(INTELLIGENCE IS OUR HALLMARK)

SUBJECT: English Language

SECTION B

PART A
ESSAY WRITING
[30 MARKS]
Answer one question only from this part.
Your composition should be about 250 words long.
Credit will be given for clarity of expression and orderly presentation of material.

1. Write an article for publication in your school’s magazine, and give at least three reasons on why you think
corporal punishment should be retained only for the Junior High department of your school.

2. Someone in your community got contracted by the corona virus. Write a letter to the District Chief
Executive in your area stating how the person could have contracted the virus, and suggest at least three
measures he or she can implement in your community to prevent the spread of the virus.

3. Your friend is preparing for his or her Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Write a letter to him
or her explaining at least two things he or she must do to successfully excel in his or her exams.

PART B
COMPREHENSION
[30 MARKS]

4. Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follows

Among the Akan communities of Ghana, when one sneezes, people you have never met before say ‘life to you’
“Nkwa”. The superstition is that, the soul escapes from the body when one sneezes. To say, ‘life to you’ is an
earnest wish for the soul to be restored. Examples abound to show that although we live in a technologically
advanced age, superstition now is as widespread as it has ever been. Consider the following instances of
superstition. Some people consult soothsayers or fetish priest before any undertaking. An athlete, although he
has trained thoroughly, credits his victory to a charm. A particular T-shirt worn on the day of triumph becomes
a charm thereafter. Such a piece of cloth is never to be washed for fear that some of the magical powers of the
charm might be washed away. A student uses a certain pen for an examination and passes well. Thereafter he
views the pen as a ‘luck’ object. A superstitious mind believes that certain objects, places and animals bring
luck. Some people will embark on trips only on certain dates and they being under the influence of superstition
will act against their better judgment, instincts or decision. The case of the chain letter which is a letter sent to
several persons with the request that each sends copies to many others accordingly. The one who passes on such
a letter is promised good luck, whereas the one who breaks the chain is supposed to experience ill-luck.
Is superstition really harmful? Some people might dismiss this question or deny the dangers associated with
superstition. Nonetheless, it can lead to unpleasant consequences. Take for instance, the case of Mr. Otokunor
who lived in a village where he sold chicken. His enterprise was lucrative. Believing that he could have his
profit multiplied, he once took all his money to a fetish priest who it was believed had spirits which could do
virtually anything for anybody. The priest put his money into a big envelope and asked him to leave it beside a
black pot in his shrine. Mr. Otokunor was asked to come back for his money after seven days. Arriving very
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early on his appointment day, he enthusiastically hurried to the shrine, oblivious of the morning dew on the
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grass along the path. The priest handed a bag to him and instructed him to bury it in his shop for three days. He

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 did exactly as he had been ordered. The three days which looked like a century eventually came. When he
finally opened the envelope, he saw plain papers in it. With frenzy, he rushed to the shrine to complain about
his discovery only to find out that the priest had disappeared.

a. According to the passage, how do you see superstition and its practice in a typical Ghanaian community?

b. According to the passage, is technology taking over superstition? Quote a phrase from the passage to support
your answer.

c. “Nonetheless, it can lead to unpleasant consequences”, what might lead to this?

d. What was Mr. Otokunor’s state of mind during his second visit to the shrine?

e. Explain the following expressions:

i) to experience ill-luck -
ii) he enthusiastically hurried to the shrine -
iii) oblivious of the morning dew -

f. What is the figure of speech in the expression: “The three days which looked like a century eventually came”

g. For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same and can fit into the
passage:
i) frenzy ii) eventually iii) oblivious iv) luck v) virtually vi) triumph

PART C
LITERATURE [10marks]

SACKEY J. A and DARMANI L. (COMP): The cockcrow

5. The following questions are based on the selected texts from The Cockcrow which are prescribed collection
for your study. Read the questions carefully and provide short answers to them.

Read the following extract and answer questions (a) to (c)

“Ah, ah, you know, Kaya, I thank my God that your very first child is a female. But Kaya, I am not sure about
her legs. Hm… hm….” “As I keep saying, if any woman decides to come into this world with all of her two
legs, then she should select legs that have meat on them: with good calves. This is because you are sure such
legs would support solid hips to be able to have children.”

a) What is the title of the short story and the name of the author of the extract above?
b) Who made the comments in the above extract and to whom?
c) What is the dominant theme of this story?

Read the following extract and answer questions (d) to (f)

And winds that dry. Roofed not by sky But rocks that do not always hold These run their
unwitnessed course To their unwitnessed end. Without a sound They gush into bowels of
seas……….

d) What is the structure/style of the poem ‘Desert Rivers’?

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e) What two literary devices were used in “These run their unwitnessed course to their unwitnessed end.
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Without a sound they gush into bowels of seas?”

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 f) What is the author’s name?

OLIVER TWIST – BY CHARLES DICKEN

g) Where was Oliver Twist born? ...................

h) How did Oliver’s mother die? ....................

i) The expression ‘far from filling’ is an example of ............................

j) Who got married to Mr Bumble?

PAPER ONE (1)

SECTION A
From the alternatives lettered A to D, choose the one which most suitably completes each sentence

1. Unless your father reports at the police station, we..............all be whipped

a) will b) shall c) should d) would
2. Under no circumstances..........his or her parents
a) A child disobeys b) A child to disobey
c) a child must obey d) must a child obey
3. The triplets love.......very much
a) each other b) themselves c) theirselves d) one another
4. Ohemaa is leaving..............Takoradi this morning
a) for b) to c) by d) from
5. The work was............difficult for the pupils to do
a) too b) very c) much d) such
6. Finish the work quickly and............ your exercise books
a) hand up b) hand out c) hand down d) hand over
7. It was not obvious.......he was pointing to
a) the one to which b) which one
c) one which d) as to that
8. ...........frankly, I hate the idea
a) speak b) spoken c) to speak d) for speaking
9. ‘Yes, .....................a book’, he said
a) is b) its c) it’s d) it
10. Neither Sammy nor his friends, ................a play to the end
a) watch b) watches c) was watching d) were watching
11. You had better.................now
a) left b) leave c) be leaving d) to leave
12. Grace travelled to Takoradi with .......................
a) us b) we c) she d) ourselves
13. I would rather you.............the teacher the truth
a) tell b) told c) will tell d) had told
14. .................. Ruth was ill, she came to school yesterday
a) even b) although c) however d) moreover
15. You didn’t believe that, ................?
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a) isn’t you b) do you c) won’t you d) don’t you

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 SECTION B
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in
each sentence.

16. Kingsley’s bushy eyebrows gave him a very severe look

a) bad b) deadly c) serious d) unpleasant
17. The excessive speeding made the accident inevitable
a) fatal b) certain c) likely d) unfortunate
18. The troops retreated when they were attacked
a) escaped b) scattered c) fought d) withdrew
19. The indigenous people provided the labor during the building of the school
a) skilled b) native c) expatriate d) urban
20. The effort of the watchman which led to the arrest of the thieves was laudable
a) quick b) real c) constant d) praiseworthy

SECTION C
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.

21. Augustine rather poured oil on the flames with his reply to the teacher’s question
a) confused b) angry c) careful d) interested
22. I have heard from the horses’ own mouth that he will be transferred. This means that........... that he will be
transferred.
a) people are saying b) it is rumored
c) he himself d) it has been announced
23. Several passengers were killed in the accident, but the driver escaped by the skin of his teeth. This means
that the driver
a) missed death narrowly b) lost all his teeth
c) ran into the bush d) had only a scratch on his skin
24. The form two students were asked to toe the line or quit the team. This means that form two students were
asked to
a) apologize b) resign c) cool d) proud
25. Benedicta is always light – hearted in spite of her problems. This means that in spite of her problem
Benedicta is always..................
a) careless b) cheerful c) cool d) proud

SECTION D
From the list of words lettered A to D. Choose the one that nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word
in each sentence.

26. People in the village are polite to strangers

a) cruel b) mean c) rude d) unfair
27. Fishes are plentiful in the pond
a) little b) scarce c) small d) unusual
28. The price of petrol has fallen for no reason.
a) aggravated b) doubled c) risen d) weakened
29. Tina worked hard to stock the shop
a) decorate b) empty c) fill d) reinforce
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30. There was mayhem as the crowd scattered

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a) anger b) fear c) order d) riot

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