BECE 2007 English Language Past Question and Answers
Answer all questions in this section.
Each question is followed by four options lettered A to D. Find the correct answer for each question.
“Help! Help! Fire!” This and other noises like the banging of doors and crunching footsteps woke Barimah up. “Something must be done,” he exclaimed to his wife Fosua who was already awake. He dressed up quickly, opened the door and went out advising his wife not to leave the house.
It was pitch dark outside; the only light came from the flaming house of Agya Atta. By the time Barimah got there, the house was truly in flames and people had gathered around busily and frantically pouring water and sand on the flames. They were doing everything they could to put out the fire.
Meanwhile, they had managed to rescue a few things from the fire. These Barimah caused to be packed and taken to his house to prevent them from being looted. He then took Agya Atta‟s wife and children to his house and quickly returned to fight the flames.
Araba had won the hearts of many people by her good deeds and kindness. It was therefore sad to see her lose her property, as well as the house she and Agya Atta had toiled to build.
Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow.
1. Barimah asked Fosua to stay indoors because
Solution: Barimah advised his wife not to leave the house due to the potential danger from the fire and chaos outside.
2. What did Barimah find immediately he went out?
Solution: The passage states that Barimah saw Agya Atta’s house in flames.
3. Put out in the passage means
Solution: Put out refers to stopping the fire (extinguishing it).
4. From the passage, we can infer that the Barimahs and the Agya Attas are
Solution: Barimah’s quick assistance suggests they were neighbors with a good relationship.
5. People sympathized with Araba because she
Solution: Araba had won hearts through kindness, making her loss pitiable.
Many smokers ignore the warning about the dangers of smoking although there is a national campaign against the habit. The United Nations has set aside a day to be observed against the killer habit.
The story is told of a young man who became addicted to smoking. In no time, he developed smoking-related diseases and died miserably, leaving behind his wife and children in poverty.
Research shows that the smoker is far more likely to suffer, if not die of major diseases like lung cancer and heart failure, than a non-smoker.
It is generally known that smoking during pregnancy is undesirable. Women who smoke produce underweight babies. They are also likely to miscarry, have still-born babies or lose them after birth. If such children survive and attend school, they do not perform well
What is most annoying about smoking is the risk to passive smokers. Non-smokers breathing in smoke from other people‟s cigarettes, pipes and cigars stand the risk of contracting the diseases that harm smokers.
If smokers knew how non-smokers feel about them, they would give up the habit. The smoker is regarded by many as a social misfit – one who does not consider the welfare of others but his own interest in smoking, no matter where he.
6. What has society done about smoking? It has
Solution: The passage mentions a national campaign against smoking, showing societal opposition.
7. According to the passage, which of the following is caused by smoking?
Solution: Smoking is linked to lung cancer and heart failure.
8. Which of the following is true about pregnant women who smoke? They
Solution: Smoking during pregnancy may lead to stillbirths or miscarriages.
9. Passive smokers are those who
Solution: Passive smokers breathe in secondhand smoke from others.
10. According to the passage, smokers are
Solution: Smokers are called "social misfits" who ignore others’ welfare.
Choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
11. Senyo tried in vain to stop his friend from stealing the kitten.
Solution: In vain means without success.
12. With hard work, we can overcome any problem.
Solution: Overcome implies solving or conquering a problem.
13. The meal is delicious.
Solution: Delicious means very tasty.
14. The audience applauded the actors at the end of the play.
Solution: Applauded means clapped or cheered.
15. Jasper lamented the loss of his pet.
Solution: Lamented means expressed grief (mourned).
Choose the one that best explains the underlined words
16. "John is always light-hearted in spite of his problems." This means John is always
Solution: Light-hearted describes someone cheerful despite challenges.
17. "After that accident, Ayorkor has really gone through the mill." This means Ayorkor has
Solution: Gone through the mill means endured hardship.
18. "Moro felt very much at home at his friend’s house." This means Moro was
Solution: At home implies feeling comfortable and welcome.
19. "The students were all ears during the programme." This means the students
Solution: All ears means listening attentively.
20. "It took our new prefect two months before he could find his feet." This means it took the prefect two months before he
Solution: Find his feet means adjust and gain confidence.
Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word.
21. The MP is very generous; he has done much for his people.
Solution: Generous (giving) contrasts with unkind (mean).
22. If you are indolent, you will not pass the examination.
Solution: Indolent (lazy) is opposite to hardworking.
23. Kwame said he was guilty.
Solution: Guilty contrasts with innocent.
24. Handle the glass with care; it is fragile.
Solution: Fragile (breakable) is opposite to unbreakable.
25. Some of our customs are old-fashioned.
Solution: Old-fashioned contrasts with modern.
Choose the option that best completes each sentence.
26. Of all the Brown children, Ato is ………
Solution: Superlative form (shortest) is used for comparisons among many.
27. Amma was so frightened ………she fainted.
Solution: So...that shows cause and effect.
28. Aberewa has ………friends who often visit her.
Solution: A few implies a small but positive number of countable items (friends).
29. Kofi is the boy to ………I gave the pen.
Solution: Whom is the object pronoun for "boy."
30. You are tired, ………?
Solution: The tag question for "You are" is aren’t you.
31. He said that he ………come.
Solution: Would is the past tense of "will" in reported speech.
32. When Daddy arrived, Mummy ………finished cooking.
Solution: Past perfect (had finished) shows an action completed before another past action.
33. He was ………tired that he couldn’t finish the race.
Solution: So...that expresses degree and result.
34. The farmer was ………by a poisonous snake.
Solution: The past participle of "bite" is bitten.
35. You have put too ………sugar in the porridge.
Solution: Much is used with uncountable nouns (sugar).
36. Yaw is a ………
Solution: Correct adjective order: size (tall) before opinion (handsome).
37. I am ………to walking to school everyday.
Solution: Used to indicates a habitual action.
38. The mechanic succeeded ………the generator.
Solution: Succeed in is the correct phrasal verb.
39. If I ………with my grandmother, I would have enjoyed village life.
Solution: Third conditional requires had lived (past perfect).
40. Atia has given ………smoking.
Solution: Give up means quit (a habit).