BECE 2002 B [ENGLISH LANGUAGE I]

PART 1

OBJECTIVE TEST

45 minutes

SECTION A

COMPREHENSION

Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow

PASSAGE I

Antobam's first day in senior secondary school was the day he would never forget. That morning he got up earlier than usual ready for his father to take him to the new school. With the help of his father's houseboy, his trunk and chop box were packed into his father's car. At exactly eleven o'clock, the car sped off as Antobam happily waved goodbye to his brothers and sisters.

After about one and a half hours‟ drive, they arrived at the school. Antobam beamed with smiles as the car pulled up in front of the administration block. Some huge boys rushed to the car shouting, “Hommo, welcome; hommo, welcome!” Antobam misunderstood this for a warm welcome, but he was soon proved wrong. 

From the list of newcomers displayed on the notice board, Antobam‟s father saw his son‟s name under House Two and wanted to take the luggage there. But one of the boys politely said, “Daddy, stop. We have a tradition here.” Before he knew what was happening, two of the boys had lifted his trunk and chop box and put them on Antobam‟s head. He had never carried any load on his head before, but here he was with the arduous task of carrying two heavy boxes. Tears started flowing as his father looked on in disbelief. He later left the school very disturbed, wondering what was going to happen to his beloved son.

1. Antobam got up early that morning because he .....

A. was very happy

B. was anxious to go to his new school

C. would never forget that day

D. was woken up by his father

2. Antobam arrived at his new school at half past ..........

A. ten

B. eleven

C. twelve

D. two

3. The senior boys made Antobam carry his boxes because they ............

A. welcomed his father

B. were following tradition

C. thought he was strong

D. tried to seize his provisions

4. Arduous in the passage means

A. strange

B. new

C. additional

D. difficult

5. Antobam‟s father left the school ......

A. a happy man

B. crying for his son

C. a worried man

D. promising to come back

PASSAGE II

6. School leavers migrate to the cities and towns to .......

A. seek enjoyment

B. look for work

C. look for amenities

D. continue their education 

7. One of the results of the movement of the youth in the rural areas is that the

A. towns are overcrowded

B. rural areas lack money

C. youth are greatly disappointed

D. rural areas lose their people

8. White-collar jobs as used in the passage means .........

A. working in the cities

B. working in offices

C. wearing white-collar shirts

D. working for white men

9. The word snatch means ..........

A. carry

B. steal

C. push

D. damage

10. When the youth come into the cities .........

A. there is over population

B. amenities are provided

C. jobs are created

D. they become very happy

11. When the youth remain in the rural areas they can help produce .........

A. electricity

B. food 

C. libraries

D. water

SECTION B

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

12. James was so wicked that all his mates abhorred him.

A. dismissed

B. beat

C. hated

D. ignored

13. The students listened to the headmaster with rapt attention.

A. true

B. equal

C. undivided

D. single

14. Sam was appointed the office boy because of his faithfulness.

A. honesty

B. cleverness

C. punctuality

D. neatness

15. We were taught that banks give credit to needy businessmen.

A. instalments

B. debits

C. transfers

D. loans

16. Most men normally do not wear costly jewellery.

A. good

B. expensive

C. shiny

D. new

SECTION C

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

17. The wall clock in the assembly hall is a white elephant. This means that the clock

A. does not work accurately

B. is very big

C. does not work any longer

D. is very strong

18. His clothes are always out of date. This means that his clothes are …………

A. torn

B. too tight

C. faded

D. old-fashioned 

19. When it comes to honesty, Kweku is the odd one out. This means that Kweku

A. is always absent

B. does not tell the truth

C. does not behave normally

D. is very tricky

20. I stopped going out with Joe because he is light-fingered. This means that Joe is a 

A. lazy person

B. liar

C. thief

D. dishonest friend

21. The manager‟s strange behaviour made the workers smell a rat. This means that the workers became..…

A. rude

B. discouraged

C. disappointed

D. suspicious

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

22. My former headmaster has consented to be my referee.

A. promised

B. planned

C. decided

D. refused

23. The suspect was guilty.

A. free

B. innocent

C. discharged

D. imprisoned

24. When school starts the national flag is hoisted.

A. lowered

B. dropped

C. saluted

D. hung

25. We could see that mother was very proud of her dark complexion.

A. natural

B. clean

C. fair

D. attractive

26. The car needs a hard push in order to start.

A. drag

B. tow

C. force

D. pull

SECTION E

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

27. The doctor advised the patient to stay away ……..alcohol.

A. for

B. on

C. from

D. with

28. You have not paid your fees, ……..?

A. will you

B. won't you

C. hadn‟t you

D. have you

29. His pair of trousers ……..torn.

A. is

B. are

C. have

D. has

30. I prefer honey ………sugar.

A. to

B. are

C. from

D. for

31. If it rains I …………..my crops.

A. have planted

B. had planted

C. will have planted

D. shall plant

32. I can …………time for my homework.

A. find enough easily

B. find easily enough

C. easily enough find

D. easily find enough

33. Have you heard the national anthem ………..in your language?

A. sing

B. sung

C. sang

D. sings

34. This bag is ……….heavy for a child to carry.

A. so

B. very

C. too

D. much 

35. ………..you dislike the girl, you shouldn't beat her.

A. Even if

B. Since

C. As 

D. Of course

36. Ghana is over forty years, therefore she …………of age.

A. came

B. come

C. has come

D. is coming

37. To be a teenager is indeed great ………..?

A. isn‟t it

B. aren‟t you

C. it is

D. does it

38. Alf and Pat look so identical that it is difficult to pick the ………of the two.

A. oldest

B. old

C. elder

D. eldest

39. Uncle Ebo brought a carpenter who easily climbed ………..the roof to repair the leakage.

A. into

B. on

C. at

D. onto

40. Bola is the …………beautiful of the three girls.

A. more

B. most

C. much

D. better