THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL GHANA

Basic Education Certificate Examination

English Language 2001

2000 All English Language years 2002

OBJECTIVE TEST

Passage I

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

Question 1

According to the passage the elders sit under the tree to ......

A.travel outside.

B.buy and sell.

C.discuss matters.

D.drink palm wine.

Question 2

Which of the following could the old men not see from where they sat?

A.The benches

B.The market

C.The lorry

D.The main street

Question 3

_Uproar_ in the passage means

A.fight.

B.movement.

C.selling.

D.confusion.

Question 4

Some people in the bus tried to alight because they wanted to ......

A.buy things.

B.gossip.

C.rest.

D.go home.

Question 5

Some of the passengers blocked the way because they ......

A.did not like the food sellers.

B.did not want to lose their seats.

C.wanted to stop the new passengers.

D.wanted to see the old men.

Passage II

Question 6

The writer thought he was safe in Accra because ......

A.he saw people rushing home from work.

B.he had just arrived from his village.

C.Ghanaians would welcome him.

D.Ghanaians are famous for their kindness.

Question 7

Spotted in the passage means

A.looked at.

B.recognized.

C.marked.

D.pointed at.

Question 8

The writer turned to his left because he wanted to ......

A.see the person behind.

B.keep his wrist watch safe.

C.welcome his old friend.

D.play with his schoolmate.

Question 9

According to the passage, the fellow grabbed Cudjoe's arm because ......

A.he wanted to embrace.

B.they were mates.

C.he wanted to steal the watch.

D.they stood together.

Question 10

_Rogue_ in the passage refers to ......

A.a worker.

B.the schoolmate.

C.the thief.

D.a citizen.

Question 11

Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A.People in Accra are strange.

B.People in Accra are classmates.

C.There are thieves in Accra.

D.Workers in Accra return home in the evening.

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 12

The director was humiliated when the theft was detected in his ministry.

A.angered

B.cautioned

C.discouraged

D.disgraced

Question 13

Nortey was industrious so he was duly rewarded.

A.intelligent

B.hardworking

C.careful

D.courageous

Question 14

Born and bred in an affluent home, he never experienced any hardships in life.

A.respectable

B.religious

C.happy

D.rich

Question 15

Dazzled by the bright headlights of the approaching vehicle, our driver drove into the bush.

A.disturbed

B.worried

C.blinded

D.discouraged

Question 16

He gave a precise definition of the word.

A.learned

B.hasty

C.accurate

D.short

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 17

After serving ten years in prison he returned home under a cloud.

A.in dull weather.

B.very depressed.

C.in disgrace.

D.very secretly.

Question 18

His father's death, which was a bolt from the blue, greatly affected his education.

A.a disastrous event.

B.a complete surprise.

C.a mournful affair.

D.a blessing in disguise.

Question 19

Kofi Mensah found it difficult to do away with his habits. This means that Kofi Mensah could not ...... his bad habits.

A.continue.

B.hide.

C.stop.

D.talk about.

Question 20

Many people dislike Abugri because he enjoys blowing his own trumpet. This means that Abugri is ......

A.boastful.

B.greedy.

C.disrespectful.

D.shameful.

Question 21

When Susan was caught stealing money, she shed crocodile tears.

A.pretended she was sorry.

B.was annoyed.

C.was embarrassed.

D.cried like a crocodile.

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 22

The health officer advised the people not to contaminate the water any further.

A.fetch.

B.story.

C.purify.

D.use.

Question 23

Theresa wanted to know the time arrival of the plane.

A.scheme.

B.routine.

C.departure.

D.boarding.

Question 24

I must consent to this proposal.

A.ignore.

B.question.

C.disagree.

D.react to.

Question 25

Yesterday my cousin looked very depressed.

A.contented.

B.active.

C.surprised.

D.happy.

Question 26

The level of the river subsided after the floods.

A.outflow.

B.ascended.

C.enlarged.

D.rose.

SECTION D

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

Question 27

I suggest that they ...... the piano instead.

A.are playing.

B.play.

C.praying.

D.will play.

Question 28

...... frankly, I hate the idea.

A.Speak.

B.Spoken.

C.To speak.

D.For speaking.

Question 29

I think we ...... Kwesi's offer.

A.better taking.

B.had better taken.

C.had better take.

D.better to take.

Question 30

...... the arable land was under cultivation.

A.Most of.

B.Many of.

C.More of.

D.Much of.

Question 31

In attempting to control us, the headmaster gave ...... a great deal of trouble.

A.themselves.

B.himself.

C.ourselves.

D.yourself.

Question 32

Do you believe in witches?

A.Yes, I don't.

B.No I won't.

C.Yes I won't.

D.No, I don't.

Question 33

Aba insisted that Adjoa ...... to the party.

A.to have come.

B.has come.

C.to come.

D.should come.

Question 34

Esi: I felt rather tired yesterday. Efua: Yes ......

A.I did too.

B.so I did.

C.so did I.

D.I didn't.

Question 35

The students complained that there was ...... sugar in their tea.

A.plenty.

B.few.

C.little.

D.small.

Question 36

One of the duties of the police is to ...... traffic.

A.lead.

B.regulate.

C.direct.

D.move.

Question 37

He decided to ...... the entrance examination again.

A.have sat.

B.sit.

C.be sitting.

D.have been sitting.

Question 38

We won the school debate ......?

A.hadn't we.

B.isn't it.

C.couldn't we.

D.didn't we.

Question 39

The plumber turned the pipe so hard that it ......

A.will break.

B.breaks.

C.had broken.

D.broke.

Question 40

He was introduced ...... the directors by his co-worker.

A.by.

B.to.

C.through.

D.from.

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 your pen-pal telling him why you like your school.

Question 2

Write a letter to the Headteacher of your school complaining about at least two bad things your teachers do in the school.

Question 3

You are a speaker in a school debate on the topic "Boys should not help in the kitchen." Write your speech for or against the motion.

Question 4

You suddenly woke up when you heard someone shouting "Help! Help!" Describe what you saw when you rushed out.

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.

2000 All English Language years 2002