BECE 2007 Social Studies Past Questions 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. Peace, as one of the reasons for the migration of our ancestors to modern Ghana, cannot be sustained, if we promote
Solution: Ethnic conflict disrupts social harmony and undermines peace, which was a key factor for ancestral migrations to Ghana.
2. The original home of the Dagbon people is the area around
Solution: Oral traditions trace the Dagbon people's origins to the Lake Chad region before they migrated to northern Ghana.
3. The Trans-Atlantic trade was discredited with the sale of
Solution: The Trans-Atlantic slave trade was condemned due to the inhumane sale and exploitation of African slaves.
4. The colonization process in the Gold Coast included all but one of the following:
Solution: Trade was a precursor to colonization, not a method of establishing colonial rule, unlike agreements, persuasion, and force.
5. Before World War 1, Togoland was a colony of
Solution: Togoland was a German colony until it was divided between France and Britain after World War I.
6. Which town is regarded as the spiritual home of the Fantes?
Solution: Mankesim is considered the spiritual and historical center of the Fante people, where their early settlements were established.
7. The first Europeans to arrive at Elmina in the fifteenth century were the
Solution: The Portuguese arrived at Elmina in 1471, building the first European fort there to facilitate trade.
8. Fetu Afahye is celebrated by the people of
Solution: Fetu Afahye is a major festival celebrated by the people of Cape Coast to honor their heritage and deities.
9. The first secondary school to be established in Ghana is
Solution: Mfantsipim School, founded in 1876 by the Wesleyan Mission, is the oldest secondary school in Ghana.
10. A major source of air pollution in the cities of Ghana is
Solution: Vehicle emissions are a primary contributor to air pollution in Ghanaian cities due to heavy traffic and poor fuel quality.
11. Democracy refers to the government of
Solution: Democracy is defined as a system where governance is by the people, typically through elected representatives.
12. Who presides over debates in the Parliament of Ghana? The
Solution: The Speaker of Parliament presides over debates, ensuring order and adherence to parliamentary procedures.
13. The most economical way to dispose of domestic and industrial waste is
Solution: Recycling reduces waste, conserves resources, and is more cost-effective than other disposal methods in the long term.
14. One example of an outmoded cultural practice in Ghana is
Solution: Female genital mutilation is considered harmful and is outlawed in Ghana, unlike the other practices listed.
15. The shared values which will promote unity among Ghanaians is
Solution: Tolerance fosters mutual respect among diverse ethnic groups, promoting national unity in Ghana.
16. Which of the following rock types is formed in layers?
Solution: Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed by the compaction of mineral and organic particles in layers.
17. The type of rainfall which is mostly experienced in mountainous areas is
Solution: Relief rainfall occurs when air is forced to rise over mountains, cooling and condensing to form rain.
18. The highest judicial officer in Ghana is the
Solution: The Chief Justice is the head of Ghana’s judiciary, overseeing the administration of justice.
19. Which of the following minerals is not mined in Ghana?
Solution: Ghana mines gold, diamonds, and bauxite, but potassium is not a significant mineral resource in the country.
20. The belief in witchcraft is based on
Solution: Witchcraft beliefs in Ghana are rooted in superstition rather than empirical evidence or scientific reasoning.
21. One of the advantages of a good layout is that
Solution: A well-planned layout includes drainage systems that help control flooding, improving urban resilience.
22. Which country lies West of Ghana?
Solution: Cote d'Ivoire is Ghana’s western neighbor, sharing a land border.
23. The highest point in the Akwapim-Togo ranges is
Solution: Mount Afadjato is the highest peak in the Akwapim-Togo ranges and in Ghana, standing at approximately 885 meters.
24. Productivity in Ghana can be increased through the use of
Solution: Modern technology enhances efficiency and output, significantly boosting productivity compared to other options.
25. Which of the following is the lowest level of decentralization in Ghana?
Solution: Unit Committees are the smallest units of local governance in Ghana’s decentralized system, operating at the community level.
26. The vegetation found in the northern part of Ghana is called
Solution: The northern part of Ghana is characterized by savanna vegetation, with grasses and scattered trees adapted to a dry climate.
27. A map is drawn to the scale of 1:1,000,000. Find the actual distance between two towns, Dogo and Daga, which are 5.5 cm apart.
Solution: At a scale of 1:1,000,000, 1 cm represents 10 km (1,000,000 cm = 10 km). Thus, 5.5 cm = 5.5 × 10 = 55 km.
28. One of the ways of ensuring sustainable development is to
Solution: Protecting public property ensures resources are preserved for future use, supporting sustainable development.
29. Which of the following institutions of government protects the liberty and rights of the people? The
Solution: The judiciary interprets laws and protects citizens’ rights through fair adjudication and constitutional oversight.
30. Which of the following is a human resource?
Solution: Labour, encompassing human skills and effort, is a human resource, unlike land, capital, or timber, which are physical resources.
31. The territorial waters of Ghana are protected by the
Solution: The Ghana Navy is responsible for securing the country’s territorial waters and maritime boundaries.
32. Longitude 0° is referred to as the
Solution: Longitude 0° is the Greenwich Meridian, the reference point for global time zones and geographic coordinates.
33. Ghana makes great contributions to the United Nations Organization (UNO) through
Solution: Ghana is renowned for its significant contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, deploying troops to conflict zones.
34. Which of the following Ghanaian rivers does not flow into the sea?
Solution: The Afram River flows into Lake Volta, not directly into the sea, unlike the other rivers listed.
35. Which of these economic products is found in the savanna zone?
Solution: Cotton is a major crop grown in Ghana’s savanna zone, suited to its drier climate, unlike timber, cocoa, or plantain.
36. When Ghana co-operates with neighbouring countries, it results in
Solution: Cooperation with neighbors fosters diplomatic and economic ties, promoting friendly relations.
37. When the wet bulb and the dry bulb thermometers at the weather station record the same reading it means the air is
Solution: Equal readings on wet and dry bulb thermometers indicate saturated air, where relative humidity is 100%.
38. The revolution of the earth results in
Solution: The Earth’s revolution around the sun causes the four seasons due to the tilt of its axis.
39. National development can be sustained when it involves the
Solution: Sustainable development requires active participation from citizens, ensuring local ownership and commitment.
40. Primary production contributes to the development of Ghana in two of the following ways:
I. supplies raw materials
II. provides services for manufacturing
III. ensures the flow of money for trading
IV. provides employment for many people
Solution: Primary production, like mining and farming, supplies raw materials and employs many Ghanaians, driving economic growth.
1. 1. (a) Outline any four reasons for the coming of the early Europeans into West Africa.
1. (b) What four effects did the coming of the Europeans have on the people?
SOLUTIONS FOR QUESTION 1
1.(a)
(i) To evangelize - spread Christianity.
(ii) To trade in gold, salt, spices, guns, etc.
(iii) To explore West Africa.
(iv) To exploit our natural resources, such as gold, diamond, bauxite, and manganese.
(v) To expand their territories / colonies.
(vi) To introduce formal education in West Africa.
(vii) To expand the market for their products.
(viii) To obtain raw materials for their industries.
[any four]
(b) Positive Effects:
(i) Introduction of formal education by the establishment of schools and colleges.
(ii) Introduction of currency notes and coins as the medium of exchange to replace the barter system.
(iii) The spread of Christianity.
(iv) The introduction of the formal legal system to maintain law and order.
(v) The establishment of clinics and hospitals.
(vi) The development of alphabet for local languages, writing, and reading.
(vii) The introduction of improved farming methods for higher yield.
(viii) The improvement / development of architecture.
(ix) The creation of tourist sites.
(x) The development of better infrastructure, e.g., roads, railway lines, harbour, etc.
Negative Effects:
(xi) Changes in our cultural system.
(xii) Over-dependence on the colonial masters.
(xiii) Loss of national identity.
(xiv) Exploitation of our natural resources.
(xv) The loss of active manpower through the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
(xvi) Loss of respect and dignity of Africans.
(xvii) Mental slavery - inability of directing our own affairs.
(xviii) Collapse of local / traditional industries.
[any four]
2. 2. (a) Give four reasons why Ghana should be self-reliant.
2. (b) State four measures that can make Ghana self-reliant.
SOLUTION FOR QUESTION 2
2.(a)
(i)To maintain her sovereignty as an independent state.
(ii) To prevent indiscriminate exploitation of our natural resources by foreigners.
(iii) To save / reserve our foreign exchange.
(iv) To create an enabling environment for local enterprises to succeed.
(v) To improve the balance of trade.
(vi) To encourage indigenous problem-solving spirit.
(vii) To create favourable environment for human resource development.
[any four]
(b)(i) Cultivating an attitude of self-belief - ability to manage our own affairs.
(ii) Promoting the patronage of locally made goods and services (made-in-Ghana goods).
(iii) Depending on local experts for problem-solving.
(iv) Adding value to our primary sector products - processing our raw materials to finished or semi-finished products.
(v) The government cutting down the budget / public expenditure (living within our means).
(vi) Widening the tax net to increase locally generated revenue.
(vii) Investing heavily in the continuous training of our human resource.
(viii) Eliminating or drastically reducing bribery and corruption.
(ix) Increasing the import duty on foreign goods.
(x) Managing our resources efficiently.
(xi) Giving room for greater private sector involvement in our economy.
[any four]
3. 3. (a) Name three types of rainfall experienced in Ghana.
3. (b) Describe how any one of the rainfall types is formed.
3.(a) (i) Convectional
(b) (i) Convectional:
SOLUTIONS FOR QUESTION 3
2. (a)
(i) Convectional
(ii) Relief or orographic
(iii) Cyclonic or frontal
(b) (i) Convectional:
- Warm water vapour rises (evaporates) from the surfaces of land and water bodies when they are heated.
- The water vapour rises higher and higher into the atmosphere
- The higher it rises, the cooler it becomes.
- When it gets into the upper layers of the atmosphere, it condenses to form cumulus clouds.
- The cumulus clouds develop into cumulus congestus then into cumulonimbus clouds when cooling continues.
- The cumulonimbus clouds condense further and fall as rain.
- (Convectional rain is usually accompanied by thunder and lightning)
(ii) Relief or Orographic:
- Air mass / wind blows towards a highland / mountain.
- The air mass is forced upwards on the windward side.
- The rising air cools (adiabatic cooling) and condenses to form cumulus clouds.
- The cumulus clouds develop into cumulus congestus then into cumulonimbus clouds as cooling continues.
- The cumulonimbus clouds condense further and fall as rain.
- The rain is heavier on the windward side than on the leeward side.
(iii) Cyclonic or Frontal:
- Two air masses (one warm, the other cold) meet and form a front.
- The warmer air rises over the colder air, since it is lighter / has lower density.
- As the warm air continues to rise, it cools and condenses to form cumulus clouds.
- The cumulus clouds develop into cumulus congestus then into cumulonimbus clouds as cooling continues.
- The cumulonimbus clouds condense further and fall as rain.
4. 4. (a) Identify four sources of superstitious beliefs in Ghana.
4. (b) Outline four effects of superstition on the social and economic development of Ghana.
SOLUTIONS FOR QUESTION 4
4. (a)
(i) Folktales
(ii) Spiritualists, e.g., fetish priests, mallams, prophets, etc.
(iii) Taboos
(iv) Myths
(v) African / horror movies
(vi) Dreams / visions / trances
(vii) Personal supernatural occurrences
[any four]
(b) Positive Effects:
(i) They help to facilitate safety of the community.
(ii) They help to inculcate acceptable social habits in the society.
(iii) They help to uphold law and order.
(iv) They support the preservation of the environment.
(v) They help to maintain personal hygiene.
Negative Effects:
(vi) They discourage scientific advancement and technology.
(vii) They generate conflicts among members of the community.
(viii) They create intense and unreasonable fear in the community.
(ix) They slow down development / progress in the community.
(x) They sometimes permit abuse of one's human rights.
(xi) They create suspicions among persons in a community.
(xii) They discourage creativity concerning innovative solutions to societal problems.
[any four]
5. 5. (a) Mention four natural resources of a country.
5. (b) In what four ways can the natural resources of Ghana be exploited and used more efficiently?
SOLUTIONS FOR QUESTION 5
5. (a)
(i) Water bodies, e.g., rivers, sea, lakes, streams, lagoons, etc.
(ii) Relief features, e.g., mountains, hill, ridges, etc.
(iii) Minerals, e.g., gold, diamond, bauxite, crude oil, salt.
(iv) Vegetation, e.g., rain forest, grassland, etc.
(v) Animal resources, e.g., lion, fishes, birds, insects, etc.
(vi) Land - earth crust.
[any four]
(b) (i) Legislation - making and enforcing laws to guide the appropriate exploitation of resources.
(ii) Using modern technology / tools for exploration and exploitation.
(iii) Encouraging local use and processing of exploited resource.
(iv) Quality manpower training - Providing quality training / education of human resource for the exploitation of natural resource.
(v) Adding value to the natural resources.
(vi) Conservation / replenishment of exploited natural resource, wherever possible, e.g., reforestation (planting more trees to replace ones cut down).
(vii) Good maintenance of equipment used for exploitation of resource.
(viii) Ensuring the use of approved methods for exploitation.
6. 5. Use the figures in the table below to answer the questions that follow:
| GHANA'S POPULATION IN THE YEAR 2000 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age | Population | Percentage |
| 0–17 | 9,825,600 | 53.4% |
| 18–59 | 7,728,000 | 42.0% |
| 60+ | 846,400 | 4.6% |
(a) Calculate, showing working:
(i) the total population
(ii) the percentage of the population that is supported by the working population.
(b) State any four effects of this age distribution on development in Ghana.
SOLUTIONS FOR QUESTION 6
6. (a) Calculations, showing working:
(i) The total population:
\[9,825,600 + 7,728,000 + 846,400 = 18,400,000\]
(ii) The percentage of the population that is supported by the working population:
\[\begin{aligned} &= \frac{\text{Non-working population}}{\text{Total population}} \times 100\% \\&= \frac{\text{Ages (0–17 and 60+)}}{\text{Total population}} \times 100\% \\&= \frac{9,825,600 + 846,400}{18,400,000} \times 100\% \\&= \frac{10,672,000}{18,400,000} \times 100\% \\&=\frac{10,672}{18,4} \times 1\% \\&= 58\%\end{aligned}\]
(b)
(i) Great financial burden on working population due to high dependency ratio.
(ii) Low per-capita income, which amounts to poverty.
(iii) High government expenditure on non-working population (0–17 and 60+).
(iv) Generally low savings and investments.
(v) Low revenue to the government, due to low working population, and therefore less taxes, levies, tolls, etc., come to government.
(vi) High inflation.
(vii) Slow pace of development of the country.
[any four]