BECE 2008 Social Studies Past Questions and Answers

Paper 1: Objectives

1. The primary reason for the arrival of the British to the Gold Coast was to
   1. A. trade in spices
   2. B. trade in gold
   3. C. rule the people
   4. D. evangelize
   Answer: B
2. According to oral tradition, the Ga-Adangbe migrated from
   1. A. Eastern Nigeria
   2. B. Western Nigeria
   3. C. Western Sudan
   4. D. Central Sudan
   Answer: A
3. The first missionaries to introduce secondary education in Ghana were the
   1. A. Wesleyan
   2. B. Catholic
   3. C. Basel
   4. D. Breman
   Answer: C
4. Which of the following is a duty of a citizen?
   1. A. Joining a religious group
   2. B. Helping the Police financially
   3. C. Paying taxes for development
   4. D. Giving free medical care
   Answer: C
5. The meeting of warm air mass and cold air mass causes
   1. A. cyclonic rainfall
   2. B. relief rainfall
   3. C. torrential rainfall
   4. D. convectional rainfall
   Answer: A
6. Peaceful coexistence among the ethnic groups in Ghana is important for
   1. A. population growth
   2. B. increasing government revenue
   3. C. reducing crime in society
   4. D. sustainable development
   Answer: D
7. Which of the following was established to find the causes of the 1948 riots?
   1. A. Coussey Committee
   2. B. Justice Annan Committee
   3. C. Watson Committee
   4. D. Bourne Committee
   Answer: C
8. The main reason for the transatlantic slave trade was that
   1. A. the trans-Saharan trade had declined
   2. B. trade in gold was no longer profitable
   3. C. Red Indians could not work on plantations
   4. D. cheap labour was needed on American plantations
   Answer: D
9. Which of the following is used to teach good morals in a traditional society?
   1. A. Story telling
   2. B. Court music
   3. C. Funeral dirges
   4. D. Talking drums
   Answer: A
10. The practice of multiparty democracy in Ghana tends to promote
    1. A. sufficiency
    2. B. ethnicity
    3. C. stability
    4. D. dependency
    Answer: C

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11. The basic institution that helps an individual to learn the moral values of the society is the
    1. A. media
    2. B. family
    3. C. church
    4. D. school
12. Which of the following cities does not experience the Mediterranean type of climate?
    1. A. Accra
    2. B. Tunis
    3. C. Tripoli
    4. D. Cape Town
13. In Ghana, state-owned enterprises are important because they
    1. A. make a lot of profit
    2. B. employ a majority of the labour force
    3. C. produce all the goods for society
    4. D. provide vital goods and services
14. A set of rules by which a country is governed is referred to as
    1. A. international law
    2. B. bye-laws
    3. C. constitution
    4. D. manifesto
15. The human resource of a country refers to the
    1. A. members of parliament only
    2. B. skills of trade unions
    3. C. skills of workers and management
    4. D. members of local councils only
16. The longest latitude is known as the
    1. A. Equator
    2. B. Arctic Circle
    3. C. Tropic of Cancer
    4. D. Tropic of Capricorn
17. Which of the following is a tertiary economic activity?
    1. A. Weaving
    2. B. Quarrying
    3. C. Farming
    4. D. Banking
18. Rocks which are formed in layers are called
    1. A. gneiss
    2. B. sedimentary
    3. C. igneous
    4. D. metamorphic
19. Barometer is an instrument for measuring
    1. A. atmospheric pressure
    2. B. temperature
    3. C. wind speed
    4. D. wind direction
20. The main purpose of the Bond of 1844 was to
    1. A. establish British rule
    2. B. resist British rule
    3. C. eliminate ethnic conflict
    4. D. eliminate human sacrifice
21. The efficiency of labour can be increased if one
    1. A. reports to work early
    2. B. has a good supervisor
    3. C. uses appropriate technology
    4. D. works for longer hours
22. Which of the following types of rocks is suitable for road construction?
    1. A. Slate
    2. B. Marble
    3. C. Granite
    4. D. Quartzite
23. One major cause of poverty in Ghana is
    1. A. low productivity
    2. B. poor health facilities
    3. C. small labour force
    4. D. corruption
24. The last Governor-General left the country when Ghana
    1. A. joined the United Nations
    2. B. joined the Commonwealth
    3. C. became independent
    4. D. became a republic
25. What type of vegetation is associated with cold deserts?
    1. A. Steppe
    2. B. Tundra
    3. C. Prairie
    4. D. Coniferous
26. The moon is a satellite of
    1. A. Jupiter
    2. B. Mars
    3. C. Earth
    4. D. Mercury
27. The District Assemblies perform all the following except to
    1. A. build school blocks
    2. B. build markets
    3. C. maintain feeder roads
    4. D. construct trunk roads
28. Peaceful coexistence among individuals in a society can be promoted through
    1. A. reconciliation
    2. B. socialization
    3. C. sympathy
    4. D. patriotism
29. Which of the following natural resources is being over-exploited in Ghana?
    1. A. Mineral
    2. B. Water
    3. C. Timber
    4. D. Sand
30. Kobine is a festival celebrated at
    1. A. Yendi
    2. B. Lawra
    3. C. Wa
    4. D. Bolgatanga
31. The state supports private businesses because they
    1. A. make a lot of profit
    2. B. organize trade fairs
    3. C. produce essential goods
    4. D. pay taxes for development
32. An individual whose rights have been infringed upon seeks justice from the
    1. A. court
    2. B. police
    3. C. president
    4. D. military
33. The time in Accra on longitude 0° is 8 am. What is the time in Cairo on longitude 30°E?
    1. A. 9 am
    2. B. 10 am
    3. C. 11 am
    4. D. 12 noon
34. The Cape Coast castle is a valuable national asset because it promotes
    1. A. trade
    2. B. education
    3. C. tourism
    4. D. civilization
35. The main work of members of parliament under Ghana's 1992 Constitution is to
    1. A. draw a manifesto
    2. B. execute laws
    3. C. interpret laws
    4. D. make laws
36. Ghana cooperates with other nations mainly to
    1. A. ensure her political stability
    2. B. develop her national trade
    3. C. maintain internal peace
    4. D. maintain international peace
37. Which of the following constitutes human rights abuse?
    1. A. Child labour
    2. B. Sex trade
    3. C. Truancy
    4. D. Favouritism
38. Positive Action proposed by Nkrumah in 1949 was a call for
    1. A. hard work and honesty
    2. B. cooperation with the British
    3. C. national strike and boycott
    4. D. national unity
39. The area with the highest amount of rainfall in Ghana is
    1. A. Cape Coast
    2. B. Koforidua
    3. C. Kumasi
    4. D. Axim
40. Laws made by the District Assemblies are called
    1. A. bye-laws
    2. B. decrees
    3. C. ordinance
    4. D. bills

Paper 2: Theory

1. a) Give four reasons why the transatlantic slave trade continued for a long time.
   
   b) State four negative effects of the slave trade on West Africa.
2. a) Mention four sources of revenue to the District Assemblies in Ghana.
   
   b) Outline four contributions of the District Assemblies to the development of your area.
3. a) Explain four ways in which tourism contributes to the economy of Ghana.
   
   b) State four ways in which tourism can be promoted in Ghana.
4. a) Mention any four causes of urbanization.
   
   b) State four effects of urbanization.
5. a) What is productivity?
   
   b) In which four ways can productivity be increased in Ghana?
6. a) What is private enterprise?
   
   b) Outline any four roles the Government of Ghana could play to promote private enterprise.

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