BECE 2021 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.
1. Can I borrow your ……… Hat?
Solution: The correct order of adjectives in English is opinion (new), color (blue), and material (straw). Therefore, "new blue straw" is grammatically correct.
2. She will not give us …….. more money.
Solution: "Any" is used in negative sentences to indicate no quantity, which fits the context of the sentence.
3. You would be hungry if you ……….. to eat.
Solution: This is a hypothetical situation (second conditional), so the past tense "refused" is required.
4. You have seen them, …… you?
Solution: The sentence is in the present perfect tense ("have seen"), so the correct question tag is "haven’t you?"
5. Habib goes to school ……… train.
Solution: The preposition "by" is used to indicate the means of transportation (e.g., by train, by car).
6. She does not like ……… letters.
Solution: The verb "like" is followed by a gerund (writing) when referring to general preferences.
7. You will be ill if you ……….. raw meat.
Solution: This is a first conditional sentence, so the present tense "eat" is used in the "if" clause.
8. It was done according …….. the rules.
Solution: The correct phrase is "according to," which means in agreement with or as stated by.
9. ……… the challenges, we succeeded.
Solution: "In spite of" is used to indicate that something happened despite obstacles.
10. My brother, with his wife and children, ……….. travelling to Salaga next weekend.
Solution: The subject is "my brother" (singular), so the singular verb "is" is correct. The phrase "with his wife and children" does not change the subject's number.
11. It is high time we ……… the journey.
Solution: The phrase "it is high time" is followed by the past tense to indicate urgency or that something should have been done already.
12. I prefer oranges ……….. mangoes.
Solution: The verb "prefer" is followed by "to" when comparing two things.
13. His aunt ……….. spoke to us lives in Tamale.
Solution: "Who" is used to refer to a person (his aunt) as the subject of the relative clause.
14. Araba couldn’t resist tasting the food while on fire.
Solution: The phrase "couldn’t resist" is followed by a gerund (opening).
15. My neighbour, ……… dog barks every night, has left town.
Solution: "Whose" is the possessive form used to indicate that the dog belongs to the neighbour.
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the word in each sentence.
16. The chosen poems are very relatable.
Solution: "Chosen" means picked out from a group, which is synonymous with "selected."
17. Arming the police does not halt crime.
Solution: "Halt" means to bring to a stop, which aligns with the meaning of "stop."
18. All the lax rules have been cancelled.
Solution: "Lax" means not strict or weak, so "weak" is the closest synonym.
19. The youth should be ruled by the fundamental ideals of courtesy.
Solution: "Fundamental" means basic or essential, making "essential" the best choice.
20. The porter could not endure his insults.
Solution: "Endure" means to tolerate or bear something unpleasant.
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. Azara burnt her fingers when she took sides with her friend. This means that Azara
Solution: The idiom "burnt her fingers" means to suffer negative consequences for one's actions.
22. A desperate man may clutch at straws to save himself. This means that he may
Solution: "Clutch at straws" means to try any possible option, even if it's unlikely to succeed.
23. Gil held her tongue on sensitive political issues. This means that she
Solution: The phrase "held her tongue" means to refrain from speaking.
24. The project is in the pipeline. This means that it is
Solution: "In the pipeline" means that something is in progress or being planned.
25. Ammon has always kept his enemies at arm’s length. This means that he
Solution: "Kept at arm’s length" means to avoid getting too close to someone or something.
From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined in each sentence.
26. That shop has been temporarily closed down.
Solution: The opposite of "temporarily" is "permanently."
27. He normally alights at the station.
Solution: "Alights" means to get off (a vehicle), so the opposite is "boards" (to get on).
28. Abelku feels unsafe in his house.
Solution: The opposite of "unsafe" is "secure."
29. The audience laughed at his funny stories.
Solution: The opposite of "funny" is "humourless" (lacking humor).
30. The prefect rebuked the student for his rude behaviour.
Solution: The opposite of "rebuked" (scolded) is "praised."