BECE English Lexis and Structure Strategies Without Studying: Practical Tips and Examples
Let’s be honest—facing an English lexis and structure question without preparation can feel overwhelming. You’re staring at the options, second-guessing yourself, and wishing you’d studied harder. But here’s the good news: You haven’t hit the books. You can still improve your chances of picking the right answers. Just follow a few practical strategies.
English Lexis and Structure Strategies for BECE
We will break down effective ways to tackle these questions. We will use common sense, logic, and a bit of intuition. And yes, we’ll include practical examples to show how these tricks work in action.
- Focus on Meaning
First things first, the meaning of the sentence is your best friend. The options given in lexis and structure questions are meant to fit into a specific context. Your task is to understand the sentence’s intention. Then, select the option that is the most sensible.
Example: She was so __ that everyone in the room turned to look at her.
Options:
A) loud
B) quiet
C) shy
D) strong
Here, understanding the sentence is key. The phrase “everyone in the room turned to look at her” suggests that she did something noticeable. “Quiet,” “shy,” and “strong” don’t align with this meaning, but “loud” does. Even without knowing the exact answer, by focusing on the context, you can safely pick “loud.”
- Process of Elimination: Rule Out the Odd Ones
Sometimes the best way to find the right answer is by first identifying the wrong ones. This is where the process of elimination comes in handy. By crossing out options that don’t fit the sentence or are grammatically incorrect, you’ll narrow down your choices and make a more educated guess.
Example: The boy ran __ fast that he won the race.
Options:
A) such
B) too
C) so
D) very
If you quickly glance at this, “such” might sound okay, but it doesn’t work with “fast.” Similarly, “too fast” implies something negative, like running too fast to control. So we eliminate “such” and “too.” This leaves us with “so” and “very,” but “so fast” fits the structure of this sentence better than “very fast.”
With just a little reasoning, you’ve knocked down the options and arrived at the correct one—“so.”
- Trust Your Ear: Does It Sound Right?
Sometimes, your instincts or familiarity with everyday English can help you make the right choice. If an option sounds awkward when you read it aloud, it’s probably wrong. This is what we call trusting your ear—leaning on your natural language sense even when you haven’t studied.
Example: She is the most __ person in the team.
Options:
A) hardworking
B) harder working
C) hardest working
D) work hard
When you read the sentence out loud with each option, only one really flows smoothly: “hardworking.” Options like “harder working” or “work hard” just sound clumsy. Even if you’re unsure about the grammar, your ear can help you spot what sounds right.
- Use Context Clues
Context clues are hints in the sentence that help you infer the meaning of an unfamiliar word or structure. The words around the blank space or the tone of the sentence can guide you to the correct answer.
Example: The scientist presented a __ argument that was hard to challenge.
Options:
A) compelling
B) weak
C) imaginary
D) incomplete
In this case, the phrase “hard to challenge” gives you a clue. The sentence suggests that the argument is strong, so “weak,” “imaginary,” and “incomplete” don’t fit. The right answer is “compelling,” even if you’ve never seen that word before, because the context points toward something powerful and persuasive.
- Tense and Agreement: Match Verbs with the Subject and Time
Another quick win is ensuring that the verb in the sentence matches the subject and tense. Check for consistency in singular/plural forms and the proper use of past, present, or future tense. This often eliminates a couple of options right off the bat.
Example: The manager __ to the meeting yesterday.
Options:
A) goes
B) will go
C) went
D) go
The word “yesterday” clearly tells you the sentence is in the past, so you can immediately cross out “goes,” “will go,” and “go.” The only answer that fits is “went.” Even without deep knowledge of grammar, noticing the time word “yesterday” guides you to the right answer.
- Avoid Extremes
In multiple-choice questions, answers that seem extreme—using words like “always,” “never,” or “everyone”—are often wrong. These words make bold, sweeping statements that don’t usually fit subtle contexts, so be cautious when picking them.
Example: The teacher said that __ students enjoy learning in groups.
Options:
A) never
B) always
C) some
D) all
“Never” and “always” are extremes and less likely to be correct in most sentences. While “some” and “all” are more moderate, “some” fits better here because it suggests flexibility, which is more realistic.
- Common Collocations: Words That Go Together
Collocations are words that naturally pair up in the English language, like “make a decision” or “give advice.” If an option includes a word that you often see paired with another, it’s likely the correct choice.
Example: She took __ of the situation.
Options:
A) responsibility
B) care
C) charge
D) control
Here, both “charge” and “control” are commonly used with the verb “take,” but “take charge” is the more familiar phrase. Knowing common word pairings can lead you to the right answer quickly, even if you aren’t sure about the other options.
Conclusion: Your Guide to Strategic Guessing
No one likes walking into a test without preparation, but it happens. When it does, these strategies can be your lifesavers. Remember to:
Focus on the meaning of the sentence.
Eliminate answers that are clearly wrong.
Trust your natural language sense and look for what sounds right.
Use context clues to unlock tricky words or structures.
Ensure verbs match the subject and tense.
Be cautious with extreme options.
Watch for common word pairings that fit together naturally.
With these BECE English Lexis and Structure Strategies, you’ll be able to make more good guesses, boost your confidence, and maybe even surprise yourself with how much you already know
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