BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM LM JULY 2008

BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM LM JULY 2008

Souad was afraid not to finish her education. The schools were located dozens of kilometres away from her home, and she had no way to get there each day. ln addition, her family couldn't afford to pay for her schooling.

When Souad learned about a boarding school where students live and study, she jumped at the chance to continue learning. The boarding school in Tighassaline, a small village in the Middle Atlas, was supported by an aid organisation and run by a local group, the Rural Girls Scholarship Committee. The committee runs a dormitory for gifted middle school girls who cannot afford to continue studying. It provides scholarships for boarding, lodging, and financial support to cover books and fees. When Souad applied, she was accepted. She was able not only to complete middle school, but also to continue to high school.

When Souad finished middle school, the school director invited her to continue living in the dormitory so that she could complete her high school education. In return, he asked her to tutor the younger girls and help them with their homework. Souad was grateful; she knew that her family was too poor to pay for her studies.

"I feel that 1 have been given a wonderful opportunity, and 1 know that opportunities in life don't come twice. 1have succeeded in middle school and 1 don't want to lead the same life as my mother. 1 know that education has changed my life. My interests are different from those of my sisters and 1have learned to make my own decisions and judgments."
With tears in her eyes, Souad thanked everybody for having given her the opportunity to complete her secondary education. "1 want you to be proud of me," she said. "And 1 want to do something for girls and women later on."

In July 2005, the first group of scholarship students graduated from Tighassaline after completing three years of middle school. The aid organisation is hoping to increase the number of girls benefiting from scholarships and to aid more girls like Souad to finish their schooling.

I- COMPREHENSION : (15 POINTS)

A. ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE. JUSTIFY. (3 pts)

1. Souad's home was far from school.
2. Souad's family was rich enough to support her education.
3. Souad thinks that education has changed her personality.

B. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN YOUR OWN WORDS. (2 pts)

1. What help does the aid organisation offer to the girls?
2. What did Souad do when she finished middle school?

C.WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO? (3 pts)

1. There( paragraph 1 ) =
2. It ( paragraph 2 ) =
3. Their ( paragraph 5 ) =

D. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS THAT MEANTHE SAMEAS: (2 pts, 0.5 each)

1. situated (parag 1):
2. took the opportunity (parag 2):
3. teach (parag 3):
4. help (parag 6):

E. COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES IN YOUR OWN WORDS. (3 pts)

1. Souad feels that she is very lucky because....
2. Souad cried while....
3. One of the aims of the organisation is trying to....

F. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE THE BEST TITLE FOR THE PASSAGE? (2 pts)

1.A village in the Middle Atlas.
2. A successful school headmaster.
3. A rural student's success story.
Title:

II- LANGUAGE (15 POINTS)

A. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORD OR EXPRESSION FROM THE LIST. (3 pts)

1. My friend Kamal looks happy and satisfied today; he……. weIl on the test.
(must have done, mustn't have done, needn't have done)
2. Kamal managed…….. the test yesterday.
(passes, pass, to pass)
3. Amazingly, he……….. despite his handicap.
(is succeeding, has succeeded, will succeed)

B. MATCH THE WORDS THAT GO TOGETHER TO MAKE APPROPRIATE COLLOCATIONS. (3 pts)
1. take a. energy
2. sense of b. humour
3. local c. community
d. care
Answers: 1:................2:................3:.................

C. REWRITE THE SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN. (3 pts)

1. John didn't follow his father's advice about high studies.
John wishes.....
2. "Do you know how to install an antivirus?" The shop assistant asked Mike.
The shop assistant asked Mike.....
3. Candidates must send their applications before the end of June.
The applications.....

D. GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS BETWEEN BRACKETS. (3 pts)

The Moroccan government has taken serious measures to reduce (illiterate).....among women. It also raises their (aware).....to the importance of education in human (develop)......

E. JOIN THE PAIRS OF SENTENCES WITH THE LINKING WORDS GIVEN. MAKE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES. (3 pts)

1. Aziza learnt how to read and write. She learnt how to do business. (as well as)
2. Michael worked hard in and out of school. That’s why he got excellent marks. (because)
3. Adil worked in the evenings. He wanted to save money to buy a computer (in order to)

III- WRITING ( 10 POINTS )

You saw a film you liked very much in the cinema, on TV, etc. Write a review of that film.

(Approximately 200 words)

Here are some suggestions to help you:
• Title of the film,
• When and where you saw it,
• Where it is set (place, time),
• Type of film (love story, detective story, thriller, science fiction, etc)
• Actors in the film, film director, etc.
• The story, how it ended,
• Your reaction to the film.

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BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM SC JULY 2008

BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM SC JULY 2008

Thomas Edison lit up the world with his invention of the electric light. Without him, the world might still be a dark place. However, the electric light was not his only invention. He also invented the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and over 1,200 other things. About every two weeks he created something new.

The Edisons moved to Michigan when Thomas was seven. Surprisingly, he attended school for only two months. His mother, a former teacher, taught him a few things, but Thomas was mostly self-educated. His natural curiosity led him to start experimenting at a young age with electrical and mechanical things at home.

When he was 12 years old, he got his first job. He became a newsboy on a train that ran between Port Huron and Detroit. He set up a laboratory in a baggage car of the train to continue his experiments in his spare time. Unfortunately, his first work experience did not end well. Thomas lost his job when he accidentally set fire to the floor of the baggage car.

Thomas, then, worked for five years as a telegraph operator, but he continued to spend much of his time conducting experiments. He got his first patent in 1868 for a vote recorder run by electricity. In 1870, he sold another invention, a stock-ticker, for $40,000. A stock-ticker is a machine that automatically prints stock prices on a tape. He was then able to build his first shop in New Jersey.

Edison was handicapped; he was totally deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other, but he thought of his deafness as a blessing in many ways. It kept conversations short, so that he could have more time for work. He called himself a "two-shift man" because he worked 16 out of every 24 hours. Edison died at the age of84 on October 18th, 1931, New Jersey. He left numerous inventions that improved the quality of life all over the world.

I. COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)

A. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE THE BEST TITLE FOR THE PASSAGE?
Circle the correct number. (2 pts)

1.The story of a genius
2.The story of a lazy boy
3.The story of a train boy

B.ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE. JUSTIFY. (4 pts)

1.The only thing that Edison invented was the electric light.
2.Edison started his first experiment at the train baggage car.
3.Edison started working at an early age.
4.Edison spent most of his time working.

C. CHOOSE THE RIGHT ORDER OF EVENTS IN THE TEXT. (only 1 sentence is correct, tick it). (2 pts)

*Edison first became a telegraph operator, then became a newsboy, and finally got his patent.
*Edison first became a newsboy, then became a telegraph operator, and finally got his patent.
*Edison first became a newsboy, then got his patent, and finally became a telegraph operator.

D. COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES IN YOUR OWN WORDS. ( 2 pts)

1.Edison continued his experiments on the train by......
2.The stock-ticker is used for......

E. PICK OUT FROM THE TEXT EXPRESSIONS OR PHRASES WIDCH SHOW THAT: (3 pts)

1.Edison didn't spend a long time at school .(parag 2).......
2.His first job experience was not a success. (parag 3)......
3.Edison considered his deafness in a positive way. (parag5)......

F. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS IN THE TEXT REFER TO? (2 pts)

1.him ( paragraph 2 )=
2.that ( paragraph 5 )=

II. LANGUAGE (15 POINTS)

A. REWRITE THE SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN. (3 pts)

1.The headmaster received the school champions.
The school champions.....
2."I'm not satisfied with your work," the boss told Janet.
The boss told Janet....
3.Dr Falahi didn't get a visa. He couldn't attend the conference in France.
If....

B. PUT THE VERBS BETWEEN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT TENSE OR FORM. (3 pts)

Leila missed the interview yesterday morning; her train (already, to leave) ........ the station when she got there. Now she wishes she(to tell)...her mother
(to wake).....her up earlier.

C. FILL IN THE GAP WITH AN APPROPRIATE PHRASAL VERB. ( 4 pts)

(stand for - write down - bring about - look up - look after - apply for - get on )

1. When students find very difficult words in a text, they can them in a dictionary.
2.John asked his wife to .....the job advertised in the newspaper.
3.The government has introduced a new plan to....important changes in education.
4.Ali: What does NGO......?
Hamid: Non Governmental Organisations.

D. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS FROM THE LIST. (2pts)
(looking forward to- combine- gifted- caring- damaged - interest- disappointed- amazing)

Reda is a……young student; he does complex mathematical calculations quickly. He also Shows……. in foreign languages. His ability to write in English is ........... He is.....publishing an English school magazine soon.

E. MATCH EACH SENTENCE WITH ITS APPRORIATE FUNCTION. (3 pts)

I. Due to his frequent absence from work, Tony was not promoted.
2.Sarah is exercising hard in order to lose weight.
3.Young people use the Internet to access information. Moreover, they use it for entertainment.

a. purpose
b. addition
c. concession
d. cause/effect

Answers : (1)...... (2)...... (3)......

III. WRITING (10 POINTS)

One of your relatives or neighbours was illiterate, but he /she benefited a lot from literacy classes organised by a local NGO. Tell the story of that person describing his /her feelings and what he / she gained as a person and as a member of the community. (Approximately 150 words) These suggestions might help you:

• Who the person is (name, age, etc.),
• What the NGO has contributed to the success of these classes;
• How has he/she known about and join the literacy classes;
• Where and when these classes were given;
• Why were these classes important for him/her;
• What he/she gained from these classes (socially, financially and personally);
• Your personal views about how to encourage literacy classes.

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BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM SC JUNE 2008

BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM SC JUNE 2008

Rachida was born in a rural Moroccan village, Ain Jdid, in 1973. She is married and has four children. Her husband is a seasonal agricultural worker who earns about 700 dhs per month when he works.

When an aid organisation offered literacy classes in her village, Rachida immediately recognised that an excellent opportunity was suddenly offered to her. The class signalled a new beginning for Rachida - if she took classes, she would be able to read and write, add and subtract, and acquire skills that were always reserved for others. When she first learnt how to write her name on a slate and then on paper, she was overjoyed. Although Rachida and her classmates were laughed at by some villagers as they walked to school each day, they ignored them and were proud of their accomplishment.

The course went a step beyond providing basic literacy training to the women of Ain Jdid. Those who performed the best on the final exam were also offered support in setting up a business- a farm animal cooperative. Armed with their newly acquired numeracy and literacy skills, and with technical assistance from the organisation, they started a successful business. Their example gave rural women a new image -that of independent female entrepreneurs who could manage their own businesses. They were no longer field workers.

Rachida now buys and sells farm animals through the cooperative and earns enough income to support her family. More importantly, she can share the joy of learning with her school-aged children and help them with their homework. She is confident about the future. She says her new skills have given her more than just an income. "Through this programme, women have paved the way to a new life," she said.

As a proof to the programme's success, now even some of the men in the village who had criticised Rachida and her classmates want to attend literacy classes.

I- COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)

A. ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY. (3 pts)

1. Rachida is originally from a big city.
2. Some villagers made fun of women going to literacy classes.
3. Some women of the village became independent.

B. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS lN YOUR OWN WORDS. (4 pts)

1. What opportunities did literacy classes offer to Rachida?
2. Which group of women benefited from technical assistance?
3. How do Rachida's children benefit from her literacy?
4. Why did some villagers change their opinion about the literacy programme?

C. WHAT DO THE UNDERLlNED WORDS lN THE TEXT REFER TO? (2 pts)

1. They ( paragraph 2 )=
2. Them ( paragraph 2 )=

D. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS THAT MEAN THE SAME AS: (4 pts)

1. periodical (parag. 1)
2. very happy (parag. 2)
3. starting (parag. 3)
4. money (parag. 4)

E. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE THE BEST TITLE FOR THE PASSAGE? (2 pts)

1.Female entrepreneurs change rural men's life.
2.Literacy changes a rural woman's life.
3.Rural men change rural women's life.
Title :

II. LANGUAGE (15 POINTS)

A. GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS BETWEEN BRACKETS.(2 points)

Moroccan NGOs have made great efforts to combat illiteracy. They help youths with basic knowledge and (manage)…… skills. They also train them to become (financial) ……independent.

B. FILL IN THE GAP WITH AN APPROPRIATE PHRASAL VERB.(2 pts)

( picked up - found out - grew up - went through - turned down )
1. Jane was accepted to work in a bank but she………the job because the salary was not interesting.
2. My uncle Ibrahim………his American accent when he was working in the USA.

C. MATCH THE WORDS TO MAKE APPROPRIATE COLLOCATIONS (2 pts)

1- have a- care
2- information b- technology
c- fun

Answers: 1………………………….. 2……………………….

D. REWRITE THE SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN.(3 pts)

1. "Do we need a lot of money for the project?" sorne villagers asked the manager.
Some villagers asked……………….
2. The cooperative awarded a prize to Rachida.
Rachida......
3. Salah didn't buy the farm because he didn't get financial support from the bank.
If.......

E. PUT THE VERBS BETWEEN BRACKETS lN THE CORRECT TENSE.( 3 pts)

1. The city council (to build) .........a new stadium two years ago.
2. Before she became a doctor, Salma (already- to work) .......as a biology teacher for 2 years.
3. At the moment, a foreign NGO (to prepare).......a huge project for human development in rural areas in Yemen.

F. JOIN THE PAIRS OF SENTENCES WITH THE LINKING WORDS GIVEN.( 3 pts)

1. The local authorities opened new schools. They wanted to serve their community better.(so as to)
2. The government invests a lot of money on tourism. Not many tourists visit our town. (however)
3. Tom and his wife needed more money. They decided to work over time. (because)

III- WRITING ( 10 POINTS )

Countries around the world celebrate different events (national/international, cultural, or religious).
Choose one of the events celebrated in Morocco (e.g. Aid Al Fitr, Imilchil festival, New Year's Eve, Moussems, etc.) and write a letter to tell your pen friend about it.( Approximately 150 words)

These ideas might help you:

• the event / festival celebrated,
• where and when it is celebrated,
• how people celebrate it (any special meals, clothes, visits , feelings, etc)
• the importance of this celebration in our culture,
• your own feelings, opinions and / or attitudes.

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