BECE 2010 English Language Past Questions

PART I

LEXIS AND STRUCTURE
SECTION A
From the alternatives lettered A to D choose the one which most suitably completes each sentence

1. Our teacher was late for school because he....a flat tyre.
A. had
B. will have
C. is having
D. has

2. We had dinner at a Chinese restaurant where I....fried chicken.
A. am enjoying
B. will enjoy
C. enjoyed
D. would enjoy

3. Amas father asked her to choose....John and William.
A. among
B. from
C. with
D. between

4. Willie has malaria and is not....enough to go to school.
A. good
B. well
C. fine
D. free

5. The school band....two days a week.
A. practise
B. are practicing
C. practises
D. were practising

6. Philomena....passed the examination if she had tried harder.
A. could have
B. will have
C. may have
D. could

7. The law was passed according to strict legal....
A. cases
B. principles
C. rules
D. issues

8. The book, as well as several others, ....interesting reading.
A. makes
B. are to make
C. are making
D. make

9. .... Joe scored the first goal, he was injured in the process.
A. But
B. Nevertheless
C. Although
D. Furthermore

10. Neither Kojo nor his friend....the issue clearly.
A. understands
B. have understood
C. understand
D. is understanding

11. The....centre is located on the hill.
A. womens'
B. woman
C. womans'
D. women's

12. One of the cows....from the herd.
A. has strayed
B. have strayed
C. have been strayed
D. has been strayed

13. At the party, the guests placed an order for a large....of drinks.
A. count
B. total
C. quantity
D. sum

14. The hall was so small that it could contain....all of us.
A. rarely
B. comfortably
C. conveniently
D. hardly

15. If I were a manager, I....satisfy my customers.
A. will
B. shall
C. would
D. must

SECTION B

16 - 20
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.

16. Florence performs creditably in all examinations.
A. fairly
B. well
C. graciously
D. good

17. The choir sang some melodious songs at the function.
A. loud
B. pleasant
C. soft
D. musical

18. Jane is always immaculately dressed.
A. modestly
B. correctly
C. neatly
D. scantily

19. The village was enveloped in a thick fog.
A. built
B. put
C. shaped
D. covered

20. The inquisitive stranger asked many questions.
A. curious
B. pompous
C. intelligent
D. cowardly

SECTION C

21 - 25
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. Whenever Kweku goes to Kumasi, he puts up with his uncle. This means that Kweku....
A. helps
B. stays with
C. converses with
D. avoids

22. I glanced over the papers as I walked home. This means that I quickly....the papers.
A. wrote
B. analysed
C. saw
D. read

23. The woman entered the room to find her daughter with her eyes glued to the television. This means that her daughter was....the television.
A. smiling at
B. dismantling
C. intently watching
D. cleaning

24. Kojo was dragged to the farm like a lamb to the slaughter. This means that Kojo was dragged.
A. with difficulty
B. without resistance
C. with a lamb on his shoulder
D. without anything on him

25. The bully was ordered to leave his younger brother alone. This means that the bully was told .
A. not to accompany him anywhere
B. to accompany him everywhere
C. not to disturb him
D. to teach him well

SECTION D

26 -32
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.

26. Some of the guests at the party were rude.
A. courteous
B. bold
C. friendly
D. shy

27. The lawyer supported his argument with copious evidence.
A. inconsistent
B. scanty
C. bad
D. unconvincing

28. If you want to be believed, you must be objective.
A. subjective
B. positive
C. active
D. emotive

29. In all boarding schools, going out in the night is prohibited.
A. advised
B. ignored
C. permitted
D. admitted

30. The surest way to avoid defeat is to strive for....
A. position
B. victory
C. knowledge
D. ability

31. Suddenly the sky became dark and there was a rainstorm.
A. Continuously
B. Gradually
C. Heavily
D. Immediately

32. The athlete looked dejected at the end of the race.
A. angry
B. calm
C. strong
D. excited

PART B

LITERATURE
Read the following extract carefully and answer questions 33 to 36

Young lady, you are like....
The moon that walks beautifully across the sky,
An eagle feather worn by a husband

33. The extract is an example of....
A. prose
B. poetry
C. drama
D. dialogue

34. Young lady, you are like....
The moon that walks beautifully across the sky,
An eagle feather worn by a husband

34. The extract is about....
A. a mirror
B. an eagle feather
C. the moon
D. a beautiful young lady

35. Young lady, you are like....
The moon that walks beautifully across the sky,
An eagle feather worn by a husband

35. "The moon that walks beautifully across the sky" is an example of
A. metaphor
B. hyperbole
C. alliteration
D. personification

36. "Young lady, you are like....
An eagle feather worn by a husband"

36. The above extract is an example of
A. simile
B. metaphor
C. alliteration
D. assonance

37. 37. The writer of a poem is called
A. a novelist
B. a poet
C. a playwright
D. an actor

38. "The potter puts the pots in the pans" is an example of
A. metaphor
B. simile
C. alliteration
D. personification

39. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky."

39. The rhyme scheme of the above verse is
A. abab
B. aabc
C. abcc
D. aabb

40. "Afua Bonsu is the apple of my eye".
This is an example of
A. metaphor
B. simile
C. alliteration
D. personification