BECE English Language 2016 Paper 1 Past Questions

Practice each question, then open it to see the full details.

Question 1
Read the passages below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A-E (Nos. 1-10).
Passage 1
Saliva is a known fluid produced from human mouth. It keeps the body from various diseases. Saliva is produced by three major glands: the parotid gland, the sub-lingual and the sub-mandibular gland.
Saliva keeps our mouth moist and comfortable. it helps us to chew, taste and swallow. It contains polin, which is a protein that protects tooth enamel. It also contains minerals that helps tooth remineralization process. The production of saliva in the mouth can also help to clean dirt in-between our teeth. It also contains anti-bacterial substances that can prevent bacteria in our mouth. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial compounds.
Wounds on the inner cheeks and gums heal faster than wounds on the outer body because of the presence of protein in the saliva that helps form new blood vessels. It is also the reason why animals lick their wounds.
The content of detergent in toothpaste can damage the quality of saliva and make the mouth dry as well as the damage of taste that is why the flavour of food turns out to be bitter and bland and shortly after brushing our teeth with a toothpaste that contains detergent.
We should therefore avoid brushing our teeth immediately after meal.
Adapted from sporting sun.Which of these is not a function of saliva in human body?
  • A.It keep the mouth moist.
  • B.It makes us sleep well.
  • C.Saliva helps us to chew our food.
  • D.Saliva prevents diseases.
Objective
Question 2
Read the passages below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A-E (Nos. 1-10).
Passage 1
Saliva is a known fluid produced from human mouth. It keeps the body from various diseases. Saliva is produced by three major glands: the parotid gland, the sub-lingual and the sub-mandibular gland.
Saliva keeps our mouth moist and comfortable. it helps us to chew, taste and swallow. It contains polin, which is a protein that protects tooth enamel. It also contains minerals that helps tooth remineralization process. The production of saliva in the mouth can also help to clean dirt in-between our teeth. It also contains anti-bacterial substances that can prevent bacteria in our mouth. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial compounds.
Wounds on the inner cheeks and gums heal faster than wounds on the outer body because of the presence of protein in the saliva that helps form new blood vessels. It is also the reason why animals lick their wounds.
The content of detergent in toothpaste can damage the quality of saliva and make the mouth dry as well as the damage of taste that is why the flavour of food turns out to be bitter and bland and shortly after brushing our teeth with a toothpaste that contains detergent.
We should therefore avoid brushing our teeth immediately after meal.
Adapted from sporting sun.According to the passage, wounds on the inner cheeks and gums heal faster than those on the outer body because:
  • A.contains antibodies.
  • B.It protects the tooth enamel.
  • C.contains minerals.
  • D.contains proteins that help to form new blood vessels.
  • E.helps to clean dirt in-between our teeth.prevents bacteria.
Objective
Question 3
Read the passages below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A-E (Nos. 1-10).
Passage 1
Saliva is a known fluid produced from human mouth. It keeps the body from various diseases. Saliva is produced by three major glands: the parotid gland, the sub-lingual and the sub-mandibular gland.
Saliva keeps our mouth moist and comfortable. it helps us to chew, taste and swallow. It contains polin, which is a protein that protects tooth enamel. It also contains minerals that helps tooth remineralization process. The production of saliva in the mouth can also help to clean dirt in-between our teeth. It also contains anti-bacterial substances that can prevent bacteria in our mouth. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial compounds.
Wounds on the inner cheeks and gums heal faster than wounds on the outer body because of the presence of protein in the saliva that helps form new blood vessels. It is also the reason why animals lick their wounds.
The content of detergent in toothpaste can damage the quality of saliva and make the mouth dry as well as the damage of taste that is why the flavour of food turns out to be bitter and bland and shortly after brushing our teeth with a toothpaste that contains detergent.
We should therefore avoid brushing our teeth immediately after meal.
Adapted from sporting sun.Brushing our teeth with a toothpaste that contains detergent can
  • A.damage our blood vessels.
  • B.heal our wounds faster.
  • C.injure our gums.
  • D.make us lose sense of taste.
  • E.prevent mouth odour.
Objective
Question 4
Read the passages below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A-E (Nos. 1-10).
Passage 1
Saliva is a known fluid produced from human mouth. It keeps the body from various diseases. Saliva is produced by three major glands: the parotid gland, the sub-lingual and the sub-mandibular gland.
Saliva keeps our mouth moist and comfortable. it helps us to chew, taste and swallow. It contains polin, which is a protein that protects tooth enamel. It also contains minerals that helps tooth remineralization process. The production of saliva in the mouth can also help to clean dirt in-between our teeth. It also contains anti-bacterial substances that can prevent bacteria in our mouth. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial compounds.
Wounds on the inner cheeks and gums heal faster than wounds on the outer body because of the presence of protein in the saliva that helps form new blood vessels. It is also the reason why animals lick their wounds.
The content of detergent in toothpaste can damage the quality of saliva and make the mouth dry as well as the damage of taste that is why the flavour of food turns out to be bitter and bland and shortly after brushing our teeth with a toothpaste that contains detergent.
We should therefore avoid brushing our teeth immediately after meal.
Adapted from sporting sun.The most suitable title for this passage could be
  • A.The danger of brushing our teeth.
  • B.The effect of detergent in toothpaste.
  • C.The production of saliva in the mouth.
  • D.The relevance of saliva
  • E.Why animals lick their wounds.
Objective
Question 5
Read the passages below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A-E (Nos. 1-10).
Passage 1
Saliva is a known fluid produced from human mouth. It keeps the body from various diseases. Saliva is produced by three major glands: the parotid gland, the sub-lingual and the sub-mandibular gland.
Saliva keeps our mouth moist and comfortable. it helps us to chew, taste and swallow. It contains polin, which is a protein that protects tooth enamel. It also contains minerals that helps tooth remineralization process. The production of saliva in the mouth can also help to clean dirt in-between our teeth. It also contains anti-bacterial substances that can prevent bacteria in our mouth. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial compounds.
Wounds on the inner cheeks and gums heal faster than wounds on the outer body because of the presence of protein in the saliva that helps form new blood vessels. It is also the reason why animals lick their wounds.
The content of detergent in toothpaste can damage the quality of saliva and make the mouth dry as well as the damage of taste that is why the flavour of food turns out to be bitter and bland and shortly after brushing our teeth with a toothpaste that contains detergent.
We should therefore avoid brushing our teeth immediately after meal.
Adapted from sporting sun.Which of these can replace 'fluid' as used in the first paragraph?
  • A.Chemical
  • B.Element
  • C.Gas
  • D.Liquid
  • E.Organ
Objective
Question 6
A right female whale can be as long as 16 meters long, about the size of an articulated bus, and weighs up to 80 tons! It's massive body is generally black, sometimes with white patches on the belly. The head is enormous, a quarter of the entire body length. The mouth is long and arched. The right female has no dorsal fin as do other species. To swim forward, it flexes its broad and deeply notched tail up and down, instead of side to side as fish do. To change direction, it moves its flippers similar to the way an air-plane is steered.
Curiously, despite their immense proportions, right whales have considerable flexibility, performing some amazing acrobatics. You can see them sailing, the tail sticking out of water for long periods; lobtailing, raising the tail and slapping the water hard and breaching, thrusting themselves out of water and then falling back with a great splash that can be seen from far away.
Adopted from AwakeThe right whale changes direction using its
  • A.belly
  • B.dorsal fins
  • C.flippers
  • D.mouth
  • E.tail
Objective
Question 7
A right female whale can be as long as 16 meters long, about the size of an articulated bus, and weighs up to 80 tons! It's massive body is generally black, sometimes with white patches on the belly. The head is enormous, a quarter of the entire body length. The mouth is long and arched. The right female has no dorsal fin as do other species. To swim forward, it flexes its broad and deeply notched tail up and down, instead of side to side as fish do. To change direction, it moves its flippers similar to the way an air-plane is steered.
Curiously, despite their immense proportions, right whales have considerable flexibility, performing some amazing acrobatics. You can see them sailing, the tail sticking out of water for long periods; lobtailing, raising the tail and slapping the water hard and breaching, thrusting themselves out of water and then falling back with a great splash that can be seen from far away.
Adopted from AwakeWhich of the following is not true about a right female whale?
  • A.it has a long and arched mouth.
  • B.it has considerable flexibility for performing acrobatics.
  • C.it has dorsal fin.
  • D.it is generally black.
  • E.it weigh up to 80 tons.
Objective
Question 8
A right female whale can be as long as 16 meters long, about the size of an articulated bus, and weighs up to 80 tons! It's massive body is generally black, sometimes with white patches on the belly. The head is enormous, a quarter of the entire body length. The mouth is long and arched. The right female has no dorsal fin as do other species. To swim forward, it flexes its broad and deeply notched tail up and down, instead of side to side as fish do. To change direction, it moves its flippers similar to the way an air-plane is steered.
Curiously, despite their immense proportions, right whales have considerable flexibility, performing some amazing acrobatics. You can see them sailing, the tail sticking out of water for long periods; lobtailing, raising the tail and slapping the water hard and breaching, thrusting themselves out of water and then falling back with a great splash that can be seen from far away.
Adopted from AwakeGive another word for 'enormous' as used in the passage
  • A.common
  • B.flat
  • C.large
  • D.small
  • E.unusual
Objective
Question 9
A right female whale can be as long as 16 meters long, about the size of an articulated bus, and weighs up to 80 tons! It's massive body is generally black, sometimes with white patches on the belly. The head is enormous, a quarter of the entire body length. The mouth is long and arched. The right female has no dorsal fin as do other species. To swim forward, it flexes its broad and deeply notched tail up and down, instead of side to side as fish do. To change direction, it moves its flippers similar to the way an air-plane is steered.
Curiously, despite their immense proportions, right whales have considerable flexibility, performing some amazing acrobatics. You can see them sailing, the tail sticking out of water for long periods; lobtailing, raising the tail and slapping the water hard and breaching, thrusting themselves out of water and then falling back with a great splash that can be seen from far away.
Adopted from AwakeThe right whale uses its ______ to swim.
  • A.body length
  • B.dorsal fin
  • C.flippers
  • D.mouth
  • E.tail
Objective
Question 10
A right female whale can be as long as 16 meters long, about the size of an articulated bus, and weighs up to 80 tons! It's massive body is generally black, sometimes with white patches on the belly. The head is enormous, a quarter of the entire body length. The mouth is long and arched. The right female has no dorsal fin as do other species. To swim forward, it flexes its broad and deeply notched tail up and down, instead of side to side as fish do. To change direction, it moves its flippers similar to the way an air-plane is steered.
Curiously, despite their immense proportions, right whales have considerable flexibility, performing some amazing acrobatics. You can see them sailing, the tail sticking out of water for long periods; lobtailing, raising the tail and slapping the water hard and breaching, thrusting themselves out of water and then falling back with a great splash that can be seen from far away.
Adopted from AwakeWhich figure of speech is used in the expression 'Aright female whale can be as long as ...'?
  • A.Alliteration
  • B.Hyperbole
  • C.Metaphor
  • D.Personification
  • E.Simile
Objective
Question 26
In the passage below, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are offered in columns lettered A-E. Fill each numbered gap with the most appropriate of the options (Nos. 26-35)

Nigeria was a -26- of Great -- of England was the -- of the Nigerian state. We had a Governor-General who -- the Queen. There was a -- who was the head of the government but the Governor-General must approve all the -- made by the government. -- was the seat of the government. The -- was in Lagos. But all that has changed. Nigeria is now an -- state.
  • A.colony
  • B.district
  • C.kingdom
  • D.particles
  • E.region
Objective
Question 27
In the passage below, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are offered in columns lettered A-E. Fill each numbered gap with the most appropriate of the options (Nos. 26-35)

Nigeria was a -- of Great -27- of England was the -- of the Nigerian state. We had a Governor-General who -- the Queen. There was a -- who was the head of the government but the Governor-General must approve all the -- made by the government. -- was the seat of the government. The -- was in Lagos. But all that has changed. Nigeria is now an -- state.
  • A.America
  • B.Australia
  • C.Britain
  • D.China
  • E.Japan
Objective
Question 28
In the passage below, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are offered in columns lettered A-E. Fill each numbered gap with the most appropriate of the options (Nos. 26-35)

Nigeria was a -- of Great -- of England was the -- of the Nigerian state. We had a Governor-General who -- the Queen. There was a -- who was the head of the government but the Governor-General must approve all the -- made by the government. -- was the seat of the government. The -- was in Lagos. But all that has changed. Nigeria is now an -- state.
  • A.Chancellor
  • B.Emperor
  • C.King
  • D.Mayor
  • E.Queen
Objective
Question 29
In the passage below, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are offered in columns lettered A-E. Fill each numbered gap with the most appropriate of the options (Nos. 26-35)

Nigeria was a -- of Great -- of England was the -29- of the Nigerian state. We had a Governor-General who -- the Queen. There was a -- who was the head of the government but the Governor-General must approve all the -- made by the government. -- was the seat of the government. The -- was in Lagos. But all that has changed. Nigeria is now an -- state.
  • A.Administrator
  • B.Governor
  • C.Head
  • D.Minister
  • E.President
Objective
Question 30
In the passage below, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are offered in columns lettered A-E. Fill each numbered gap with the most appropriate of the options (Nos. 26-35)

Nigeria was a -- of Great -- of England was the -- of the Nigerian state. We had a Governor-General who -30- the Queen. There was a -- who was the head of the government but the Governor-General must approve all the -- made by the government. -- was the seat of the government. The -- was in Lagos. But all that has changed. Nigeria is now an -- state.
  • A.controlled
  • B.enthroned
  • C.informed
  • D.represented
  • E.resembled
Objective
Question 31
In the passage below, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are offered in columns lettered A-E. Fill each numbered gap with the most appropriate of the options (Nos. 26-35)

Nigeria was a -- of Great -- of England was the -- of the Nigerian state. We had a Governor-General who -- the Queen. There was a -31- who was the head of the government but the Governor-General must approve all the -- made by the government. -- was the seat of the government. The -- was in Lagos. But all that has changed. Nigeria is now an -- state.
  • A.consul generally
  • B.director generally
  • C.main minister
  • D.president
  • E.prime minister
Objective
Question 32
In the passage below, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are offered in columns lettered A-E. Fill each numbered gap with the most appropriate of the options (Nos. 26-35)

Nigeria was a -- of Great -- of England was the -- of the Nigerian state. We had a Governor-General who -30- the Queen. There was a -- who was the head of the government but the Governor-General must approve all the -32- made by the government. -- was the seat of the government. The -- was in Lagos. But all that has changed. Nigeria is now an -- state.
  • A.commandments
  • B.constitution
  • C.laws
  • D.orders
  • E.statements
Objective
Question 33
In the passage below, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are offered in columns lettered A-E. Fill each numbered gap with the most appropriate of the options (Nos. 26-35)

Nigeria was a -- of Great -- of England was the -- of the Nigerian state. We had a Governor-General who -- the Queen. There was a -- who was the head of the government but the Governor-General must approve all the -- made by the government. -33- was the seat of the government. The -- was in Lagos. But all that has changed. Nigeria is now an -- state.
  • A.Abuja
  • B.Benin-city
  • C.Calabar
  • D.Kano
  • E.Lagos
Objective
Question 34
In the passage below, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are offered in columns lettered A-E. Fill each numbered gap with the most appropriate of the options (Nos. 26-35)

Nigeria was a -- of Great -- of England was the -- of the Nigerian state. We had a Governor-General who -- the Queen. There was a -- who was the head of the government but the Governor-General must approve all the -- made by the government. -- was the seat of the government. The -34- was in Lagos. But all that has changed. Nigeria is now an -- state.
  • A.Assembly
  • B.Chamber
  • C.Court
  • D.Parliament
  • E.Port
Objective
Question 35
In the passage below, the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the passage, five options are offered in columns lettered A-E. Fill each numbered gap with the most appropriate of the options (Nos. 26-35)

Nigeria was a -- of Great -- of England was the -- of the Nigerian state. We had a Governor-General who -- the Queen. There was a -- who was the head of the government but the Governor-General must approve all the -- made by the government. -- was the seat of the government. The -- was in Lagos. But all that has changed. Nigeria is now an -35- state.
  • A.empowered
  • B.independent
  • C.island
  • D.isolated
  • E.organised
Objective