BECE - Basic Education Certificate Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is the standard international (SI) unit for both work and energy?

Joule (Correct answer)
Watt
Newton
Pascal

Correct answer: Joule

The SI unit for both work and energy is the Joule (J). A Newton is the unit of force, a Watt is the unit of power, and a Pascal is the unit of pressure.

Question 2: Which of the following events is most directly associated with Prophet Muhammad's establishment of the first Muslim community (Ummah) in a new city?

The signing of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah
The Hijrah to Medina (Correct answer)
The first revelation at Mount Hira
The Battle of Badr

Correct answer: The Hijrah to Medina

The Hijrah, which was the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina, was the pivotal event that led to the establishment of the first organized Muslim community, or Ummah. In Medina, he was able to create a state based on Islamic principles.

Question 3: A pendulum swings from its highest point to the lowest point. What happens to its energy?

Both decrease to zero
Both remain constant
Potential energy increases; kinetic energy decreases
Potential energy decreases; kinetic energy increases (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Potential energy decreases; kinetic energy increases

As the pendulum falls to its lowest point, gravitational potential energy converts to kinetic energy (ignoring air resistance).

Question 4: Which is an example of a sentence fragment?

The dog barked all night.
He finished his test early.
She ran to the store.
After the bell rang. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: After the bell rang.

'After the bell rang' is a dependent clause with no independent clause to support it.

Question 5: 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?

Foreshadowing (Correct answer)
Flashback
Irony
Symbolism

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 6: Which of the following elements is a noble gas?

Argon (Correct answer)
Fluorine
Nitrogen
Sodium

Correct answer: Argon

Argon (Ar) is a Group 18 noble gas with a complete outer electron shell, making it chemically inert.

Question 7: Evaluate: √(144 + 25)

15
13 (Correct answer)
19
17

Correct answer: 13

144 + 25 = 169, and √169 = 13.

Question 8: A character struggles with whether to tell the truth or protect a friend, torn between honesty and loyalty. This is an example of:

Person vs. nature
Person vs. society
Person vs. self (Correct answer)
Person vs. person

Correct answer: Person vs. self

Person vs. self is an internal conflict where a character wrestles with competing desires or values.

Question 9: A path 1 m wide is built around a rectangular garden measuring 20 m × 10 m. What is the area of the path alone?

64 m² (Correct answer)
44 m²
60 m²
48 m²

Correct answer: 64 m²

Outer rectangle = 22 × 12 = 264 m²; inner garden = 200 m²; path area = 264 − 200 = 64 m².

Question 10: The 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees fundamental human rights and freedoms for all persons. This means that

citizens can do anything they want without consequences
these rights can never be limited under any circumstances
foreigners in Ghana are not entitled to any rights
these rights must be respected, but are subject to the rights of others and public interest (Correct answer)

Correct answer: these rights must be respected, but are subject to the rights of others and public interest

Chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution outlines fundamental human rights. However, it also specifies that the enjoyment of these rights is subject to the respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest. This creates a balance, ensuring that one person's freedom does not infringe upon another's.

Question 11: Read the following sentence: 'The old house groaned under the weight of the storm, and the wind screamed through the broken window panes.' Which literary device is used to describe the house and the wind?

Metaphor
Personification (Correct answer)
Simile
Imagery

Correct answer: Personification

Personification is the correct answer because human qualities are given to non-human things. The house is described as 'groaning' and the wind as 'screaming', which are actions associated with living beings.

Question 12: Which shortcut key is commonly used to save a document?

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

Correct answer: Ctrl + S

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

Question 13: Solve for x: 2x − 6 = 10

x = 4
x = 8 (Correct answer)
x = 2
x = 6

Correct answer: x = 8

Add 6 to both sides: 2x = 16, then divide by 2: x = 8.

Question 14: Which one of the following is not a prime number?

9 (Correct answer)
3
5
7

Correct answer: 9

A prime number is a natural number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. Looking at the options, 5, 3, and 7 are all prime numbers as they are only divisible by 1 and themselves. However, 9 is not a prime number because it is divisible by 1, 3, and 9, meaning it has a divisor other than 1 and itself.

Question 15: How much will it cost to tile a kitchen floor that is 12 feet wide by 20 feet long if the tile costs $8.91 per square yard?

236.55
224.51
237.6 (Correct answer)
275.18

Correct answer: 237.6

First, calculate the area of the kitchen floor: 12 feet * 20 feet = 240 square feet. Since the tile cost is given per square yard, convert the area to square yards. There are 3 feet in a yard, so 1 square yard = 3 feet * 3 feet = 9 square feet. Thus, 240 square feet / 9 square feet/square yard = 26.666... square yards. Finally, multiply the area in square yards by the cost per square yard: 26.666... * $8.91 = $237.60. The total cost to tile the floor is $237.60.

Question 16: Which of the following is an example of a mutualistic relationship in an ecosystem?

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

Correct answer: Bees pollinating flowers while collecting nectar

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

Question 17: In the U.S. federal system, which level of government has the authority to coin money?

State governments
County governments
Local governments
Federal government (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Federal government

Only the federal government has the constitutional authority to coin and print money in the United States.

Question 18: "I walked into the abandoned house, my heart racing with every step." The point of view of this narrator is:

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

Correct answer: First person

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

Question 19: A student finds a classmate's lost money and, despite needing money herself, returns it to the owner. This act of honesty and integrity reflects the moral teachings emphasized by which major religious personality?

Jesus Christ, in the Sermon on the Mount
Moses, for receiving the law
Prophet Muhammad, as 'The Trustworthy' (Correct answer)
Okomfo Anokye, in his codes for the Asante

Correct answer: Prophet Muhammad, as 'The Trustworthy'

While all religious figures teach honesty, Prophet Muhammad's life example, particularly his title 'Al-Amin' (The Trustworthy), provides a direct and powerful illustration of this specific virtue. The student's action directly mirrors the quality for which he was renowned even before his prophethood.

Question 20: Which sentence avoids a comma splice?

It was raining, therefore we stayed inside.
It was raining, so we stayed inside. (Correct answer)
It was raining, however we stayed inside.
It was raining, we stayed inside.

Correct answer: It was raining, so we stayed inside.

Using a coordinating conjunction (so) after a comma correctly joins two independent clauses.

Question 21: The planet that shines the brightest is

Venus (Correct answer)
Earth
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 22: Which of the following sentences is an example of a complex sentence?

Because she was late for school, she missed the first lesson. (Correct answer)
The team played well but lost the match.
The boy wept loudly, and his mother consoled him.
Kofi and Ama are intelligent students.

Correct answer: Because she was late for school, she missed the first lesson.

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The sentence 'Because she was late for school, she missed the first lesson' is a complex sentence. 'Because she was late for school' is the dependent clause, and 'she missed the first lesson' is the independent clause.

Question 23: Which prophet was known as the 'father of the faithful' and is revered in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism?

Moses
Abraham (Correct answer)
Isaac
Jacob

Correct answer: Abraham

Abraham is called the 'father of the faithful' and is a central patriarch in Christianity, Islam (Ibrahim), and Judaism.

Question 24: Why do plants appear green to our eyes?

They absorb green light and reflect all others
They reflect green light and absorb red and blue light (Correct answer)
Chlorophyll emits green light as fluorescence
They produce green-colored glucose

Correct answer: They reflect green light and absorb red and blue light

Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue wavelengths for photosynthesis and reflects green wavelengths, which we perceive as the green color of plants.

Question 25: What is the function of a subordinating conjunction?

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

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 26: Which of the following mixtures may best be separated using a separating funnel?

Sulphur and water (Correct answer)
Vegetable oil and kerosene
Water and sodium chloride
Water and vegetable oil

Correct answer: Sulphur and water

A separating funnel is specifically designed to separate immiscible liquids, which are liquids that do not mix and form distinct layers due to differences in density. Water and vegetable oil are classic examples of immiscible liquids, with oil floating on top of water, allowing them to be easily separated by draining the denser water layer from the bottom. Sulphur is a solid and would typically be separated from water by filtration or decantation, not a separating funnel, which is for liquid-liquid separation.

Question 27: Which reformer challenged corruption in the Catholic Church in 1517 by publishing his famous Ninety-Five Theses?

Martin Luther (Correct answer)
John Calvin
Henry VIII
Ulrich Zwingli

Correct answer: Martin Luther

Martin Luther, a German monk, sparked the Protestant Reformation in 1517 by publishing his Ninety-Five Theses challenging practices like the sale of indulgences.

Question 28: What does it mean for a government to be 'accountable' to its citizens?

Citizens must report their spending to the government
Only the president is responsible for all government decisions
Government officials must answer for their actions and decisions (Correct answer)
The government can do whatever it wants without explanation

Correct answer: Government officials must answer for their actions and decisions

Government accountability means officials are answerable to the public and can face consequences for misconduct or poor governance.

Question 29: Which of the following is a primary civic responsibility of a Ghanaian citizen as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution?

Upholding and defending the Constitution (Correct answer)
Traveling outside the country for holidays
Starting a personal business
Joining a political party

Correct answer: Upholding and defending the Constitution

Article 41(b) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana explicitly states that it is the duty of every citizen to uphold and defend the Constitution and the law. While other activities are rights or personal choices, defending the constitution is a fundamental civic obligation.

Question 30: What is the perimeter of a square with side 9 cm?

18 cm
27 cm
81 cm
36 cm (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 36 cm

Perimeter of a square = 4 × side = 4 × 9 = 36 cm.

Question 31: Which of the following is a physical property of a substance?

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

Correct answer: Boiling point

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

Question 32: Who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), a prominent Catholic religious order, in the 16th century?

Ignatius of Loyola (Correct answer)
Thomas Aquinas
Francis of Assisi
Benedict of Nursia

Correct answer: Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1540, an order focused on education and missionary work.

Question 33: A community is facing challenges with sanitation and waste disposal. As a responsible citizen, what is the MOST appropriate initial action to take?

Write an article complaining in the national newspaper
Organize a protest at the regional capital
Report the issue to the local Assembly Member or Unit Committee (Correct answer)
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 34: The overall attitude of the author toward the subject or reader, as revealed through word choice, is called:

Setting
Mood
Theme
Tone (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Tone

Tone reflects the author's attitude (e.g., sarcastic, solemn, celebratory) conveyed through diction and style.

Question 35: Which Old Testament king is renowned for his God-given wisdom and for building the first Temple in Jerusalem?

David
Saul
Rehoboam
Solomon (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Solomon

King Solomon, son of David, is renowned for his divinely granted wisdom and for constructing the First Temple in Jerusalem as a permanent dwelling for God's Ark.

Question 36: What is the binary number system based on?

Only the digits 0 and 1 (Correct answer)
Digits 0 to 9
Letters of the alphabet
Digits 0 to 7

Correct answer: Only the digits 0 and 1

The binary number system uses only two digits — 0 and 1 — which correspond to the OFF and ON states of electronic circuits in computers.

Question 37: What is the primary source of energy for almost all ecosystems on Earth?

The sun (Correct answer)
The moon
Geothermal heat
Chemical bonds in rocks

Correct answer: The sun

The sun is the ultimate source of energy for most life on Earth. Plants (producers) capture this light energy through photosynthesis and convert it into chemical energy, which is then transferred through the food web.

Question 38: Which word correctly fills the blank: 'Neither the students ___ the teacher was prepared.'?

or
and
but
nor (Correct answer)

Correct answer: nor

'Neither...nor' is the correct paired conjunction; 'or' pairs with 'either.'

Question 39: Prophet Muhammad was known by the title 'Al-Amin' even before he received his first revelation. What does this title mean?

The Chosen One
The Wise One
The Strong One
The Trustworthy (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Trustworthy

The title 'Al-Amin' means 'The Trustworthy' or 'The Faithful'. Prophet Muhammad earned this name among the people of Mecca because of his impeccable character, honesty, and reliability in all his dealings long before his prophethood.

Question 40: The interior angle of a regular polygon is 120°. How many sides does it have?

8
10
5
6 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 6

Exterior angle = 180° − 120° = 60°; number of sides = 360° ÷ 60° = 6.

Question 41: What is the role of a mayor in a city government?

To command the city's military forces
To serve as a judge in city courts
To create federal laws for the city
To act as the chief executive officer of the city (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To act as the chief executive officer of the city

A mayor is the top executive official of a city, responsible for administering city services, enforcing local laws, and leading city operations.

Question 42: 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 43: What is the area of a trapezoid with parallel sides 10 cm and 6 cm, and a perpendicular height of 4 cm?

32 cm² (Correct answer)
40 cm²
24 cm²
16 cm²

Correct answer: 32 cm²

Area = ½(a + b)h = ½(10 + 6) × 4 = ½ × 16 × 4 = 32 cm².

Question 44: What is the term for the process by which citizens can propose new laws by gathering signatures?

Filibuster
Referendum
Impeachment
Initiative (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Initiative

An initiative is a process that allows citizens to propose legislation or constitutional amendments by collecting a required number of signatures.

Question 45: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?

The group of students were studying.
The group of students are studying.
The group of students have studied.
The group of students is studying. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The group of students is studying.

The subject 'group' is singular, so it takes the singular verb 'is.'

Question 46: Which file extension is commonly associated with image files?

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

Correct answer: .jpg

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

Question 47: The core teachings of Jesus Christ about humility, mercy, and seeking righteousness are famously collected in which discourse?

The Sermon on the Mount (Correct answer)
The Last Supper
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 48: Which human activity most directly contributes to increased atmospheric CO₂ and disrupts the carbon cycle?

Reforestation
Burning fossil fuels (Correct answer)
Crop irrigation
Crop rotation

Correct answer: Burning fossil fuels

Burning fossil fuels releases CO₂ that was stored underground for millions of years, significantly increasing atmospheric CO₂ levels.

Question 49: A recurring image of broken mirrors throughout a novel consistently represents bad luck. This repeated element is called:

Motif (Correct answer)
Allusion
Allegory
Symbol

Correct answer: Motif

A motif is a recurring element — image, idea, or phrase — that develops or reinforces the story's themes.

Question 50: What is the function of RAM in a computer?

Temporarily stores data currently being used by the CPU (Correct answer)
Permanently stores all user files
Controls the display output
Connects the computer to the internet

Correct answer: Temporarily stores data currently being used by the CPU

RAM (Random Access Memory) temporarily holds data and programs that the CPU is actively using, and its contents are lost when the computer is switched off.

Question 51: "I have told you a million times to clean your room!" This sentence contains which device?

Hyperbole (Correct answer)
Simile
Irony
Metaphor

Correct answer: Hyperbole

Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used for emphasis; no one literally repeats a million times.

Question 52: What is 15% of 200?

25
30 (Correct answer)
40
35

Correct answer: 30

15% of 200 = (15/100) × 200 = 30.

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%

To Pass

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