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.