BECE 2013 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.
From the alternatives lettered A to D, choose the one which most suitably completes each sentence.
1. The lion ……… under the tree waiting for its prey.
Solution: "Lay" is the past tense of "lie" (to recline). The sentence describes the lion reclining under the tree, so "lay" is correct.
2. I wish Ato ……… come to see us tomorrow.
Solution: "Would" is used after "wish" to express a hypothetical or polite desire about the future.
3. It’s high time we ……… the items out.
Solution: The phrase "it’s high time" is followed by the past subjunctive ("moved") to indicate urgency.
4. This amount is all ……… I have on me.
Solution: "That" is used as a relative pronoun to introduce a restrictive clause ("I have on me").
5. The harder you study, ……… your chance of success.
Solution: This is a comparative structure: "The harder..., the greater..."
6. Please, I would rather you ……… not disturb me.
Solution: "Would rather" is followed by the past subjunctive ("did") to express preference.
7. That pair of trousers is worn ………
Solution: "Worn out" means damaged or exhausted from use.
8. Atsu is looking forward to ……… his friends at the party.
Solution: "Looking forward to" is followed by a gerund ("seeing").
9. The minister is my ……… brother.
Solution: "Elder" is used for siblings in a family hierarchy.
10. We have ……… sugar, so we cannot have breakfast.
Solution: "Little" is used with uncountable nouns (sugar) to mean "not enough."
11. I wouldn’t say this to ………
Solution: "Any other" is used in negative constructions to mean "no other person."
12. This vase is made ……… glass.
Solution: "Made of" indicates the material (glass).
13. Mrs. Akwei is blind ……… the faults of her children.
Solution: "Blind to" means unaware or ignoring something.
14. Shika was absent yesterday, ………?
Solution: The tag question matches the past tense ("was") and affirmative form.
15. Come and see me tomorrow, ……… you?
Solution: "Will" is used in polite invitations or requests.
16. If Kofi had studied hard, he ……… his examination.
Solution: This is a third conditional (past unreal condition), so "would have passed" is correct.
17. The boy likes his ……… dog.
Solution: The correct adjective order is opinion ("pretty"), size ("little"), color ("brown").
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.
18. The radio is a very potent means of communication.
Solution: "Potent" means having great power or influence.
19. Benjamin deserves the prize because he is industrious.
Solution: "Industrious" means diligent or hardworking.
20. Farming is lucrative.
Solution: "Lucrative" means producing wealth or profit.
21. The recklessness of the driver caused the woman’s death.
Solution: "Recklessness" means lack of caution or care.
22. The doctors have been discussing the shortage of nurses.
Solution: "Shortage" means a lack or insufficient supply.
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 group of words.
23. Adzo takes after her mother.
Solution: "Takes after" means to resemble in appearance or character.
24. Board members are paid five Ghana Cedis a day across the board.
Solution: "Across the board" means applying to all equally.
25. Advise Peter not to poke his nose into my affair.
Solution: "Poke his nose into" means to meddle or interfere.
26. During the lecture, Sarfo was miles away. This means that Sarfo
Solution: "Miles away" means distracted or not paying attention.
27. Ato was at his wits’ end. This means that Ato
Solution: "At his wits’ end" means to be extremely frustrated or perplexed.
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.
28. We are surprised at her hostility to us.
Solution: "Hostility" (unfriendliness) is opposite to "friendliness."
29. She timidly faced her accusers.
Solution: "Timidly" (shyly) is opposite to "boldly."
30. The minister is sincere in his promise.
Solution: "Sincere" (honest) is opposite to "dishonest."
31. The flag was hoisted during the golden jubilee celebration.
Solution: "Hoisted" (raised) is opposite to "lowered."
32. Transparent ballot boxes are used in elections.
Solution: "Transparent" (see-through) is opposite to "opaque."
From the options lettered A to D, choose the one that correctly answers each question or completes the sentence.
33. The sequence of events in a play is the
Solution: The "plot" is the sequence of events in a story.
34. An address directed at oneself is known as
Solution: A "soliloquy" is a speech where a character speaks their thoughts aloud alone.
Read the following extract carefully and answer questions 35 to 37
'O incomprehensible God! Shall my pilot be My inborn stars to that Final call to thee'?
35. The poem is a kind of
Solution: An "apostrophe" is a poem addressing an absent person or abstract idea.
36. The theme of the above extract is
Solution: The "final call" suggests the theme of death.
37. Which expression suggests the theme above?
Solution: "Final call" metaphorically refers to death.
38. The main character in a play or novel is called
Solution: The "hero" is the central character.
39. The conversation between two characters is known as
Solution: A "dialogue" is a conversation between two or more characters.
40. Miming refers to
Solution: "Miming" is nonverbal performance.