BECE JHS English Language 2015 Past Questions

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

Question 4
```Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follow

In the Western world, the family is simply made up of the husband, wife and children. This is called the nuclear family. In Africa, the family includes relatives from both the maternal and paternal sides. This is known as the extended family.
This relationship binds every member whose origin can be traced to the same ancestor. This has developed into such complex groups as clans among the Akans and kinship relations in other parts of Ghana and Africa.
Wherever the extended family is practiced, its benefits seem greater than its disadvantages. In Ghana, at the small community level, it brings unity among people. They share everything among themselves – wealth or problems. The system even binds and caters for others who may be separated by social factors such as marriage.
However, it often makes people look up to others for help when they could solve problems themselves. It also makes some members become lazy. In the long run the only well-to-do person in the family is made to shoulder the responsibilities of more people than he can really cope with.
Now, the question to ask is, has the extended family system any chance of continuing when the nuclear family is now gaining so much ground? Whether the extended family will continue or die out will depend on how strong the nuclear family becomes.```

(a) What does the word ‘family’ mean to:
(i) the people in the Western world?
(ii) the African?

(b) What links people in the extended family system?

(c) Mention two advantages of the extended family system.

(d) Give two reasons why you would support the nuclear family system.

(e) Explain the following expressions in your own words.
(i) look up to
(ii) made to shoulder
(iii) gaining so much ground

(f) For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same, and can fit into the passage:
(i) binds;
(ii) origin;
(iii) caters for;
(iv) in the long run;
(v) cope with.
Theory