BECE 2005 Social Studies Past Questions and Answers

Paper 1: Objectives

1. The Trans-Atlantic slave trade increased in volume because of the
   1. A. opening of more goldmines in South Africa
   2. B. greater use of machines in factories in Europe
   3. C. demand for labour in America and Brazil
   4. D. revolt of the slaves in West Indies
   Answer: C
2. Which of the following values ensures peaceful co-existence among ethnic groups in Ghana?
   1. A. Kindness
   2. B. Tolerance
   3. C. Loyalty
   4. D. Hospitality
   Answer: B
3. The Akan originally settled in the basin of River
   1. A. Pra
   2. B. Ankobra
   3. C. Densu
   4. D. Volta
   Answer: A
4. A constitutional obligation which ensures peace and harmony in Ghana is for the citizens to
   1. A. arrest criminals
   2. B. pay their taxes
   3. C. attend communal labour
   4. D. be law-abiding
   Answer: D
5. The location of an object measured in degrees is known as
   1. A. cardinal point
   2. B. bearing
   3. C. landmark
   4. D. survey beacon
   Answer: B
6. Which of the following is an abuse of human rights in Ghana?
   1. A. Assisting the police during investigation
   2. B. Freedom from arrest and detention
   3. C. Pledging young people for money
   4. D. Being a member of a religious group
   Answer: C
7. The Mole-Dagbon ethnic group migrated from
   1. A. the northern part of Mauritania
   2. B. the southern part of Mali
   3. C. east of lake Chad
   4. D. west of Senegal
   Answer: C
8. Ethnic conflicts must be avoided because they slow down
   1. A. urban to rural migration
   2. B. rural to urban migration
   3. C. tribal integration
   4. D. economic growth
   Answer: D
9. The first castle school opened in Ghana was at
   1. A. Cape Coast
   2. B. Elmina
   3. C. Osu
   4. D. Komenda
   Answer: A
10. Which of the following factors encourages rural-urban migration in Ghana?
    
    I. Fewer job opportunities in rural areas
    
    II. Fertile soils in the rural areas
    
    III. High prices of farm produce
    
    IV. Higher educational institutions in urban centres
    1. A. I and II only
    2. B. II and III only
    3. C. II and IV only
    4. D. I and IV only
    Answer: D

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11. The direction of Yendi from Tamale on map of Ghana is towards the
    1. A. North
    2. B. South
    3. C. East
    4. D. West
12. Which mineral is mined in the basin of River Birim in Ghana?
    1. A. Gold
    2. B. Diamond
    3. C. Bauxite
    4. D. Manganese
13. Ghanaian culture can be made dynamic in the rural areas through
    1. A. non-formal education
    2. B. social interaction
    3. C. informal education
    4. D. formal education
14. Which of the following are rights of a citizen in Ghana?
    
    I. Protection of one's life
    
    II. Payment of taxes
    
    III. Protection of public property
    
    IV. Personal liberty
    1. A. I and II only
    2. B. I and III only
    3. C. I and IV only
    4. D. II and III only
15. At the district level, an assemblyman is equivalent to a
    1. A. minister
    2. B. judge
    3. C. parliamentarian
    4. D. lawyer
16. The poll to determine whether British Togoland should join Ghana or not is known as
    1. A. referendum
    2. B. general election
    3. C. plebiscite
    4. D. electoral college
17. An important town in the Sudan Savanna zone of Ghana is
    1. A. Bawku
    2. B. Kintampo
    3. C. Axim
    4. D. Accra
18. In which of the following highlands is the River Volta gorge located?
    1. A. Kwahu range
    2. B. Mampong range
    3. C. Akwapim-Togo range
    4. D. Gambaga mountain
19. Environmental degradation in Tarkwa and Prestea is mainly due to
    1. A. sand winning
    2. B. illegal mining
    3. C. timber lumbering
    4. D. palm wine tapping
20. A bill passed by parliament becomes law when the President gives his
    1. A. accord
    2. B. veto
    3. C. advice
    4. D. assent
21. A constitution is important for a country because it
    1. A. allows criminals to be detained without trial
    2. B. serves as the basis for good governance
    3. C. is interpreted by the judiciary
    4. D. can be defended by the military
22. One way of raising the per capita income of Ghana is to
    1. A. increase productivity
    2. B. go in for foreign loans
    3. C. import more foreign goods
    4. D. give workers higher salaries
23. A nation is self-reliant when she
    1. A. imports all her basic needs
    2. B. exports larger quantities of cash crops
    3. C. produces most of her basic needs
    4. D. depends wholly on foreign capital
24. Ghana is described as a developing country because she has a high
    1. A. per capita income
    2. B. population growth rate
    3. C. level of industrialization
    4. D. level of literacy
25. In which of the following combinations of labour and output is productivity highest?
    1. A. Two men producing thirty bags in an hour
    2. B. Three men producing forty bags in an hour
    3. C. Four men producing fifty bags in an hour
    4. D. Five men producing sixty bags in an hour
26. If Nigeria's time is one hour ahead of that of Ghana, then Nigeria is
    1. A. 5° west of Ghana
    2. B. 10° east of Ghana
    3. C. 15° east of Ghana
    4. D. 15° west of Ghana
27. The high boundary line which divides the flow of rivers in opposite directions is called
    1. A. gentle slope
    2. B. watershed
    3. C. steep slope
    4. D. gap
28. The largest delta along the West Coast of Africa is that of the
    1. A. Nile
    2. B. Volta
    3. C. Densu
    4. D. Niger
29. The amount imposed on Ghanaians under the Poll Tax Ordinance was
    1. A. one shilling
    2. B. two shilling
    3. C. three shilling
    4. D. four shilling
30. Which of the following types of vegetation is not found in Ghana?
    1. A. Sudan Savanna
    2. B. Guinea Savanna
    3. C. Tropical Savanna
    4. D. Sahel Savanna
31. All the following locations in Ghana are important for salt mining except
    1. A. Songor Lagoon near Ada
    2. B. Axim in the Western Region
    3. C. Weija in Accra
    4. D. Daboya in the Northern Region
32. Socialization of the child begins
    1. A. at school
    2. B. at home
    3. C. at church
    4. D. with the peer group
33. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana was given public approval through
    1. A. bye election
    2. B. public debate
    3. C. general election
    4. D. referendum
34. Parallel cultures in Ghana are seen in the institution of
    1. A. marriage rites
    2. B. puberty rites
    3. C. troksi
    4. D. chieftaincy
35. Which of the following vegetation zones is most suitable for the cultivation of maize?
    1. A. Moist semi-deciduous forest
    2. B. Sudan savanna
    3. C. Guinea savanna
    4. D. Tropical rain forest
36. The rock suitable for the construction of roads is
    1. A. limestone
    2. B. granite
    3. C. graphite
    4. D. sandstone
37. If a person suspected of being a thief is beaten up by a mob, he is denied the right to
    1. A. speech
    2. B. fair trial
    3. C. work
    4. D. life
38. The central government supports District Assemblies through
    1. A. market tolls
    2. B. basic rates
    3. C. property rates
    4. D. the common fund
39. Which of the following institutions is most useful in the provision of social amenities in Ghana?
    1. A. The Bank of Ghana
    2. B. Ghana Highway Authority
    3. C. District Assemblies
    4. D. Internal Revenue Service
40. The main function of the executive organ of government is
    1. A. law-making
    2. B. implementation of law
    3. C. interpretation of law
    4. D. impeachment of the President

Paper 2: Theory

1. a) Name four ethnic groups in Ghana.
   
   b) Give any four reasons for the movement of the named ethnic groups to their present settlements.
2. a) Mention four international organizations of which Ghana is a member.
   
   b) Which four benefits does Ghana enjoy from its membership of any one of the international organizations mentioned in (a)?
3. a) Describe the formation of relief rainfall.
   
   b) Mention two areas in Ghana which experience relief rainfall.
   
   c) List two benefits of rainfall.
4. a) Identify any four social problems of rapid population growth in Ghana.
   
   b) Suggest any four ways of reducing population growth in Ghana.
5. a) i) What is a Non-Governmental Organization?
   
   ii) Identify any three Non-Governmental Organizations in Ghana.
   
   b) Explain any four contributions of Non-Governmental Organizations to the development of Ghana.
6. a) i) What is a state-owned enterprise?
   
   ii) Identify any four problems that face state-owned enterprises in Ghana.
   
   b) How can the problems identified in (a) (ii) be solved?

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