BECE Past Questions & Answers – 2001 (RME)

SECTIONB
ESSAY

1. (a) Thestory ofcreationintheBible

In the beginning the world was shapeless, dark and empty, and then God began creation in the followingorder at His command
Day1 – God created lightand darkness
Day2 – He createdaseparation (the atmosphere/ sky) between the watersaboveand the waters below
Day3 – He created thewater bodies (seas, lakes, etc)and thedrylands. God also created vegetation(plant life) of allsorts.
Day4 – God created theheavenlybodies (the sun and other stars and the moon)
Day5 – God created allkinds ofsea, land andair creatures, and then Hecommanded them to reproduce and spread allover theearth.
Day6 – God created land animals.
Finally,God created humans. Man first and woman second. Thehumansare the onlycreatures that He created in His own imageand likeness. Heblessed them and gavethem dominion over allotherliving things that Hehadcreated.
Day7 – Rest day. God, havingcompleted the creation, rested on this dayand blessed it.

(b) Attributes ofGodthatcan belearnt fromthestory
(i) God is omnipotent– able to do allthings
(ii) God is sovereign– hedoes whatever Hepleases
(iii) God is omniscient– heknows allthings
(iv) God is orderly– hedoes everythinginan organized manner

2. (a) Ho
(i) wablution (wuzu) inIslamis performed
Start bymakingniyyah (intention) to perform wudu and cleansethe self of impurities.

(ii) Saybismillah. (In the name ofGod; TheMostGracious, the Most Merciful.)

(iii) Wash the right hand up to the wrist (and betweenthe fingers) threetimes, then similarly
forthe left hand.
(iv) Rinse the mouth and spitout thewaterthreetimesand rub the teeth with amiswak or
the finger.
(v) Completelyclean the nosewith waterthreetimes.

(vi) Wash the facethreetimes.
(vii) Wash the right arm up tothe elbowthreetimes; then the left arm threetimes. Pass fingers ofonehand between the fingers ofthe other hand.
(viii)Wipe the entirehead with wet hands.
(ix) Clean the inside and outside ofthe ears with wet right and left fingers,and again with wet rightand leftthumbs.
(x) Startingwith the right foot, wash both feet from the toes up to and includingtheankles thrice.
(xi) Recitethe shahadah.
(xii) Offer two-rak’atprayer.

(b) Importanceofablution(wuzu)

(i) It prepares the mind for prayer(salat)
(ii) It ensures purityof thebody– bythe washingwith water
(iii) It makes prayer (salat) valid
(iv) It helps thebloodcirculatorysystem to function properly–bythe massageofthe bodyin theprocess
(v) It helps with normal breathing– bythe cleaningof thenostrils
(vi) It helps with correct functioningof thecentral nervous system– through the stimulation ofthe blood flow bymassaging.
(vii) It helps to prevent skininfections – bythe washing awayofgerms from thebody
(viii) It helps to prevent earlyagingor theformation ofwrinkles– bymaintainingthe electrostatic balanceof thebodythrough the application ofwater.

3. (a) A taboo?

(b) Anythingor practicethatis sociallyunacceptableor forbidden

Thesignificanceoftaboos inyour community

(i) Theyhelp to ensuresafetyofthecommunity
(ii) Theyhelp to inculcateacceptablesocial habits in thesociety
(iii) Theyhelp to uphold lawand order
(iv) Theysupport thepreservation of the environment
(v) Theyhelp to maintain personal hygiene

4. (a) Moral values inyoursociety
(i) Truthfulness (ii) Diligence (iii) Loyalty
(iv) Obedience
(v) Forgiveness

(vi) Self-control
(vii) Patience
(viii) Generosity/ kindness

(b) Occasions onwhichonewouldshowthesevalues
(i) Truthfulness– When asked how much aschool item costs, in order to begiven moneyto buyit
(ii) Diligence – When givenan activityto perform, whether at home, school, church or anywhere
(iii) Loyalty – When onehas to decide whether ornotto follow aparticularcauseor person
(iv) Obedience – When askedto do somethingbyaleader (eg, mother/ father/senior, etc) (v) Forgiveness– When someonehas been offended byanother person
(vi) Self-control– When one facesatemptation to do wrongor commitasin
(vii) Patience – When somethingthat is expected/ desired to happen delays
(viii) Generosity/ kindness– When otherpeople / another person is in need of something that onehas

5. (a) Types ofpunishment

(i) Suspension
(ii) Caution / query/ warningletters
(iii) Fines
(iv) Dismissal
(v) Isolation / segregation (vi) Scolding/ rebuking (vii) Jailing/ imprisonment (viii) Corporal punishment
(ix) Extrawork (sweeping, mopping, scrubbing,etc) (x) Capital punishment

(b) Reasons why childrenarepunishedinyourschool

(i) Showingdisrespect to others
(ii) Beinglateto school
(iii) Deliberate truancy
(iv) Eatingin the classroom
(v) Refusingto do homework or not doingitproperly
(vi) Refusingto do school work/chores
(vii) Dressingindecently/ inappropriately
(viii) Disobeyinginstructions from teachers orprefects. (ix) Indiscriminate litteringof the environment
(x) Makingoneself and surroundings dirty
(xi) Fightingwith a student or teacherAbusingdrugs
(xii) Stealing
(xiii) Havingpre-marital sex
(xiv) Watchingpornography

(xv) Tellinglies
(xvi) Insultingothers
(xvii) Makingunnecessaryandexcessivenoise.

6. (a) Ways ofacquiring AIDS(AcquiredImmuneDeficiency Syndrome)

(i) Engaging incasual /premarital / extra-maritalsex – People who practicecasual / pre-marital /extra-marital sexfacethe highest riskof acquiringthe HIV/AIDSvirus, sincethe infection is mostlyspread through sexual contact.

(ii) Having casual sexwithout using a condom– People who engagein casual sexwith an infected person without usinga condom areinhigh danger ofacquiring AIDS. This is because AIDS is spread mainlythrough sexual intercourse.

(iii) Thesharing of unsterilizedcuttingor piercingobjects, such as syringes,needles and blades cancause thespread of theHIV.

(iv) TransmissionoftheAIDSvirusfrom a pregnant HIV-positivemother toher unborn child through the blood and otherbodyfluids

(b) Effects ofAIDSonthe community

 HumanResourceDepletion– Aids causes areduction in theworkforceinthe community
 SocialDiscrimination–Aids patient areusuallysubjected to severeprejudice and
discrimination, which tend to hamper their normalsocial activities
 BrokenHomes– Dueignoranceabout thedisease and its consequences, AIDS infection ofa familymembercan lead to isolation and evenseparation
 Lowerproductivity– Theincidenceof AIDS lowers theproductivityof theworking
class and thereforenegativelyaffects theeconomy
 FearandPanic – Peoplewithin the communitybecome moreand morefearful of also gettinginfected throughsome means and dying
 DamagedRelationships– People who used to haveagood relationship begin to draw
back dueto suspicion orshameor ridicule

7. (a) Responsibilities ofa childinthehome
(i) Sweeping rooms and thecompound (ii) Tidyingup rooms and the compound (iii) Fetchingwater
(iv) Cooking
(v) Layingthe table
(vi) Washingdishes, clothes,etc
(vii) Taking careofyounger children
(viii) Runningerrands forparents and oldersiblings
(ix) Weedingthecompound

(x) Clearing chokedgutters

Responsibilities ofa childintheschool
(xi) Doingone‟sschool chores
(xii) Supervisingone‟sjuniors to do their school chores
(xiii) Ensuringthat one‟ssurroundingis kept tidy
(xiv) Abidingbythe school rules and regulations
(xv) Reportingoffenders (thosewho break school rules) to the appropriate authorities
(xvi) Doingone‟sclass and home exercises properly
(xvii) Payingattention and participatingduringlessons
(xviii)Sending given information/ notices to parents /guardians

(b) Why it is necessary to performone’s responsibilities
(i) To maintain order and discipline
(ii) To show respect and honour forparents and school authorities
(iii) To promotethe development ofthe community
(iv) To facilitate higher productivity
(v) To promotehygiene andsanitation
(vi) To easethe burden ofwork onparentsand teachers
(vii) To maintain peace and harmony
(viii) To cultivatethe spirit/attitudeof serviceand leadership
(ix) To help with human development

8. Aims and functionsofany oneyouth organization

(i) To promotepeace, loveand harmonyamongpeople
(ii) To educate thememberson the foundation and historical background oftheir religion
(iii) To teach members theprinciples, values anddoctrines ofthe religion
(iv) To help members togrow spiritually
(v) To support theneedyandunderprivileged in society
(vi) To help with seculareducation (both formal and informal)ofpeople
(vii) To create theopportunityformembers to discoverand develop their talents and potentials
(viii) To give members theopportunityto socializein a healthyenvironment
(ix) To help memberto keeptheirphysical bodies fit and strong
(x) To create theopportunityformembers to learn vocational and other practical skills which could be ofcommercial value
(xi) To train members to become futureleaders
(xii) To give members the chanceto exploreotherplaces outside theirlocalities