2015
BASIC EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
SECTION
A - OBJECTIVE
COMPREHENSION
PASSAGE 1
It has been observed that
most cult boys and girls in secondary schools prefer nick names to their real
names. They answer names such as: kokos, snake, blade, principal, slash,
baddest, nigger, bukana, iron-lady, queen, thatcher, etc.
Obviously, these names
appear to make such students more popular and present them as the tough ones in
their schools. It is difficult to identify students like that by their original
names and that is why they become ready targets when there is any inter-cult
war.
Students are therefore
advised to review the nick names they answer. Names are powerful and have great
influence on those who bear them. Parents must expect danger whenever their children
start answering negative nicknames in place of their original names. Parents
must then stop them and compel a change in attitude
QUESTIONS
1.
According to the passage, most cultist A. reject
nicknames B. answer their original names C. prefer negative nicknames D. prefer
good nicknames
2.
Cultists are often identified by A. their
classes in the school B. how their parents care for them C. their popularity D.
the names they bear
3.
The passage advises students to A. quit
answering bad names B. quit answering good names C. prefer changing names D. enjoy
answering names
4.
The passage advises parents to A. use their
children’s nickname B. react softly against children’s nicknames C. rise
strongly against children’s bad names D. fore see danger
5.
One can conclude from the passage that A. answering
any name is dangerous B. preferring any name is risky C. negative nicknames
attract victimization D. nicknames are pleasing to parents
Read
the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it
Passage
II
A Swiss scientist was
reported to be suffering from Ebola virus disease. This was the first case
reported 15 years ago. In April 1995 a medical worker died in a hospital and so
did the nurse who cared for him. Now the population of Kiewit, a town in Zaire
African, is threatened with the killer disease…Ebola virus.
The Ebola virus and its
related strains were first seen in 1976 in Sudan. In that year 280 people died
in a village near the Ebola River from which the virus got its name. The Ebola Virus
is one of the most mysterious and deadliest killers. It kills 90% of the
victims who are infected. It is spread through direct contact with infected
blood and other body fluids. Symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, vomiting
and weakness. Death finally occurs in the second week when blood pours out from
the victim’s eyes, ears and nose.
There is still no vaccine
for the virus but the symptoms can be kept under control. Unfortunately, it is
not easily transmitted but contact with blood and contaminated needles can
spread the infection at an alarming rate. In the mean time, health officials
are struggling to confine the virus to Kiewit and its surrounding areas. Spot
checks and road blocks are carried out on roads leading to Zaire’s capital.
However these attempts have proved to be unsuccessful as soldiers can be bribed
easily. Air and Sea ports around the world like the United States, Thailand,
Egypt, Nigeria and United Arab Emirates have also taken steps to tighten the screening
of the Ebola Virus.
At this moment, the Ebola
virus is stable with no new case reported. According to the World Health
Organization, the deadly Ebola virus does not pose a serious international
risk. Since the virus is confined to Kiewit, chances of its spreading beyond
the areas are unlikely, as the virus is spread through contact with body fluid
and not through casual contact or by air.
6.
The Ebola virus originated from A. Ebola
River B. Kiewit C. Zaire D. Sudan
7.
The Ebola virus is mysterious because… A. of
its unknown carrier B. it comes and goes quickly C. it does not kill the
infected D. nobody knows how long the symptoms persists
8.
A person infected with the Ebola virus will
not be able to survive … A. first week B. second week C. third week D. fourth
week
9.
When symptoms can be kept under control, it
means that A. they are self limiting B. they can be dealt with C. they can
spread quickly D. they can be transmitted at a controlled rate
10. What
do you think will happen if soldiers are successfully bribed? A. The virus will
remain at place of origin B. these soldiers will be infected C. the virus
carriers of the virus will bring the virus out of the place of origin D. infected
animals will spread the virus to other animals through the air
LEXIS
Fill
in the numbered blank spaces in the following passage with the appropriate word
selected from the options lettered A-D
A notice on the News board
in our schools is a form of advertisement. It might advertise an event such as
football match, or play, or a concert. Its aim is to attract people and inform
them about important 11.
In the world beyond school,
advertising has become a lucrative business. The success or failure of a new 12
in the market may depend on how it
is advertised. For a local shop in a small town, a 13 can be produced
and distributed in the streets. If large sums of money are involved, companies will
often go to an advertising 14 .This
kind of organization specializes in the best methods of advertising, and can
play a key role in the 15 of a product. They may make advertisement on
TV or Radio and design 16 to go on advertising on the bill board.
Sometimes an organization
may wish to improve its public 17 i.e., the way members of the public
perceive it in doing this, a company may design a 18 with a public
relations agency which will advise them on their public image.
A B C D
1.
inform details information events
2.
produce
product event factor
3.
handbill
handout paper sheet
4.
body advisory corporation agency
5.
prestige publicity market promotion
6.
handbills
poster stickers pictures
7.
perception
spending image relationship
8.
agreement
contract paper poster
From
the options lettered A-D, choose the one that is NEAREST in meaning to the
underlined word in the following sentences (questions 19-21)
19. He fortified
himself against the attack of the armed robbers A. strengthened B. fought C. fashioned
D. dressed
20. Our
department is now autonomous A. automatic B. large C. interdependent D. independent
21. The
price of vegetables fluctuates according to weather condition A. cheap B.
changes C. fair D. remain steady
From
the options lettered A-D choose the appropriate question tag
22. Okoro
finished his work A. did he? B. does he? C. wasn’t he? D. didn’t he?
23. There
are thirty chairs in the class A. aren’t there? B. aren’t they? C. are they? D.
are there?
24. The
students cannot read fluently A. could they? B. can’t they? C. can they? D. do
they?
Choose from the options lettered A-D the
one that has the given phonetic symbol
25. /b/ A.
lamb B. debt C. bubble D. doubt
26. /ei/
A. castle B. day C. thousand D. sad
27. /h/ A.
honour B. hope C. church D. cough
28. /Ø/
A. the B. brother C. thing D. father
From the options lettered A-D, choose
the one that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word. (questions 29-31)
29. The
shoes were so beautiful that he bought them A. got B. sold C. stole D. borrowed
30. He
always wears a soft smile A. kind
B. sweet C. stern D. mild
31. They
promised to preserve their culture A. keep B. disturb C. destroy D. appreciate
Choose the word that appropriately
completes the sentence
32. Almost
everyone I know has given ---- smoking A. up B. off C. away D. from
33. At
what time do you think we ought to ------ off tomorrow? A. Walk B. hurry C.
step D. set
34. When
you want to go to bed ----- the light A.
put past B. switch off C. put out D. put under
Put the correct form of verb in the
bracket from the options given
35. Every
worker (pay) his salary monthly A. has paid B. have paid C. were paid D. is
paid
36. Ebere
(lose) her bag last week A. losed B. loosed C. lost D. lossed
37. Our
English master (be) very industrious A.
being B. are C. were D. is
38. When
I arrived, she (have) gone A. haved B. has
C. have D. had
Each
question is followed by four options lettered A-D , Choose the correct option
for each question.
BATTLE
OF SURVIVAL by Sir Lawrence Ezeora
39. Who
discovered paradise forest? A. Ojemba B. Elder Asaadu C. Elder Ofielu D. Nnamdi
40. The
major source of employment for adult males in Umundiukwu town is A. cattle rearing
B. farming C. fishing D. trading
THE STRUGGLE by Akpu Felicia
41. Arinze’s
primary school teacher had a soft spot for him because of his --- A. misconduct
B. pride C. intelligence and humility D. parents wealth
42. One
of the themes in the novel is the reward for A. hardwork B. hardship C.
disobedience D. carelessness
THE BROKEN MEMBRANE by Felicia O. Eze
43. What
made Chuka come to live with Nnoli’s family? He loved the family his mother was
related to Nnoli’s family his school was close to the family’s house his father
lost his job
44. “One
cannot keep a tuber of yam and a goat in the same place and expect the goat not
to eat the yam” This statement was made by Jenny Amaka Chuka Ikem
MY MOTHER’S PRIDE by Ngozi Emodi
45. The
hero of the novel is A. Adaku B. Jaco C. Obinna D. Chinyere
46. Why
did Adaku survive her ordeal in the evil forest? She was ---- A. innocent of
the accusation against her B. guilty of what she was accused of C. very
beautiful and hardworking D. her mother’s only child
FINAL JUDGEMENT by Uche Nnyagu
47. Ngozi
was too wicked to Chinyere and her because…. A. Chinyere was an orphan B. she
feared that Chinyere would snatch her husband from her C. Chinyere was a thief D. Chinyere was a
prostitute
48. “That
I have time to sit down here and chat with you is because she travelled to the
village yesterday”. She in this statement refers to A. Oge B. Ngozi C. Nkechi D.
Joy
REGRETS by Barr. (Mrs) B. N Odike
49. Why
did Ijeoma not complete her secondary education? A. She took ill B. her parents
could not see her through C. she got married D. she became a business woman
50. The
theme of the play is ---- A. life in school B. consequences of unseriousness C.
school drop out D. early marriage
A COSTLY MISTAKE by Mary Nkwegu
51. This
drama teaches us the reward of ---- A. unfaithfulness B. disobedience C. obedience D. way-wardness
52. It
is ----who made the costly mistakes in the drama A. Kenneth B. Mazi Egbo C. Obioma
D. Johnson
THE JUDGEMENT DAY by Agbo Stephen C.
53. The
theme of the play is --- A. un-seriousness among students B. the evil consequences
of keeping bad friends C. corruption D. the rich and the poor
54. It
was ---- who killed Mr. Jude Eke, the school principal A. Stanley B. Ebuka C. Junior
D. Sgt. Okoli
PARIS by Esiaba Irobi
55. In
the poem Paris , “cest paris” means ---- A. It is Paris B. Look at Paris C. I
see Paris D. I know Paris
NEW YORK by Esiaba Irobi
56. New
York! New York! repeatedly used in the poem is for A. adoration B. emphasis C. warning
D. praise
MOSCOW by Esiaba Irobi
57. The
theme of the poem Moscow by Esiaba Irobi is --- A. the beauty and another
land B. the joy of freedom C. there is nothing like one’s home D. sunrise
in Russia
NIGHT by Esiaba Irobi
58. The
expression, “The night is a rugged landscape” is an example of A. metaphor B. irony
C. simile D. personification
MIDNIGHT by Esiaba Irobi
59. To
compare midnight with a “swollen seed” shows that at midnight one is --- A. free
B. unsure C. hidden D. blind
TWILIGHT by Esiaba Irobi
60. This
poem has --- stanzas A. four B. five C. three D. sixteen
SECTION
B- ESSAY
You are the chief speaker in
an inter-school debate. Write your major speech for or against the motion, “The major cause of Examination
mal-practices should be blamed on students rather than on teachers”.
Guideline
i.
Take your stand
ii.
Explain the term examination mal-practice
iii.
Give at least three reasons for blaming the
students or the teachers
iv.
Conclude
Not less than 150 words.
ANSWERS
TO THE 2015 BECE (ENGLISH LANGUAGE)
COMPREHENSION
PASSAGE 1
1. C - According
to the passage, most cultists prefer negative nicknames.
NB:
the
answer is found in the first sentence of the first paragraph.
2. D - Cultists
are often identified by the names they bear.
3. A - The
passage advises students to quit answering bad names.
4. C - The
passage advises parents to rise strongly against children’s bad names.
5. C - One
can conclude from the passage that negative nicknames attract victimization.
COMPREHENSION PASSAGE 2
6. D - The
Ebola virus originated from Sudan
NB:
Sudan is the original country where the virus was discovered in 1976
7. A -The
Ebola virus is mysterious because of its unknown carrier.
NB:
this is an applied question which demands critical thinking. A mysterious event
or situation is difficult to explain or understand.
8. B - A
person infected with Ebola virus will not be able to survive second week.
9. D - When
symptoms can be kept under control, it means that they can be transmitted at a
controlled rate
10. C - If
soldiers are successfully bribed, carriers of the virus will bring the virus
out of origin.
LEXIS
NB:
the
passage is drawn from advertisement as a field of human endeavour. The terms
used are from advertisement
11. D - Events
12. B - Products
13. A - Handbill
14. D - Agency
15. C - Market
16. B - Poster
17. C - Image
18. B - Contract
SYNONYMS
These are words that are
nearest in meaning to a given word e.g. stop
is synonymous with halt
19. A –
Strengthened
NB: Fortified is
nearest meaning to strengthened
20. D –
independent
NB: Autonomous is
nearest in meaning to independent.
21. B – Changes
NB: Fluctuates is
nearest in meaning to changes
QUESTION TAG
This is an additional
statement in a question form added to a statement which seeks the opinion of a
listener.
NB:
positive statement attracts negative question tag while a negative statement
attracts a positive question tag. A statement is negative when it contains
words like (not, never, no, etc)
22. D -
Okoro finished his work, didn’t he?
23. A - There
are thirty chairs in the class, aren’t there?
24. D - The
students cannot read fluently, can they?
ORAL
ENGLISH
25. C - /b/
bubble
NB:
Only the word in option C has the sound /b/
26. B - /ei/
- day
27. B - /h/
- hope
28. C - /Ø/-
thing
ANTONYMS
These are words opposite in meaning to a given word e.g. back is the opposite of front
29. C –
Sold
NB: Bought is the
opposite of sold
30. C –
Stern
NB: Smile is the
opposite of stern
31. C –
destroy
NB: Preserve is the
opposite of destroy
PHRASAL VERBS
These are unit of words or
phrases formed by the addition of preposition to the main word (mostly verbs) e.g.
I don’t know how it came about which
means how it happened.
32. A –
Up
NB: Give
up means to stop something eg habit
33. D – Set
NB: Set
off means to embark on a journey
34. B – Switch off
NB: Switch
off means turn off an appliance but it is usually used for
minor appliances like bulb light.
VERBS
35. D - is
paid
NB: it is a simple
present tense
36. C - lost
NB: the past tense of
lose is “lost”
37. C - is
NB : “is” is the correct
form of verb
38. D - had
NB:
“had” is the past tense of “have/has”
LITERATURE
IN ENGLISH
These questions were adapted
from the recommended literature books consisting of the three genres of
literature namely: drama, prose and poetry
39. D -
Nnamdi
40. B -
Farming
41. C -
Intelligence
42. A -
Hard work
43. B -
His mother was related to Nnoli’s family.
44. B -
Amaka
45. C -
Obinna
46. A -
Innocent of the accusation against her
47. B - She
feared that Chinyere would snatch her husband from her
48. B -
Ngozi
49. C -
She got married
50. B -
Consequences of un-seriousness
51. B –
disobedience
52. C -
Obioma
53. B -
The evil consequences of keeping bad friends
54. C -
Junior
55. B -
Look at Paris
56. B -
Emphasis
57. C –
There is nothing like ones home
58. A -
Metaphor
59. A -
Free
60. C-
Three
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