BECE 2017 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. John has given ………………..smoking
Solution: The correct phrasal verb is "give up," which means to stop doing something.
2. The crowd was …………………..large that the Director became frightened.
Solution: "So...that" is used to show a result or consequence.
3. When we got there, the buses ……………….left.
Solution: The past perfect tense ("had left") is used to indicate an action completed before another past action.
4. The book was ……………to me.
Solution: The passive voice requires the past participle ("given").
5. Auntie is the lady to ………………I gave the list.
Solution: "Whom" is the object pronoun used after a preposition ("to").
6. He’s your friend, ………………?
Solution: The question tag for "He’s" (He is) is "isn’t he?"
7. Kay: You didn’t go to Accra did you? Lee: ………..
Solution: The response must match the negative question ("didn’t").
8. You had better ………………now.
Solution: "Had better" is followed by the base verb ("leave").
9. Kwame asked his friend to ………………him a pen.
Solution: "Lend" means to give temporarily; "borrow" means to receive.
10. She ended the letter, ………………..
Solution: The correct closing phrase for a formal letter is "Yours sincerely."
11. The woman refused to sell me ………………..kerosene.
Solution: "Any" is used in negative sentences ("refused").
12. ‘Yes, ......a book,’ he said.
Solution: "It’s" is the contraction for "it is."
13. I know you are much ………………..than Esi.
Solution: The comparative form ("taller") is used with "than."
14. Neither John nor his friend, ……………….. a play to the end.
Solution: With "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject ("friend" → singular).
15. Araba and Osei are a devoted couple who love ……….
Solution: "Each other" is used for two people; "one another" for groups.
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.
16. The welfare of students should be the concern of teachers.
Solution: "Welfare" refers to health and happiness, synonymous with "well-being."
17. He said the practice was alien to him.
Solution: "Alien" means foreign or unknown, matching "unfamiliar."
18. He said the story was fictitious.
Solution: "Fictitious" means not real or invented, aligning with "false."
19. The man placed an order for rice and stew at the restaurant.
Solution: In this context, "order" means a polite request for food.
20. There is nothing with which to compare the infinite knowledge and power of Providence.
Solution: "Infinite" means limitless, best matched by "immeasurable."
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.
21. Nimo worked hard after his business collapsed and soon found his feet. This means that he
Solution: "Found his feet" means to regain stability or recover.
22. Manna lay aside some money for Baaba’s party. This means that Manna
Solution: "Lay aside" means to reserve or save for later use.
23. Mary described the occasion as a red-letter day. This means that the occasion was very
Solution: A "red-letter day" is a significant or memorable event.
24. George has been relieved of his post. This means that George has been
Solution: "Relieved of his post" means removed from the position.
25. Foli and Adzovi hit it off quite well. This means they
Solution: "Hit it off" means to have a good relationship.
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.
26. People in our village are polite to strangers.
Solution: The opposite of "polite" is "rude."
27. Fishes are plentiful in the pond.
Solution: The opposite of "plentiful" is "scarce."
28. The price of petrol has fallen for no reason.
Solution: The opposite of "fallen" is "risen."
29. Cann worked hard to stock the shop.
Solution: The opposite of "stock" (fill) is "empty."
30. There was mayhem as the crowd scattered.
Solution: The opposite of "mayhem" (chaos) is "order.”