THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL GHANA

Basic Education Certificate Examination

English Language 2002

2001 All English Language years 2003

OBJECTIVE TEST

Passage I

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

Question 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.

Question 2

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

A.ten.

B.eleven.

C.twelve.

D.two.

Question 3

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

A.welcome his father.

B.were following tradition.

C.thought he was strong.

D.tried to seize his provisions.

Question 4

_Arduous_ in the passage means

A.strange.

B.new.

C.additional.

D.difficult.

Question 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

Question 6

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

A.seek employment.

B.look for work.

C.look for amenities.

D.continue their education.

Question 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.

Question 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.

Question 9

The word _snatch_ means ......

A.carry.

B.steal.

C.push.

D.damage.

Question 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.

Question 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.

Question 12

James was so wicked that all his mates abhorred him.

A.dismissed.

B.beat.

C.hated.

D.ignored.

Question 13

The students listened to the headmaster with rapt attention.

A.TRUE.

B.equal.

C.undivided.

D.single.

Question 14

Sam was appointed the office boy because of his faithfulness.

A.honesty.

B.cleverness.

C.punctuality.

D.neatness.

Question 15

We were taught that banks give credit to needy businessmen.

A.instalments.

B.debits.

C.transfers.

D.loans.

Question 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 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 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.

Question 18

His clothes are always out of date.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

A.torn.

B.too tight.

C.faded.

D.old-fashioned.

Question 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.

Question 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.

Question 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.

Question 22

My former headmaster has consented to be my referee.

A.promised.

B.planned.

C.decided.

D.refused.

Question 23

The suspect was guilty.

A.free.

B.innocent.

C.discharged.

D.imprisoned.

Question 24

When school starts the national flag is hoisted.

A.lowered.

B.dropped.

C.saluted.

D.hung.

Question 25

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

A.natural.

B.clean.

C.fair.

D.attractive.

Question 26

That car needs a hard push in order to start.

A.drag.

B.tow.

C.force.

D.pull.

SECTION D

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

Question 27

The doctor advised the patient to stay away ...... Alcohol.

A.for.

B.on.

C.from.

D.with.

Question 28

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

A.will you.

B.won't you.

C.hadn't you.

D.have you.

Question 29

His pair of trousers ...... torn.

A.is.

B.are.

C.have.

D.has.

Question 30

I prefer honey ...... sugar.

A.to.

B.are.

C.from.

D.for.

Question 31

If it rains I ...... my crops.

A.have planted.

B.had planted.

C.will have planted.

D.shall plant.

Question 32

I can ...... time for my homework.

A.find enough easily.

B.find easily enough.

C.easily enough find.

D.easily find enough.

Question 33

Have you heard that national anthem ...... in your language?

A.sing.

B.sung.

C.sang.

D.sings.

Question 34

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

A.so.

B.very.

C.too.

D.much.

Question 35

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

A.Even if.

B.Since.

C.As.

D.Of course.

Question 36

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

A.came.

B.comes.

C.has come.

D.is coming.

Question 37

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

A.isn't it.

B.aren't you.

C.it is.

D.does it.

Question 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.

Question 39

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

A.into.

B.on.

C.at.

D.onto.

Question 40

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

A.more.

B.most.

C.much.

D.better.

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

Write a letter to the head of your school suggesting at least two ways of improving upon discipline in your school.

Question 2

Your father is angry with your sister because she is very disrespectful towards him. Write a letter to your sister giving her at least two reasons why she should behave well towards your father.

Question 3

Write on the topic, "Why I would like to attend a boarding school or a day school"

Question 4

Narrate the most interesting story you have read and say why you like it.

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.

2001 All English Language years 2003