English BECE 2019 Paper 2 Comprehension – Question 4

JUNE 2019
ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Paper 2

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 B
COMPREHENSION
[30 marks]

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

Friends are meant to help each other when the need arises. At school, some people develop friendly relationships that continue throughout their lives. One thing which helps people to stay together as intimate friends is the ability to communicate freely among themselves and endeavor to be each other’s keeper. What destroys friendships mostly is friends being suspicious of each other. That is why a popular adage says, “Suspicion is the bane of friendship”.
People attend school not only because they want to make friends but also to acquire knowledge and skills for employment. Education helps people to be polished in their manners. The school prepares its students to become useful citizens.
At school, Tono was not in the good books of the teachers because he behaved in an unruly manner. Initially, everyone avoided his company; he could be violent at times. Worst of all, he would refuse to do his assignment and was a habitual latecomer. With the passage of time, he realized the need to work diligently in order to have a bright future. His academic work therefore improved by leaps and bounds.
Fortune separated us. I travelled abroad for further studies. I stayed away for two decades. On my return, I went to my former school for my certificate. There, I met a middle-aged gentleman who also came to the office for the same purpose. I could not recognize him because time had wiped off all memories of school life. However, the names on the certificates revealed that we were classmates.
After further discussions, Tono invited me to be his business partner.

(a) (i) Sate one thing which helps people to be close.

(ii) How can friendships get destroyed?

(b) Give two reasons why people go to school.

(c) (i) Why did people avoid Tono’s company?

(ii) State Tono’s reason for visiting his former school.

(d) Why could the writer not recognize Tono?

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

(i) was not in the good books of the teachers;
(ii) with the passage of time;
(iii) by leaps and bounds.

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

(i) intimate;
(ii) adage;
(iii) acquire;
(iv) polished;
(v) initially

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