Home » English Language (BECE 2009): Take A Test Now! Page 1 of 6PASSAGE I (BECE 2009)Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow We were suddenly awakened at dawn by the screams of the tenants in our house. They were making a lot of commotion in the yard. Daddy quickly jumped from his bed and made for the door. Not long after, we heard him scream. We ran to the hall, switched on the lights and saw him lying flat on his back holding his forehead. In his haste to get to the hall door, he must have forgotten to switch on the lights thus running straight and crashing his head into the pillar in the middle of the hall. When we examined his forehead, we saw a big lump and blood oozing from a deep cut near his eyebrow. Mummy, a retired nursing sister, shouted instructions to me to get the first-aid box, some ice cubes and Daddy’s towel. When the items were brought, she set to work first on the cut. She put some ice cubes in the towel and pressed the towel on the cut for about two minutes. She then wiped the blood gently. Afterwards, she put a little iodine on a piece of gauze, placed it on the cut and bandaged it. Turning to the lump, she massaged it with some ice cubes, which reduced the swelling. She then opened the front door and we beheld a pathetic scene. Lying in the middle of the house was the motionless body of one of the tenants. Trying to resist an attack from the armed robbers, he had been butchered mercilessly and his body left in the middle of the house. 1. What made the writer wake up? The father crashing into the pillarThe attack by the armed robbersThe noise made by the fatherThe shouting of the tenants2. The writer’s father was holding his forehead because he had fallen flat on his backwanted to stop the blood from flowinghad hit his head against the pillarwas thinking of what to do3. The purpose of the ice cubes was to reduce the swellingheal the cutmanage the cutstop the bleeding4. Pathetic in the passage means mercilessnaughtysadstrange5. What happened to the tenant? He opened the doorHe was killed by the robbersHe fell down heavilyHe saw a pathetic scenePage 2 of 6PASSAGE II (BECE 2009)Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions which follow Where is the musical performance of songbirds held? It is not in any concert hall but rather on trees, fences and telephone wires. It is from these places that the little-feathered creatures blend their voices in some of the most melodious songs sung in the world. Songbirds do not just make noise. The male voices in the choir, for instance, have two different messages. Firstly, it is a warning to other males not to come near their partners. Secondly, it is an invitation from the bachelors to the female birds. The most interesting songs which are sung with a lot of vigour are produced during the breeding season by the males to impress the lady birds. Songbirds are very remarkable. They sing three or four notes at a time. To the human ear, it sounds like one beat but the birds can identify the different notes because of their keen sense of hearing. At times, what is heard may not be a song of our winged friends but simply an instruction to keep the flock together. It may also be a warning of an approaching danger. Just how birds compose their songs is an interesting subject. Some birds have their songs fixed in their brains at birth. Whilst some imitate others, other birds try to compose songs which are unique. They will never copy what they hear others sing. 6. According to the passage, members of the choir can sing without difficulty because they are born good singerseasily learn to singhave good songshave to sing7. The male songbirds sing what others have composedto attract the femalesfour notes at a timeto instruct others8. According to the passage, birds sing some of the sweetest songsto invite the bachelorsonly one noteonly in the breeding season9. Unique in the passage means specialsimilarsuitableexciting10. The writer suggests that birds can interpret notes betterbirds compose more interesting songshuman beings sing better than birdsbirds make louder noise than human beingsPage 3 of 6Synonyms (BECE)Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence. 11. The house by the sea has been abandoned.BECE 2009 infesteddestroyedrobbeddeserted12. Most Ghanaians were optimistic about the Black Stars winning the African CupBECE 2009 hopefulhappyreasonableconcerned13. The indigenous people provided the labour during the building of the school.BECE 2009 nativeexpatriateskilledurban14. The effort of the watchman which led to the arrest of the thieves was laudable.BECE 2009 quickrealpraiseworthyconstant15. Our parents deserve our appreciation.BECE 2009 assistanceconcerngratitudeencouragementPage 4 of 6Sentence interpretation (BECE)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. 16. Taiwoo took the clerk to task for losing the letters. This means that Mr. TaiwooBECE 2009 gave the clerk another workcalled the clerk a criminalblamed the clerksacked the clerk17. The quarrel got out of hand. This means that the quarrelBECE 2009 was unhealthywas prolongedbecame uncontrollablebecame boring18. On seeing the headmaster, the girl took to her heels. This means that the girlBECE 2009 ran awayfaintedfelt frightenedhid herself19. Joseph lives within a stone’s throw from the station. This means that JosephBECE 2009 lives in a stony housegoes to the stationoften throw’s stones at the stationlives very close to the station20. All his plans for building a new theatre came to nought. This means thatBECE 2009 there was nothing in the theatrethe theatre was builtthe building collapsedhis plans were unsuccessfulPage 5 of 6Antonyms (BECE)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.21. My father has a cordial relationship with all his neighbours.BECE 2009 harshscornfulhostiledifferent22. John’s latest play is rather dull.BECE 2009 informativeeducativesensibleinteresting23. The feeble old man spoke for about three hours.BECE 2009 brightstrongsuccessfulbold24. The thief descended the stairs hurriedly.BECE 2009 slowlyconsciouslynoisilylazily25. The diligent student won a prize.BECE 2009 proudluckyplayfulcarelessPage 6 of 6Sentence completion (BECE)From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the one that best completes each of the following sentences.26. My father wanted to find out how Abu was getting ………… at school.BECE 2009 downonbackup27. If the boat had been maintained properly it…………..capsized.BECE 2009 had notwill not havewould not havemight have not28. The white horse is …………..than the black one.BECE 2009 more fastfastfastervery fast29. They thought he would become a businessman,………..?BECE 2009 Wouldn’t theyWasn’t itDidn’t theyIsn’t it30. There were only two of us who ………… any idea of the answer.BECE 2009 hadhashavewould have31. He had boarded a taxi, ……….?BECE 2009 Hadn’t heWouldn’t hewon’t heIsn’t it32. Mensah ………. in Saltpond since 1970.BECE 2009 has livedhas been livingwas livingis living33. The booking clerk made him ………….. a deposit.BECE 2009 paidpayto payto be paying34. Although all the dresses were beautiful, she liked …………..of them.BECE 2009 bothneitheranynone35. Kwesi and Ama are in love with ……….BECE 2009 each otherourselvesone anotherthemselves36. It is …………. to attempt in one day.BECE 2009 too long and difficult a journeylong and difficult too a journeytoo long and difficult the journeythe journey too long and difficult37. The rain shouldn’t deter you ……. going out.BECE 2009 onforbyfrom38. Ben is leaving ……….. Takoradi this morning.BECE 2009 fortobyfrom39. Yesterday I met the man ………..BECE 2009 whom I bought his carI bought his carthe car of whom I boughtwhose car I bought40. No sooner had the Minister opened the bank …………. the bank was filled to capacity.BECE 2009 foraswhenthan Loading...12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940Show paginatorHide paginator Share this:Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
This is awesome. I love it!