THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL GHANA

Basic Education Certificate Examination

English Language 2004

2003 All English Language years 2005

OBJECTIVE TEST

Passage I

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

Question 1

There was famine means that ......

A.famine

B.all the animals died.

C.food was scarce.

D.there were no farmers.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true?

A.Tortoise had not eaten for three months

B.The villagers gave food to tortoise

C.Tortoise got food from his own farm

D.Tortoise stole the villagers' food

Question 3

Tortoise arrived at the nearby village ......

A.at sunset.

B.in the night.

C.at dawn.

D.in the afternoon.

Question 4

The villagers went to the playground because ......

A.they wanted to find out who made the noise.

B.they wanted to hear an announcement.

C.Tortoise had fallen.

D.the drum had fallen.

Question 5

The villagers did not see Tortoise at the playground because he ......

A.ate fast.

B.hid in the drum.

C.stole their food.

D.hid in the bush.

Passage II

Question 6

Abora's teeth chattered because ......

A.he had a toothache.

B.the night was cold.

C.he wore a clock.

D.the owl hooted.

Question 7

From the beginning the police knew where the traveller was when ......

A.he made a noise.

B.the blood dripped.

C.he stammered.

D.the torchlight flashed.

Question 8

Sergeant Abora and Corporal Abaidoo hid themselves in order to ......

A.keep warm.

B.avoid being seen.

C.load their guns.

D.have some sleep.

Question 9

The police arrested the late traveller ......

A.behind the trees.

B.near the police station.

C.in the centre of the town.

D.near the town.

Question 10

'... _gave him away_' in the passage means

A.gave him away

B.frightened him.

C.warned him.

D.exposed him.

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

Mary's mother is confident that her daughter will win a prize.

A.anxious

B.proud

C.certain

D.determined

Question 12

The troops retreated when they were attacked.

A.escaped

B.scattered

C.fought

D.withdrew

Question 13

Our teacher advised us to be courteous always.

A.punctual

B.mannerly

C.hard-working

D.kind

Question 14

All latecomers were promptly punished.

A.immediately

B.mercilessly

C.roughly

D.severely

Question 15

We should all learn to restrain our anger.

A.avoid

B.control

C.apply

D.delay

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

The two brothers are always quarrelling: they never see eye to eye. This means they do not ...... each other

A.agree with

B.admire

C.respect

D.trust

Question 17

You must be off your head if you really believe that the moon is a huge cake. This means that you must be ......

A.crazy

B.joking

C.unintelligent

D.dreaming

Question 18

Amale does not earn much, but she has some money put by. This means Amale has some money ......

A.to live on.

B.for charity.

C.saved for the future.

D.to pay her children's fees.

Question 19

Several passengers were killed in the accident, but the driver escaped by the skin of his teeth. This means that the driver ......

A.missed death narrowly.

B.lost all his teeth.

C.ran into the bush.

D.had only a scratch on his skin.

Question 20

When the armed robbers could no longer fight the police, they gave in. This means the armed robbers ......

A.fled.

B.surrendered.

C.shot themselves.

D.cried for help.

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

The Prefect was commended for his good work.

A.admired

B.promoted

C.rejected

D.rebuked

Question 22

The teacher's stern looks helped maintain discipline in the class.

A.proud

B.indifferent

C.friendly

D.concerned

Question 23

Our Assemblyman had declined our invitation to talk to us.

A.regretted

B.denied

C.rejected

D.accepted

Question 24

Though her friend asked for some water, Divine callously drank all of it.

A.mercifully

B.greedily

C.playfully

D.intentionally

Question 25

Rain makes the soil moist for planting.

A.fertile

B.loose

C.solid

D.dry

SECTION D

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

Question 26

The students can go home when they ...... the work.

A.had finished

B.finished

C.finish

D.will finish

Question 27

Most people are not kind to animals, ......?

A.weren't it

B.isn't it

C.wasn't it

D.are they

Question 28

Afua ...... her clothes on the line to dry.

A.hung

B.folder

C.hang

D.stretched

Question 29

Kwesi went to school after he ...... his teeth.

A.had brushed

B.has brushed

C.brushing

D.brushed

Question 30

Kate is the ...... pupil in her class.

A.well-behaved

B.more-behaved

C.very well-behaved

D.most well-behaved

Question 31

A bag of money, with some documents ...... stolen from the car.

A.were

B.are

C.was

D.have been

Question 32

It is necessary sometimes to resort ...... violence.

A.through

B.to

C.into

D.with

Question 33

Clara understood all ...... her teacher taught.

A.what

B.which

C.that

D.this

Question 34

Ali agrees that the rice project is ...... good.

A.so

B.much

C.too

D.very

Question 35

Charles does not expect ...... his teacher today.

A.seeing

B.having seen

C.being seen

D.to see

Question 36

Kweku thinks that life is difficult ...... you are old.

A.if

B.while

C.when

D.as

Question 37

Many countries ...... the world use English.

A.across

B.inside

C.by

D.on

Question 38

Do you like this dress? I made ...... myself.

A.for

B.that

C.which

D.it

Question 39

Ashanti Goldfields is the ...... of gold.

A.nation's producer largest

B.largest nation's producer

C.producer nation's largest

D.nation's largest producer

Question 40

Neither Kwesi nor Yaw ...... there when I got to the house.

A.are

B.is

C.was

D.were

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

You need a better playing field in your school. Write a letter to your District Chief Executive asking for assistance.

Question 2

You want to further your education after leaving junior secondary school (JSS). Write a letter to your uncle giving him at least three reasons why you need his help.

Question 3

Your school is planning an excursion to a place of interest in your district.

Question 4

Write an article for publication in the Junior Graphic on the topic: Why candidates should not cheat in examinations.

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.

2003 All English Language years 2005