2004 BECE English Questions – Comprehension

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Once, in the world of animals, there was a great famine and the animals were dying. For about three months, Tortoise and his family had eaten very little. Tortoise’s body rattled in his empty shell as he walked. One day as he thought of a way to get food, his throat began to itch.

He would go to the next village where he had heard there was still some food. He would steal some for himself and his family. He took the bush path and arrived at the village after sunset. The people were preparing their meals and the smell made his mouth water.

How would he get this food? Not far away from him was the village playground where there was a big hollow log leaning against a tree. This log was the drum used to summon the villagers for very important announcements. When he reached the tree, he decided to climb it so that he could see the village better. Unfortunately, as he was climbing, he fell because he was very weak and hungry. His shell hit the drum, sending out a loud ‘kpom! kpom!’ noise.

When they heard this noise, the villagers ran to the playground, believing they had been called, thereby leaving the food cooking in their homes.

Very quickly, Tortoise disappeared into nearby bush and ran to the village. He filled his empty shell with as much food as he could carry and returned home.

1. There was famine means that……….

A. all the animals died
B. food was scarce
B. there were no farmers
C. food was not sold

2. Which of the following statements is true?

A. Tortoise had not eaten for three months.
B. The villagers gave food to tortoise
C. Tortoise got food from his own farm
D. Tortoise stole the villagers’ food

3. Tortoise arrived at the nearby village……….

A. at sunset
B. in the night
C. at dawn
D. in the afternoon

4. The villagers went to playground because……….

A. they wanted to find out who made the noise.
B. they wanted to hear an announcement
C. Tortoise had fallen
D. the drum had fallen

5. The villagers did not see Tortoise at the playground because he……….

A. ate fast
B. hid in the drum
C. stole their food
D. hid in the bush

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Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

In the centre of the town, the clock chimed two o’ clock. In an abandoned house on the outskirts of the town, an owl hooted as if to signal to Sergeant Abora and Abaidoo to wake up from slumber.

They had patrolled the town for hours and were heavy with sleep. The night was very dark and so cold that in spite of his overcoat, the Sergeant’s teeth were chattering. He was about to speak when he heard a faint sound down the road that road led the town.

Abaidoo also picked the sound. Both listened attentively and realized that a late traveler was coming up the road. They took cover behind two opposing trees. As he reached where Abaidoo was hiding, the traveler stumbled over what looked like the root of a tree.

Then constable Abaidoo quickly flashed his torchlight and bawled out, ‘Stop or I shoot!’ Abora’s gun was also held in readiness. The traveler who carried a heavy load on his left shoulder panicked, dropping his cutlass in the process.

‘Who are you? Where are you from?
What’s in your bag? Speak out or I shoot!
We’ve got you at last!’ Abora exclaimed.

Trembling with fear and stammering for words the traveler gave his name as Nsiah. He was returning from Fosa with a bag of plantain and cassava. But his cutlass and bag, both dripping with blood, gave him away. After a search, the police found a human head and triumphantly marched him to the police station.

6. Abora’s teeth chattered because……….

A. he had a toothache
B. the night was cold
C. he wore a clock
D. the owl hooted

7. From the beginning the police knew where the traveler was when……….

A. he made a noise
B. the blood dripped
C. he stammered
D. the torchlight flashed

8. Sergeant Abora and Corporal Abaidoo hid themselves in order to……….

A. keep warm
B. avoid being seen
C. load their guns
D. have some sleep

9. The police arrested the late traveler……….

A. behind the trees
B. near the police station
C. in the centre of the town
D. near the town

10. ‘…gave him away’ in the passage means……….

A. frightened him
B. warned him
C. exposed him
D. disgraced him

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‘Headteacher’ beats student’s wrists to a pulp in Dansoman, Accra.

2003 BECE English Questions – Essays

Answer one question only from this section. (The composition should contain at least 200 words).

1. You need a better field in your school. Write a letter to your District Chief Executive asking for assistance.

2. You want to further your education after leaving junior high school (JHS). Write a letter to your uncle giving him at least three reasons why you need his help.

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Answer one question only from this section. (The composition should contain at least 200 words).

3. Your school is planning an excursion to a place of interest in your district. Describe the preparations you are making towards this journey.

4. Write an article for publication in the Junior Graphic on the topic: Why candidates should not cheat in examinations.

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2003 BECE English Questions – Lexis and structure

Choose from the alternatives A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined words in each sentence.

12. Abass was not selected to play because he had little stamina.

A. love
B. potential
C. endurance
D. skill

13. The town was deserted after the war.

A. destroyed
B. built
C. quiet
D. abandoned

14. The police interrogated the suspect at the police station

A. warned
B. questioned
C. detained
D. beat

15. John was impressed with Joana’s gift.

A. moved
B. deceived
C. calmed
D. pleased

16. Most doctors are cautious in treating patients.

A. careful
B. good
C. experienced
D. friendly

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In each of the following sentences a group of words has been underlined. Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one that best explains the underlined words.

17. The chairman was disturbed because only fifteen members turned up for the meeting. This means that fifteen members………. the meeting.

A. attended
B. avoided
C. postponed
D. disturbed

18. Tony held his tongue for an hour before speaking. This means that Tony

A. was angry
B. was happy
C. smile for a while
D. kept quiet

19. Jones will let the cat out of the bag if he is invited. This means he will

A. cause trouble.
B. confuse everybody.
C. reveal the secret.
D. release the cat.

20. The PTA Chairman cleared the air about the increase in dues. This means that he

A. explained why there was an increase.
B. announced the increase.
C. published the increase in the papers.
D. was sorry about the increase.

21. Charles Taylor’s shot missed its target by a hair’s breadth. This means that

A. he shot wide.
B. the goal was disallowed.
C. he nearly scored a goal.
D. the keeper caught the ball.

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From the alternatives lettered A to D choose the one which is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.

22. Applying cocoa butter to the skin makes it smooth.

A. soft
B. rough
C. warm
D. dark

23. Do not despise poor people because you are rich.

A. cheat
B. avoid
C. admire
D. annoy

24. Hearing is an involuntary action.

A. difficult
B. slow
C. quick
D. intentional

25. Iddrisu swore that he would rather be a spendthrift than a

A. miser
B. pauper
C. weakling
D. thief

26. Our friends gave us a cordial welcome.

A. plain
B. hostile
C. calm
D. steady

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From the alternatives lettered A to D, the one which most suitably completes each sentence.

27. The youth are advised to abstain………. sex.

A. in
B. on
C. from
D. through

28. Daddy writes beautifully………. he?

A. would
B. wouldn’t
C. doesn’t
D. didn’t

29. Bulky goods are transported………. sea.

A. through
B. to
C. on
D. by

30. Life Skills………. my favourite subject when I was in school.

A. has been
B. were
C. was
D. have been

31. ‘Will you mind if I borrowed your book?’

A. ‘Yes, I do.’
B. ‘Yes, I mind.’
C. ‘No, I don’t.’
D. ‘No, I won’t.’

32. ‘Has Sister Edith………. her glass of water this evening?’

A. drunk
B. drink
C. drinks
D. drank

33. If my uncle had come, I………. have had some money.

A. may
B. will
C. shall
D. would

34. Newspapers are………. magazines.

A. cheap as
B. cheaper than
C. cheapest of
D. cheap than

35. I have discovered a new………. rhyme.

A. children
B. childrens’
C. children’s
D. childrens

36. I told mum I………. take my breakfast later.

A. will
B. can
C. would
D. shall

37. The final match was played………. three and five o’clock in the afternoon.

A. by
B. toward
C. from
D. between

38. The girl told her mother that she………. from church.

A. comes
B. had come
C. has come
D. has been coming

39. ………. I joined the class late I could pass the examination.

A. Since
B. As
C. Despite
D. Although

40. The book was………. difficult to read.

A. much
B. too
C. little
D. so

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2003 BECE English Questions – Comprehension

COMPREHENSION PASSAGE 1

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The children rushed out of school that afternoon innocently singing the song they had just learned:

Rain, rain, go away.
Go and come another day.
Little children want to play.
Rain, rain, go away.

But they stopped abruptly when they looked up and saw dark clouds racing across the sky. These were signs of rain and the children were beside themselves with joy. Then they burst into yet another song:

The rains will soon come.
The sky will be bright.
And the guns will boom.

As they sang and danced, they were soon joined by their parents in their happiness. It was six months since it had rained and all that time the farmers prayed for rain that would not come. The result was famine in the country for the land became so dry that new crops could not be sown and cassava could not be uprooted. The streams and the wells had dried up and the people could find very little water for themselves and their livestock. Was it then strange that adults danced and sang like children in the hope that their troubles would soon be over? They were sure the fetish priest’s sacrifice would not be in vain.

But they woke up the next morning to find the land was still dry; there was not a drop of rain water anywhere.

Then they became angry and ran after the fetish priest. But he was gone before they could lynch him.

1. The children changed their song because

A. The guns would be fired.
B. It was going to rain.
C. Their parents had seen the fetish priest.
D. They did not like their teacher’s song

2. The parents also sang and danced because

A. They wanted to be happy.
B. The children were returning from school.
C. It started to rain.
D. They believed it would rain.

3. Which of the following is true?

A. The people beat the fetish priest.
B. It had rained for six months
C. There was little to drink
D. The children did not want the rain.

4. Abruptly in the passage means

A. soon.
B. totally
C. slowly
D. suddenly

5. The people wanted to lynch the fetish priest because

A. there was famine
B. the streams had dried up
C. he did not perform the sacrifices
D. he had deceived them

6. From the passage we learn that

A. The children were innocent.
B. Man cannot fully rely on nature.
C. Adults play like children.
D. It had not rained for several days.

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COMPREHENSION PASSAGE 2

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Teacher Amu never lost the opportunity to give pep-talks to his children. “Variety is the spice of life”, he often began. Then he would tell them how life has opposites, like good and bad. He would talk about the variety of birds, the different kinds of fish and species of trees. His students could always tell when teacher Amu’s sermons were about to end. He would raise his voice and look up as he made his point: “God made them all and He said, ‘It is good”.

These words had lasting effect on the students. When class was over, they would go on reeling with laughter as they recited these words. Soon, it was not surprising when they began to call Teacher Amu ‘God made them all’ whenever his back was turned.

But one of them, Kofi Abre, did not consider Teacher Amu’s pep-talks funny at all. He was not amused that his classmates joked with his teacher’s words. Teacher Amu had said that the world was made up of different things, different people and different habits. So why did they bother when he, Abre, acted differently?

The other day, he shouted down a school mate who called him lazy. He almost bloodied a friend’s nose too when this friend scolded him for not doing his home work. Teacher Amu warned that he would punish Abre. It was an act of indiscipline. Kofi Abre shook his head. It was his friend who offended him yet Teacher Amu would punish him for being violent and different.

7. The expression, Variety is the spice of life means life

A. has its ups and downs.
B. is like a tasty food.
C. should be taken seriously.
D. is full of different and interesting things.

8. The students called Teacher Amu ‘God made them all’ because

A. it was his favourite saying.
B. he always looked up.
C. his pep-talks were funny.
D. he liked preaching

9. Kofi Abre did not like the jokes because he

A. hated his classmates.
B. was afraid of his teacher.
C. loved his teacher’s words.
D. was lazy

10. The word scolded in the passage means

A. reminded.
B. annoyed.
C. rebuked.
D. questioned.

11. Teacher Amu punished Kofi Abre because he

A. did not do his homework.
B. did not behave well.
C. did not like pep-talks.
D. shook his head

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