BECE 1991 Social Studies Past Questions and Answers

Paper 1: Objectives

1. The earth rotates on its axis every
   1. A. 12 hours
   2. B. 24 hours
   3. C. 36 hours
   4. D. 48 hours
   5. E. 50 hours
   Answer: B
2. The ratio between measurement on a map and the actual corresponding distance on the ground is
   1. A. a longitude
   2. B. a scale
   3. C. a latitude
   4. D. an isotherm
   5. E. a contour
   Answer: B
3. The instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure is called
   1. A. rain gauge
   2. B. thermometer
   3. C. an anemometer
   4. D. barometer
   5. E. wind vane
   Answer: D
4. Which of the following is not an imaginary line drawn on maps?
   1. A. Axis
   2. B. Equator
   3. C. Latitude
   4. D. Longitude
   5. E. Greenwich Meridian
   Answer: A
5. The conventional sign ∆ drawn on topographical maps stands for
   1. A. survey beacon
   2. B. boundary pillar
   3. C. wireless station
   4. D. camp site
   5. E. trigonometric station
   Answer: E
6. A long narrow depression with a downward slope on the earth’s surface is called
   1. A. an inselberg
   2. B. sand dune
   3. C. valley
   4. D. a ridge
   5. E. a spur
   Answer: C
7. The following are continents in the world except
   1. A. Africa
   2. B. Canada
   3. C. Europe
   4. D. Australia
   5. E. South America
   Answer: B
8. The capital of the Upper East Region is
   1. A. Bolgatanga
   2. B. Tamale
   3. C. Wa
   4. D. Bawku
   5. E. Zuarungu
   Answer: A
9. The highest annual rainfall in Ghana is recorded at
   1. A. Accra
   2. B. Kumasi
   3. C. Sunyani
   4. D. Navrongo
   5. E. Axim
   Answer: E
10. In which of the following regions in Ghana is Lake Bosomtwi located?
    1. A. Brong Ahafo
    2. B. Eastern
    3. C. Central
    4. D. Ashanti
    5. E. Northern
    Answer: D

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11. Nsuta in Ghana is noted for the mining of
    1. A. diamond
    2. B. manganese
    3. C. bauxite
    4. D. salt
    5. E. gold
12. The language spoken by the largest group of people in Ghana is
    1. A. Hausa
    2. B. Ewe
    3. C. Akan
    4. D. Guan
    5. E. Dagaare
13. The Aboakyir festival is celebrated by the people of
    1. A. Dodowa
    2. B. Elmina
    3. C. Wenchi
    4. D. Salaga
    5. E. Winneba
14. Which of the following is a primary occupation?
    1. A. Fishing
    2. B. Teaching
    3. C. Carpentry
    4. D. Trading
    5. E. Dressmaking
15. Golden jubilee is celebrated at every
    1. A. 10 years
    2. B. 15 years
    3. C. 25 years
    4. D. 50 years
    5. E. 100 years
16. Which of the following West African countries is the leading producer of phosphate?
    1. A. Ghana
    2. B. La Cote d'Ivoire
    3. C. Nigeria
    4. D. Liberia
    5. E. Togo
17. The first castle built in Ghana in 1482 was in
    1. A. Cape Coast
    2. B. Accra
    3. C. Axim
    4. D. Anomabo
    5. E. Elmina
18. The Jos plateau in Nigeria is noted for the production of
    1. A. Gold
    2. B. Bauxite
    3. C. Tin
    4. D. Diamond
    5. E. Coal
19. The Meteorological Services Department deals with
    1. A. water
    2. B. star
    3. C. power
    4. D. minerals
    5. E. weather
20. Electricity from Ghana is exported to
    1. A. Gabon
    2. B. Togo
    3. C. Nigeria
    4. D. Liberia
    5. E. Sierra Leone
21. The Fulanis are noted for
    1. A. lumbering
    2. B. herding
    3. C. trading
    4. D. fishing
    5. E. mining
22. The Sagrenti War of 1874 was fought between the
    1. A. Fantes and Asantes
    2. B. British and Fantes
    3. C. Akyems and Asantes
    4. D. British and Asantes
    5. E. Akwapims and Akwamus
23. Yaa Asantewaa, who led the Asante army to war in 1901, was the queenmother of
    1. A. Kumasi
    2. B. Kromantsi
    3. C. Ejisu
    4. D. Juaben
    5. E. Bekwai
24. The first capital town to be built by the Asantes was
    1. A. Kumawu
    2. B. Kumasi
    3. C. Kokofu
    4. D. Nsuta
    5. E. Asantemanso
25. Who was the first person to represent the British government in the Gold Coast?
    1. A. Captain George Maclean
    2. B. Commander Hill
    3. C. Sir Gordon Guggisberg
    4. D. Sir Charles McCarthy
    5. E. Sir Alan Burns
26. Who was the chairman of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC)?
    1. A. George Grant
    2. B. Dr JB Danquah
    3. C. Ako Adjei
    4. D. EA Akuffo-Addo
    5. E. Obetsebi Lamptey
27. The capital of the ancient Ghana Empire was
    1. A. Walata
    2. B. Kumbi-Saleh
    3. C. Gao
    4. D. Jeriba
    5. E. Timbuktu
28. The most important commodities of the Trans-Saharan trade were
    1. A. salt and kola nuts
    2. B. gold and gunpowder
    3. C. salt and gold
    4. D. palm oil and gold
    5. E. beads and salt
29. The Organization of African Unity is made up of only
    1. A. independent African states
    2. B. dependent African states
    3. C. colonized African states
    4. D. warring African states
    5. E. black African states
30. The Mediterranean lands are well known for the production of
    1. A. minerals
    2. B. textiles
    3. C. citrus
    4. D. metals
    5. E. chemicals
31. Which of the following diseases cannot be prevented by immunization?
    1. A. Measles
    2. B. AIDS
    3. C. Polio
    4. D. Small Pox
    5. E. Whooping Cough
32. How many countries form the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)?
    1. A. Ten
    2. B. Fourteen
    3. C. Sixteen
    4. D. Twenty
    5. E. Twenty-one
33. Which of the following countries is not a member of the Economics Community of West African States?
    1. A. Guinea Bissau
    2. B. Mali
    3. C. Mauritania
    4. D. Cameroon
34. Commonwealth Day falls on
    1. A. 12th March
    2. B. 1st May
    3. C. 1st July
    4. D. 24th October
    5. E. 31st December
35. Bauxite is the raw material for the production of
    1. A. brass
    2. B. steel
    3. C. aluminium
    4. D. bronze
    5. E. copper
36. Who was the first chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)?
    1. A. Ahmed Sekou Toure
    2. B. Jomo Kenyatta
    3. C. Dr Kwame Nkrumah
    4. D. Nnamdi Azikiwe
    5. E. Haile Selassie
37. The headquarters of the World Health Organization is at
    1. A. Addis Ababa
    2. B. Geneva
    3. C. Washington DC
    4. D. New York
    5. E. Cairo
38. The system of apartheid was practiced in
    1. A. Ireland
    2. B. Congo
    3. C. Korea
    4. D. South Africa
    5. E. Britain
39. In which year was Nelson Mandela released from prison?
    1. A. 1970
    2. B. 1979
    3. C. 1980
    4. D. 1989
    5. E. 1990
40. The factions in the Liberia civil war signed the Bamako Peace Accord in
    1. A. July 1990
    2. B. August 1990
    3. C. October 1990
    4. D. November 1990
    5. E. December 1990

Paper 2: Theory

1. Describe any four methods used for showing relief features on maps.
2. The figures below represent the amount of rainfall recorded in a village from 1st to 7th September 1989:
   
   September: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
   
   Amount of rainfall (mm): 30, 38, 25, 50, 65, 75, 82
   
   a) Using a graph paper and a suitable scale draw a bar graph to illustrate the figures.
   
   b) On which day was the highest amount of rainfall recorded?
   
   c) What was the lowest amount of rainfall recorded?
   
   d) Name the instrument used for recording rainfall.
3. What would you consider as four main benefits of the Junior Secondary School Education?
4. a) Identify five important types of timber found in the forest of Ghana.
   
   b) Mention five uses of timber.
5. a) What are the four major problems related to cattle rearing in Africa?
   
   b) Suggest solutions to any two of these problems.
6. What are four effects of wars in the world?

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