SOCIAL STUDIES: BECE PAST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
PREPARED BY THE SIERRA LEONE TEACHING SERVICE COMMISSION (TSC).
POPULARIZED BY EDUCATIONIST ABASS MOHAMED SESAY.
1. List the main Stages of Man's Development in the correct order (Bece2020)
ï¶ Pro- Consul
ï¶ Homo- habilis
ï¶ Homo- erectus
ï¶ Homo- Sapiens
ï¶ Homo-Sapiens Sapiens.
2. State two Important developments which took place in the Neolithic Period.(2019).
ï¶ Man made attempts at writing (e.g. kept farm records)
ï¶ He domesticated animals
ï¶ He built Settlement of clay
ï¶ He started to grow crops
ï¶ Population increase from 5-10 million
ï¶ He invented the plough
ï¶ He invented the loom for weaving
ï¶ He made basket from straw
ï¶ He made utensils of clay
ï¶ He made elaborate arts and crafts
ï¶ He made finely polished tools.
3. Give four uses of Copper (2019).
ï¶ Used to make electric wires.
ï¶ Used to make coins
ï¶ Used to make weapons ( daggers, arrow heads etc)
ï¶ Used to make ornaments ( chains, bracelets, earrings)
ï¶ Used to make cooking utensils ( pots spoons, knives)
ï¶ Used to make tools like axe heads, chisels
ï¶ Used to make equipment like fishing harpoons,
ï¶ Used to make Statues. etc
4. State four Importance of Population Census. (2019).
-Helps the government to know the number of people living in the country
- Helps the country to forecast her future economic needs
- Helps to determine the rate of unemployment
- Helps in the distribution of the country's resources
- Helps in the formulation of Economic policies
- Helps to know the amount of revenue expected from taxes etc.
5. Define the following terms :( 2019)
I. Birth Rate: It is the number of births per thousand of the Population in a year.
ii. Death Rate: It is the number of deaths per thousand of the Population in a year.
iii. Population Census: It is the head count of the People in a Country or region at a particular
time.
Or it is the Survey which counts the number of people in the entire country on a specific date.
6. List three features of the period of Harmattan in Sierra Leone (2020).
ï· It is cool
ï· It is dry
ï· It is dusty/ dust haze
ï· Humidity is low.
7. State the use of the following weather instruments: (2020)
ï·Thermometer: used to measure atmospheric temperature
ï· Rain gauge: Used to measure the amount of rainfall
ï· Wind vane: used to find wind direction
ï· Barometer: used to measure atmospheric pressure.
8. Give four Importance of Forest areas. (2020).
ï· Source of timber
ï· Source of medical herbs
ï· Habitat/ home for some animals
ï· Source of food
ï· Source of income
ï· Source of Raw material
ï· Source of fuel ( firewood).
ï· Helps to the balance of gases in the atmosphere
ï· Control of soil erosion
ï· Provide jobs
ï· Tourist attractions/ source of revenue for government.
9. Give four advantages of Migration (2020).
ï· Reduce labour shortage
ï· Development of a richer and more diverse culture
ï· Provides cheap labour
ï· Reduce Population in source area
ï· Reduce pressure on certain Resources ( agricultural land etc)
ï· Creates wide range of market
ï· Reduce pressure on Social amenities in source area.
10. List four important religious feasts celebrated in Sierra Leone (2020).
ï· Christmas
ï· Easter
ï· Eid-ul-fitrri
ï· Eid-ul-Adha
ï· Mal-ud- Nabi.
11. List four promises of Buddhism (2020)
ï· Abstain from stealing
ï· Thou shall not kill any living being
ï· Abstain from any sexual misconduct
ï· Abstain from lying
ï· Abstain from drunkenness/ intoxication.
12. Define any three of the following terms; a, Monogamy b. Customary marriage c. Culture
trait, d. Patrilocal. E. Neo=local.2016.
ANS. a, Monogamy= this is marriage of one man to one woman at a time. It a culture trait of
western culture which includes the culture of most Europeans and North Americans, where
Christianity is the practiced religion.
B.Customary marriage: this is a marriage between husband and wife and it is not bounded
by law but by custom.
C. Culture trait: It is a basic social element within a culture
It can also be described as the characteristics appearance or behavior of people
It is referred to as the various ways through which culture is expressed
Or culture consists of many elements and the smallest element is trait. E.g. dress.
13 .State two processes of socialization in each of the following institutions a the school, b.
the family.2015.
ANS, a. the Family: the socialization process of the child first start at home or within the
family
at an early age. The processes of socialization in the family are:
- The child learn that he/she is an individual and should recognized other members of the
family
- The child learns to be disciplined and hard working
- The child learns the culture of the society
- The family teaches the child how to respect elders
The child also learnt how a REFUGEE
- assume responsibilities at an early age
- It is at home that the basic personality, attitudes, values and moral ideas are laid down
at early age
The school= the school prepares the child to become a fitted member in the society.
This is achieved by the application of rule s and regulation of the school
The children are to be neat, cheerful, polite, and punctual, law abiding have respect for
authority as they are guided with rule and regulation governing the school
The rule and regulations controls the behaviors of the children to instill values
Children gradually develop team spirit, co operation and sound judgment when engaged
in competitions etc.
14. Define the following terms= a .Net migration b. Immigration. C. Emigration, d.
Urbanization. Seasonal migration.
a) Net migration is the difference between immigrants and emigrant
b) Immigration: A person who arrives to settle in a country not of their own or someone
who moves from a country to another to settle
c) Emigrant: person who leaves his own country to settle to another or someone who
moves out his country in to another country to settle
d).Urbanization growth of town or Cities in human numbers
e) .Seasonal migration a type of migration where in season determine movements.
15. Define the term Transportation {2013}
ANS transportation is the movement of people goods and services from one place to another
and sometimes over a long distance
16. State three advantages of Air Transportation.
Advantages of Air Transportation
- Fastest means of transportation
- Suitable for perishable goods
- Provide employment
- Promote trade
- It crosses mountains dense forest and large ocean with the greatest easy and speed
therefore very comfortable.
17a. Define the term Communication ( 2010)
. b.. State three importance of Communication.
ANS:
Communication is the Transmission of information, exchange thought, ideas and
feelings between individuals or group of individuals?
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION:
ï¶Communication is the basic Human activity.
ï¶Communication promotes businesses through advertisement.
ï¶ It promotes Education through taking of lessons on Radio or Television.
ï¶ General information is given through communication.
ï¶Entertainment is also given through communication.
18a.. Name four Physical Environment in Sierra Leone (2016)
Ans. Freetown Peninsular
Coastal Plane
Interior Lowlands
Interior Plateau
18b. Name the four vegetations in Sierra Leone.
Ans. Coastal Swamp
Boli and Batii Flat Lands
Farm Bush
Grass Lands
19. Name the various groups that make up the Krio society of Sierra Leone, indicate where
each came from:
Ans: Blackpoor - England
Maroon - Jamaica
Nova Scotia -Canada
Recaptives- Angola, Congo, Nigeria etc
20.. Write brief notes on any two of the following:
i. Themne
ii. Fullah
Themne â One of the earliest tribe to enter Sierra Leone and the second largest group
- Migrated from Futa Jallon, Guinea
- They were driven by the Susu and other Mande speaking people in the sixteen
Century.
- They moved Southward and settled on the coast in the Scarcies Vally, where they
formed a commercial empire.
- They are divided into two major groups, Sanda Themne and Yoni Themne.
Fullah - Settled in Futa Jallon in Guinea.
-Migrated to Sierra Leone in search of fresh pasture from their cattle
-They herdsmen.
-They brought the Islamic religion though the Quranic Schools in Sierra Leone.
21a.. What is population census? (2012)
Ans: Population Census: Is defined as the counting of people at a particular time. Census is
usually taken every ten years.
21b.Sate three institutions responsible for the collection of population data
Ans: Institutions responsible for the collection of population data:
- The Registry
- Statistics Sierra Leone.
- National Electoral Commission,
- Immigration Department,
- Office of Registrar of births and deaths. Etc.
22a. What is an Ecosystem?
Ans: An ecosystem is a unit in which air, water and solar energy interact among themselves
together with the living things and non-living organisms in the earth environment.
22b. State four ways in which man has interfered with the Ecosystem. (2014)
Ans: Farming, pollution, population growth, urbanization, mining, dam construction, war etc
23a.What does the following stands for? (2011)
UNIDO
UNFPA
ILO
ECOWAS
WHO
UNHCR
UNIDO= United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNFPA= United Nation Fund for Population Activities.
ILO= International Labour Organization
WHO= World Health Organization
UNHCR=United Nation High Commission for Refugee.
23b. List any four organs of the UN
i. General Assembly
ii. Security Council
iii. The Secretariat
iv. The Economical Social Council
v. The International Court of Justice etc
24a. when was the Red Cross Society established?
Red Cross was established on the 26th October, 1863
24b. who was the founder of the Red Cross and what is his nationality?
Founder was Jean Henri Dunant and he was a Swiss-man
24c. List four principles of Red Cross
The principles of Red Cross are
i. Humanity
ii. Impartiality
iii. Neutrality
iv. Independence
v. Voluntary Service etc
25a. what are human rights?
Human Rights are rights to which all people in the World are entitled. They are
founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each individual regardless of race,
gender, language, religion, opinions, wealth or ability.
25b. List down five human rights.
Some of our basic human Rights are:
-Right to Life
Right to freedom, movement, association, and assembly
Right to education
Equality before the law
Right to food
25c. Name four human right organizations
Some Human RIGHT Organizations and their functions:
- Amnesty International (AI)
Human Right Watch (HRW)
Prison Watch
-World Organization against Torture
- No Peace without Justice and National Forum for Human Right.
26a.What is the meaning of AIDS?
Ans: AIDS means Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome.
26b.. State four modes of transmission of AIDS.
Ans: Through unprotected sexual intercourse
Using infected blood through blood transfusion
Sharing instruments used by infected persons e.g. syringes, razors etc
26c.Suggest three measures can be used to control the spread of AIDS
i. Sex education
ii. Use of condoms
iii. Campaign Against certain cultural practices
iv. Mass Media campaign etc.
27. Write Short notes on any two of the following ethnic groups- Mende, Krio and Fula under
the heading:
a) Dress, music and dance
b) Arts and crafts
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