BECE Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary 2

Question 1

What is the meaning of the word 'drought' as commonly used in science and geography passages?

Accepted Answer

A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall

Answer

A drought is an extended period of little or no rainfall that leads to water shortages and can cause crop failure.

Question 2

When a question asks for the 'tone' of a passage, what does it want you to identify?

Accepted Answer

The author's attitude or feeling toward the subject

Answer

Tone refers to the author's attitude toward the subject, which can be formal, informal, humorous, serious, critical, enthusiastic, and so on.

Question 3

What does the prefix 'un-' mean in words like 'unhappy,' 'unclear,' and 'undo'?

Accepted Answer

Not or the opposite of

Answer

The prefix 'un-' means 'not' or 'the reverse of,' changing the word to its opposite meaning.

Question 4

Which type of context clue uses a word or phrase with the opposite meaning nearby to help define an unknown word?

Accepted Answer

Contrast clue

Answer

A contrast clue signals an opposite meaning, often using words like 'but,' 'however,' or 'unlike,' to help the reader figure out an unfamiliar word.

Question 5

In a well-organized paragraph, the sentence that states the main idea is called the what?

Accepted Answer

Topic sentence

Answer

The topic sentence states the main idea of a paragraph and is usually found at the beginning, though it can appear elsewhere.

(BECE) Basic Education Certificate Examination Practice Test