BECE English 2018 Past Questions and Answers – Papers 2 & 1

JUNE 2018
ENGLISH LANGUAGE 2

1 hour

This paper consists of three parts: A, B and C. Answer three questions in all; one question from Part A and all the questions in Part B and Part C.

PART A
ESSAY WRITING
[30 MARKS]

Answer one question only from this part
Your composition should be about 250 words long.
Credit will be given for clarity of expression and orderly presentation of material.

1. As School Prefect, write a letter to your District or Municipal or Metropolitan Chief Executive requesting the maintenance of the buildings in your school.

2. Write arguments for or against the topic: Life in the city is more dangerous than that in the village.

3. Write a report to the Headteacher of your school about how a senior girl beat up a junior boy.

 

PART B
COMPREHENSION
[30 marks]

4. Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follow

When Pozo adopted Abate and Ali, he vowed to take great care of them. And he did his best. But Abate and Ali did exactly as they were told not to. Their greatest passion was snail-hunting.
As he left home for an important meeting one afternoon, Pozo told the boys that he would be particularly pleased if they did not join any snail-hunting group or go snail-hunting by themselves. He even promised surprise presents if they abstained from snail-hunting for once It was quite obvious to everyone that there would be snail-hunting as there had been a heavy downpour that morning.
Pozo’s meeting was a marathon. When he arrived home at 8:30 that night, neither of the boys was at home. He felt that something grave might have happened. He stood still for some time confused. He switched on his radio and tuned in to his favourite station, Hiawa FM and the breaking news was: “Five snail-hunters have been run over at Yaaboi by the early evening in-coming Densuano-bound train”. As the dreadful news hit him, Pozo winced.
Pozo was so stupefied that he did not notice Ali enter the house, sweating and breathless, carrying a head-load of snails But where was Abate?
Furtively, the back door squeaked open. In stole the other boy, also sweating and breathless under the weight of the head-load of snails On seeing him, Pozo sighed, relieved. He shook his head. “These boys will surely be the death of me”, he murmured to himself. “When will they do exactly as they are told?”

(a) (i) Why was Pozo taking care of the boys?

(ii) Why do you think Pozo did not want the boys to go snail-hunting?

(b) State the two reasons why Pozo was sure that the boys would go snail-hunting.

(c) What is the meaning of the sentence, “Pozo’s meeting was a marathon”?

(d) (i) Why was Pozo so worried when he returned from the meeting?

(ii) How did the news of the rail accident affect Pozo?

(e) Explain in your own words the following expressions as used in the passage:

(i) have been run over;

(ii) in stole the other boy;

(iii) be the death of me.

(f) For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same, and can fit into the passage:

(i) vowed;
(ii) passion;
(iii) abstained;
(iv) grave;
(v) breathless.

 

PART C
LITERATURE
[10 MARKS] 

Answer all the questions in this part

SACKEY J.A. and DARMANI L. (COMP.): The Cockrow

5. Question 5(a) to 5(c) are based on the abridged and simplified version of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist

CHARLES DICKENS: Oliver Twist

“Oliver walked 70 miles to London. In such a big city, no one would ever find him!
It was chilly and his feet hurt but he was happy to leave his old, miserable life behind”
(Page 107)

(a) Two of the people who treated Oliver badly, making him run away to London are ……..……and ……….…..

(b) An example of the use of contrast in the extract is ………

“I robbed her. Before her body was cold,
I robbed her of the one item she had.
She could have sold it for food or shelter
but she kept it safe, ……..” (Page 117)

(c) “ ……the one item she had” was ………

 

Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 5(d) and 5(e)

MERRILL CORNEY: Debbie, Sandy and Pepe

“Well, we’ll just have to look after him ourselves then”, she said.
“We’ll make a soft nest for him and feed him and when he grows up, he will stay in our garden.” (Page 8)

(d) What did they choose for a nest for Pepe?

(e) Which figure of speech is mainly used in the extract?

 

Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 5(f) to 5(h)

AMA ATA AIDOO: The Dilemma of a Ghost

My spirit Mother ought to have come for me earlier.
Now, what shall I tell them who are gone?
The daughter of slaves who come from the white man’s land.
Someone should advise me on how to tell my story.
My children, I am dreading my arrival there.
Where they will ask me news of home.
Shall I tell them or shall I not?
(Page 37)

(f) Who is the speaker?

(g) What do the following expressions in the extract refer to?

(i) “……..who are gone?”

(ii) “………….there”.

 

Read the following extract carefully and answer Question 5(h) and 5(i)

LAWRENCE DARMANI: Scribbler’s Dream

Scribbler,
The dream in your mind fills the shelf.
When upon the shelf you gaze,
vacuum stares at you.
There is your quill and parchment
but heavy are your hands.
Why?
Because disuse numbs the wrist.
(Page 98)

(h) What does “Scribbler” refer to?

(i) What does “The dream in your mind” refer to?

END OF PAPER 2 (ESSAY) TEST

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June 2018
ENGLISH LANGUAGE 2

ANSWERS

PART A
ESSAY WRITING
[30 MARKS]

1. As School Prefect, write a letter to your District or Municipal or Metropolitan Chief Executive requesting the maintenance of the buildings in your school.

CONTENT: 10 marks

The candidate is required to describe the present state of the buildings and also state why maintenance is needed. Both parts should be treated well in sufficient detail.

Note: If a candidate writes on only one part, the content is marked out of 5, instead of 10

ORGANISATION: 5 marks

This is a formal letter and the following features should be present:

(i) Writer’s address (without name)
(ii) Date
(iii) Recipient’s designation and address
(iv) Salutation – (Dear) Sir / Madam
(v) The Heading / Title
(vi) Subscription – Yours faithfully / sincerely
(vii) Signature
(viii) Full name
(ix) Writer’s designation

It is expected that the ideas should be coherent and the paragraphs well-linked.

EXPRESSION: 10 marks

The language should be strictly formal – no slang or jargon or colloquial expression.
The candidate must use a good blend of varied sentence patterns and vivid idiomatic expressions.

MECHANICAL ACCURACY: 5 marks

Note: The candidate is penalised (half a mark deducted) for each of the following:

(i) each grammatical error
(ii) wrong spelling
(iii) faulty construction
(iv) punctuation error and the wrong use of capital or small letter.

 

2. Write arguments for or against the topic: Life in the city is more dangerous than that in the village.

CONTENT: 10 marks

The candidate must take a stance (either FOR or AGAINST, not both) and advance at least two convincing arguments to support his/her stance.
Note: If a candidate writes on only one point, Content is marked out of 5, instead of 10

ORGANISATION: 5 marks

This is an argumentative essay, not a debate. The candidate may provide a title/heading. Paragraphs should be well developed, and the material should be logically presented.
If the candidate writes a letter or a debate, the Organisation is marked out of 3, instead of 5.

EXPRESSION: 10 marks

The language should be strictly formal. Slang, colloquialism and contracted forms are not accepted. The candidate is expected to use appropriate vocabulary and a good blend of sentence patterns.

MECHANICAL ACCURACY 5 marks

As in Question 1.

 

3. Write a report to the Headteacher of your school about how a senior girl beat up a junior boy.

CONTENT: 10 marks

The candidate is supposed to write a report to the Headteacher. As an eye-witness he/she is expected to give a vivid description/account of the incident. As much as possible, the report should be very detailed and comprehensive.

ORGANISATION: 5 marks

This is a report and should have the following:

(i) Heading / Title
(ii) Signature
(iii) Full name
(iv) Date

If the candidate writes a letter, the Organisation is marked out of 3.
Paragraphs should be well developed, and ideas properly linked.

EXPRESSION: 10 marks

The candidate is expected to use vocabulary that is appropriate to the narrative. There should be a variety of sentence types.

MECHANICAL ACCURACY: 5 marks

As in Question 1

 

PART B
COMPREHENSION
[30 marks]

4.
NOTE
The candidate:
• Must ensure that there are no grammatical / expression errors, otherwise, he/she may lose marks.
• Must provide only one answer to any given question. If he/she provides two options and one of them is wrong, he/she loses all the marks for that question
• Must ensure that all spellings are correct
• May decide not to answer in complete sentences

(a) (i) Why was Pozo taking care of the boys?

 He had adopted them/
 He had taken them as his children
 They were his adopted children
 He had vowed/promised to take care of them.

(ii) Why do you think Pozo did not want the boys to go snail-hunting?
He did not want them to be exposed to danger/ to get hurt

(b) State the two reasons why Pozo was sure that the boys would go snail-hunting.

 The boys loved/liked snail-hunting.
 The boys had a passion for snail-hunting
 They had a liking for snail hunting.
 It had rained that morning/day.

(c) What is the meaning of the sentence, “Pozo’s meeting was a marathon”?

 The meeting took a long time.
 The meeting lasted a long time.
 The meeting was long.
 The meeting was unending.

(d) (i) Why was Pozo so worried when he returned from the meeting?

 The boys were not at home.
 The boys had gone out

(ii) How did the news of the rail accident affect Pozo?

 It made him confused.
 It hurt him.
 It gave him pain.
 It disturbed / worried / upset / troubled him
 It hit him badly.
 He winced.

(e) Explain in your own words the following expressions as used in the passage:

(i) have been run over;

 were killed /
 have been killed
 have been knocked down / over

(ii) in stole the other boy;

 the other boy sneaked/crept in
 the other boy entered quietly / secretly / stealthily
 the other boy came in quietly / secretly / stealthily
 the other boy tiptoed in

(iii) be the death of me.

 worry / annoy / upset him/me/Pozo very much.
 will make me/him/Pozo crazy
Note: “Kill me” is wrong

(f) For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same, and can fit into the passage:

(i) vowed; –  promised / pledged / swore

(ii) passion;  –  love / desire / interest

(iii) abstained; –  stayed away / held themselves / refrained / kept away

(iv) grave;  –  serious / of great concern / terrible / worrying / dreadful / very unpleasant / grievous / fearful / frightening / frightful / very bad

(v) breathless. –  panting / gasping / out of breath / puffing / breathing fast

 

PART C
LITERATURE
[10 MARKS]

NOTE:
The candidate
• Must ensure that there are no grammatical / expression errors, otherwise, he/she may lose marks.
• Must provide only one answer to any given question. If he/she provides two options and one of them is wrong, he/she loses all the marks for that question.
• Must ensure that all spellings are correct.
• May decide not to answer in complete sentences.

CHARLES DICKENS: Oliver Twist

“Oliver walked 70 miles to London. In such a big city, no one would ever find him!
It was chilly and his feet hurt but he was happy to leave his old, miserable life behind”

(a) Two of the people who treated Oliver badly, making him run away to London are
Mr. Sowerberry, Mrs. Sowerberry, Charlotte and Noah (Claypole)

(b) An example of the use of contrast in the extract is ………
It was chilly and his feet hurt but he was happy to leave his old, miserable life behind.

(c) “ ……the one item she had” was
gold / pure gold /
a necklace with a gold locket

MERRILL CORNEY: Debbie, Sandy and Pepe

“Well, we’ll just have to look after him ourselves then”, she said.
“We’ll make a soft nest for him and feed him and when he grows up, he will stay in our garden.”

(d) What did they choose for a nest for Pepe?

 the old letterbox (in the hedge),
 the old mailbox

(e) Which figure of speech is mainly used in the extract?
personification

AMA ATA AIDOO: The Dilemma of a Ghost

My spirit Mother ought to have come for me earlier.
Now, what shall I tell them who are gone?
The daughter of slaves who come from the white man’s land.
Someone should advise me on how to tell my story.
My children, I am dreading my arrival there.
Where they will ask me news of home.
Shall I tell them or shall I not?

(f) Who is the speaker?
Nana / Ato’s grandmother

(g) What do the following expressions in the extract refer to?

(i) “……..who are gone?”

the dead / departed / ancestors / forebearers / the dead relatives

(ii) “………….there”.

the land/place of the departed/dead
the spirit world
the ancestral world

LAWRENCE DARMANI: Scribbler’s Dream

Scribbler,
The dream in your mind fills the shelf.
When upon the shelf you gaze,
vacuum stares at you.
There is your quill and parchment
but heavy are your hands.
Why?
Because disuse numbs the wrist.

(h) What does “Scribbler” refer to?

A poet / writer / an author
Someone who writes

(i) What does “The dream in your mind” refer to?
Ideas / the skill of writing / their thoughts

END OF PAPER 2 (ESSAY) ANSWERS

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June 2018
ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1

Objective Test
35 minutes

PART A
LEXIS AND STRUCTURE

SECTION A

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

1. Salifu was ……..surprised that he could not talk.
A. enough
B. so
C. what
D. which

2. This amount is all ………I have on me.
A. that
B. this
C. what
D. which

3. I am told the boy is a friend of ……….
A. he
B. him
C. his
D. he’s

4. Rice and beans ……a good meal for children.
A. are
B. have been
C. is
D. is being

5. Yaw is …….clever to be cheated.
A. quite
B. so
C. too
D. very

6. The two rivals are fond of insulting ………
A. each other
B. one another
C. one and the other
D. themselves

7. Of all the pupils in the class, Ekua is ……..
A. prettier
B. prettiest
C. the prettier
D. the prettiest

8. It is high time Adzo ……..home.
A. came
B. comes
C. has come
D. will come

9. You should be ……..more careful about what you say.
A. less
B. least
C. little
D. a little

10. Atsu is looking forward to ……..his friends at the party.
A. see
B. seeing
C. be seeing
D. have seen

11. The harder you study, ……..your chance of success.
A. greater
B. greatest
C. the great
D. the greater

12. If you had asked me, I ………you.
A. will help
B. would help
C. will have helped
D. would have helped

13. I don’t really know what you want, ………I?
A. am
B. aren’t
C. do
D. did

14. I will not walk to school with ……….of the boys.
A. each
B. either
C. everyone
D. neither

15. Jane fell ill ………..measles.
A. at
B. by
C. of
D. with

 

SECTION B
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.

16. Aminu’s bushy eyebrows gave him a very severe look.
A. bad
B. deadly
C. serious
D. unpleasant

17. My father had the benefit of good education.
A. luck
B. advantage
C. quality
D. value

18. Kwame was too scared to be left alone in the house.
A. afraid
B. anxious
C. uneasy
D. unhappy

19. The new school is ideal for Mr. Mensah’s children.
A. good
B. perfect
C. satisfactory
D. suitable

20. The internet is of enormous benefit to education.
A. enviable
B. great
C. much
D. suitable

SECTION C
In each of the following sentences a group of words has been underlined. Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one that best explains the underlined group of words.

21. Afua celebrates her birthday today but I cannot make it. This means that the speaker
A. does not want to be there
B. feels it is not necessary to attend
C. has no birthday gift for her friend
D. will not be able to attend

22. The interview was conducted to separate the sheep from the goats. This means that the interview aimed at
A. finding people who could rear sheep
B. keeping the sheep in a different pen
C. selecting only the humble candidates
D. selecting the best candidates

23. Being the eldest child of the family, Joojo claimed the lion’s share of the father’s property. This means that Joojo had
A. all the property
B. half of the property
C. the best part
D. the largest part

24. The students were all ears during the presentation. This means that the students
A. did not enjoy the presentation
B. had big ears
C. listened attentively
D. were very happy

25. Dallies is the pick of the bunch. This means that Dallies
A. is a farmer
B. is an athlete
C. is preferred to all the others
D. works on a banana plantation

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.

26. The headteacher asked the pupils to disperse.
A. assemble
B. come
C. meet
D. stay

27. The current is slow downhill.
A. abrupt
B. fresh
C. running
D. swift

28. The bread is stale.
A. burnt
B. delicious
C. fresh
D. mouldy

29. Akos has nothing to be boastful of.
A. afraid
B. anxious
C. ashamed
D. nervous

30. The pupils are confident of passing the examination.
A. determined
B. doubtless
C. uncertain
D. uneasy

END OF PAPER 1 (OBJECTIVES)

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JUNE 2018
ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1

OBJECTIVE TEST

ANSWERS

1. B. so
2. A. that
3. C. his
4. C. is
5. C. too
6. A. each other
7. D. the prettiest
8. A. came
9. D. a little
10. B. seeing
11. D. the greater
12. D would have helped
13. C. do
14. B. either
15. D. with
16. C. serious
17. B. advantage
18. A. afraid
19. D. suitable
20. B. great
21. D. will not be able to attend
22. D. selecting the best candidates
23. D the largest part
24. C. listened attentively
25. C. is preferred to all the others
26. A. assemble
27. D. swift
28. C. fresh
29. C. ashamed
30. C. uncertain

END OF PAPER 1 (OBJECTIVES) ANSWERS

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