BECE 2004 Social Studies Past Questions and Answers

Paper 1: Objectives

1. An effect of slavery on Africa was that it
   1. A. took active persons away
   2. B. improved its image
   3. C. brought about co-operation
   4. D. increased its population
   Answer: A
2. The first Europeans to arrive in Ghana in 1471 came from
   1. A. France
   2. B. Spain
   3. C. Switzerland
   4. D. Portugal
   Answer: D
3. The claim that the ancestors of the Akan migrated from Ancient Ghana is mainly based on
   1. A. linguistic evidence
   2. B. Soninke records
   3. C. cultural similarities
   4. D. genetic evidence
   Answer: C
4. The Fon and Aja of the Republic of Benin are closely related to the
   1. A. Guan of Ghana
   2. B. Ewe of Ghana
   3. C. Ga of Ghana
   4. D. Mamprusi of Ghana
   Answer: B
5. Evidence of Mamprusi origin is obtained during the Damba festival from
   1. A. state linguists
   2. B. state trumpeters
   3. C. state drummers
   4. D. sword bearers
   Answer: C
6. Unity among ethnic groups in Ghana can be promoted through
   1. A. formal education
   2. B. informal education
   3. C. inter-marriages
   4. D. opinion leaders
   Answer: C
7. Badu saw a man throwing a ten-thousand cedi note into a grave. What has this person done?
   1. A. He has rejected the money
   2. B. He has destroyed national property
   3. C. He has done what a citizen should do
   4. D. He has mourned properly
   Answer: B
8. Forts and castles were built purposely by the early Europeans for
   1. A. evangelists and teachers
   2. B. sailors and for use as chapels
   3. C. soldiers and miners
   4. D. use as depots and for protection
   Answer: D
9. Which of the following ethnic groups in Ghana trace their origin from Ile Ife in Nigeria?
   1. A. The Ga
   2. B. The Gonja
   3. C. The Nzema
   4. D. The Mamprusi
   Answer: A
10. The Asante Kingdom was colonized by the British through
    1. A. trade agreement
    2. B. persuasion
    3. C. military invasion
    4. D. co-operation
    Answer: C

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11. The Volta Region before World War I was a colony of
    1. A. Portugal
    2. B. Germany
    3. C. Britain
    4. D. Italy
12. People from various ethnic groups are found in the cities of Ghana because of
    1. A. tourism
    2. B. trade
    3. C. conflicts
    4. D. food
13. Writing a bill into a legal language is done by the
    1. A. Attorney-General's Department
    2. B. Registrar-General's Department
    3. C. Judicial Council
    4. D. Council of State
14. If Musah wants a new law to be made against armed robbery whom will he contact?
    1. A. A Judge
    2. B. A Parliamentarian
    3. C. The Police
    4. D. The President
15. The constitution of a country is endorsed by the people through
    1. A. census
    2. B. acclamation
    3. C. a referendum
    4. D. bye-election
16. The demand for 'self government now' was made in 1949 by
    1. A. Dr J. B. Danquah
    2. B. Dr Kwame Nkrumah
    3. C. Dr K. A. Busia
    4. D. Dr Kwegyir Aggrey
17. Government revenue for developmental projects is raised mainly through
    1. A. minting of currency
    2. B. inflation
    3. C. over-invoicing
    4. D. taxation
18. The principle of separation of powers prevents
    1. A. ethnic conflicts
    2. B. coalition governments
    3. C. dictatorial governments
    4. D. political associations
19. Which of the following should be identified as the major causes of ethnic conflicts in Ghana?
    
    I. Chieftaincy disputes
    
    II. Land disputes
    
    III. Cultural similarities
    
    IV. Struggling for contracts
    1. A. I and II
    2. B. II and III
    3. C. II and IV
    4. D. III and IV
20. On which of the following occasions is the parallel culture of prayer not demonstrated in Ghana?
    1. A. Independence day
    2. B. Eid-il-Fitr
    3. C. Teachers' Day
    4. D. Farmers' Day
21. Science education is very important in schools because it
    1. A. makes students think quickly in solving a problem
    2. B. makes students live longer
    3. C. leads to the acquisition of technological knowledge
    4. D. promotes peaceful co-existence
22. An administrative clerk at the Ministry of Education is a
    1. A. director
    2. B. diplomat
    3. C. public servant
    4. D. civil servant
23. Which of the following may not be considered in finding one's direction home, when one's way is lost in the forest?
    1. A. Prominent landscape
    2. B. Shouting for help
    3. C. Direction of the sun
    4. D. Direction of the wind
24. Bawku is located north-east of
    1. A. Bolgatanga
    2. B. Bimbilla
    3. C. Yendi
    4. D. Ho
25. A good layout of a settlement includes all the following except
    1. A. disaster prevention
    2. B. easier movement
    3. C. good sanitation
    4. D. overcrowding
26. Which of the following minerals can be used to improve upon the fertility of the soil?
    1. A. Bauxite
    2. B. Iron
    3. C. Phosphate
    4. D. Diamond
27. Which of the following countries is within the same time zone as Ghana?
    1. A. Nigeria
    2. B. Senegal
    3. C. Britain
    4. D. Canada
28. The Prairie Provinces in Canada produce the raw material for making
    1. A. wine
    2. B. bread
    3. C. paper
    4. D. wool
29. Ghana is not economically independent because of her
    1. A. poor natural resources
    2. B. low per capita income
    3. C. poor banking practices
    4. D. over-reliance on foreign loans
30. Low savings by Ghanaian workers is mainly due to
    1. A. high dependency ratio
    2. B. low exchange rate of the cedi
    3. C. laziness of Ghanaian workers
    4. D. extravagant living of Ghanaians
31. Efficiency of the labour force is achieved through
    1. A. poor work attitude
    2. B. moral education
    3. C. sacrificial work
    4. D. training and retraining
32. Which of the following tertiary industries is a leading foreign exchange earner in Ghana?
    1. A. Insurance
    2. B. Tourism
    3. C. Transport
    4. D. Banking
33. Productivity in agriculture can be increased in Ghana through
    1. A. changes in the land tenure system
    2. B. the employment of more labourers
    3. C. application of modern technology
    4. D. relying on foreign experts
34. Which of the following business enterprises is privately owned?
    1. A. Ghana Railways Corporation
    2. B. Unilever Ghana Limited
    3. C. Ghana Water Company
    4. D. Ghana Highways Authority
35. Productivity in the Public Service is low because of
    1. A. poor work attitude
    2. B. aged workers
    3. C. abundant production
    4. D. effective supervision
36. Ghana receives loans and aid from the World Bank because of its membership of the
    1. A. African Union (AU)
    2. B. Commonwealth
    3. C. United Nations Organization (UNO)
    4. D. Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
37. The Voluntary Service Overseas is associated with the
    1. A. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
    2. B. United Nations Organization (UNO)
    3. C. African Union (AU)
    4. D. Commonwealth
38. Which of the following countries has the least per capita income?
    1. A. Japan
    2. B. Ghana
    3. C. Britain
    4. D. Canada
39. The Chief Justice of Britain who made the slave trade illegal was
    1. A. Fowell Buxton
    2. B. Granville Sharp
    3. C. Lord Mansfield
    4. D. William Wilberforce
40. The most effective way of solving the socio-economic problems of the modern world is through the application of
    1. A. science and technology
    2. B. magic and witchcraft
    3. C. knowledge in politics
    4. D. technology and magic

Paper 2: Theory

1. a) Give two reasons why the British colonized Ghana.
   
   b) List three main ways by which the British colonized Ghana.
   
   c) State five benefits which Ghana has derived from British colonization.
2. a) What are human rights abuses?
   
   b) Give four examples of such abuses.
   
   c) Explain two ways by which human rights abuses can be prevented.
3. a) State any four ways by which water can be polluted in Ghana.
   
   b) Explain any three effects of water pollution.
4. a) Describe the following:
   
   i) Rotation of the earth
   
   ii) Revolution of the earth
   
   b) Mention any two effects of each of the following:
   
   i) Rotation of the earth
   
   ii) Revolution of the earth.
5. a) Name four areas of tourist attraction in Ghana.
   
   b) State four benefits of tourism in Ghana.
   
   c) Describe two negative effects of tourism in Ghana.
6. a) State four contributions of the manufacturing industry to the economy of Ghana.
   
   b) List any four problems facing the manufacturing industry in Ghana.

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