Baccalaureate National Exam 2013 July Arts

Baccalaureate National Exam 2013 July Arts

[1] Americans are very energetic and mobile people, always in a hurry, rushing from one appointment to another, from a professional meeting to a social planning committee. They don’t have enough time to prepare everyday meals. Nor can they take their time to have these meals at leisure. In many homes, it is rare for the whole family to sit down at dinner together. Clubs and commitments force them to take a quick meal rather than a sit-down dinner. When the family have the chance to eat at home, the working wife often prefers to prepare meals which can be quickly heated and consumed. It is not surprising, therefore, that America has become famous for fast food consumption.

[2] This great transformation occurred after World War II when many women began to have full-time jobs and were spending less time at home with their families. Women, however; wanted to keep the responsibilities of housewives as well as those of career women. But time became precious and they had to use it carefully. Therefore, it became necessary to make their life easier at home when preparing the family meals.

[3] Simultaneously with women entering the job market, TV replaced radio as a new source of home entertainment. It became the latest fashion in the fifties and no one wanted to miss his or her favorite TVprogramme. The place for dinner shifted from the dining room to the living room.

[4] The change in customs was followed by a change in culture. The immediate solution was the invention ofTV dinners. These were frozen meals which were cut off into portions of meat and vegetables. They could easily be put into an oven and prepared within minutes. They were served in tin trays which were carried into the living room and dinner was consumed in front of a TV set. When dinner was over, the tin trays were thrown in the garbage. So the wife didn’t have to do any washing up.

[5] After fast dinners at home, the next step was quick eating while on the road. This was encouraged by the development of highways. It is not strange that with this development America saw the beginning of fast-food chains. McDonalds paved the way with its variety of burgers and milkshakes, and was soon followed by other fastfood chains. Today dozens of these chains can be found along highways and in modem shopping malls. They offer pizza, chicken, donuts, and tacos, all quickly produced in great quantities for the masses. These fast-food chains are now part of the American culture. They have given shape to the modem lifestyles of the American people.

I – COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)
A- CHOOSE THE BEST TITLE FOR THE PASSAGE. (1 pt)

1. Changes in Americans’ eating habits
2. Changes in American history
3. Changes in American media

The best title is: …………………

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

1. American families moved dinner to the living room in order to eat comfortably.
   ………………….………………….………………
2. Fast food chains appeared as a result of the development of highways .
   ………………….………………….…………
3. McDonalds was the first fast food chain in America.
   ………………….………………….………………

C- ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS. (3 pts)

1. Why did many American women begin to spend less time with their families?
   ………………….………………….……
2. What did Americans have for TV dinners?
   ………………….………………….……
3. Did women have to do the washing up after TV dinners? Explain.
   ………………….……………

D- PICK OUT FROM THE TEXT SENTENCES OR PHRASES WHICH SHOW THAT: (2 pts)

1. American people eat fast food a lot.. (paragraph l): ………………….…
2. Fast food chains have had an effect on the American culture. (paragraph 5): …….……

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

1. oblige (paragraph 1): ………………….
2. happened (paragraph 2): ………………….
3. finished (paragraph 4): ………………

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

1. they (paragraph 1 ): ………………….
2. those (paragraph 2): ………………….
3. They (paragraph 5): ………………

II. LANGUAGE: (15 POINTS)

A. FILL IN EACH GAP WITH AN APPROPRIATE WORD OR PHRASE FROM THE LIST. (3 pts)

1. Jane: Look! Is that Tim crossing the street?
   Rich: No, it …………………. Tim. He is on holiday in Turkey.
   can’t be – shouldn’t be – needn’t be
2. I wish I …………………. Leila’s wedding last week. All my friends were there.
   would have attended – have attended – had attended
3. Latifa will join us for dinner when she finishes …………………. the baby.
   feeding – feed – to feed

B. PUT THE VERBS BETWEEN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT TENSE. (2 pts)

• Hicham: Have you ever been to Zagora?
• John: No, never. I (visit) …………………. Ouarzazate last summer. But I think I (go) …………………. to Zagora next holiday.

C. REWRITE THE SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN. (2 pts)

1. “Can you pick up the kids at twelve?” the husband asked.
   The husband asked his wife ………………
   2- The company will test a new data system.
   A new data system ……………………

D. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE PHRASAL VERBS FROM THE LIST. (2 pts)

make up – break down – log on – grow up – turn down

1- I can’t …………………… the invitation. It’s an opportunity for me to meet some important people.
2- These washing machines are cheap but they quickly …………………

E. FILL IN EACH GAP WITH AN APPROPRIATE WORD FROM THE LIST. (2 pts)

part – place – rights – disaster – care

1- Immediately after the natural …………………., the government provided the victims with shelter, food, and medicine.
2- The meeting will take ………………………………….. tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.

F. JOIN THE PAIRS O.F·SENTENCES WITH THE LINKING WORDS GIVEN. (2 pts)

1. There is an economic crisis in the country. House prices are still high. (despite)
   ………………….………………….……………
2. My grandmother has taken literacy classes. She can now read and write. (thanks to)
   ………………….………………….…………

G. MATCH EACH EXPRESSION WITH ITS APPROPRIATE FUNCTION. (2 pts)

1- …………… 2- …………… 3- …………… 4- ……………

III. WRITING: (10 POINTS)
Read this part of an email from your American friend and write a reply.

I've heard that Ramadan is a special month in your country. I'd love to know more about it. Do you really give up eating and drinking during the day? What kind of food do you eat in the evening? Do people work during the day? What do you do in the evening?. Are there any special things you do during this month?…

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