THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
GHANA

Basic Education Certificate Examination

ENGLISH 2009

Essay and Objective

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OBJECTIVE TEST

PART I
LEXIS AND STRUCTURE

SECTION A

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

1.

What made the writer wake up?

A.

The father crashing into the pillar

B.

The noise made by his father

C.

The attack by the armed robbers

D.

The shouting of the tenants

2.

The writer's father was holding his forehead because he

A.

had fallen flat on his back.

B.

had hit his head against the pillar.

C.

wanted to stop the blood from flowing.

D.

was thinking of what to do.

3.

The purpose of the ice cubes was to

A.

stop the bleeding.

B.

heal the cut.

C.

manage the cut.

D.

reduce the swelling.

4.

Pathetic in the passage means

A.

naughty.

B.

merciless.

C.

sad.

D.

strange.

5.

What happened to the tenant?

A.

He opened the door.

B.

He was killed by the robbers.

C.

He fell down heavily.

D.

He saw a pathetic scene.

6.

According to the passage, members of the choir can sing without difficulty because they

A.

are born good singers.

B.

easily learn to sing.

C.

have good songs.

D.

have to sing.

7.

The male songbirds sing

A.

to instruct others.

B.

four notes at a time.

C.

to attract the females.

D.

what others have composed.

8.

According to the passage, birds sing

A.

only in the breeding season.

B.

some of the sweetest songs.

C.

to invite the bachelors.

D.

only one note.

9.

Unique in the passage means

A.

suitable.

B.

similar.

C.

exciting.

D.

special.

10.

The writer suggest that

A.

human beings sing better than birds.

B.

birds can interpret notes better.

C.

birds make louder noise than human beings.

D.

birds compose more interesting songs.

11.

The house by sea has been abandoned.

A.

deserted

B.

destroyed

C.

infested

D.

robbed

12.

Most Ghanaians were optimistic about the Black Stars winning the African Cup.

A.

reasonable

B.

happy

C.

concerned

D.

hopeful

13.

The indigenous people provided the labour during the building of the school.

A.

skilled

B.

native

C.

expatriate

D.

urban

14.

The effort of the watchman which led to the arrest of the thieves was laudable.

A.

quick

B.

real

C.

constant

D.

praiseworthy

15.

Our parents deserve our appreciation.

A.

assistance

B.

gratitude

C.

concern

D.

encouragement

16.

Mr. Taiwoo took the clerk to task for losing the letters. This means that Mr. Taiwoo

A.

sacked the clerk.

B.

blamed the clerk.

C.

called the clerk a criminal.

D.

gave the clerk another work.

17.

The quarrel got out of hand. This means that the quarrel

A.

became uncontrollable.

B.

was prolonged.

C.

became boring.

D.

was unhealthy.

SECTION B

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

18.

On seeing the headmaster, the girl took to her heels. This means that the girl

A.

fainted.

B.

felt frightened.

C.

ran away.

D.

hid herself.

19.

Joseph lives within a stone's throw from the station. This means that Joseph

A.

lives in a stony house.

B.

lives very close to the station.

C.

goes to the station.

D.

often throws stones at the station.

20.

All his plans for building a new theatre came to naught. This means that

A.

the theatre was built.

B.

his plans were unsuccessful.

C.

the building collapsed.

D.

there was nothing in the theatre.

21.

My father has a cordial relationship with all his neighbours.

A.

harsh

B.

hostile

C.

scornful

D.

different

22.

John's latest play is rather dull.

A.

interesting.

B.

informative.

C.

sensible.

D.

educative.

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.

23.

The feeble old man spoke for about three hours.

A.

bold

B.

strong

C.

bright

D.

successful

24.

The thief descended the stairs hurriedly.

A.

consciously

B.

lazily

C.

slowly

D.

noisily

25.

The diligent student won a prize.

A.

careless

B.

lucky

C.

playful

D.

proud

26.

My father wanted to find out how Abu was getting ...... at school.

A.

on

B.

down

C.

back

D.

up

27.

If the boat had been maintained properly it ...... capsized.

A.

have not

B.

will not have

C.

would not have

D.

might have not

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.

28.

The white horse is ...... than the black one.

A.

faster

B.

very fast

C.

fast

D.

more fast

29.

They thought he would become a businesswoman, ......?

A.

wouldn't they

B.

didn't they

C.

wasn't they

D.

isn't they

30.

There were only two of us who ...... any idea of the answer.

A.

have

B.

had

C.

has

D.

would

31.

He had boarded a taxi, ......?

A.

wouldn't he

B.

hadn't he

C.

isn't it

D.

won't he

32.

Mrs. Mensah ...... in Saltpond since 1970.

A.

was living

B.

has been living

C.

has lived

D.

is living

PART II
LITERATURE

From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that correctly answers each question or completes the sentence.

33.

The booking clerk made him ...... a deposit.

A.

to pay

B.

paid

C.

to be paying

D.

pay

34.

Although all the dresses were beautiful, she liked ...... of them.

A.

any

B.

none

C.

neither

D.

both

35.

Kwesi and Ama are in love with ......

A.

themselves.

B.

one another.

C.

each other.

D.

ourselves.

36.

It is ...... to attempt in one day.

A.

too long and difficult a journey

B.

the journey too long and difficult

C.

long and difficult too a journey

D.

too long and difficult the journey

37.

The rain shouldn't deter you ...... going out.

A.

for

B.

on

C.

by

D.

from

38.

Ben is leaving ...... Takoradi this morning.

A.

for

B.

to

C.

by

D.

from

39.

Yesterday I met the man ......

A.

the car of whom I bought.

B.

whose car I bought.

C.

I bought his car.

D.

whom I bought his car.

40.

No sooner had the Minister opened the bank ...... he bank was filled to capacity.

A.

when

B.

for

C.

as

D.

than

THEORY QUESTIONS

1.

An annual festival has recently been celebrated in your area. Write a letter to your friend in another part of the country, describing the festival and how you enjoyed it.

2.

Your teachers have complained about acts of indiscipline being practised in your school. As Senior Prefect, write a letter to the headmaster, describing two of such acts and suggesting ways of correcting them.

3.

You are a speaker in a debate on the motion: The use of mobile phones in school by students should be banned. Write your contribution for or against the motion.

4.

Your school performed very well in the inter-zonal athletics competition held recently. As Sports Prefect, write a report on the competition to your headmaster.