BECE - Basic Education Certificate Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: In the Asante Kingdom's history, which traditional priest is credited with commanding the Golden Stool from the heavens to unite the Asante people?

Okomfo Anokye (Correct answer)
Osei Tutu I
Nana Kwamena Ansa
Yaa Asantewaa

Correct answer: Okomfo Anokye

Okomfo Anokye was the priest and co-founder of the Asante Empire who is famously known for causing the Golden Stool, the symbol of unity and authority for the Asante people, to descend from the sky. Osei Tutu I was the king and co-founder, while Yaa Asantewaa was a much later queen mother famous for leading a war against the British.

Question 2: A triangle has angles measuring 50° and 70°. What is the third angle?

60° (Correct answer)
70°
80°
40°

Correct answer: 60°

Angles in a triangle sum to 180°; 180 − 50 − 70 = 60°.

Question 3: Which layer of the atmosphere protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation?

Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere ozone layer (Correct answer)
Troposphere

Correct answer: Stratosphere ozone layer

The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs most of the sun's harmful UV-B and UV-C radiation before it reaches Earth's surface.

Question 4: After surviving a deadly hurricane, a character says, "Well, that was a slightly rough evening." This is an example of:

Hyperbole
Euphemism
Understatement (Correct answer)
Irony

Correct answer: Understatement

Understatement deliberately describes something as less significant than it really is.

Question 5: In the Bible, which woman is credited with hiding two Israelite spies in Jericho and is praised for her faith?

Deborah
Rahab (Correct answer)
Ruth
Esther

Correct answer: Rahab

Rahab, a woman in Jericho, hid two Israelite spies sent by Joshua and is commended for her faith in Hebrews 11.

Question 6: Which of the following expressions is equivalent to 3x² + 9x?

3(x² + 9)
9x(x + 1)
3x(x + 3) (Correct answer)
3x²(1 + 3x)

Correct answer: 3x(x + 3)

To find the equivalent expression, we need to factorize 3x² + 9x. The greatest common factor (GCF) of 3x² and 9x is 3x. When we factor out 3x, we divide each term by 3x. 3x² / 3x = x, and 9x / 3x = 3. Therefore, the factored form is 3x(x + 3).

Question 7: In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches about the importance of compassion and loving one's neighbour. Who was the one who ultimately helped the man who was robbed and beaten?

A Levite
A priest
A Samaritan (Correct answer)
An innkeeper

Correct answer: A Samaritan

In the parable told by Jesus, both a priest and a Levite passed by the injured man, but it was a Samaritan—a person typically despised by the Jews at the time—who stopped to show mercy and care for him. This was to show that a true 'neighbour' is anyone who shows mercy, regardless of their background.

Question 8: A community petition demanding better street lighting is an example of which form of civic action?

Grassroots advocacy (Correct answer)
Lobbying Congress
Filing a federal lawsuit
Running for national office

Correct answer: Grassroots advocacy

Grassroots advocacy involves ordinary citizens organizing locally to push for changes that affect their immediate community.

Question 9: If 4(x − 1) = 2(x + 5), what is x?

7 (Correct answer)
3
9
5

Correct answer: 7

4x − 4 = 2x + 10, so 2x = 14 and x = 7.

Question 10: Which shortcut key is commonly used to save a document?

Ctrl + P
Ctrl + X
Ctrl + Z
Ctrl + S (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ctrl + S

Ctrl + S is the standard keyboard shortcut to save the current document in most applications on Windows computers.

Question 11: What does the term 'carbon footprint' measure?

The amount of carbon stored in forest trees
The area of land needed to grow food for one person
The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual or activity (Correct answer)
The rate at which carbon is absorbed by oceans

Correct answer: The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual or activity

A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gases, especially CO2, released due to human activities.

Question 12: What does the subscript '2' in H₂O indicate?

Water exists in 2 physical states
The molecule has a molecular mass of 2
There are 2 oxygen atoms
There are 2 hydrogen atoms (Correct answer)

Correct answer: There are 2 hydrogen atoms

The subscript 2 after H means there are 2 hydrogen atoms in each molecule of water.

Question 13: Early in a story, a character ignores a warning sign on a dangerous road. Later, she is involved in an accident. The warning sign is an example of:

Euphemism
Foreshadowing (Correct answer)
Flashback
Allegory

Correct answer: Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing uses early clues or hints to suggest what will happen later in the story.

Question 14: Which sentence is written in passive voice?

The chef is preparing the meal.
The meal was prepared by the chef. (Correct answer)
The chef had prepared the meal.
The chef prepared the meal.

Correct answer: The meal was prepared by the chef.

Passive voice uses 'to be + past participle' and places the receiver of the action as the subject.

Question 15: Which sentence contains an absolute phrase?

Running fast, he won the race.
Because he finished his homework, he went to play.
He went to play after finishing homework.
His homework done, he went to play. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: His homework done, he went to play.

An absolute phrase ('His homework done') has a noun and a participle and modifies the whole sentence.

Question 16: What is email?

A device for printing text messages
A program for editing videos
Electronic messages sent and received over the internet (Correct answer)
A type of storage device

Correct answer: Electronic messages sent and received over the internet

Email (electronic mail) is a method of exchanging digital messages between people using the internet, delivered almost instantly to the recipient's inbox.

Question 17: Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the conditional mood?

If she studies, she will pass. (Correct answer)
If she studied, she will pass.
If she studies, she would pass.
If she will study, she passes.

Correct answer: If she studies, she will pass.

The first conditional uses present tense in the 'if' clause and 'will + base verb' in the result clause.

Question 18: Which sentence correctly uses an infinitive phrase as the subject?

Healthy is to run every day.
Every day running is healthy.
To run every day is healthy. (Correct answer)
Running every day is healthy.

Correct answer: To run every day is healthy.

'To run every day' is an infinitive phrase acting as the subject of the verb 'is.'

Question 19: The technique of limiting the number of seedlings per stand to improve development is known as

filling in.
earthing up.
pricking out.
thinning out. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: thinning out.

Thinning out is a horticultural practice where excess or weaker seedlings are removed from a group. This technique is used to reduce competition among plants for resources like light, water, and nutrients, thereby improving the growth and development of the remaining, stronger seedlings.

Question 20: The point of highest tension or the decisive turning point in a story's plot is called the:

Exposition
Climax (Correct answer)
Rising action
Resolution

Correct answer: Climax

The climax is the peak moment of suspense or conflict before events begin to resolve.

Question 21: Which prophet was swallowed by a large fish after disobeying God's command to go to Nineveh?

Micah
Jonah (Correct answer)
Amos
Hosea

Correct answer: Jonah

Jonah fled from his divine mission to Nineveh, was cast into the sea, and was swallowed by a large fish for three days before being released.

Question 22: A farmer uses pesticides that kill insects in a field. Which unintended effect on the local ecosystem is most likely?

Decline of insect-eating birds due to reduced food supply (Correct answer)
Faster decomposition of soil organic matter
Increased photosynthesis in crops
Greater water retention in the soil

Correct answer: Decline of insect-eating birds due to reduced food supply

Reducing insect populations removes a key food source for insect-eating birds, causing their numbers to decline in the area.

Question 23: A force is applied to an object at an angle of 60° to the horizontal. If the force is 40 N, what is the horizontal component doing work along the horizontal displacement?

69.3 N
20 N (Correct answer)
40 N
34.6 N

Correct answer: 20 N

Horizontal component = F cos60° = 40 × 0.5 = 20 N.

Question 24: What happens to the speed of light as it moves from air into glass?

It stays the same
It increases
It decreases (Correct answer)
It becomes zero

Correct answer: It decreases

Light slows down when passing from a less dense medium (air) to a more dense medium (glass), which also causes it to refract.

Question 25: What is the significance of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?

It protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition (Correct answer)
It grants women the right to vote
It abolishes slavery
It gives citizens the right to bear arms

Correct answer: It protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition

The First Amendment protects five fundamental freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government.

Question 26: What is the primary function of a constitution in a democratic country?

To list all the country's laws in detail
To collect taxes from citizens
To establish the framework for government and protect citizens' rights (Correct answer)
To give the military authority over civilians

Correct answer: To establish the framework for government and protect citizens' rights

A constitution sets the foundational rules for government structure and safeguards the fundamental rights of citizens.

Question 27: Read the passage: 'The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air, mixing with the sharp scent of pine from the nearby forest. He could hear the crackle of the fire and feel the rough texture of the wool blanket.' The author is primarily using which literary device to engage the reader?

Symbolism
Allusion
Hyperbole
Imagery (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Imagery

Imagery is the use of descriptive language that appeals to the reader's five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. This passage appeals to the sense of smell ('freshly baked bread', 'sharp scent of pine'), hearing ('crackle of the fire'), and touch ('rough texture'), creating a vivid picture for the reader.

Question 28: Factorise completely: 6x² + 9x.

3x(2x + 3) (Correct answer)
6x(x + 3)
3(2x² + 3x)
x(6x + 9)

Correct answer: 3x(2x + 3)

The HCF of 6x² and 9x is 3x, giving 3x(2x + 3).

Question 29: What is the function of a subordinating conjunction?

It modifies the meaning of an adjective.
It replaces a noun in a sentence.
It joins two independent clauses of equal importance.
It introduces a dependent clause and connects it to an independent clause. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It introduces a dependent clause and connects it to an independent clause.

Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, since) introduce dependent clauses and link them to independent clauses.

Question 30: Which son of Abraham is regarded as the ancestor of the Arab people and is central to Islamic heritage?

Isaac
Esau
Ishmael (Correct answer)
Jacob

Correct answer: Ishmael

Ishmael (Ismail in Arabic), Abraham's firstborn son through Hagar, is regarded in Islamic tradition as an ancestor of the Arab people and a prophet.

Question 31: The core teachings of Jesus Christ about humility, mercy, and seeking righteousness are famously collected in which discourse?

The Last Supper
The Sermon on the Mount (Correct answer)
The Olivet Discourse
The Transfiguration

Correct answer: The Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount, found in the Gospel of Matthew, is a comprehensive collection of Jesus's moral teachings, including the Beatitudes, which praise virtues like meekness, mercy, and being a peacemaker.

Question 32: Which of the following pairs of terms are like terms?

4x² and 4x
5xy and 5x²y
3x and 3y
3xy and 7xy (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 3xy and 7xy

Like terms must have the same variable(s) and exponent(s); 3xy and 7xy both have xy.

Question 33: Which of the following is an example of a mutualistic relationship in an ecosystem?

Bees pollinating flowers while collecting nectar (Correct answer)
Moss growing on a tree's bark without harming it
A hawk hunting a mouse
A tapeworm living inside a dog

Correct answer: Bees pollinating flowers while collecting nectar

Mutualism benefits both species — bees get nectar for food while flowers get pollinated, aiding reproduction.

Question 34: Which of the following is an example of sustainable agriculture?

Using chemical pesticides to eliminate all insects
Irrigating with unlimited groundwater extraction
Rotating crops to maintain soil nutrients (Correct answer)
Clearing rainforests for new farmland each season

Correct answer: Rotating crops to maintain soil nutrients

Crop rotation replenishes soil nutrients naturally and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, making farming more sustainable.

Question 35: In traditional African society, what is the role of the 'Okyeame' or 'linguist' in religious and political settings?

A warrior who leads battles
A judge who settles land disputes
A healer who cures diseases
A spokesperson who communicates royal and sacred messages (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A spokesperson who communicates royal and sacred messages

The Okyeame (linguist) serves as an eloquent spokesperson and intermediary who communicates messages between a chief or religious leader and the people.

Question 36: A community is facing challenges with sanitation and waste disposal. As a responsible citizen, what is the MOST appropriate initial action to take?

Report the issue to the local Assembly Member or Unit Committee (Correct answer)
Write an article complaining in the national newspaper
Organize a protest at the regional capital
Ignore the problem as it is the government's job to solve

Correct answer: Report the issue to the local Assembly Member or Unit Committee

The District Assembly is the highest political authority responsible for the overall development of the district, including sanitation. The Assembly Member is the elected representative of the electoral area. Therefore, reporting the issue to them is the correct and most effective first step to engage the local governance structure designed to handle such problems.

Question 37: The planet that shines the brightest is

Earth
Venus (Correct answer)
Uranus
Saturn

Correct answer: Venus

Venus is often referred to as the 'Morning Star' or 'Evening Star' because it is the brightest planet visible from Earth. Its extreme brightness is due to its thick, highly reflective atmosphere, which efficiently scatters sunlight back into space. This makes it easily observable and exceptionally luminous in the night sky.

Question 38: "The smell of freshly baked bread drifted through the warm kitchen, mingling with cinnamon." This passage primarily uses:

Personification
Metaphor
Imagery (Correct answer)
Irony

Correct answer: Imagery

Imagery uses sensory details (smell, warmth) to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

Question 39: "I walked into the abandoned house, my heart racing with every step." The point of view of this narrator is:

First person (Correct answer)
Second person
Third person omniscient
Third person limited

Correct answer: First person

First-person point of view uses 'I' or 'we,' placing the narrator directly inside the story.

Question 40: A sphere has a radius of 3 cm. What is its volume to the nearest whole number? (Use π = 22/7)

57 cm³
113 cm³ (Correct answer)
339 cm³
28 cm³

Correct answer: 113 cm³

Volume = (4/3)πr³ = (4/3) × (22/7) × 27 = 792/7 ≈ 113 cm³.

Question 41: In a food chain, an organism that feeds on plants is known as a

Decomposer
Secondary consumer
Producer
Primary consumer (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Primary consumer

Producers, like plants, make their own food. Primary consumers are herbivores that get their energy by eating producers. Secondary consumers eat primary consumers, and decomposers break down dead organic matter.

Question 42: The equatorial climate zone in West Africa, characterized by heavy rainfall year-round and dense rainforests, is found mainly in which area?

The Jos Plateau
Inland savanna regions
Coastal areas near the Gulf of Guinea (Correct answer)
The Sahel zone

Correct answer: Coastal areas near the Gulf of Guinea

The equatorial climate with heavy year-round rainfall and rainforests is found along the coastal areas near the Gulf of Guinea in southern West Africa.

Question 43: Which of the following statements correctly describes the properties of a cuboid?

It has 6 vertices, 8 edges, and 6 faces.
It has 12 vertices, 6 edges, and 8 faces.
It has 8 vertices, 12 edges, and 6 faces. (Correct answer)
It has 8 vertices, 8 edges, and 6 faces.

Correct answer: It has 8 vertices, 12 edges, and 6 faces.

A cuboid is a three-dimensional shape with 8 corners (vertices), 12 straight lines (edges), and 6 flat surfaces (faces).

Question 44: Which file extension is commonly associated with image files?

.mp3
.xlsx
.docx
.jpg (Correct answer)

Correct answer: .jpg

.jpg (JPEG) is a widely used file format for storing compressed digital images.

Question 45: Which storage device uses magnetic disks to store large amounts of data permanently?

ROM
USB Flash Drive
RAM
Hard Disk Drive (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Hard Disk Drive

A Hard Disk Drive (HDD) uses spinning magnetic platters to store data permanently, even when the computer is turned off.

Question 46: An author writes, 'Just as the child was about to leave for the beach party, dark clouds gathered ominously in the sky.' What is the primary literary device the author is using in this sentence?

Flashback
Symbolism
Irony
Foreshadowing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is the use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in a story. The gathering of dark clouds hints at potential trouble or disappointment for the child's beach party, building suspense for the reader.

Question 47: Which Old Testament queen used wisdom and courage to save her people from a plot to destroy all Jews in Persia?

Esther (Correct answer)
Vashti
Athaliah
Jezebel

Correct answer: Esther

Queen Esther, a Jewish woman who became queen of Persia, risked her life by approaching King Ahasuerus to reveal Haman's plot and save her people.

Question 48: At what point in a roller coaster ride does a car have maximum kinetic energy (ignoring friction)?

At the lowest point of the track (Correct answer)
When it is momentarily at rest
At the starting point before release
At the highest point

Correct answer: At the lowest point of the track

At the lowest point, all gravitational potential energy has converted to kinetic energy, so kinetic energy is at its maximum.

Question 49: Which of the following is a physical property of a substance?

Ability to rust
Reactivity with acid
Boiling point (Correct answer)
Flammability

Correct answer: Boiling point

Boiling point is a physical property because it can be measured without changing the substance's chemical identity.

Question 50: A parallelogram has a base of 12 cm and a height of 5 cm. What is its area?

30 cm²
60 cm² (Correct answer)
34 cm²
17 cm²

Correct answer: 60 cm²

Area of a parallelogram = base × height = 12 × 5 = 60 cm².

Question 51: The careful choice of words an author makes to convey meaning, style, and tone is called:

Imagery
Syntax
Theme
Diction (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Diction

Diction refers to the author's deliberate word selection and how it shapes the reader's understanding.

Question 52: A circle is inscribed in a square with side 14 cm. What is the area of the region between the square and the circle? (Use π = 22/7)

56 cm²
42 cm² (Correct answer)
35 cm²
28 cm²

Correct answer: 42 cm²

Square area = 196 cm²; circle area = πr² = (22/7) × 7² = 154 cm²; difference = 196 − 154 = 42 cm².

BECE - Basic Education Certificate Exam

The BECE is Ghana's national exam for junior high school students, testing English, mathematics, integrated science, social studies, and religious/moral education.

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

50%

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