July 22, 2021 BECE Free Samples BECE English 1990 – Objectives BECE: English 1990 Show Correct Answers as I answer When turned off, correct answers will only show when you submit your answers for marking. SECTION A: COMPREHENSION Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow PASSAGE I It was an English lesson and our classroom was quiet. The blackboard was covered with sentences on “if clauses” and we went through such different forms as: 1. If he comes, I shall be happy; 2. If you abused him, he would beat you; 3. Amo could have won the race if he had trained harder We all found it difficult to understand the formula for each sentence. We had problems with the tenses but as our final examinations were so near we really had to master them. We were, however, interrupted by the noise of a bucket and heavy footsteps on the veranda. Then Mr Odumba’s big head came round the door. Sorry to interrupt, he told our teacher. We all looked up, highly pleased at the welcomed interruption. Who knows, Mr Odumba might fall down again and what could be more pleasing than that in the middle of a difficult lesson. “Can I have a word with you alone, please?‟ Mr Odumba asked our teacher who followed him to the veranda. Mr Odumba, looking uncomfortable, took a deep breath and said that some pawpaw he had marked in the morning had been stolen from his garden. Finally, he asked our teacher, “Would you mind if I went round to find out which of your pupil’s hands smell of pawpaw? 1. The classroom was quiet because the pupils ………….. wanted the lesson to end quickly did not understand the lesson were preparing for their final examination had stolen some pawpaw had heard that Mr Odumba had fallen down Correct! Incorrect 2. Mr Odumba came to the school ……….. because he wanted to beat one of the pupils to search for those who had stolen his pawpaw to return the bucket to the school to converse with one of the teachers to learn about “if” clauses Correct! Incorrect 3. How did Mr Odumba‟s visit to the school affect the pupils? They were frightened He disturbed them They were happy They felt sorry for him They were ashamed Correct! Incorrect 4. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage? The pupils were weak in grammar Mr. Odumba fell down once The lesson was not understood The pupils‟ hands smelt of pawpaw Mr Odumba kept a garden Correct! Incorrect 5. Mr Odumba‟s big head came round the door. This means Mr Odumba’s head appeared at the entrance hit the door blocked the entrance pushed the door open turned round at the door Correct! Incorrect 6. The expression, Can I have a word with you? means, let me ……. help you teach teach you a word give you something have my pawpaw back speak to you Correct! Incorrect PASSAGE II Have you ever watched two dogs fighting? The scene is both interesting and terrifying. I once watched two dogs, Whisky and Sandy fighting. Whisky was a brown dog with white hair round his eyes. This made him look very fearful. He was often running after lizards and barking at strange things and visitors. Sandy, on the other hand, was a black dog with white legs and face. He was gentle and friendly to both adults and children. When the fight started, everybody thought Sandy would be no match for Whisky. Whisky was the first to attack. He jumped up with his fore-legs raised, mouth wide open and gripped the back of Sandy‟s neck with his sharp teeth. Sandy went down with Whisky on top of him. Sandy played it cool as if he did not feel any pain. The spectators believed the more aggressive Whisky had won the fight. Suddenly, the tide turned. Sandy got hold of one of Whisky‟s hind legs and bit hard as if breaking a bone. Whisky felt the pain and as he opened his mouth to yelp, Sandy broke free. As Whisky was about to attack again Sandy jumped on his back and held his throat. Down he went on his back. The crowd then cheered, Sandy! San-dy!! San-dy!!! Feeling very proud, Sandy released Whisky and he ran away with his tail between his legs. Sandy had won the fight. 7. According to the passage when one comes across two dogs fighting, one ……….. becomes both attracted and frightened must run away from them must hit their necks with a stick must shout to separate them becomes both sorry and happy. Correct! Incorrect 8. The spectators thought Whisky had won the fight because he ……….. had once attacked and defeated a lizard knew how to fight was able to jump higher than Sandy pushed Sandy to the ground showed his sharp teeth Correct! Incorrect 9. Whisky was defeated because Sandy ……… had the support of the crowd bit his legs held his throat turned the tide attacked first Correct! Incorrect 10. Sandy played it cool means that Sandy …….. enjoyed the fight felt very cold did not bark remained undisturbed stopped fighting Correct! Incorrect 11. The tide turned as used in the passage means ……… the situation changed it became windy the weather became more violent he fight became more violent spectators changed their minds Correct! Incorrect SECTION B From the list of words below, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word underlined in each sentence 12. The traders agreed to pay extra money to the council tried struggled refused remembered wanted Correct! Incorrect 13. The boxer displayed a high degree of bravery in the fight. speed cowardice alertness competence skill Correct! Incorrect 14. It is a fact that Zaibu often gives accurate answers to questions. long silly interesting quick wrong Correct! Incorrect 15. The students rejected the prefect chosen by the staff admired advised relied on accepted helped Correct! Incorrect SECTION C In each of the following sentences a group of words has been underlined. Choose from the alternatives below the one that best explains the underlined words 16. At the end of the investigations the police said the hands of the accused were clean. This means …….. police praised the accused for his neatness accused was blameless accused had washed his hands police saw the accused‟s fingerprints. police said the accused told the truth Correct! Incorrect 17. It’s only 2 o’clock, Martin. You needn’t go yet doesn’t go out can’t go yet doesn’t have to go yet isn’t going yet doesn’t want to go Correct! Incorrect 18. He feared that his father would ask where he had been. This means that ……. he was afraid when his father asked him where he had been he would be afraid if his father asked him where he had been he was afraid of his father so he did not tell him where he had been he was afraid that his father would want to know where he had been he was frightened by the way his father asked him where he had been Correct! Incorrect 19. I don’t like people who blow their own trumpet. This means I dislike people who ……….. are noisy are selfish blow trumpets are quarrelsome are boastful Correct! Incorrect 20. If Mantey had passed the examination his father would have bought him a present. This means Mantey … failed the examination so he had no present did not usually do well in examination would be given a present for being successful in the examination usually received presents from his father after examinations knew that his father would buy him a present to help pass examination. Correct! Incorrect 21. “Put this money aside against a rainy day, Kwesi. Kwesi is being told ………….. to keep the money until he really needs it to keep the money until it rains not to waste money when it rains to put all his money in the bank give out money on the day it rains Correct! Incorrect SECTION D From the alternatives below, choose the one which most suitably completes each sentence. 22. Eshun is a good singer, ………….? isn’t it wasn’t he is he isn’t he Correct! Incorrect 23. You shouldn’t work so late, ………? won’t you do you should you don’t you Correct! Incorrect 24. You’ll travel by train to Kumasi, …………? won’t you can’t you shouldn’t you wouldn’t you Correct! Incorrect 25. You are not afraid of snakes, …………..? aren’t you are you do you won’t you Correct! Incorrect 26. I can go to bed now because I ………….my assignment am finishing will finished finished have finished Correct! Incorrect 27. No one can be expected to …………such bad behaviour put up with put in for put across to put down against Correct! Incorrect 28. I can‟t hear him; I wish he ………..louder will speak is speaking would speak had spoken Correct! Incorrect 29. If Sampson had spoken the truth the teacher ………….him shouldn’t have punished won’t have punished wouldn’t have punished wouldn’t punish Correct! Incorrect 30. The head teacher advised the students to ………….if they wanted to do well in their examination sit back sit by sit on sit up Correct! Incorrect 31. At these words, the students …………laughter burst with burst into burst for burst in Correct! Incorrect 32. My uncle will go on a short course before he …………his new job. takes to takes up takes out takes in Correct! Incorrect 33. The prefect made the boy …………the assembly hall swept sweeps to sweep sweep Correct! Incorrect SECTION E Choose from the alternatives below the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word or words as they are used in the sentence 34. It is not always good to believe all newspaper accounts. cartoons headlines reports jokes columns Correct! Incorrect 35. Everybody should have a goal in life a choice a skill an opinion an aim a result Correct! Incorrect 36. Mr. Mensah was worn out after walking up the hill tired sweating hungry worried sleepy Correct! Incorrect 37. Elephants are becoming rare in some parts of Africa unimportant uncommon unknown exposed destructive Correct! Incorrect 38. On the doctor‟s advice, Mr Smith cut out smoking altogether stopped dismissed postponed interrupted decreased Correct! Incorrect 39. The old man told us a tall story about a soldier who fought a war with a spoon a sad story an adventurous a funny story a long story an incredible story Correct! Incorrect 40. All my clothes are outmoded worn out old-fashioned handmade ready-made specially made Correct! Incorrect Submit for Marking Like
