THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL GHANA

Basic Education Certificate Examination

English Language 2008

2007 All English Language years 2009

OBJECTIVE TEST

Passage I

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

Question 1

When were the residential structures built at Kpota?

A.When the hospital was begun.

B.Long before the hospital was started.

C.After the hospital had been built.

D.They were built together with the hospital.

Question 2

Dr. Grant did not give the plan to Mr. Akpaloo because

A.the houses belonged to him.

B.Mr. Akpaloo can make a design for himself.

C.it was not a wise thing to do.

D.the caretaker had the plan.

Question 3

What did Mr. Akpaloo do when he was ready to build a house? He

A.made a sketch of the building.

B.sent a plan to Dr. Grant.

C.looked for the plan of the house.

D.made sure he had enough money.

Question 4

The word magnificent means

A.massive.

B.beautiful.

C.good.

D.expensive.

Question 5

... One particular cluster of houses took the fancy of Mr. Akpaloo ... This means Mr. Akpaloo

A.laughed at the houses.

B.was confused by the houses.

C.found the houses attractive.

D.detested the houses.

Passage II

Question 6

According to the passage, the fisherman caught

A.a pot of gold.

B.a lead pot.

C.a big fish.

D.no fish.

Question 7

What is the genie?

A.A big fish

B.A copper pot

C.Smoke

D.A spirit

Question 8

The word captivity in the passage means

A.loss.

B.birth.

C.imprisonment.

D.defeat.

Question 9

How many times did the genie swear?

A.Once

B.Twice

C.Three times

D.Four times

Question 10

According to the passage, the

A.fisherman freed himself.

B.fisherman killed the genie.

C.genie made many people rich.

D.genie saved the fisherman from troubles.

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

Ama was persuaded by her brother to change her course.

A.convinced

B.commanded

C.told

D.advised

Question 12

The talented footballer scored three goals.

A.trained

B.serious

C.gifted

D.skilled

Question 13

Araba was saddened because she failed to win the beauty contest.

A.furious

B.amazed

C.excited

D.sorrowful

Question 14

Charles behaved in an unruly manner towards the teacher.

A.impolite

B.strange

C.indecent

D.wicked

Question 15

My mother is very enthusiastic about my success.

A.anxious

B.frank

C.aware

D.hopeful

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 accused died without clearing his name. This means, the man did not

A.prove his innocence.

B.erase his name.

C.make a will.

D.prove his case.

Question 17

The teacher advised us to go over our work before submitting them. This means the teacher asked us to ...... our work.

A.rewrite.

B.remember.

C.repeat.

D.review.

Question 18

You didn't have to be so high and mighty about your own opinion. This means

A.positive.

B.confused.

C.strong.

D.arrogant.

Question 19

Mr. Ala urged Peter and Paul to mend their fences. This means Peter and Paul should

A.repair their broken fences.

B.make peace.

C.be careful.

D.defend themselves.

Question 20

He was asked not to attend the party but he turned a deaf ear to the advice. This means that he ...... the advice.

A.did not hear.

B.laughed at.

C.was angry at.

D.ignored.

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

Everyone knows Musa to be very generous.

A.stingy

B.selfish

C.strict

D.serious

Question 22

The headmaster rebuked the students who came in late.

A.admitted

B.praised

C.admired

D.embraced

Question 23

Naa answered the questions with confidence.

A.joy

B.firmness

C.timidity

D.uncertainty

Question 24

Judges are expected to be impartial.

A.biased

B.proud

C.disrespectful

D.bold

Question 25

Our father advised us not to exalt ourselves.

A.humble

B.raise

C.decorative

D.train

SECTION D

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

Question 26

I promised my parents that I ...... study very hard.

A.would

B.should

C.will

D.can

Question 27

If Kofi ...... me, I would have helped him.

A.had asked

B.asks

C.has asked

D.asked

Question 28

Let's leave now, Akosua, ......?

A.may we

B.can we

C.must we

D.shall we

Question 29

Adjo is ...... young to marry.

A.so

B.very

C.too

D.much

Question 30

Give that book of ...... to Mansah.

A.their

B.yours

C.my

D.your's

Question 31

...... the warning of the weatherman, the fishermen went to sea.

A.In spite of

B.Apart from

C.In case of

D.Instead of

Question 32

We've been living here ...... 2001.

A.since

B.by

C.in

D.for

Question 33

Kofi told the court that he had met the suspect two days ......

A.before

B.ago

C.now

D.then

Question 34

Kwame has been accused ...... stealing the money.

A.with

B.for

C.of

D.on

Question 35

This is the man ...... I met at the bus stop.

A.who

B.whose

C.whom

D.which

Question 36

My friend is good ...... English.

A.on

B.at

C.for

D.with

Question 37

I hear the programme was interesting; I wish I ...... there.

A.am

B.were

C.was

D.have been

Question 38

Our pastor is now the ...... senior of the pastors in the church.

A.much

B.more

C.most

D.far

Question 39

I prefer oranges ...... mangoes.

A.to

B.than

C.against

D.from

Question 40

I hope the team ...... perform better next year.

A.would

B.will

C.should

D.shall

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

Your father's friend has promised to grant you anything you wish if you successfully completed school. Write a letter to him describing, at least, **three** things you want him to do for you and why.

Question 2

Write a letter to the chairman of your school's Parent-Teacher Association (P.T.A) on the need to provide recreational facilities in your school.

Question 3

As a Senior Prefect of your school, write a speech you would give to fresh students telling them, at least, three things that can make their stay in the school successful.

Question 4

Write a story that explains the saying: Two heads are better than one.

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.

2007 All English Language years 2009