BECE 2012 Social Studies Past Questions and Answers

Paper 1: Objectives

1. Indiscipline is a problem in the Ghanaian society because it
   1. A. reduces productivity.
   2. B. destroys the educational system.
   3. C. leads to high birth rate.
   4. D. encourages bribery and corruption.
   Answer: A
2. Which of the following is a primary activity?
   1. A. Plywood processing
   2. B. Fruit canning
   3. C. Cocoa cultivation
   4. D. Textile production
   Answer: C
3. The Akans are believed to have migrated from
   1. A. Old Ghana Empire.
   2. B. The Chad basin.
   3. C. Benin Republic.
   4. D. Ile Ife.
   Answer: A
4. The most important symbol which identifies Ghana as an independent state is the
   1. A. Speaker's Mace.
   2. B. National Flag.
   3. C. State Sword.
   4. D. Coat-of-arms.
   Answer: B
5. Which of the following diseases is caused by pollution of water bodies?
   1. A. River blindness
   2. B. Asthma
   3. C. Cholera
   4. D. Hepatitis B
   Answer: C
6. A day is either gained or lost when one moves across longitude
   1. A. 180°
   2. B. 24° E
   3. C. 15° W.
   4. D. 0°.
   Answer: A
7. The most cherished value expected of an adolescent in the Ghanaian society is
   1. A. hospitality
   2. B. patience
   3. C. generosity
   4. D. chastity
   Answer: D
8. Which of the following cultural practices is a drawback to development in the Ghanaian society?
   1. A. Celebration of festivals
   2. B. Naming and outdooring ceremonies
   3. C. Belief in the activities of demons
   4. D. Performing puberty rites
   Answer: C
9. The symbolshown on topographical maps represents
   1. A. settlements
   2. B. farmlands
   3. C. marshy areas.
   4. D. areas liable to flood.
   Answer: C
10. On a relief map, the colour brown usually represents
    1. A. plains.
    2. B. mountains.
    3. C. water bodies.
    4. D. lowlands.
    Answer: B

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11. An extensive area of lowland is called a
    1. A. ridge.
    2. B. valley.
    3. C. plain.
    4. D. plateau.
12. Which of the following vegetation types is not found in Ghana?
    1. A. Sahel woodland
    2. B. Guinea savanna
    3. C. Mangrove forest
    4. D. Tropical rain forest
13. The main type of vegetation found in the south-western part of Ghana is the
    1. A. rain forest.
    2. B. coastal grassland.
    3. C. guinea savanna.
    4. D. mangrove forest.
14. Lunar eclipse occurs when the
    1. A. sun comes between the earth and the moon.
    2. B. moon comes between the sun and the earth.
    3. C. earth comes between the sun and the moon.
    4. D. earth rotates on its axis from West to East.
15. The type of rainfall formed by the meeting of two air masses of different temperatures is
    1. A. relief.
    2. B. frontal.
    3. C. convectional.
    4. D. orographic.
16. Which of the following continents is uninhabited?
    1. A. Asia
    2. B. Antarctica
    3. C. Australia
    4. D. Europe
17. One problem created in the rural areas as a result of rural-urban drift is
    1. A. increase in streetism.
    2. B. creation of slums.
    3. C. environmental degradation.
    4. D. increased incidence of broken homes.
18. Which of the following factors may cause rural-urban drift?
    1. A. Better employment opportunities in the urban areas
    2. B. Better health facilities in the rural areas
    3. C. Even distribution of social amenities in the country
    4. D. Absence of recreational facilities in the urban areas
19. Asante was colonized by the British through
    1. A. agreement.
    2. B. force.
    3. C. persuasion.
    4. D. plebiscite.
20. Right to life means
    1. A. living forever
    2. B. living without interference
    3. C. acquiring wealth
    4. D. sustaining the family line.
21. Independence of the judiciary implies that judges
    1. A. should get everything free
    2. B. should not pay taxes
    3. C. can do whatever they like
    4. D. should be free from political interference
22. One major cause of conflicts in the Ghanaian society is
    1. A. the development of slums in the cities
    2. B. inadequate number of law enforcement agents
    3. C. the encouragement of inter-ethnic marriages
    4. D. unacceptable way of choosing leaders
23. The international organization formed to maintain world peace after the Second World War is known as
    1. A. The League of Nations
    2. B. United Nations Organisation
    3. C. Commonwealth of Nations
    4. D. Non-aligned Movement
24. After independence, Ghana automatically became a member of the
    1. A. African Union
    2. B. League of Nations
    3. C. Commonwealth of Nations
    4. D. Non-Aligned Movement
25. The executive arm of government comprises of the President, the Cabinet and
    1. A. Civil servants
    2. B. Lawyers
    3. C. the Speaker
    4. D. the Chief Justice
26. One way of preventing ethnic conflict in Ghana is through
    1. A. payment of compensation
    2. B. creation of jobs
    3. C. celebration of festivals
    4. D. tolerance and dialogue
27. Family planning is beneficial to Ghanaians because it
    1. A. helps in giving respect and honour to fathers
    2. B. increase life expectancy of children
    3. C. helps restore the health of mothers
    4. D. brings about equitable distribution of income
28. Labour can be productively increased through
    1. A. moral education in society
    2. B. training and retraining
    3. C. extension of working hours
    4. D. people doing sacrificial work
29. One traditional way of preserving fish in Ghana is
    1. A. canning
    2. B. freezing
    3. C. salting
    4. D. boiling
30. One factor responsible for the low rate of economic development in Ghana is
    1. A. misappropriation of state resources
    2. B. misuse of individual resources
    3. C. increase of taxes on industries
    4. D. slow rate of population growth
31. Which of the following means of saving ensures continuity of firms after suffering losses?
    1. A. Treasury bill
    2. B. Insurance
    3. C. Company shares
    4. D. Government bonds
32. Travelling to see and enjoy facilities and sceneries in other places is referred to as
    1. A. leisure
    2. B. tourism
    3. C. pleasure
    4. D. entertainment
33. Workers in Ghana are required by law to contribute towards their future upkeep through
    1. A. Company shares
    2. B. Treasury bills
    3. C. Government bonds
    4. D. Social Security schemes
34. A constitution may be defined as the
    1. A. bye-laws of a country
    2. B. decrees of a country
    3. C. customary laws of a country
    4. D. highest law of a country
35. An advantage of a good layout for settlement is that
    1. A. it reduces overcrowding of families
    2. B. it promotes trading and church activities
    3. C. it makes the inhabitants very rich
    4. D. modern houses and schools are built
36. One responsibility of the Ghanaian citizen is to
    1. A. protect the police
    2. B. pay taxes
    3. C. work and earn a living
    4. D. worship freely
37. In order to protect one's rights, a citizen should be
    1. A. a law student
    2. B. a youth leader
    3. C. educated on them
    4. D. an observer at court sittings
38. Which of the following personalities was a member of the United Gold Coast Convention?
    1. A. Kojo Botsio
    2. B. J.B. Danquah
    3. C. Krobo Edusei
    4. D. K. A. Gbedemah
39. The primary function of the legislature is to
    1. A. administer justice
    2. B. make laws
    3. C. register citizens
    4. D. protect wrong doers
40. People who buy company shares receive
    1. A. profits
    2. B. dividends
    3. C. loans
    4. D. overdrafts

Paper 2: Theory

1. a) State four problems created in the urban areas by rural-urban migration.
   
   b) Describe four measures that can be adopted to reduce rural-urban migration.
2. a) i) What is superstition?
   
   ii) Give two examples of superstitious beliefs.
   
   b) Outline five effects of superstitious beliefs on a community.
3. a) Why was the Watson Commission set up?
   
   b) Give four reasons for the 1948 riots.
4. a) Identify four sources of conflicts in Ghana.
   
   b) Explain four effects of conflicts in Ghana.
5. a) Give four reasons for saving.
   
   b) Outline four avenues for saving.
6. a) Give four reasons for the establishment of state-owned enterprises in Ghana.
   
   b) Highlight four problems facing state-owned enterprises in Ghana.

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