Sample Baccalaureate Tests (Part 3)

Brain Drain in Africa

Letters (L) 2008

The Economic Commission for Africa estimates that between 1960 and 1989, some 127,000 highly qualified African professionals left Africa. According to the International Organisation for Migration, Africa has been losing 20,000 professionals each year since 1990. This has raised claims that the continent is dying a slow death from brain drain which has financial, institutional, and societal costs. African countries get little return from their investment in higher education, since too many graduated leave or fail to return home at the end of their studies. The Unite Nations has finally admitted that emigration of African professionals to the West is one of the greatest obstacles to African’s development.

     Kofi Apraku, an African living in the US, is eager to go back home. Nearly twenty years ago, he came to America as an exchange student to finish high school. Kofi ended up staying there to get his doctorate. He achieved distinction not only in his professional
career, but also in his social and personal life. Now a professor of economics at the University of North Carolina at Ashville, Apraku is preparing to go back to Ghana to work with the ministry of agriculture as director and policy counsellor. “The missing link for Africa’s social and economic development,” he says, “is the African immigrant who has become educated and experienced abroad but who has not been able to go back home.

     A number of factors have kept expatriates, such as Apraku, from getting back to their homeland. Somewhat like African refugees, African immigrants are victims of brutal governments, poverty, civil wars, poor economies, etc. According to a United Nations estimate, 100,000 trained professionals like Apraku are working in the West. Most of    them can’t – or won’t- return. The result: a devastating brain drain that has deprive the African continent of much of its top talents.

     Surprisingly, some Africans are willing to return to where they belong. Despite the very low salaries, poor professional facilities and limited opportunities, they are decided to make it back home. “Africa’s development remains an African responsibility,” says Apraku. “Some of us have been lucky to get enough experience to share such a responsibility,” he continues.

     Certainly, the trip back home can be hard. For instance, the average salary in African universities does not exceed 500 dollars a month. Many of the best-paid jobs in Africa still go to foreigners. Thousands of foreign advisors in the public sector in sub-Saharan Africa are paid up to 4,000 dollars a month. It is true that these have expertise unfound in Africa, but this situation can be changed if, and only if, educated Africans are willing to sacrifice and work together for a brighter tomorrow in Africa.

COMPREHENSION (15 points)

A- Answer these question in your own words: (3 pts)

1- Was Apraku a successful student? Explain:

……………………………………………………………………

2- In what way are African refugees and African immigrants similar?

………………………………………………………………………

3- Who is responsible for the development of Africa according to Kofi Apraku?

……………………………………………………………………

B- Are these sentences true or false? Justify:   (2 pts)

1- Kofi has been offered a job with the ministry of agriculture in Ghana.

……………………………………………………………………

2- All African immigrants prefer to stay in their host countries.

……………………………………………………………………

C- Pick out from the text expressions which show that:  (2 pts)

1- African countries don’t benefit from the money they invest in university studies.  (parag 1)

…………………………………………………

2- the return of African immigrants wouldn’t be easy.  (parag 5)

…………………………………………………

D- Complete these sentences.   (2 pts)

1- Foreign advisors are well-paid in Africa because ………………………

2- Africans can contribute  to the development of Africa if ………………

E- Choose the right answers from the list given:  (2 pts )

1- The best title for the passage is:

a- opportunities and constraints of going back to Africa.                □

b- life conditions of African immigrants in the West.                       □

c- work conditions and salaries in African universities.                   □                

2- After reading the text you can conclude that Kofi Apraku is     

a- indifferent to going back to his country.                                         □

b- hopeless about going back to his country.                                     □

c- optimistic about going back to his country.                                    □

F- What do the underlined words refer to in the text? ( 2 pts)

1- continent : ……………………………………………….

2- them :…………………………………………………….

3- they: …………………………………………………….

4- these: …………………………………………………..

G- Find in the text words or expressions that mean the same as;  (2 pts)

1- human capital flight (parag 1) :…………………………………

2- the country where a person is born (parag 3) :……………………………

LANGUAGE (15 points)

A- Fill in the gaps with the appropriate words from the list:  (1 pt )

  Who – whose – where – which - whom

The United Nations  …………………….was established soon after the second world ware is an organisation …………………..goals are to solve conflicts among nations and keep peace in the world.

B- Put the verbs between brackets in the correct tense:  (2 pts )

Moroccan authorities (to be) ………………………. interested in developing the tourist industry for many years.  Last year  7.5 million tourists (to visit) ……………………………. Morocco. Another 8 million (probably/ to come) ………… ………………… next year. Government officials hope that by the year 2012 the number of tourists (to reach) ………………………. 10 million.

C- Rewrite the sentences beginning with the words given: (3 pts)

1. David didn’t save enough money to buy a new computer.

David wishes…………………………………………………………………

2.  “I will apply for a scholarship at Oklahoma University”, Jawad said.

Jawad said……………………………………………………………………

3.  My father didn’t get a loan from the bank. So he couldn’t buy a new car.

If …………………………………………………………………………

D- Give the correct form of the words between brackets:  (3 pts)

1. The job advertised requires a good (know)……………………of at least two languages.

2. Jalal started looking for a job immediately after his (graduate) …………… from the Institute of Technology.

3- Rim thinks that the mobile phone is the most useful modern (invent) ……………

E- Fill in the gaps with appropriate words from the list: (3pts)

In addition t - nevertheless - since - however - in spite of -furthermore   

1.  Many countries  still can’t reduce unemployment ……………………… making big efforts.

2. Many people in the village don’t know how to read or write ……………., a local organisation has set up a literacy programme for them.

3- The computer is an amazing means of entertainment ………………….its efficiency at work.

F- Fill in the gaps with the appropriate collocations:  (3 points)

Have success - pay attention - computer system - have fun - take care - computer illiterate

Jane: I tried to ……………………….to this new website, but I couldn’t. Can you show me how to do that? You know, I’m almost a …………………

Mary: Well, just wait a minute! I’ll show you how to do that, but you have to ………………………..so that you can remember the steps.

Jane: OK, let’s try.

WRITING (10 points)

Students often take part in some voluntary work as an act of citizenship.

Write a report about an activity you participated in or heard about to your school , neighbourhood or city.  (approximately 250 words)

These suggestions may help you:

-the kind of activity (planting trees, helping old people, campaigns about smoking, road accidents)

- people involved (students, teachers, administrators, experts….)

- the benefits of the activity  -your feelings/attitude  - voluntary work as an aspect of good citizenship

Rachida

Sciences & LO 2008

 

Rachida was born in a rural Moroccan village, Ain Jdid, in 1973. She is married and has four children. Her husband is a seasonal agricultural worker who earns about 700 dhs per month when he works.

     When and aid organization offered literacy classes in her village, Rachida immediately recognised that an excellent opportunity was suddenly offered to her. The class signalled a new beginning for Rachida -if she took classes, she would be able to read and write, add and subtract, and acquire skills that were always reserved for others. When she first learnt how to write her name on a slate, and then on paper, she was overjoyed. Although Rachida and her classmates were laughed at by some villagers as they walked to school each day, they ignored   them and were proud of their accomplishment.

     The course went a step beyond providing basic literacy training to the women of Ain Jdid. Those who performed the best on the final exam were also offered support in setting up a business- a farm animal cooperative. Armed with their newly acquired numeracy and literacy skills, and with technical assistance from the organisation, they started a successful business. Their example gave rural women a new image –that of independent female entrepreneurs who could manage their own businesses. They were no longer field workers.

     Rachida now buys and sells farm animals through the cooperative and earns enough income to support her family. More importantly, she can share the joy of learning with school-aged children and help them with their homework. She is confident about the future. She says her new skills have given her more than just an income. “Through this programme, women have paved the way to a new life”, she said.

     As a proof to the programme’s success, now even some of the men in the village who had criticised Rachida and her classmates want to attend literacy classes.

COMPREHENSION (15 points)

(Base your answers on the text)

A- Are these sentences true or false? Justify:  (3 pts)

1- Rachida is originally from a big city.

…………………………………………………………………………

2- Some villagers made fun of women going to literacy classes.

…………………………………………………………………………..

3- Some women of the village became independent.

……………………………………………………………………………

B- Answer these words in your own words:  (4 pts)

1- What opportunities did literacy classes offer to Rachida?

………………………………………………………………………………

2- Which group of women benefited from technical assistance?

……………………………………………………………………………

3- How do Rachida and children benefit from her literacy?

……………………………………………………………………………

4- Why did some villagers change their opinion about the literacy programme?

……………………………………………………………………………

C- What do the underlined words in the text refer to?  (2 pts)

1- They:  …………………………

2- them:  ……………………………

D- Find in the text words or expressions  that mean the same as :  (4 pts)

1- Periodical (parag. 1): ……………………………………

2- Very happy (parag. 2): ……………………………………

3- Starting (parag. 3): ………………………………………

4- Money (parag. 4): …………………………………………

E- Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?  (2 pts)

1- Female entrepreneurs change rural men’s life. □

2- Literacy changes a rural woman’s life.             □

3- Rural men change rural women’s life.              □

LANGUAGE (15 points)

A- Give the correct form of the words between brackets:  (2 pts)

1- Moroccan NGO’s have made efforts to combat illiteracy. They help youths with basic knowledge and (manage) ………………………….. skills. They also train them to become (financial)…………………… independent.

B- Fill in the gaps with an appropriate phrasal verb:  (2 pts)

Picked up - found out - grew up - went through - turned down

1- Jane was accepted to work in a bank but she ………………………….the job because the salary was not interesting.

2- My uncle  Ibrahim …………………………….his American accent when he was working in the USA.

C- Match the words that go together to make appropriate collocations:  (2 pts)

1. have	a. care
2. information	b. technology
	fun

1. _______.    2. _______.

D- Rewrite the sentences beginning with the words given:  (3 pts)

1- “Do we need a lot of money for the project?” some villagers asked the manager.

Some villagers asked …………………………………………………………

2- The cooperative awarded a prize to Rachida.

Rachida………………………………………………………………

3- Salah didn’t buy the farm because he didn’t get financial support from the bank.

If ………………………………………………………………………

E- Put the verbs between brackets in the correct tense:  (3 pts)

1- The city council (to build)…………………………….. a new stadium two years ago.

2- Before she became a doctor, Salma (already/ to work) ……………………….... as a biology teacher for two years.

3- At the moment, a foreign NGO (to prepare)…………………………………… a huge project for human development in rural areas in Yemen.

F- Join the following pairs of sentences with the linking words given : (3pts)

1- The local authorities opened new schools. They wanted to save their community better. (so as  to)

…………………………………………………………………………

2- The government invests a lot of money on tourism. Not many tourists visit our town. (however)

…………………………………………………………………………

3- Tom and his wife needed more money. They decided to work over time.  (because)

………………………………………………………………………

WRITING (10 points)

Countries around the world celebrate different events (national/ international, cultural, or religious). Choose one of the events celebrated in Morocco (e.g. Aid Al Fitr, Imilchil festival, New Year’s Eve, Moussems, etc) and write a letter to tell your pen friend about it.   (Approximately 150 words)

These ideas might help you:

- The event/festival celebrated.

- Where and when it is celebrated

- How people celebrate it (any special meals, clothes, visits, feelings etc)

- The importance of this celebration in our culture.

- Your own feelings, opinions and/or attitudes.

Thomas Edison

 Sciences & LO 2008

Thomas Edison lit up the world with his invention of the electric light. Without him, the world might be a dark place. However, the electric light was not his only invention. He also invented the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and over 1,200 other things. About every two weeks he created something new.

     The Edisons moved to Michigan when Thomas was seven. Surprisingly, he attended school for only two months. His mother, a former teacher, taught him a few things, but Thomas was mostly self-educated. His natural curiosity led him to start experimenting at a young age with electrical things at home.

     When he was 12 years old, he got his first job. He became a newsboy on a train that ran between Port Huron and Detroit. He set up a laboratory in a baggage car of the train to continue his experiments in his spare time. Unfortunately, his first work experience did not end well. Thomas lost his job when he accidentally set fire to the floor of the baggage car.

     Thomas, then, worked for five years on a telegraph operator, but he continued to spend much of his time conducting experiments. He got his first patent in 1868 for a vote recorder run by electricity. In 1870, he sold another invention, a stock-ticker, for $40,000. A stock-ticker is a machine that automatically prints stock prices on a tape. He was then able to build his first shop in New Jersey.

     Edison was handicapped, he was totally deaf in one ear and hard hearing in the other, but he thought of his deafness as a blessing in many ways. It kept conversations short, so that he could have more time for work. He called himself a “two-shift man” because he worked 16 out of 24 hours. Edison died at the age of 84 on October 18^th , 1931, New Jersey. He left numerous inventions that improved the quality of life all over the world.

COMPREHENSION(15 POINTS)

A- Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?  (2 pts)

1-  The story of a genius

2-  The story of a lazy boy

3-  The story  of a train boy

B- Are these sentences true or false? Justify:  (4 pts)

1- the only thing that Edison invented was the electric light.

……………………………………………………………………………

2- Edison started his first experiment at the train baggage car.

……………………………………………………………………………

3- Edison started working at an early age.

……………………………………………………………………………

4- Edison spent most of his time working.

……………………………………………………………………………

C- Choose the right order of events in the text:  (only one sentence is correct, tick it) (2 pts)

1- Edison first became a telegraph operator, then became a newsboy, and finally got his patent.  

2- Edison first became a newsboy, then became a telegraph operator, and finally got his patent.   

3- Edison first became a newsboy, then got his patent, and finally became a telegraph operator.     

D- Complete these sentences in your own words:  (2 pts)

1- Edison continued his experiments on the train by………………………………………………………….

2- The stock-ticker is used for…………………………….

E- Pick out from the text expressions or phrases which show that:  (3 pts)

1- Edison didn’t spend a long time at school. (parag 2)

……………………………………………………………………

2- His first job experience was not a success. (parag 3)

………………………………………………………………………

3- Edison considered his deafness in a positive ways.  (parag. 5)

………………………………………………………………………

F- What do the underlined words refer to in the text?   (2 pts)

1- him : ……………………………………

2- that : ……………………………………

LANGUAGE (15 points)

A- Rewrite the sentences beginning with the words given:  (3 pts)

1- The headmaster received the school champions.

The school champions ……………………………………………

2-“I’m not satisfied with your work”, the boss told Janet.

The boss told Janet ……………………………………………………

3-Dr Falahi didn’t get a visa. He couldn’t attend the conference in France.

If …………………………………………………………………

B- Put the verbs between brackets  in the correct tense or form:  (3pts)

Leila missed the interview yesterday morning; her train (already/to leave) …………………………….. the station when she got there. Now she wishes she (to tell)………………………….………… her mother (to wake) ………………………….. her up earlier.

C- Fill in the blanks with an appropriate phrasal verb: (4 pts): Stand for             write down - bring about -look up - look after - apply for - get on

1- When students find difficult words in a text, they can……………….them ……..in a dictionary.

2- John  asked his wife to ………………………..the job advertised in the newspaper.

3- The government has introduced a new plan to ………………………..important changes in education.

4- Ali: What does NGO ………………………………?

    Hamid: Non Governmental Organisation.

D- Fill in the gaps with appropriate words or expressions from the list:  ( 2 pts)

Looking forward to - combine - gifted - caring - damaged – interest - disappointed –amazing

Reda is a ………………….young student, he does complex mathematical calculations quickly. He also shows……………………in foreign languages. His ability to write in English is …………………….He is ………………………  publishing an English school magazine soon.

E- Match each sentence with its appropriate function:   ( 3 pts)

1- Due to his frequent absence from work, Tony was not promoted.	a- purpose.
2- Sarah is exercising hard in order to lose weight.	b- addition
3- Young people use the internet to access information. Moreover, they use it for entertainment.	c- concession
	d- cause/effect

1. ________                2. _______         3. _______

WRITING (10 points)

One of your relatives or neighbours was illiterate, but he/she benefited a lot from literacy classes organised by a local NGO. Tell the story of that person describing his/her feelings and what he/she gained as a person and as a member of the community.  (Approximately 150 words)

These suggestions might help you:

- who the person is (name, age, etc) - What the NGO had contributed to success of these classes. - How has he/she known about and join the literacy classes. - Where and when these classes were given.

- Why were these classes important to him/her - What he/she gained from these classes (socially, financially and personally) - Your personal view about how to encourage literacy classes.

Text Messages & Emails

Letters (L) 2008

When computers first started to be used on a wide scale, some people predicted that we would spend so long staring at computer screens that we would en up forgetting how to talk to one another. But in fact, the rapid expansion of electronic communication in the 21st century has had the opposite effect. Rather than retreating into themselves, people are using new technology, in particular email and text massaging, to find more and more ways to expand their network of friends.

Jane Adams, 23, sends so many messages to her friends. She’s known as the Text Queen. ‘My friends and I take our phones out with us and send messages to other friends saying “we’re in this club and it’s really good. Come and meet us, “she said. It means we don’t have to spend ages planning an evening out. You can just send the same message to everyone;

Text messaging and email also help Jane keep in touch with old schoolmates she would probably have lost contact with otherwise. She finds that it’s easier to send a message saying ‘Hi! thinking of you, ‘rather than having to write a long letter.

It seems these forms of communication have filled a gap, offering something that face to face conversation does not. Professor Pam Briggs, a psychologist at the University of Northumbria, believes they have become popular because they people an opportunity to present themselves in the way that they want to. ‘People seem to really enjoy sending text messages and emails, she says. ‘They can take their time planning their message. They prefer it to speaking on the phone to each other- maybe also because this way they can choose when they want to respond to someone.’

The fact that text messages are so quick and easy is big part of the attraction. Many people also find text messaging more informal than making a phone call or writing a letter, and therefore simpler to use. Ann Rose, who teaches at a London school, uses email and text messaging to keep in touch with students. ‘I have always given my number out to students and told them to call me if they have any problems. But no one ever did. Now, they often email or text me with questions about their work. They don’t find it difficult to keep in touch that way, whereas they might feet that a phone call is more of an interruption, ‘she said.

So is all good, Ann has identified one negative result of text messaging. ‘The popularity of this way of writing among my students,’ she says ‘can cause a few difficulties as they have started using abbreviations such as ‘ruok’ for ‘are you okay? And ‘thx’ for thanks”

COMPREHENSION: 15 points

BASE ALL YOUR ANSWERS IN THE TEXT

A/ ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN YOUR AWN WORDS: 4 pts

1. What effect has been caused by the expansion of electronic communication?

…………………………………………………………………………

2. Why is Jane Adams called the “Text Queen”?

…………………………………………………………………………

3. In what ways are text messaging and e-mailing different from face to face conversation according to Pr Briggs?

a.  ………………………………………………………………

b…………………………………………………………………

B/ ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY: 3 pts

1. Jane Adams and her friends find that txt messaging saves time in organising meetings.

……………………………………………………………………….

2. Jane keeps contact with her old school friends thanks to email and text messaging.

………………………………………………………………………

3. Ann Rose used to receive phone calls from her students.

C/ COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES: 3 pts

1. Some people thought that the expansion of the use of computers would stop them from ………………………………………………………………….

2. To ask questions about their work, Ann Rose’s students. …………………………………………….

3. According to Ann Rose, the negative effect of text messaging on students’ writing is …………………………………………………

D/ FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS THAT MEAN THE SAME AS: 2 pts

1. to increase (pph1) : ……………………………..

2. a chance (pph 4) : ………………………………

E/ WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO? 3 pts

1. We: ………………………………………..  

2. They: …………………………………………..

3. This way of writing: …………………………….

LANGUAGE: 15 points

A/ FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST: 1,5 pt

who – whom  - whose  - which  - where  - when

Adil Imam, ____________ sense of humour is appreciated by many people, is an Egyptian actor ____________ has played funny roles in many plays and movies. He often acts out simple situations ____________ can make you laugh for hours.

B/ REWRITE THE SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN: 3 pts

1. Swimming and fishing aren’t allowed in this lake.

People ………………………………………………………

2 “Please stop arguing and listen to me, “Mrs Williams said.

Mrs Williams told the two students ………………………………

3. I Can’t see my friends while chatting because I don’t have a webcam.

If only ………..…………………………………………………

C/ PUT THE VERBS BETWEEN BRACKETS IN THE CORECT TENSE: 1,5 pt

The Simons (to live) ……………………………..in Marrakesh for ten years when I first (to meet)……………………….. them in 1988. By the end of 2008, they (to be) ….. .…………………….in Morocco for thirty years.

D/ FILL IN THE CAP WITH AN APPROPRIATE PHRASAL VERB: 3 pts

1. I’m ……………………our trip to France. We’re leaving next month.

            a) bringing about     b) coping with       c) looking forward to

2. Bill proposed to marry Sue but she …………………………..his proposal.

            a) broke down         b) turned down         c) calmed down

3. That little boy always ………………………..excuses for being late.

             a) makes up            b) takes up              c) looks up

E/ FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST: 3 pts

   disagreement  - exclude  - pace  - empower  - status  - development

The best way to ____________ women and improve their _____________ is to educate them. It’s also useful to help them become financially independent. Thus, they can participate in the _______________ of their society.

F/ JOINS THE PAIRS OF SENTENCES WITH The LINKING WORDS.

1. Many people still use plastic bags. They are dangerous for the environment. (although)

……………………………………………………………

2. Some skilled workers emigrate. They aren’t satisfied with low salaries in their home countries. (therefore).

………………………………………………………………

3. We rarely play music at night. We don’t want to disturb our neighbours. (so as not)

………………………………………………………………

WRITING: 10 points

The editor of your school magazine is organising a competition on the importance of education in people’s lives. Write a short article about your experience as a student and the benefits you get from school in general.

                                                                                                            (Approximately 250 words)

Here are some suggestions to help you:

·        Your favourite school subjects / the skills learn

·        Your school life experience (class/schoolmates, teachers, relationships, projects, extra-curricular activities, etc.)

·        Your future projects (carry on your studies or look a job)

·        The effects of school or education on your own and your family’s life.