Subject: English Language | Level: JHS (Basic 7 – 9) | Topic: Grammar, Comprehension, and Vocabulary | Type: Multiple Choice Questions | Total Questions: 20
Original practice questions by Education Always. Not official BECE questions.
Section A: Grammar (Questions 1 – 10)
1. Choose the correct verb: “The number of students in the school ______ increased this year.”
A. have B. has C. are D. were
Answer: B. “The number” is a singular subject and takes “has.”
2. Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: “She spoke eloquently at the ceremony.”
A. Adjective B. Noun C. Adverb D. Verb
Answer: C. “Eloquently” modifies the verb “spoke” and is therefore an adverb.
3. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
A. Everyone have done their homework. B. Neither of the boys were ready. C. Each of the girls has a book. D. The team are playing well today.
Answer: C. “Each” is singular and takes “has.” (Note: D could be acceptable in British English but C is the clearest correct answer in Ghana’s curriculum.)
4. Change to passive voice: “The chef prepared a delicious meal.”
A. A delicious meal prepared by the chef. B. A delicious meal was prepared by the chef. C. The chef was preparing a delicious meal. D. A delicious meal has been prepared.
Answer: B. Passive: Object + was/were + past participle + by + agent.
5. Fill in the correct tense: “By the time we arrived at the station, the train ______ already left.”
A. has B. have C. had D. was
Answer: C. Past perfect (had + past participle) is used for the earlier of two past actions.
6. Which sentence uses reported speech correctly?
Direct: Ama said, “I am going to the market.” Reported: ___
A. Ama said that she is going to the market. B. Ama said that she was going to the market. C. Ama said that she go to the market. D. Ama said I am going to the market.
Answer: B. In reported speech, present tense changes to past tense: “am going” → “was going.”
7. Which of these is a compound sentence?
A. Kofi ran to school. B. Although he was tired, he continued working. C. She passed the exam, and she celebrated with her family. D. The boy who sits next to me is very tall.
Answer: C. A compound sentence has two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so).
8. Choose the correct preposition: “He has been living in Accra ______ 2015.”
A. for B. since C. from D. during
Answer: B. “Since” is used with a specific point in time (2015). “For” is used with a duration (for 9 years).
9. Which of the following correctly identifies the error? “My brother and sister is coming to visit tomorrow.”
A. “brother” should be “brothers” B. “is” should be “are” C. “coming” should be “come” D. “tomorrow” should be “today”
Answer: B. “Brother and sister” is a plural subject joined by “and” and requires the plural verb “are.”
10. Identify the figure of speech: “The tree bowed its head in the wind.”
A. Simile B. Alliteration C. Personification D. Hyperbole
Answer: C. Personification gives human qualities (bowing its head) to a non-human thing (the tree).
Section B: Comprehension and Vocabulary (Questions 11 – 20)
Read the passage and answer Questions 11-15.
In many parts of Ghana, the rainy season brings both relief and anxiety. Farmers welcome the rains because their crops need water to grow, but flash floods can destroy homes and roads overnight. In northern Ghana in particular, where rainfall is less predictable, a single heavy downpour can wash away the results of months of hard work on a farm. Smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Ghana’s agricultural sector, often lack the insurance and financial support to recover from such losses. Despite these challenges, they continue to cultivate their land with extraordinary resilience and hope, planting again the very next season as though the previous disaster had been merely a test.
11. According to the passage, why do farmers welcome the rainy season?
A. Because rain cools down the weather B. Because their crops need water to grow C. Because it brings relief from drought D. Because it prevents bush fires
Answer: B. The passage states directly: “Farmers welcome the rains because their crops need water to grow.”
12. As used in the passage, what does “resilience” most closely mean?
A. Anger B. Wealth C. The ability to recover from difficulties D. Laziness
Answer: C. Resilience means the capacity to recover from setbacks; here it refers to farmers planting again after disaster.
13. What is the main problem facing smallholder farmers according to the passage?
A. They do not know how to farm properly B. They do not have enough workers C. They lack financial protection against losses from floods D. They grow the wrong types of crops
Answer: C. The passage states they lack “insurance and financial support to recover from such losses.”
14. What does the phrase “form the backbone of Ghana’s agricultural sector” mean?
A. Smallholder farmers have back problems from farming B. Smallholder farmers are the most important group in Ghana’s agriculture C. Smallholder farmers work in the central part of the country D. Smallholder farmers specialize in backbone fish farming
Answer: B. “Backbone” is a metaphor meaning the most essential or important part.
15. In TWO sentences, summarize the main challenge described in this passage.
Sample answer: Ghanaian smallholder farmers face the challenge of unpredictable and damaging rainfall that can destroy their crops and livelihoods. They lack adequate financial protection to recover from these losses, yet they continue farming with remarkable determination.
16. Choose the word closest in meaning to “apprehensive”:
A. Excited B. Confident C. Anxious D. Bored
Answer: C. Apprehensive means anxious or worried about a future event.
17. The opposite of “benevolent” is:
A. Kind B. Cruel C. Generous D. Wealthy
Answer: B. Benevolent means kind and generous; its antonym is cruel or malevolent.
18. Which of the following correctly uses an apostrophe?
A. The student’s books are on the desk. B. The students book’s are on the desk. C. The students books are’ on the desk. D. The student’s book’s are on the desk.
Answer: A. The apostrophe + s (‘s) correctly shows that the books belong to the student (possessive).
19. Choose the word that best completes the sentence: “The teacher gave a ______ explanation that even the slowest student could understand.”
A. Complicated B. Lengthy C. Lucid D. Technical
Answer: C. “Lucid” means clear and easy to understand, which matches the context.
20. Which of the following is an example of a simile?
A. The market is a sea of noise. B. The wind whispered through the trees. C. She ran as fast as a gazelle. D. The sun’s rays beat down mercilessly.
Answer: C. A simile uses “like” or “as” to compare. “As fast as a gazelle” uses “as.” Option A is a metaphor; B is personification.
Answer Key
1-B, 2-C, 3-C, 4-B, 5-C, 6-B, 7-C, 8-B, 9-B, 10-C, 11-B, 12-C, 13-C, 14-B, 15-open, 16-C, 17-B, 18-A, 19-C, 20-C
Scoring Guide
- 17 – 19 correct (excluding Q15): Excellent English language skills
- 13 – 16: Good. Review any question areas you missed
- 9 – 12: Fair. Focus on the grammar and vocabulary topics you found difficult
- Below 9: Re-read the English Language lesson notes and try again