THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL GHANA

Basic Education Certificate Examination

English Language 2000

All English Language years 2001

OBJECTIVE TEST

Passage I

Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1

Mr. Kobi was sorry about the headmaster's early retirement because

A.it was necessary to do so.

B.he would deny the pupils of his help.

C.he had done a lot.

D.the pupils were well prepared for life.

Question 2

Which of the following is not true of the headmaster?

A.He was hated by the people.

B.He had worked hard.

C.He was happy.

D.He had worked for a long time.

Question 3

_Brief_ in the passage means

A.necessary.

B.good.

C.TRUE.

D.short.

Question 4

According to the passage, Mr. Smith was

A.liked by many people.

B.liked by the headmaster only.

C.a disciplinarian.

D.a gentleman.

Question 5

The retiring headmaster said he would continue ...... the school.

A.praising.

B.to teach in.

C.visiting.

D.to do his best for.

Passage II

Question 6

People like to watch television because it

A.is very beautiful.

B.solves serious problems.

C.is available.

D.provides relaxation.

Question 7

The writer feels that children should

A.watch television with parents.

B.do nothing while watching television.

C.not watch all programmes.

D.learn about adult life.

Question 8

Poses in the passage means

A.solves.

B.increases.

C.presents.

D.determines.

Question 9

According to the passage, which of the following is not true about television?

A.It is a source of entertainment.

B.It helps us to see unknown places and people.

C.People with little education can also watch it.

D.Everybody has one.

Question 10

From the passage, we realise that the writer ......

A.dislikes adult programmes.

B.is not happy about the present situation.

C.produces television programmes.

D.wants television to be banned.

SECTION B

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

Question 11

The Headmaster asked the school prefect to summon a meeting of the Students' Council.

A.chair.

B.call.

C.cancel.

D.postpone.

Question 12

The attitude of the security officer was very hostile.

A.strange.

B.disturbing.

C.unfriendly.

D.interesting.

Question 13

After the hard day's work he returned home completely exhausted.

A.disturbed.

B.worn out.

C.unhappy.

D.broken down.

Question 14

The auditor's job was to go over the accounts carefully.

A.present.

B.calculate.

C.settle.

D.inspect.

Question 15

The paint used for the outside of the building was durable.

A.lasting.

B.expensive.

C.attractive.

D.decorative.

SECTION C

In each of the following sentences a word or groups of word has been underlined. Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one that best explains the underlined group of words.

Question 16

Musa told his friend to mind his own business. This means that Musa's friend should ......

A.worry about his own work.

B.do his own buying and selling.

C.not interfere in other people's affairs.

D.not help other people.

Question 17

Mother buys the best clothes for Patrick because he is the apple of her eye. This means that Patrick is ......

A.the one she loves most.

B.the most hard-working son.

C.her most respectable son.

D.her last child.

Question 18

It is difficult for most people to make ends meet these days. This means most people ......

A.live very comfortably.

B.are unable to eat delicious meals.

C.are unable to live within their income.

D.buy expensive clothes.

Question 19

Esi was so good a leader that we were all encouraged to take a leaf out of her book. This means we were all encouraged to ......

A.try and beat her record.

B.take her advice.

C.follow her example.

D.treat her with respect.

Question 20

Before I left for the market, I asked my neighbour to keep an eye on my children. This means my neighbour should ......

A.play with the children.

B.look after the children.

C.follow the children around.

D.look at the children.

SECTION D

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.

Question 21

My friend did everything to hinder my work.

A.reduce.

B.do.

C.understand.

D.assist.

Question 22

It is wise to preserve works of art for the future.

A.produce.

B.destroy.

C.condemn.

D.abolish.

Question 23

The director engaged Mary as a sales woman.

A.disqualified.

B.exempted.

C.dismissed.

D.excused.

Question 24

This soil is very fertile for the growing of vegetables.

A.poor.

B.shallow.

C.porous.

D.hard.

Question 25

Formerly, we walked a very long distance to attend school.

A.sometimes.

B.now.

C.recently.

D.usually.

SECTION D

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

Question 26

When the lights went off, I ...... my supper.

A.have eaten.

B.am eating.

C.have been eating.

D.was eating.

Question 27

The factory had to ...... many workers because of the fall in production.

A.lay down.

B.put off.

C.put away.

D.lay off.

Question 28

We ...... to play a return match last Friday.

A.have.

B.were.

C.ought.

D.are.

Question 29

It was not obvious ...... he was pointing to.

A.the one to which.

B.which one.

C.one which.

D.as to that.

Question 30

I have forgotten all ...... you told me.

A.that.

B.which.

C.what.

D.those.

Question 31

Selfish people always consider ...... first.

A.oneself.

B.yourselves.

C.themselves.

D.himself.

Question 32

...... the watch is old, it is still working.

A.Although.

B.Despite.

C.Since.

D.Because.

Question 33

Teye asked me how ...... French I knew.

A.many.

B.few.

C.little.

D.much.

Question 34

Kwaku's evidence ...... to be checked.

A.needing.

B.needs.

C.is needing.

D.will have need.

Question 35

The headmistress said they could not postpone ...... the school any longer.

A.re-opening.

B.re-open.

C.to have re-opened.

D.having re-opened.

Question 36

You know very well that it was no fault of ......

A.my.

B.I.

C.me.

D.mine.

Question 37

You are not hurt, ......?

A.were you?

B.did you?

C.are you?

D.do you?

Question 38

I don't mind ...... home early.

A.you go.

B.your go.

C.you to go.

D.your going.

Question 39

All ...... is good health.

A.what I need.

B.to need.

C.that I need.

D.to be needed.

Question 40

If anyone greets you, it is polite to return ...... greeting.

A.your.

B.its.

C.their.

D.anyone.

THEORY

Essay Writing

Answer two questions in all: one question from each section. Each composition should contain at least 200 words Credit will be given for clarity of expression and orderly presentation of material

Question 1

Write a letter to Chairman of the Town Development Committee of your area telling him about the poor sanitation in your community. Suggest at least two ways of improving the sanitation..

Question 2

Write a letter to your friend in another town describing not less than two interesting things in your hometown.

Question 3

Narrate to your friends an interesting story your grandmother told you.

Question 4

As the Senior Prefect of your school, you have been invited to tell the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) what your school needs most. Write your speech.

SECTION A[30 marks]

Answer one question only from this section

Questions for this section are in the printed paper.

SECTION B[30 marks]

Answer one question only from this section

Questions for this section are in the printed paper.

All English Language years 2001