BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM SC JULY 2009 WITH CORRECTION

BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM SC JULY 2009 WITH CORRECTION


Educating girls offers many benefits to current and future generations. Yet, in many developing countries, girls' illiteracy still remains a serious issue because it is often considered an obstacle to social and economic development. Over 120 million children of primary school age are not at school. The majority are girls, and Geetha is one of them.

Geetha can barely read and write. The pretty eleven-year-old girl is the youngest child in a poor family living in rural India. She was pulled out of school two years ago. Her father thought her time would be better spent looking after the family's goats and doing the housework.

Geetha's former teacher tried to convince Geetha's father and the village elders to send girls like Geetha back to school, but in vain. "This is the way it has always been, and it will not change," her father argued. "I didn't study myself. We are simple people." Government incentives in the form of books, scholarships, uniforms and even meals made no difference. A lifelong struggle to survive marked by poverty and ignorance has solidified their views.

The boys in the village attend school every day. They pass by Geetha who walks the narrow country road alongside her goats. "The boys tease me," she says, her big eyes full of sadness. She wished she could go with them. "When I was younger, I thought I'd study well and get a job. I really wanted to be a teacher. Now I just follow the goats."

Geetha has little hope for her own future. Like her mother and her grandmother, she will spend her life working in the fields and around the house. She has seen the value of education, and has a different dream for her own children. "I will let my children study," she vows. Perhaps it is also not too late even for her. Many girls in India start school at a later age. With support from programmes organised by the Indian government and international institutions, she may yet one day join the boys on their daily walk to school.

I. COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)

BASE ALL YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT.

A. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE THE BEST TITLE FOR THE PASSAGE? (2 pts).
TICK (V) THE APPROPRIATE BOX.

1. Poverty in Geetha's village

2. The story of Geetha's father

3. The problem of Geetha's education

The best title for the passage : ( 3. The problem of Geetha’s education.)

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

1.Geetha has never attended school.

It’s false.

Justification: “Geetha was pulled out of school two years ago.”
OR “ Geetha’s former teacher….”

2. Geetha's father thinks that sending her to school is not beneficial to the family.

It’s true.

Justification: “Her father thought her time would be better spent looking after the family’s goats and doing the the housework.”

3. Geetha's father was illiterate.

It’s true.

Justification: “I didn’t study myself.”

C. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. (3 pts)

1. Why is girls' illiteracy still a problem in developing countries?

Girls’ illiteracy is still a problem in developing countries because it is an obstacle to social and economic development.

2. What does the government offer to encourage girls to attend school?

So as to encourage girls to attend school, the Indian government offers books, scholarships, uniforms and even meals to poor families.

3. How does Geetha feel when boys walk past her on their way to school?

When boys on their way to school walk past Geetha, she feels very sad.

D. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES. ( 2 pts)

1. Geetha's previous teacher didn't succeed in ……

"…convincing Geetha’s father and the village elders to send girls to school."

2. Geetha's dream is…..

"…...to let her children study. / to educateher children."

E. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS THAT MEAN ALMOST THE SAME AS: (3 pts )

1. Beautiful (parag2) :

“Pretty."

2. Make run of (parag4):

“Tease.”

3. Help (parag5):

“Support.”

F. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO?
( words in italics in the text)(2 pts)

1. It :

“Girls’ illiteracy.”

2. Them :

"The boys in the village."

II. LANGUAGE (15 POINTS)

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

Some NGOs make a lot of efforts to (improvement)…….. women's position in society. They provide some of them with (finance)…… assistance and help others to attend (literate)…….. classes.

Improvement : “improve.”

Finance: “financial.”

Literate : “literacy.”

B. REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES AS SUGGESTED. (3 pts)

1. Visitors should not use cameras in the national museum.

Cameras……………….

“Cameras should not be used by visitors in the national museum.”

2. " I will join the university in September," Soumia said.

Soumia told her friend…………

“Soumia told her friend (that) she would join the university in September.”

3. Brahim didn't attend last year's free computer classes.

He wishes……………

“He wishes he had attended the previous year’s free computer classes.”

C. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE PHRASAL VERBS. ( 3 pts)

give up - find out - get up - let down - break down - go through

1. "You shouldn't…….. your old friends," he told me.

“Let down.”

2. John has decided to……. football at the end of the season.

“Give up.”

3. "I've never imagined to…….. such a difficult time," Mary said.

“Go through.”

D. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST. (3 pts)

so as to - despite - although - therefore - thanks to - because

1. ………………. his parents' care and encouragement, Soufien has received a good education.

“Thanks to.”

2. Sue worked hard …………….get a good mark in the final exam.

“So as to.”

3. …………..the geography test was easy, many students didn’t get a good mark.

“Although.”

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

When he (finish)……… his studies in Europe, Kamal returned to Morocco. Now, he (work)……… as a teacher at a university. He (just/publish)……….. a book on study skills.

“Had finished./ finished.”

“Is working./ works.”

“Has just published.”



III. WRITING (10 POINTS)

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play an important role in the development of local communities. Write a short article to your school magazine about a project that has been realised by a local NGO in your village/town/city. (Approximately 150 words) These questions and cues may help you:

- What kind of project is it? (environmental / social / educational...)
- What has the project achieved? (provide free classes/ create professional centres for youths or for the handicapped /keep your area clean/plant trees/build a school, hospital,...)
- Who contributed to the realisation of this project? (local people/students/women/others ...)