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THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL GHANA

Basic Education Certificate Examination

English Language 2017

OBJECTIVE TEST

SECTION A

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

Question 1

John has given............ smoking.

Question 2

The crowd was............ large that the Director became frightened.

Question 3

When we got there, the buses............ left.

Question 4

The book was............ to me.

Question 5

Aunties is the lady to............ I gave the list.

Question 6

He's your friend,............?

Question 7

Kay: You didn't go to Accra, did you? Lee:............

Question 8

You had better............ now.

Question 9

Kwame asked his friend to............. him a pen.

Question 10

She ended the letter,............

Question 11

The woman refused to sell me............ kerosene.

Question 12

'Yes,............ a book,' he said.

Question 13

I know you are much............. than Esi.

Question 14

Neither John nor his friend,............ a play to the end.

Question 15

Araba and Osei are a devoted couple who love............

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 16

The __welfare__ of students should be the concern of teachers.

Question 17

He said the practice was __alien__ to him.

Question 18

He said the story was __fictitious__.

Question 19

The man placed __an order__ for rice and stew at the restaurant.

Question 20

There is nothing with which to compare the __infinite__ knowledge and power of Providence.

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.

Question 21

Nimo worked hard after his business had collapsed and soon __found his feet__. This means that he............

Question 22

Manna __lay aside__ some money for Baaba's party. This means that Manna............

Question 23

Mary described the occasion as a __red-letter day__. This means that the occasion was...........

Question 24

George has been __relieved of his post__. This means that George has been............

Question 25

Foli and Adzovi __hit it off__ quite well. This means they............

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 26

People in our village are __polite__ to strangers.

Question 27

Fishes are __plentiful__ in the pond.

Question 28

The price of petrol has __fallen__ for no reason.

Question 29

Cann worked hard to __stock__ the shop.

Question 30

There was __mayhem__ as the crowd scattered.

THEORY

THEORY QUESTIONS

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. Answer all the questions in your answer booklet. Credit will be given for clarity of expression and orderly presentation of material.

Question 1

You have been installed a chief in your hometown. Write a letter to your friend in another school telling him or her, **at least, two** things you intend doing to develop the town

Question 2

Write an article for publication in one of the national newspapers on the topic:_ The usefulness of the mobile phone._

Question 3

Write a story that ends with the expression: _So it pays to be kind to strangers._

Question 4

My desire to win gold and also see the sea drove me to a small coastal village. Though I had little food and drink, I covered a great distance. Towards dusks, I could sight the sea from a distance. I was really excited. Its __immense__ size stretched as far as the eyes could see. As the stars appeared in the sky, I __ascended__ the hill and saw the village of my quest. I was __dead with fatigue__. To worsen my __plight__, there were blisters on my heel so I had to take a rest. But as I descended the hill, I was welcomed by the quietness of the place. The villagers were enjoying the cool evening air. From the lagoon came the croaking of frogs. Children played and ran about excitedly. The village life was natural and simple. I sat on a bench close by. How good it was to rest! I __resolved__ to rest on the bench. As I lay there, a sheet of mist rolled in from the sea and settled upon the village. In a few minutes, the village was filled with mist and everybody was running helter-skelter. I was __drenched to the skin__. I had decided to move to the next village when a woman suddenly walked up to me. For some time I had seen her gazing at me with pity. Now, as if she __read my thoughts__, she said, "If you would accept my hospitality, you will be sheltered till the morning. Just charity." She was about thirty years of age, dressed in black with a pale face and a dark eyes. Papaye hut held special appeal for its __serene__ environment. For many days, I was well catered for and his enabled me to replenish my energy. It was __with a heavy heart__, when the time for departure arrived, that I bade farewell to my benefactress.

Question 5

State why the writer went to the coast.

Question 6

  1. How did the writer find life in the village?
  2. Why did the writer decide to go to the next village?

Question 7

  1. "............ my plight." What does this refer to?
  2. "............ everybody was running helter-skelter". What do you think had happened?

Question 8

  1. What two adjectives would you use to describe the character of the woman?
  2. What does the appearance of the woman suggest?

Question 9

Explain, in your own words, the following expressions as used in the passage:

  1. drenched to the skin;
  2. she read my thoughts;
  3. with a heavy heart.

Question 10

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

PART AESSAY WRITING

Answer one question only from this part. Your composition should be about 250 words long.

Questions for this section are in the printed paper.

PART BCOMPREHENSION [30 MARKS]

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

Questions for this section are in the printed paper.

LITERATURE

PART C LITERATURE [10 marks]

Answer all the questions in this part.

Question 1

_Be courageous, be courageous, Kwame, be courageous_ is an example of the use of a literary device term...............

Question 2

How did Kwame show that he was courageous at the end of the story?

Question 3

The above extract is a/an............ to a story.

Question 4

The idea expression in the second sentence is that of............

Question 5

"............ young woman" refers to...........

Question 6

The ' sleepless sleep' of the speaker is caused by............

Question 7

"............ sleepless sleep" shows that the speaker is ............