THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL GHANA

Basic Education Certificate Examination

English Language 2007

2006 All English Language years 2008

OBJECTIVE TEST

Passage I

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

Question 1

Barimah asked Fosua to stay indoors because

A.people were running helter-skelter.

B.there was a terrible noise.

C.he suspected danger outside.

D.the place was very dark.

Question 2

What did Barimah find immediately he went out?

A.Araba fighting the flames

B.People packing things

C.People shouting

D.Agya Atta's house burning

Question 3

... put out in the passage means

A.control.

B.extinguish.

C.reduce.

D.destroy.

Question 4

From the passage we can infer that the Barimahs and the Agya Attas are

A.classmates.

B.good neighbours.

C.in-laws.

D.age mates.

Question 5

People sympathized with Araba because she

A.had been left by her husband.

B.toiled with her husband.

C.was a good woman.

D.was sad.

Passage II

Question 6

What has society done about smoking? It has

A.sent smokers to court.

B.given medical treatment to smokers.

C.ignored it.

D.opposed it.

Question 7

According to the passage, which of the following is caused by smoking?

A.Malaria

B.Measles

C.Cancer of the lungs

D.Tuberculosis

Question 8

Which of the following is true about pregnant women who smoke? They

A.are likely to give birth to dead babies.

B.are not able to breastfeed.

C.are likely to have twins.

D.lose weight.

Question 9

Passive smokers are those who

A.befriend smokers.

B.are addicted to smoking.

C.do not smoke at all.

D.inhale smoke from smoker's cigarettes.

Question 10

According to the passage, smokers are

A.fearless.

B.selfish.

C.proud.

D.disrespectful.

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

Senyo tried in vain to stop his friend from stealing the kitten.

A.hard

B.timidly

C.angrily

D.unsuccessfully

Question 12

With hard work we can overcome any problem.

A.get

B.avoid

C.stop

D.solve

Question 13

The meal is delicious.

A.fine

B.tasty

C.sweet

D.nutritious

Question 14

The audience applauded the actors at the end of the play.

A.booed

B.invited

C.rewarded

D.cheered

Question 15

Jasper lamented the loss of his pet.

A.regretted

B.mourned

C.remembered

D.discovered

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

John is always light-hearted in spite of his problems. This means that in spite of his problems, John is always

A.careless.

B.cheerful.

C.cool.

D.proud.

Question 17

After that accident Ayorkor has really gone through the mill. This means Ayorkor has

A.changed her lifestyle.

B.become wiser.

C.suffered a lot.

D.received some money.

Question 18

Moro felt very much at home at his friend's house. This means that Moro

A.knew his friend's house.

B.was comfortable and relaxed.

C.was disappointed.

D.lived with his friend.

Question 19

The students were all ears during the programme. This means that the students

A.answered questions.

B.looked closely.

C.closed their ears.

D.listened intently.

Question 20

It took our new prefect two months before he could find his feet. This means that it took the prefect two months before he

A.knew everybody.

B.became confident.

C.won a prize.

D.become popular.

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 Member of Parliament is very generous: he has done much for his people.

A.honourable.

B.proud.

C.talkative.

D.unkind.

Question 22

If you are indolent, you will not pass the examination.

A.hard working.

B.rude.

C.careless.

D.honest.

E.E. Indolent means lazy.

Question 23

When asked about the theft, Kwame said he was guilty.

A.surprised.

B.afraid.

C.absent.

D.innocent.

Question 24

Handle the glass with care; it is fragile.

A.rigid.

B.beautiful.

C.unbreakable.

D.new.

Question 25

Some of our customs are old-fashioned.

A.modern.

B.attractive.

C.interesting.

D.funny.

SECTION D

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

Question 26

Of all the Brown children, Ato is ......

A.the short.

B.the shorter.

C.the shortest.

D.short.

Question 27

Amma was so frightened ...... she fainted.

A.so

B.as

C.then

D.that

Question 28

Aberewa has ...... friends who often visit her.

A.few

B.much

C.a little

D.a few

Question 29

Kofi is the boy to ...... I gave the pen.

A.whose

B.which

C.whom

D.who

Question 30

You are tired, ......?

A.aren't you

B.don't you

C.isn't it

D.not so

Question 31

He said that he ...... come.

A.will

B.would

C.has

D.have

Question 32

When Daddy arrived, Mummy ...... finished cooking.

A.has

B.had

C.have

D.having

Question 33

He was ...... tired that he couldn't finish the race.

A.much

B.too

C.so

D.very

Question 34

The farmer was ...... by a poisonous snake.

A.bitten

B.beaten

C.bit

D.beat

Question 35

You have put too ...... sugar in the porridge.

A.many

B.much

C.few

D.small

Question 36

Yaw is a ......

A.handsome, tall man.

B.handsome man tall.

C.tall, handsome man.

D.man, tall, handsome.

Question 37

I am ...... to walking to school every day.

A.using

B.uses

C.use

D.used

Question 38

The mechanic succeeded ...... the generator.

A.at repairing

B.in repairing

C.to repair

D.with repairing

Question 39

If I ...... with my grandmother, I would have enjoyed village life.

A.had lived

B.have lived

C.have been living

D.am living

Question 40

Atia has given ...... smoking.

A.off

B.out

C.up

D.in

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 friend abroad explaining how Independence Day in Ghana is celebrated.

Question 2

Write a letter to your District Chief Executive about the acute shortage of water in your area, and suggest at least two ways of solving the problem.

Question 3

As Senior Prefect, write the speech that you will deliver at your school‟s Speech and Prize-giving Day.

Question 4

Describe to your friend how your favourite game is played.

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.

2006 All English Language years 2008