BECE 2009 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.
Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow.
We were suddenly awakened at dawn by the screams of the tenants in our house. They were making a lot of commotion in the yard. Daddy quickly jumped from his bed and made for the door. Not long after, we heard him scream. We ran to the hall, switched on the lights and saw him lying flat on his back holding his forehead
In his haste to get to the hall door, he must have forgotten to switch on the lights thus running straight and crashing his head into the pillar in the middle of the hall. When we examined his forehead, we saw a big lump and blood oozing from a deep cut near his eyebrow.
Mummy, a retired nursing sister, shouted instructions to me to get the first-aid box, some ice cubes and Daddy‟s towel. When the items were brought, she set to work first on the cut. She put some ice cubes in the towel and pressed the towel on the cut for about two minutes. She then wiped the blood gently. Afterwards, she put a little iodine on a piece of gauze, placed it on the cut and bandaged it. Turning to the lump, she massaged it with some ice cubes, which reduced the swelling.
She then opened the front door and we beheld a pathetic scene. Lying in the middle of the house was the motionless body of one of the tenants. Trying to resist an attack from the armed robbers, he had been butchered mercilessly and his body left in the middle of the house.
1. What made the writer wake up?
Solution: The passage states that the writer was awakened by the screams of the tenants in the house, not by the father's actions or the robbers initially.
2. The writer’s father was holding his forehead because he
Solution: The father crashed his head into the pillar in the dark, causing a cut and lump, which is why he held his forehead.
3. The purpose of the ice cubes was to
Solution: The passage mentions that the ice cubes were used to massage the lump, which reduced the swelling.
4. Pathetic in the passage means
Solution: The word pathetic describes the motionless body of the tenant, evoking sadness or pity.
5. What happened to the tenant?
Solution: The tenant was butchered mercilessly by the armed robbers for resisting their attack.
Where is the musical performance of songbirds held? It is not in any concert hall but rather on trees, fences and telephone wires. It is from these places that the little feathered creatures blend their voices in some of the most melodious songs sung in the world.
Songbirds do not just make noise. The male voices in the choir, for instance, have two different messages. Firstly, it is a warning to other males not to come near their partners. Secondly, it is an invitation from the bachelors to the female birds. The most interesting songs which are sung with a lot of vigour are produced during the breeding season by the males to impress the lady birds.
Songbirds are very remarkable. They sing three or four notes at a time. To the human ear it sounds like one beat but the birds can identify the different notes because of their keen sense of hearing. At times, what is heard may not be a song of our winged friends but simply an instruction to keep the flock together. It may also be a warning of an approaching danger.
Just how birds compose their songs is an interesting subject. Some birds have their songs fixed in their brains at birth. Whilst some imitate others, other birds try to compose songs which are unique. They will never copy what they hear others sing.
6. According to the passage, members of the choir can sing without difficulty because they
Solution: The passage states that some birds have their songs fixed in their brains at birth, implying innate ability.
7. The male songbirds sing
Solution: Males sing to impress the lady birds, especially during the breeding season.
8. According to the passage, birds sing
Solution: The passage describes bird songs as some of the most melodious songs in the world.
9. Unique in the passage means
Solution: Unique refers to songs that are original and not copied, making them special.
10. The writer suggests that
Solution: The passage notes that birds can identify different notes due to their keen hearing, unlike humans.
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.
11. The house by the sea has been abandoned.
Solution: Abandoned means left empty or unused, synonymous with deserted.
12. Most Ghanaians were optimistic about the Black Stars winning the African Cup.
Solution: Optimistic describes a positive outlook, aligning with hopeful.
13. The indigenous people provided the labour during the building of the school.
Solution: Indigenous refers to native or original inhabitants of a region.
14. The effort of the watchman which led to the arrest of the thieves was laudable.
Solution: Laudable means deserving praise, matching praiseworthy.
15. Our parents deserve our appreciation.
Solution: Appreciation in this context means thankfulness or gratitude.
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.
16. Mr. Taiwoo took the clerk to task for losing the letters. This means that Mr. Taiwoo
Solution: To take someone to task means to reprimand or blame them for a mistake.
17. The quarrel got out of hand. This means that the quarrel
Solution: Got out of hand implies the situation escalated and became unmanageable.
18. On seeing the headmaster, the girl took to her heels. This means that the girl
Solution: Took to her heels is an idiom meaning to run away quickly.
19. Joseph lives within a stone’s throw from the station. This means that Joseph
Solution: Within a stone’s throw signifies a very short distance.
20. All his plans for building a new theatre came to nought. This means that
Solution: Came to nought means the plans failed or came to nothing.
From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word underlined in each sentence.
21. My father has a cordial relationship with all his neighbours.
Solution: Cordial means friendly; its opposite is hostile (unfriendly).
22. John’s latest play is rather dull.
Solution: Dull means boring, so the antonym is interesting.
23. The feeble old man spoke for about three hours.
Solution: Feeble means weak, making strong the correct opposite.
24. The thief descended the stairs hurriedly.
Solution: Hurriedly means quickly, so the opposite is slowly.
25. The diligent student won a prize.
Solution: Diligent means hardworking; the opposite is careless.
From the alternatives lettered A to D, choose the one which most suitably completes each sentence.
26. My father wanted to find out how Abu was getting ……… at school.
Solution: The phrase getting on means progressing or managing.
27. If the boat had been maintained properly it………..capsized.
Solution: This is a third conditional sentence, requiring would not have.
28. The white horse is ………..than the black one.
Solution: The comparative form of "fast" is faster.
29. They thought he would become a businessman,……….?
Solution: The main verb is "thought," so the tag question uses didn’t they.
30. There were only two of us who ……… any idea of the answer.
Solution: The past tense had agrees with "were."
31. He had boarded a taxi, ………?
Solution: The auxiliary verb "had" requires the tag hadn’t he.
32. Mrs. Mensah ……… in Saltpond since 1970.
Solution: Has been living indicates an action started in the past and continuing to the present.
33. The booking clerk made him ……….. a deposit.
Solution: The verb "make" takes the base form pay (without "to").
34. Although all the dresses were beautiful, she liked ………of them.
Solution: "Although" implies contrast; none means she disliked all.
35. Kwesi and Ama are in love with ………
Solution: Each other is used for two people, while "one another" is for groups.
36. It is ……… to attempt in one day.
Solution: The correct structure is too + adjective + a + noun.
37. The rain shouldn’t deter you …… going out.
Solution: Deter from is the correct phrasal verb meaning to discourage.
38. Ben is leaving ……….. Takoradi this morning.
Solution: Leaving for indicates the destination (Takoradi).
39. Yesterday I met the man ………
Solution: Whose car I bought is the grammatically correct relative clause.
40. No sooner had the Minister opened the bank ……… the bank was filled to capacity.
Solution: No sooner must be paired with than in this construction.