BECE 2017 English Language Past Questions

PART A

LEXIS AND STRUCTURE
SECTION A
1 - 15

From the alternatives lettered A to D, choose the one which most suitably completes each sentence.

John has given .... smoking
A. in
B. off
C. out
D. up

2. The crowd was .... large that the Director became frightened.
A. quite
B. so
C. too
D. very

3. When we got there, the buses .... left.
A. are
B. had
C. have
D. were

4. The book was .... to me.
A. gave
B. given
C. giving
D. to give

5. Auntie is the lady to .... I gave the list.
A. who
B. whom
C. which
D. whose

6. He's your friend....?
A. doesnt he
B. does he
C. isnt he
D. isnt it

7. Kay: You didn’t go to Accra did you?
Lee:....

A. No, I did
B. No, I didn’t
C. Yes, did I
D. Yes, I didn’t

8. You had better .... now.
A. left
B. leave
C. be leaving
D. to leave

9. Kwame asked his friend to .... him a pen.
A. borrow
B. excuse
C. lend
D. spare

10. She ended the letter....
A. 'Yours sincerely'
B. 'Your's sincerely'
C. 'Yours' sincerely'
D. 'Your sincerely'

11. The woman refused to sell me .... kerosene.
A. any
B. little
C. plenty
D. some

12. ‘Yes, .... a book,’ he said.
A. is
B. its
C. it’s
D. it

13. I know you are much .... than Esi.
A. tall
B. taller
C. tallest
D. the taller

14. Neither John nor his friend, .... a play to the end.
A. watch
B. watches
C. was watching
D. were watching

15. Araba and Osei are a devoted couple who love....
A. each other
B. one another
C. themselves
D. the other

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. The welfare of students should be the concern of teachers.
A. growth
B. joy
C. wealth
D. well-being

17. He said the practice was alien to him.
A. boring
B. new
C. modern
D. unfamiliar

18. He said the story was fictitious.
A. artificial
B. false
C. interesting
D. real

19. The man placed an order for rice and stew at the restaurant.
A. a command
B. a demand
C. a request
D. a directive

20. There is nothing with which to compare the infinite knowledge and power of Providence.
A. endless
B. immeasurable
C. incomplete
D. inconstant

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.

Nimo worked hard after his business collapsed and soon found his feet.
This means that he
A. bought a new fleet of cars.
B. could walk again.
C. revived the business.
D. sold the rest of the business.

22. Manna lay aside some money for Baaba’s party. This means that Manna
A. refused to host the party
B. saved money for the party
C. spent money on the party
D. took a loan to organise the party

23. Mary described the occasion as a red-letter day. This means that the occasion was very
A. bloody
B. enjoyable
C. memorable
D. rough

24. George has been relieved of his post. This means that George has been
A. dismissed
B. given another assignment
C. demoted
D. promoted

25. Foli and Adzovi hit if off quite well. This means they
A. fight often.
B. get on very well.
C. play as a team.
D. present good arguments

SECTION D

26 - 30
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. People in our village are polite to strangers.
A. cruel
B. mean
C. rude
D. unfair

27. Fishes are plentiful in the pond.
A. little
B. scarce
C. small
D. unusual

28. The price of petrol has fallen for no reason.
A. aggravated
B. doubled
C. risen
D. weakened

29. Cann worked hard to stock the shop.
A. decorated
B. empty
C. fill
D. reinforce

30. There was mayhem as the crowd scattered.
A. anger
B. fear
C. order
D. riot