BECE 2014 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 students were hostile ………the lazy teacher.
Solution: "Hostile to" is the correct prepositional phrase to show opposition.
2. The ………met at the mess.
Solution: The plural form of compound nouns adds "-s" to the main word ("commanders").
3. The workers are demonstrating ………management.
Solution: "Demonstrate against" means to protest opposition.
4. ………..failed the examination, Doris was dismissed from the school.
Solution: "Having failed" is a participle phrase showing cause.
5. The building he bought ………...millions of cedis.
Solution: Present simple ("costs") states general facts.
6. The dresses are ………..
Solution: "Ours" is the correct possessive pronoun (no apostrophe).
7. We shall invite him when he ………from America.
Solution: Present simple ("returns") is used in time clauses.
8. The students were congratulated ………their brilliant performance.
Solution: "Congratulated on" is the standard collocation.
9. By this time next year, I ………school.
Solution: Future perfect ("will have left") shows completion by a future time.
10. Isn’t that girl ………old to play with toys?
Solution: "Too + adjective" expresses excessiveness.
11. You usually come to school early, ........?
Solution: The question tag for habitual present ("you come") uses "don't you" (positive statement → negative tag).
12. I am ........ faithfully.
Solution: The correct possessive pronoun in letter closings is "Yours" (no apostrophe).
13. No sooner had we arrived ........ he came back from work.
Solution: "No sooner...than" is the correct correlative conjunction pair.
14. Kofi and Ama love ........
Solution: "Each other" is used for reciprocal actions between two people.
15. It's no good ........ to him.
Solution: After "It's no good," the gerund form "talking" is required.
16. Since our last meeting, I ........ ill.
Solution: Present perfect ("have been") shows a state continuing from past to present.
17. I was ........ tired that I couldn't go any further.
Solution: "So...that" shows result/consequence (couldn't go further).
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.
18. The elders were advised not to meddle in chieftaincy affairs.
Solution: "Meddle" means to involve oneself improperly, synonymous with "interfere."
19. The accountant corrected all the mistakes made by the Chief Executive.
Solution: "Corrected" means to fix errors, matching "rectified."
20. Elorm’s decision was superb.
Solution: "Superb" means outstanding or excellent.
21. The students complained that the rules were too rigid.
Solution: "Rigid" rules are inflexible or strict.
22. The new headmaster met the staff and made his maiden speech.
Solution: "Maiden" means initial or first.
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. The student was caught red-handed breaking the louvers.
Solution: "Red-handed" means caught in the act of wrongdoing.
24. We knew it was a cock and bull story.
Solution: A "cock and bull story" is a fabricated tale.
25. The thieves were armed to the teeth when they entered the house.
Solution: "Armed to the teeth" means heavily equipped with weapons.
26. Mr. Abban instructed his wife to keep an eye on their daughter.
Solution: "Keep an eye on" means to monitor carefully.
27. The president hit the nail on the head when he complained that most of the ministers were corrupt.
Solution: "Hit the nail on the head" means to be precisely correct.
From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.
28. The man was disgraced in public.
Solution: The opposite of "disgraced" is "honoured."
29. Akosua accepted the offer.
Solution: The opposite of "accepted" is "declined."
30. Food is abundant in the rural areas.
Solution: The opposite of "abundant" is "scarce."
31. Doctors have withdrawn their services.
Solution: The opposite of "withdrawn" is "offered."
32. By our constitution, it is obligatory to vote.
Solution: The opposite of "obligatory" is "optional."
From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that correctly answers the questions or completes the sentence.
33. Which of the following is not an example of oral literature?
Solution: "Melodrama" is a theatrical genre, not oral literature.
34. The dominant idea in a literary work constitutes its ………..
Solution: The central message is the "theme."
35. The expression "The world is a stage." is an example of ………
Solution: A direct comparison without "like/as" is a "metaphor."
36. A genre is ………..
Solution: "Genre" categorizes literature (prose, poetry, drama).
Read the following extract carefully and answer questions 37 and 38
Sweet sensation rises in pressure Tiny legs kick with pleasure Sleep comes gently and strong Sleep whispers softly and strong
37. The device used in "Sleep comes gently and strong" is ………
Solution: Giving human traits ("comes gently") to sleep is "personification."
38. The rhyme scheme of the stanza is ………
Solution: Lines 1-2 ("pressure"/"pleasure") and 3-4 ("strong"/"strong") rhyme.
Read the following extract carefully and answer questions 39 and 40
The fair breeze blew; the white foam flew, The furrow followed free; We were the first that burst Into the silent sea.
39. The main sound device used in the stanza is ………..
Solution: Repetition of initial sounds ("fair breeze blew") is "alliteration."
40. The device helps to express ……………
Solution: Alliteration mimics the fluid motion of the ship.