Bece Past Questions & Answers-2015 (Social Studies)

JUNE 2015
SOCIAL STUDIES 2
ESSAY
SOLUTIONS

NOTE: Sample essays are not provided because some students tend to memorize them instead of using them as a guide, thereby promoting monotony in their essays and hence, negatively affecting their creativity.

SECTION I
THE ENVIRONMENT

1. (a) Four bad effects of deforestation

SUGGESTED POINTS FOR YOUR ESSAY
(i) loss of habitat for several species of plants and animals
(ii) low / reduced humidity
(iii) desertification
(iv) increased rate and severity of global warming
(v) loss of raw materials for craft industry
(vi) loss of protection for some rivers
(vii) loss of resource for lumbering industry
(viii) Unemployment for those who depend on the forest for their livelihood.

(b) Four ways by which deforestation can be minimized in Ghana.

SUGGESTED POINTS FOR YOUR ESSAY
(i) Planting more trees to replace ones that have been cut down / felled – (Reforestation)
(ii) Ensuring that only trees of a certain minimum size can be felled – (Controlled felling)
(iii) Empowering government agencies that are responsible for forests preservation to work more efficiently (eg, the Environmental Protection Agency and The Forestry Commission)
(iv) Making and enforcing laws that seek to preserve the forests (Legislation)
(v) Planting trees to create a forest – (Afforestation)
(vi) Alternative sources of energy must be sought to replace harvesting wood for domestic fuel
(vii) Prosecuting / penalizing offenders who flout the forest preservation laws / by-laws / ethics to serve as a deterrent to others.
(viii) Creating forest reserves – forests that are kept from human exploitation
(ix) Preventing overgrazing by cattle and other animals
(x) Preventing bushfires by public education and other measures
(xi) Planting trees on farms for various reasons – (Agroforestry)

2. Five ways of fostering national unity in Ghana.

SUGGESTED POINTS FOR YOUR ESSAY
(i) Patriotism
(ii) Abiding by the provisions of the national constitution
(iii) Balanced national development
(iv) Tolerance of divergent views
(v) Regard for cultural diversity
(vi) Encouraging domestic tourism
(vii) ensuring the rule of law (good governance)
(viii) ensuring free, fair and transparent national elections
(ix) being development conscious as a nation
(x) Setting aside a day or festival to celebrate national unity

SECTION II
GOVERNANCE, POLITICS AND STABILITY

3. (a) Four reasons for the migration of different ethnic groups in Ghana.

SUGGESTED ANSWERS
(i) The search for peace and security
(ii) To escape from oppression
(iii) To escape from natural disasters and endemic diseases.
(iv) The search for fertile agricultural lands with enough water
(v) To exploit the abundant mineral resources in Ghana

(b) Four ways of sustaining peace and unity among the different ethnic groups in Ghana
SUGGESTED POINTS FOR YOUR ESSAY
(i) inter-ethnic marriages
(ii) respecting /appreciating the cultural practices of other people
(iii) Promoting multi-ethnic makeup of schools and other training institutions
(iv) Participating in the cultural events of other ethnic groups
(v) Domestic tourism

4. (a) Four contributions of Ghana to the United Nations Organization.

SUGGESTED POINTS FOR YOUR ESSAY
(i) Donation of relief items
(ii) Payment of dues
(iii) Settlement of refugees
(iv) Provision of troops for peace-keeping operations – for global peace and stability
(v) Provision of training support to member states
(vi) Participation in the global fight against diseases, hunger, etc.
(vii) Inputs made in formulation of working documents
(viii) Human resource for the organization and its specialized agencies

(b) Four benefits Ghana enjoys from the United Nations Organization.

SUGGESTED POINTS FOR YOUR ESSAY
(i) Loans and grants from the IMF and the World Bank to support development projects
(ii) Health delivery services provided by the WHO
(iii) International recognition as a result of our membership of the UNO
(iv) Rural developmental projects by the UNDP
(v) Supporting the provision of proper health care, education and food to children in Ghana by UNICEF
(vi) Food and Agricultural developmental programmes by the FAO
(vii) Employment of Ghanaians at the UNO and its specialised agencies.
(viii) Support for Ghana’s democracy, including budgetary support and supply of international observers during general elections

SECTION III
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

5. (a) Four minerals mined in Ghana and where they are mined.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS
MINERAL TOWN
Gold Obuasi / Prestea / Tarkwa/Bibiani / Iduapriem / Bogoso /Wassa
Diamond Akwatia
Manganese Nsuta
Bauxite (for Aluminium) Awaso
Salt Daboya / Ada / Weija
Crude oil Offshore Western Region

(b) Four ways in which minerals are important to the economy of Ghana.

SUGGESTED POINTS FOR YOUR ESSAY
(i) Means of employment for people
(ii) Source of foreign exchange
(iii) Development of infrastructure within the mining communities
(iv) Making of ornaments, equipment, devices, etc
(v) Revenue generation to the government through payment of taxes and royalties
(vi) Provides seed capital for major projects
(vii) Provides the basis for the setting up of other subsidiary factories

6. (a) (i) Primary production definition
SUGGESTED ANSWERS

The production of raw / unprocessed materials for industry or consumption

(ii) Two examples of primary production
SUGGESTED ANSWERS
1.Crop production, eg, production of cocoa, oil palm, millet, etc
2.Minerals mining, eg, mining of gold, bauxite, diamond, etc
3.Timber felling
4.Fishing

(b) Four ways by which productivity can be increased in the primary sector.

SUGGESTED POINTS FOR YOUR ESSAY
(i) the application of modern technology
(ii) good record-keeping
(iii) Employing the services of skilled labour
(iv) Acquiring education on more efficient techniques
(v) participating in effective cooperative groups/associations