Baccalaureate National Exam 2011 June Sciences
[1] We all know that the cell phone is one of the cheapest means of communication. We can communicate with our beloved ones, relatives, or any person all around the globe by sending a text message or by making a call.
[2] One important use of the cell phone is to send text messages. It is an easy way to communicate. We simply type the message, send it, and, in just a few seconds, it will reach another person in any place around the globe. Moreover, with the cell phone, we can send money, check internet emails, or even watch the news on TV stations.
[3] Technology certainly plays an important role in our daily life but too much use of cell phones may be harmful. According to some studies, we are exposed to electromagnetic radiation when we use cell phones. This radiation can cause biological transformations in the human body affecting the brain tissues and causing hair loss, skin reddening, memory loss, brain cancer, and sometimes death. Many researchers warn people against the use of cell phones because they think it causes brain cancer. Yet, there is no scientific evidence so far!
[4] A group of researchers in Europe are trying to determine the risks of using cell phones through a big project called Cosmos. They are studying the effect of mobile phones on users’ health. Professor Lawrie Challis, a member of that group, says: “the study is crucial, and we still do not know if the use of mobile phones causes cancer or not. He also remarks that “the balance of evidence suggests that it does not, but we need to be sure.”
[5] Dr. Mireille Toledano, another investigator in the same project, suggests that “the best thing we can do now is to observe the health of a large number of users over a long period of time to see if, in the long term, there are any links between cell phone use and cancer.” The project will last for more than 20 years and will involve 250,000 phone users across five different European countries.
[6] In any case, the excessive use of cell phones may be too risky. Cell phones should be used for emergencies and not for long conversations. We need to be cautious; “prevention is better than cure” as the proverb goes.
I. COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)
BASE ALL YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT
A. CHOOSE THE BEST TITLE FOR THE TEXT. (2 pts)
a. Cell phone use and the Internet
b. Cell phone use and health
c. Cell phone use and technology
The best title is: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY. (3 pts)
1. Using cell phones for communication is very expensive.
2. Dr. Mireille Toledano is a researcher in the Cosmos project.
3. The Cosmos project will involve phone users only from Europe.
C. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS. (4 pts)
1. What diseases may be caused by electromagnetic radiation from cell phones?
2. What do the Cosmos project researchers want to find out?
3. How long will it take to complete the Cosmos project?
4. What should cell phones be used for according to the writer?
D. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS THAT MEAN ALMOST THE SAME AS: (3 pts)
1. the world (paragraph 1): ……………
2. dangerous (paragraph 3): …………
3. too much (paragraph 6): …………
E. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO? (3 pts )
1. it: ……………
2. they: …………
3. He: …………
II. LANGUAGE (15 POINTS)
A. GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS BETWEEN BRACKETS. (2 pts)
1. Talented people are often (ambition) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and creative.
2. Some parents show a lot of (tolerant) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . towards their kids’ behaviour.
B. REWRITE THE SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN. (3 pts)
1. An earthquake destroyed a city in New Zealand in February 2011.
A city in New Zealand . . . . . . . . .
2.“Will the students take part in the sports competition, Mrs. Brown?”
The headmaster asked Mrs. Brown . . . . . . . .
3.“I didn’t accept Jamal’s marriage proposal,” Leila said with regret.
Leila wishes . . . . . . .
C. PUT THE VERBS BETWEEN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT TENSE. (2 pts)
1. “It’s the best novel I (read /ever) . . . . . . !” Antonio told the teacher.
2. By this time next week, Younes (join) . . . . . the summer camp in Ifrane.
D. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST. (2 pts)
when – whom – who – which – where
1. He wants to know . . . . . country will organize the next Olympic Games.
2. The young man . . . . . . . is next to me in the picture is my neighbor.
E. FILL IN EACH BLANK WITH THE APPROPRIATE PHRASAL VERB. (2 pts)
1. Our teachers intend to . . . . . . . a new English club.
make up – put on – set up
2. I really don’t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . him on this point.
turn down – agree with – look after
F. MATCH EACH EXPRESSION WITH ITS APPROPRIATE FUNCTION. (4 pts)
1. → . . . . . . 2 .→ . . . .. 3 .→ . . . . . 4 .→ . . . .
EXPRESSIONS
1. “Why don’t you join our sports team?” Tom asked his classmate.
2. “Could you make a photocopy for me, please?” Lina asked.
3. “I’m sorry, I’ve given you the wrong change,” the shop assistant said.
4. She didn’t train hard; as a result, she lost the tennis tournament.
FUNCTIONS
a. apologising
b. cause and effect
c. requesting
d. suggesting
III. WRITING (10 POINTS)
An English friend of yours has decided to live in Morocco, and he/she needs your help to choose a city or town. Write an email to your friend to explain why the city or town you suggest is good for him/her to live in. (Approximately 200 words )
The following cues may help you:
– name of the city/town – geographical location (north/south/east/west – near the sea/mountains, etc…)
– weather – people – customs – historical monuments – interesting places – economy, etc …
– facilities (hospitals – libraries – shopping centers – schools – transport, etc…)
Key Answers to Baccalaureate National Exam 2011 June Sciences
[tds_partial_locker tds_locker_id=”20101″]I. COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)
(Testees shouldn’t be penalized for spelling or grammatical mistakes in the comprehension section.)
A. THE BEST TITLE (2 pts)
(b) Cell phone use and health
B. TRUE / FALSE (3 pts; 1 pt each)
1. FALSE – a cell phone is one of the cheapest means of communication
2. TRUE – another investigator in the same project
3. TRUE – across five different European countries
C. WH – QUESTIONS (4 pts; 1 pt each)
1. . hair loss, skin reddening, memory loss, brain cancer (0.5 for two diseases mentioned/1 pt for more than two )
2. . . . the risk of the use of cell phones/effect(s) of mobile phones on users’ health / if the use of mobile phones causes cancer or not. . .
3. . . . more than twenty years . . .
4. .. . for emergencies . . .
D. WORD MEANING : (3 points)
1. the globe
2. harmful
3. excessive
E. WORD REFERENCE (3 pts )
1. the message
2. (many) researchers
3. (Professor) Lawrie /Challis
II. LANGUAGE (15 POINTS)
A. WORD FORMATION (2 pts; 1 pt each))
1. ambitious
2. tolerance
B. REWRITING SENTENCES (3 pts; 1 pt each)
1. A city in New Zealand was destroyed (by an earthquake in Feb. 2011).
2. The headmaster asked Mrs. Brown if/whether the students would take part in…
3. Leila wishes she had accepted Jamal’s marriage proposal.
C. TENSES (2pts; 1 pt each)
1. … have ever read …
2… will have joined …
D. BLANK FILLING (2 pts; 1 pt each)
1. which
2. who
E. PHRASAL VERBS ( 2 pts; 1 pt each)
1. set up
2. agree with
F. FUNCTIONS. (4 pts; 1 pt each)
1. (d) suggesting
2. (c) requesting
3. (a) apologizing
4. (b) cause and effect
