THE MOROCCAN BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM

THE MOROCCAN BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM

Although some experts think that there is still time to stop SARS (Severe Acute respiratory Syndrome) others argue that it is too late for even the most effective quarantines to halt its march. Even in developed courtiers like Canada, where government officials say SARS is not out of control, some health officials have said that SARS is probably unstoppable. Dr Gully, the senior director general of population health, Canada, said recently that SARS "probably is here to stay" and Canadians will "probably have to learn to live with it."

Dr Koplan, the former head of the centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, USA, said recently that doctors will probably never be able to eliminate SARS, although they should be able to reduce the number of cases and deaths. "What we can hope for is a suppression and minimization,"

Dr. Koplan told reporters in Hong Kong, where he is advising officials and scientists at Hong Kong University. "To think that magically any government or any scientist in the world could stop this, like you stop a car at a stop sign, is very unrealistic," said Dr Koplan.

In many ways, the argument has some merit. Quarantines may not be 100 per cent effective and can sometimes drive people with the disease underground, increasing the risk of spread. Also, at the moment, there is no effective treatment for SARS and, as a respiratory ailment; it can be much more difficult to control than diseases spread through other routes, like blood.

But others, while acknowledging the difficulties and the many remaining unknown about this new disease, still hold out hope. Two top officials of the World health Organization (W.H.O.) refused to concede defeat and expressed hope that SARS could be contained if all countries maintain vigilance for the disease. "We don’t really have a choice" except to use all available resources to prevent the spread of the disease to more countries," said Dr Heymann, executive director of communicable diseases for the World Health Organization. "We have a chance, we believe, to stop this disease if we all work together," Dr Heymann said. Dr Mike Ryan, another W.H.O official said: We have to be realistic in our goals and aims. That’s all W.H.O. can do. History will tell if we are successful. »

The New York Times, May 5th, 2003.


COMPREHENSION

A. FILL IN THE CHART WITH THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION FROM THE TEXT:



B/ COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES:

1. According to some experts, isolating people who have SARS will not ………………………………………

2. Unlike other diseases, SARS is not transmitted …………………….

C/ ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY:

1. The fear of quarantines may be an additional risk of contamination.

2. SARS can be under control if all countries are careful.


D/ FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS THAT MEAN THE SAME AS:

1. Disease (paragraph 4): ………………………

2. Admitting (paragraph 5): ……………………



E/ WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO? ( WORDS IN ITALICS )

1. Others (paragraph 1)

2. They (paragraph 2)

3. This (paragraph 3)



LANGUAGE: ( USE OF ENGLISH )

A/ REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN:

1. They will teach English in primary schools.

English …………………………………

2. All the students must respect the school rules.

The school rules …………………………

3. Scientists may not find a cure to all forms of cancer soon.

It is unlikely that …………………….



B/ FILL IN THE BANKS WITH AN APPROPRIATE WORD FROM THE LIST:

may - may not - should - needn’t - due to - because of - could

1. Your son looks pale. I think you ……………….. take him to the doctor.

2. The hole in the ozone layer is ……………….. air pollution.

3. You ……………….. take reference books out the library. It’s forbidden.

C/ MATCH THE SENTENCES WITH WHAT THEY EXPRESS:



D/ PUT THE WORDS BETWEEN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT FORM USING AN APPROPRIATE PREFIX:

1. I didn’t see the film till the end because it was (interesting) _____________.

2. Ali is (honest) _____________; that’s why all his friends let him down.

3. Don’t look up every (familiar) _____________ word in the dictionary.



WRITING:


Your English pen-friend wants to know about the career you have decided on and the higher studies you intend to pursue to reach this aim.

Write an answer letter in which you talk about your choice and the reasons for it.