the word underlined in the sentences blow.

Whole grains are healthier than polished ones.
1. A. Gill
2. B. Goal
3. C. Gaul
4. D. Gaol
The heir to the British throne was the Duke of Cornwall.
1. A. here
2. B. hail
3. C. air
4. D. hew

Paper 2: Theory

PART A ESSAY WRITING

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

Your friend who lives in another town thinks that school life is boring and wants to leave school to start petty trading. Write a letter to encourage him/her to remain in school. In the letter, discuss two aspects of school life that you find enjoyable.
A teacher from your school won the first prize as the National Best Teacher. You were selected to represent your school at the ceremony. Write a report on what you saw and discuss two lessons you learned as you observed the event.
It is an election year and the major political parties have started campaigning. As a peace-loving member of your community, write an article for publication in a local newspaper of the community, discussing two ways of maintaining peace during the period.

PART B COMPREHENSION

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

Migration is a common practice among animals: birds, fish, and human beings. Migration of human beings has both positive and negative effects on individuals in the society.

When Bello migrated to the city, he left his wife, Aisha, an enterprising traditional caterer, to fend for herself and their two children. During one of his occasional visits home, his father asked him to take his wife and children to live with him in the city. Reluctantly, Bello gave in.

Aisha had imagined that she would be living in a neat, beautiful, and comfortable house in the city. Instead, she, her husband, and their children were accommodated in a single room. Washroom facilities were shared with other families. To worsen her plight, her housekeeping allowance was so meagre that she could hardly feed her family properly. She wanted to work, but like the other female migrants, she could not find any job. She wondered how they would survive, be able to send money to their parents, and save for a rainy day.

One day, she decided to give her husband a treat and also socialize with their friends. She prepared one of the most inexpensive but tasty delicacies of her people and shared it with her neighbors. Even passers-by popped in for a bite. It was a very successful get-together. Her labor was not in vain. Soon, other women asked her to teach them how to cook some local dishes. She also provided catering services at many events. She was handsomely rewarded. Gradually, Aisha Catering Services became a household name and there was remarkable improvement in their lives.

(a) What was Aisha's occupation before she went to the city?

(b) In which two ways did migrant workers spend their money?

(c) In one adjective, describe how Aisha felt when she arrived in the city.

(d) Why was Bello reluctant?

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

i) to fend for;

ii) save for a rainy day;

iii) was not in vain.

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

i) occasional;

ii) prepared;

iii) handsomely;

iv) improvement.

(g) In two sentences of not more than ten words each, summarize two problems that migrants face as expressed in the third paragraph.

PART C LITERATURE

Answer all the questions in this part.

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

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

CHARLES DICKENS: Oliver Twist

'Boy, what's your name?' snarled the chairman.
'Oliver Twist, sir.'
'You know that you're an orphan, is that right?'
'What's an orphan, sir?'

(a) The chairman's tone tells us that he is ......
(b) From Oliver's question, we can tell that he is ......

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

KAAKYIRE AKOSOMO NYANTAKYI: The Generous Hunter

Calm down, Mr. Hunter, I come in peace. Your ability to distinguish me from my younger brother has surprised me. Many people think we are identical twins.

(c) Why did the speaker go to see the hunter?
(d) What lesson can we learn from the speaker's action?

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

ROBERT FROST: A Minor Bird

The fault must partly have been in me
The bird was not to blame for his key
And of course there must be something wrong
In wanting to silence any song

(e) Give the rhyming scheme for the extract above.
(f) From the poem, what lesson do you learn about fault finding?

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

LAWRENCE DARMANI: Scribbler's Dream

Tell you the truth:
the gold adorning the neck
once was lost in rocky soils
They dig deep who find it!

(g) The dominant literary device in the 2nd and 3rd lines is ......
(h) What does the writer mean by 'They dig deep who find it'?

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

AMA ATAA 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 sleep,
In my sleepless sleep.

(i) Who does 'my young woman' refer to?
(j) What is the figure of speech in the expression, 'In my sleepless sleep'?