Ghana BECE 2000 ENGLISH PAST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1) Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow

PASSAGE I
Mr. Kobi, the next speaker, said that although he had left the school many years ago, he still remembered with thanks all that the headmaster had done to make sure that his pupils were well prepared for life. He was sorry that the headmaster had decided to retire at so early an age. This would deprive the pupils of his assistance long before it was necessary to do so. However, he wished the headmaster the best of luck in his retirement and offered him a silver tray as a sign of the high esteem in which his old pupils held him.

After the tray had been handed over, the retiring headmaster came forward to make his speech of thanks. He began by giving a brief summary of the time he had spent as headmaster of the school. He added that it had always been his aim to do his best for the pupils under his charge. He expressed his gratitude to the masters who had been on his staff for their hard work and sacrifice. Finally, he said how glad he was that he was being succeeded as headmaster by Mr. Smith, who had been teaching in the school for many years. He believed that Mr. Smith was generally admired and respected by all who knew him. He asked all his old pupils to take an interest in the school after he had gone, and promised that he would certainly do so himself.

Mr. Kobi was sorry about the headmaster‟s early retirement because

2) Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow

PASSAGE I
Mr. Kobi, the next speaker, said that although he had left the school many years ago, he still remembered with thanks all that the headmaster had done to make sure that his pupils were well prepared for life. He was sorry that the headmaster had decided to retire at so early an age. This would deprive the pupils of his assistance long before it was necessary to do so. However, he wished the headmaster the best of luck in his retirement and offered him a silver tray as a sign of the high esteem in which his old pupils held him.

After the tray had been handed over, the retiring headmaster came forward to make his speech of thanks. He began by giving a brief summary of the time he had spent as headmaster of the school. He added that it had always been his aim to do his best for the pupils under his charge. He expressed his gratitude to the masters who had been on his staff for their hard work and sacrifice. Finally, he said how glad he was that he was being succeeded as headmaster by Mr. Smith, who had been teaching in the school for many years. He believed that Mr. Smith was generally admired and respected by all who knew him. He asked all his old pupils to take an interest in the school after he had gone, and promised that he would certainly do so himself.

Which of the following is not true of the headmaster?

3) Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow

PASSAGE I
Mr. Kobi, the next speaker, said that although he had left the school many years ago, he still remembered with thanks all that the headmaster had done to make sure that his pupils were well prepared for life. He was sorry that the headmaster had decided to retire at so early an age. This would deprive the pupils of his assistance long before it was necessary to do so. However, he wished the headmaster the best of luck in his retirement and offered him a silver tray as a sign of the high esteem in which his old pupils held him.

After the tray had been handed over, the retiring headmaster came forward to make his speech of thanks. He began by giving a brief summary of the time he had spent as headmaster of the school. He added that it had always been his aim to do his best for the pupils under his charge. He expressed his gratitude to the masters who had been on his staff for their hard work and sacrifice. Finally, he said how glad he was that he was being succeeded as headmaster by Mr. Smith, who had been teaching in the school for many years. He believed that Mr. Smith was generally admired and respected by all who knew him. He asked all his old pupils to take an interest in the school after he had gone, and promised that he would certainly do so himself.

Brief in the passage means

4) Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow

PASSAGE I
Mr. Kobi, the next speaker, said that although he had left the school many years ago, he still remembered with thanks all that the headmaster had done to make sure that his pupils were well prepared for life. He was sorry that the headmaster had decided to retire at so early an age. This would deprive the pupils of his assistance long before it was necessary to do so. However, he wished the headmaster the best of luck in his retirement and offered him a silver tray as a sign of the high esteem in which his old pupils held him.

After the tray had been handed over, the retiring headmaster came forward to make his speech of thanks. He began by giving a brief summary of the time he had spent as headmaster of the school. He added that it had always been his aim to do his best for the pupils under his charge. He expressed his gratitude to the masters who had been on his staff for their hard work and sacrifice. Finally, he said how glad he was that he was being succeeded as headmaster by Mr. Smith, who had been teaching in the school for many years. He believed that Mr. Smith was generally admired and respected by all who knew him. He asked all his old pupils to take an interest in the school after he had gone, and promised that he would certainly do so himself.

According to the passage, Mr. Smith was

5) Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow

PASSAGE I
Mr. Kobi, the next speaker, said that although he had left the school many years ago, he still remembered with thanks all that the headmaster had done to make sure that his pupils were well prepared for life. He was sorry that the headmaster had decided to retire at so early an age. This would deprive the pupils of his assistance long before it was necessary to do so. However, he wished the headmaster the best of luck in his retirement and offered him a silver tray as a sign of the high esteem in which his old pupils held him.

After the tray had been handed over, the retiring headmaster came forward to make his speech of thanks. He began by giving a brief summary of the time he had spent as headmaster of the school. He added that it had always been his aim to do his best for the pupils under his charge. He expressed his gratitude to the masters who had been on his staff for their hard work and sacrifice. Finally, he said how glad he was that he was being succeeded as headmaster by Mr. Smith, who had been teaching in the school for many years. He believed that Mr. Smith was generally admired and respected by all who knew him. He asked all his old pupils to take an interest in the school after he had gone, and promised that he would certainly do so himself.

The retiring headmaster said he would continue …………….. the school.

PASSAGE II
It is easy to see why television is so attractive to both children and adults. It is available in the home and we can watch it in comfort whenever we please. Besides, it provides entertainment after a day‟s work. Television also enables us to see places and people and their ways of life. Even people with little or no formal education can watch and enjoy the programmes.

6) Unfortunately, television takes up much of our time. To watch it we must sit in front of it, watch as long as a programme lasts, and do little else. This exclusive aspect of television, the fact that it prevents us from doing other things, poses more serious problems than is commonly realized. While television may provide an acceptable form of relaxation for adults after a day‟s work, it robs children of the time they must use to learn other things. In addition, not everything that television offers is good. Even when children‟s programmes are provided, we are not sure that these are the only ones they will watch. In fact, these days children watch more programmes meant for adults than for them.

One likely outcome of this is that children may learn about the adult world too soon, and at a time when they can easily be influenced.

6. People like to watch television because it

PASSAGE II
It is easy to see why television is so attractive to both children and adults. It is available in the home and we can watch it in comfort whenever we please. Besides, it provides entertainment after a day‟s work. Television also enables us to see places and people and their ways of life. Even people with little or no formal education can watch and enjoy the programmes.

7) Unfortunately, television takes up much of our time. To watch it we must sit in front of it, watch as long as a programme lasts, and do little else. This exclusive aspect of television, the fact that it prevents us from doing other things, poses more serious problems than is commonly realized. While television may provide an acceptable form of relaxation for adults after a day‟s work, it robs children of the time they must use to learn other things. In addition, not everything that television offers is good. Even when children‟s programmes are provided, we are not sure that these are the only ones they will watch. In fact, these days children watch more programmes meant for adults than for them.

One likely outcome of this is that children may learn about the adult world too soon, and at a time when they can easily be influenced.

7. The writer feels that children should

PASSAGE II
It is easy to see why television is so attractive to both children and adults. It is available in the home and we can watch it in comfort whenever we please. Besides, it provides entertainment after a day‟s work. Television also enables us to see places and people and their ways of life. Even people with little or no formal education can watch and enjoy the programmes.

8) Unfortunately, television takes up much of our time. To watch it we must sit in front of it, watch as long as a programme lasts, and do little else. This exclusive aspect of television, the fact that it prevents us from doing other things, poses more serious problems than is commonly realized. While television may provide an acceptable form of relaxation for adults after a day‟s work, it robs children of the time they must use to learn other things. In addition, not everything that television offers is good. Even when children‟s programmes are provided, we are not sure that these are the only ones they will watch. In fact, these days children watch more programmes meant for adults than for them.

One likely outcome of this is that children may learn about the adult world too soon, and at a time when they can easily be influenced.

8. Poses in the passage means

PASSAGE II
It is easy to see why television is so attractive to both children and adults. It is available in the home and we can watch it in comfort whenever we please. Besides, it provides entertainment after a day‟s work. Television also enables us to see places and people and their ways of life. Even people with little or no formal education can watch and enjoy the programmes.

9) Unfortunately, television takes up much of our time. To watch it we must sit in front of it, watch as long as a programme lasts, and do little else. This exclusive aspect of television, the fact that it prevents us from doing other things, poses more serious problems than is commonly realized. While television may provide an acceptable form of relaxation for adults after a day‟s work, it robs children of the time they must use to learn other things. In addition, not everything that television offers is good. Even when children‟s programmes are provided, we are not sure that these are the only ones they will watch. In fact, these days children watch more programmes meant for adults than for them.

One likely outcome of this is that children may learn about the adult world too soon, and at a time when they can easily be influenced.

9. According to the passage, which of the following is not true about television?

10) From the passage, we realise that the writer

11) The Headmaster asked the school prefect to summon a meeting of the Student‟s Council.

12) It was not obvious ……………….he was pointing to.

13) We ………………to play a return match last Friday.

14) The factory had to ……………………many workers because of the fall in production.

15) The auditor‟s job was to go over the accounts carefully.

16) When the lights went off, I ……………..my supper.

17) The attitude of the security officer was very hostile.

18) This soil is very fertile for the growing of vegetables.

19)  The director engaged Mary as a saleswoman.

20) It is wise to preserve works of art for the future.

21) My friend did everything to hinder my work.

22) Before I left for the market, I asked my neighbour to keep an eye on my children. This means my neighbour should

23) Esi was so good a leader that we were all encouraged to take a leaf out of her book. This means we were all encouraged to

24) It is difficult for most people to make ends meet these days. This means most people

25) Mother buys the best clothes for Patrick because he is the apple of her eye. This means that Patrick is

26) Musa told his friend to mind his own business. This means that Musa‟s friend should

27) The auditor‟s job was to go over the accounts carefully.

28) Formerly, we walked a very long distance to attend school.

29) After the hard day‟s work he returned home completely exhausted.

30) I have forgotten all ………………..you told me.

31) Selfish people always consider ………………first.

32) ………………….the watch is old, it is still working.

33) Teye asked me how ………………….French I knew.

34) Kwaku‟s evidence …………………. to be checked.

35) The headmistress said they could not postpone ………….. the school any longer.

36) You know very well that it was no fault of …………….

37) You are not hurt, ……………..?

38) I don‟t mind ……………..home early.

39) All ……………..is good health.

40) . If anyone greets you, it is polite to return ………….greeting.