THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL GHANA

Basic Education Certificate Examination

English Language 2023

OBJECTIVE TEST

SECTION A

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

Question 1

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, ......?

Question 2

You cannot swim in the sea, ...... you?

Question 3

It is no use ...... over spilt milk.

Question 4

Some of the pineapples are ...... sour to be eaten.

Question 5

......, learners must behave well.

Question 6

Where ...... Asana and Betty spending their next holidays?

Question 7

The messenger did not ...... anyone in the house.

Question 8

She lives in her ...... house.

Question 9

Their sister wore a ...... to the party.

Question 10

It was ...... late to go out alone.

Question 11

This is the boy ...... rescued us.

Question 12

The nurse made me ...... a lot of water.

Question 13

It is not easy to identify ...... voice it was.

Question 14

Neither the parents nor the child ..... at home yesterday.

Question 15

Her clothes would look better if she ...... them.

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

We will not allow him to __dampen__ our spirits.

Question 17

The __commotion__ at the stadium was avoidable.

Question 18

What __transpired__ between them remains a secret.

Question 19

Lance only talks about __trivial__ matters.

Question 20

The robbers __ransacked__ the house.

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

I was informed __at the eleventh hour__ about his decision to leave town. This means that I heard it

Question 22

We tried all we could to amuse her but she __kept a straight face__. This means that she

Question 23

When we went to Nina's house, we were told that she had gone away __bag and baggage__. This means that Nina had gone away

Question 24

Samantha's main problem is that she __can see no further than her nose__. This means that Samantha

Question 25

When he lost his job, Yaro was left __to sink or swim__. This means that Yaro

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

She __accidentally__ tore her dress.

Question 27

The story was written in __simple__ language.

Question 28

The __arrogant__ storekeeper lost all his customers.

Question 29

We __finished__ several projects last year.

Question 30

The __unfavourable__ weather affected their health.

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

Write a letter to the Director of Health of your district, discussing two ways in which the activities of some food sellers affect the health of people in your community and suggest one solution to the problem.

Question 2

Narrate an interesting story that ends with the statement, Indeed, it was a great achievement.

Question 3

Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on two effects of poor disposal of waste on the people and suggest two ways of solving the problem.

Question 4

The new Headmistress of Beso Junior High School was impressed with the infrastructure and equipment in the school. She was also pleased with the staff and student population. However, __one thing puzzled her__. The students' performance was very poor, according to the records. She had a discussion with the staff who complained of student absenteeism due to ill health. A nurse in the community told her that the children were __often under the weather.__ They had malaria, although every family had been given insecticide-treated mosquito nets. It seemed however that the people did not use these nets as they should and therefore the numerous mosquitoes in the environment continued to bite them. While visiting some of the sick children in the community, the Headmistress __noticed__ that there were several __pits__ filled with water. At a general PTA meeting, she explained how mosquitoes could breed in the stagnant water in the pits. She also pointed out the effects of the poor health of the children on their academic performance. She then __appealed__ for help to destroy the breeding places of the mosquitoes so that the children would become healthier and perform better in school. Although some of the parents did not understand the __connection__ between the water in the pits and the performance of the students, they agreed to help her. During the next dry season, work started. __All hands were on deck__. The people worked very hard and the pits were filled. Trees and flowers were planted on the reclaimed land. The community now looked more beautiful than before. Soon, the children's health improved and, later, their performance in the final examinations became better.

Question 5

Mention **two** things that Headmistress liked about the school.

Question 6

In which **two** ways did the children's poor health affect them?

Question 7

Why did the Headmistress involve the parents in solving the problem?

Question 8

What made the community succeed in filling the pits?
What two benefits did the filling of the pits bring to the community?

Question 9

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

... one thing puzzled her;
... often under the weather;
All hands were on deck.

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

KEN SARO-WIWA: _Home Sweet Home_ "My friend, Sira, was Waale's only daughter. As I said, we had grown up together, and had attended school together. She had not been able to complete her elementary schooling, although she was a brilliant girl."

Question 2

The extract is the ...... of the story

Question 3

"They say that I was born ......" shows that ......

Question 4

According to Monka, one of the things no one should hear anything about is ......

Question 5

The extract is an example of a/an ......

Question 6

The money ...... the money ...... is an example of a literary device called .....

Question 7

The extract brings out the theme of ......

Question 8

_ ... she kindles us like lump coal lighted ... _ The dominant figure of speech in the lines above is ......