BECE 2008 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.
Since the building of the District Hospital at Kpota, there had sprung up some residential structures around the hospital. One particular cluster of houses took the fancy of Mr. Akpaloo, who told himself that if ever he wanted to build a house, it would be like one of those.
When Mr Akpaloo thought he was ready to put up his own building, one of the things he did was to look for the plan of the house that he so admired. He went to the office of Dr. Agbetor, the Hospital Administrator to ask for it. Dr. Agbetor explained that those houses in which Mr. Akpaloo was interested had actually been built by Dr. Grant who still had the blueprint of the structure. Obviously, the person to see was Dr. Grant.
Mr. Akpaloo went and saw Dr. Grant in his magnificent house at Tokoe. The latter explained that it was not prudent to give out the plan that had been specifically designed for those projects. However, he advised Mr. Akpaloo to go to the site and see the caretaker who would show him the rooms. Mr Akpaloo could then make a sketch of the building.
To the site Mr. Akpaloo went. When he arrived, the caretaker took him round. What had looked like a two-bedroom house from afar, was at close quarters, a four-bedroom affair. The difference that distance can make!
Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow.
1. When were the residential structures built at Kpota?
Solution: The passage states that the structures sprung up around the hospital after it was built, not during or before.
2. Dr. Grant did not give the plan to Mr. Akpaloo because
Solution: Dr. Grant explained it was not prudent (wise) to share the specific design.
3. What did Mr. Akpaloo do when he was ready to build a house? He
Solution: He sought the plan of the house he admired.
4. The word magnificent means
Solution: Magnificent describes something impressively beautiful or grand.
5. "One particular cluster of houses took the fancy of Mr. Akpaloo..." This means Mr. Akpaloo
Solution: Took the fancy of means he liked or was attracted to them.
One day a poor fishermen went fishing and caught nothing. He was just about to go home when he felt the net suddenly grow heavy. He thought he had caught a large fish. But when he dragged it ashore, he found only a heavy copper pot sealed with lead. He took it and feeling sure it contained something valuable, he took his knife, cut the lead top and turned it upside down. For a moment nothing came out; and then it started to smoke, and this smoke slowly rose right up to the sky like a thick fog. It suddenly turned into a huge genie.
'Bow down‟ said the genie „and let me kill you'
'Why?' asked the fisherman. "Have you forgotten that I set you free?"
"Yes, but I have sworn to kill you‟, said the genie. „I‟m a spirit that rebelled against the Creator, and to punish me he shut me up in this copper pot. During the first century of my captivity, I swore to make anyone who freed me rich. During my second century, I swore I would grant him any three things. But after these centuries, in anger I swore to kill my liberator without mercy".
"Well, die I must", said the fisherman, "but swear that you really were in that pot. It is too small to hold even your little finger. Unless I see it, I shall not believe it."
"See then and believe" said the genie.
He slowly changed back into smoke and entered the pot. The fishermen immediately put back the lead cover and threw it into the sea.
6. According to the passage, the fisherman caught
Solution: The fisherman initially caught nothing before finding the pot.
7. What is the genie?
Solution: The genie is a spirit that rebelled against the Creator.
8. The word captivity in the passage means
Solution: The genie was imprisoned in the pot as punishment.
9. How many times did the genie swear?
Solution: He swore three times (centuries 1, 2, and after).
10. According to the passage, the
Solution: The fisherman tricked the genie back into the pot, freeing himself.
Choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word.
11. Ama was persuaded by her brother to change her course.
Solution: Persuaded means convinced to do something.
12. The talented footballer scored three goals.
Solution: Talented implies naturally gifted.
13. Araba was saddened because she failed to win the beauty contest.
Solution: Saddened means made sorrowful.
14. Charles behaved in an unruly manner towards his teacher.
Solution: Unruly means disorderly or impolite.
15. My mother is very enthusiastic about my success.
Solution: Enthusiastic implies eager or hopeful support.
Choose from the alternatives the one that best explains the underlined words.
16. "The accused died without clearing his name." This means the man did not
Solution: Clearing his name means proving he was innocent.
17. The teacher advised us to go over our work before submitting them. This means to
Solution: Go over means to review or check.
18. "You don’t have to be so high and mighty about your own opinion." This means
Solution: High and mighty describes someone arrogant.
19. Mr. Ala urged Peter and Paul to mend their fences. This means they should
Solution: Mend fences means to reconcile or make peace.
20. He turned a deaf ear to the advice. This means he
Solution: Turned a deaf ear means ignored deliberately.
Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word.
21. Everyone knows Musa to be very generous.
Solution: Generous (giving) is opposite to stingy (unwilling to give).
22. The headmaster rebuked the students who came in late.
Solution: Rebuked (scolded) contrasts with praised.
23. Naa answered the questions with confidence.
Solution: Confidence (certainty) is opposite to uncertainty.
24. Judges are expected to be impartial.
Solution: Impartial (fair) contrasts with biased (unfair).
25. Our father advised us not to exalt ourselves.
Solution: Exalt (praise highly) is opposite to humble (modest).
Choose the option that best completes each sentence.
26. I promised my parents that I ......study very hard.
Solution: Would is the past tense of "will" for promises.
27. If Kofi ......me, I would have helped him.
Solution: Third conditional requires had asked (past perfect).
28. Let’s leave now, Akosua, ......?
Solution: The tag question for "Let’s" is shall we.
29. Adjo is ......young to marry.
Solution: Too young implies excessive youth (incapable).
30. Give that book of ......to Mansah.
Solution: Yours is the correct possessive pronoun.
31. ......the warning of the weatherman, the fishermen went to sea.
Solution: In spite of means "despite" (ignoring the warning).
32. We’ve been living here ......2001.
Solution: Since is used with a specific start time (2001).
33. Kofi told the court that he had met the suspect two days......
Solution: Ago refers to time before the present.
34. Kwame has been accused ......stealing the money.
Solution: Accused of is the correct preposition.
35. This is the man ......I met at the bus stop.
Solution: Whom is the object pronoun for "man."
36. My friend is good ......English.
Solution: Good at indicates proficiency in a subject.
37. I wish I ......there.
Solution: Were is used for hypothetical wishes.
38. Our pastor is now the ......senior of the pastors in the church.
Solution: Most is the superlative form for "senior."
39. I prefer oranges ......mangoes.
Solution: Prefer is followed by to (not "than").
40. I hope the team ......perform better next year.
Solution: Will expresses future certainty.