Sample Baccalaureate Tests (Part 2)

Bill Gates

Science & LO 2007

Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, was born in 1955 in Seattle, USA, to a wealthy family. His father was a prominent lawyer and his mother a member of the board of directors of two banks. When he was thirteen, he started to become interested in computers and the development of computer software. In 1972, he made his first big profit of 4,200 $when he sold timetable software to his school.

Bill Gates went to Harvard University and father doing only three years of study; he stopped going there to set up Microsoft, with his old school friend, Paul Allen, in 1975.

Later, Microsoft developed into an enormous international company that employs more then 54,000 people all over the world.

Bill Gates met his wife, Melinda, in 1987 when he was working for Microsoft. They got married in 1994 and now have three children: Jennifer 11, Rory John 8, and phoebe 5.

In 2000, Bill Gates changed his position as chief executive officer at Microsoft to return to his first love, the development of software. In the same year, Bill and his wife founded the Bill and Melida Gates Foundation, a charitable organization. This charity gives money to health and education projects in the third world. For example
, the foundation donated 750 million $ to pay for life-saving vaccinations to children in Africa and Asia. In the United States and Canada, the foundation gave money to bring computers, internet access and training to public libraries in poor communities. He and his wife have put more than 29 billion$ into their foundation.

COMPREHENSION (7 POINT)

(BASE ALL YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT)

A-    ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALS? JUSTIFY. (2 Pts)

1-     Bill Gates started making money when he was still at school.

………………………………………………………………………

The Gate’s foundation paid for vaccination for children all over the world.

…………………………………………………………………………

B-   B/ ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS (3 Pts)

1-     How old is Bill Gates?

……………………………………………………………………

2. Why didn’t Bill Gates finish his university studies?

…………………………………………………………………

3. How did the foundation help poor communities in North America?

…………………………………………………………………

C – FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR PHRASES THAT MEAN THE SAME AS: (2 Pts)

 1- very rich (paragraph1):……………………………

 2- start (paragraph2):…………………………………..

II – LANGUGE (7 POINT)

C-   A – FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST (2 Pts)

Cosmopolitain        evidence        population         corporal         labour

1-The Geneva Convention forbids attacking civilian _______________ in wars.  More women are being encouraged into the _______________ market these days

D-   MATCH THE DEFIN ITION WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORD.  (2 Pts)

1. substances or products that can be bought or sold	a. casualties
	b.targets
	c. decades
2. People injured or killed in a  serious accident or war	d. commodities
	e. customs

1. ………                                         2. ……

E-    C -PUT THE VERBS BETWEEN BRAKETS IN THE CORRECT TENSE.  (3 Pts)

When jack was five, his parents (die) …………………….. in a road accident. He survived, but he (be) …………………….. seriously injured. Today, whenever he takes his car, he (drive)………………………. carefully.

WRITING (6 POINT)

Your friend is not interested in studying and wants to migrate illegally to Europe.

Write him / her letter and try to convince him / her to stay in Morocco and to finish his / her studies. (Approximately 120 words)

The following notes may help you to write the letter.

-         Dangerous to cross the sea in a boat…

-         Can be arrested by the police…

-         difficult to get a job / official papers / or tiring and badly paid jobs

-         be away from home / family / friends

-         unable to communicate in the foreign language

-         Why not stay in Morocco / work hard / finish studies, etc.

Mobile Phones

Letters 2006

A fierce debate has erupted following the British government’s announcement that it is considering a ban on the use of mobile phones by all drivers. New legislation could outlaw the use of mobiles while at the wheel of any vehicle which has its engine running and that includes those stopped at traffic lights or in traffic jams.

Many drivers are unhappy. A mobile phone is useful if you are late for a meeting or an appointment. And chatting to a family member or friend passes the time, reduces your stress level and makes life more bearable if you are stuck in an endless tailback. It also greatly enhances your sense of security if you are out at night in unfamiliar surroundings. In short, losing the right to use a mobile phone while driving would be a blow to many sensible and responsible people.

The big question is : would such a measure save lives ? The answer is probably yes. Earlier this year, the Transport research Laboratory published the results of a detailed scientific study of reaction and stopping times of drivers in various states of distraction. Their findings were startling. It turned out that talking on a mobile is more dangerous than being just over the legal alcohol limit. Besides, hands-free kits are almost as bad because it is the conversation, rather than the handling of the phone that causes the distraction. Paper after paper added to the growing mountain of research support the idea that mobile phones and driving make a lethal* combination. A Canadian team reported that the risk of road accidents is higher in mobile phone users.

But there are some who argue the dangers of in-car mobile phones are exaggerated.

Other researchers have dismissed the proposals as unnecessary. They claim that existing driving laws are sufficient and that, in any case, there are many other in-car distractions that are equally dangerous.

But the fact is that a mobile phone, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, can kill. More than 30 countries have already banned using one while driving. The UK used to be a world leader in road safety and our road accident death rate is one of the lowest in Europe as a result.

The mobile phone ban will happen one day. This is as inevitable as the drink driving or the seat belt laws which were fiercely criticise at the time by many drivers, politicians, and associations. They are all quiet low because the benefits of these regulations are beyond argument.

Sp, let parliament prepare a new law; banning mobiles while driving, and let’s implement it quickly. I believe the potential victims and their loved ones would approve, don’t you?

* Lethal: that can kill

I- COMPREHENSION: 15 points

BASE ALI YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT

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

1. The British government has forbidden the use of phones while driving.

……………………………………………………………………

2. The Canadian team reslts confirmed those of the Transport Research laboratory.

……………………………………………………………………

3. Drivers strongly criticised the drink driving and seat belt laws before.

……………………………………………………………………

B/ ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS: 3 pts

1. What was surprising in the results of the study of the Transport Research Laboratory?

……………………………………………………………………

2. How practical can the mobile phone be? Give two examples.

……………………………………………………………………

3. What is the writer’s attitude?

a. totally neutral

b. for (agrees with) the new legislation 

c. against the
government proposal.

C/ PICK OUT FROM THE TEXT EXPRESSIONS OR PHRASES WHICH SHOW THAT: 3 pts

1. A hot discussion started in the UK (paragraph 1): ………………………

2. A mobile can be relaxing for drivers (paragraph 2): ……………………

3. The UK has fewer deadly road accidents (paragraph 5): ………………

D/ FIND IN THE TEXT PHRASES OR EXPRESSIONS THAT MEAN TGE SAME AS: 3 pts

1. in the driving seat (paragraph 1): ……………………………

2. caught in a traffic jam (paragraph 2): ………………………

3. That shouldn’t be discussed (paragraph 6): …………………

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

1. Measure……………………………….

2. One……………………………………

3. It ………………………………………

LANGUAGE: 10 points

A/ MATCH THE WRDS THAT GO TOGETHER TO MAKE APPROPRIATE COLLOCATIONS: 2 pts

1. population 2. tourist 3. family 4. water	a. target
	b. code
	c. growth
	d. trade
	e. weapon

1. ____ 2. ____  3.____ 4. ____ .

B/ FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST: 2 pts

budget – hazardous – recreation – enormous – outlaw – currency – accommodation – overcome

The Moroccan government is making ___________ efforts to provide decent ___________ for poor people by building low-priced apartment buildings. However, many people still complain that their family ___________ does not allow them to invest in such projects. I think that we have to work hard to ___________ this social problem.

C/ GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS BETWEEN BRACKETS: 2 pts

1. The dispute between the two neighbours was settled by an (agree) ___________ that satisfied both parties.

2. Many African countries have been suffering from severe (dry) ___________ for many years.

D/ PUT THE VERBS IN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT TENSE: 2 pts

I (have) …………………… this mobile phone for about a year. In fact, my father gave it to me as a present on my last birthday. It is a pity my mother (not attend) ………………….. the birthday party. I am sure if she (be) ………….. at home with us,(buy)……………. me a very watch.

JOIN THE FOLLOWING PAIRES OF SENTENCES USING THE APPROPRIATE RELATIVE PRONOUNS. 2pts

                       who – whose –where -   when

1. The police have already started penalizing drivers. The drivers’ seat belts are not fastened.

………………………………………………………………………………

2. The Safety Road Committee hasn’t agreed on the date. The new regulations should be implemented.

WRITING: 15 points

Some people think that leisure activities are a waste of time. Write an essay (of approximately 250 words) about the role of recreational activities in our life. Give examples to support your point of view.

 Child Labor

Sciences 2005

At the end of the millennium, a lot of importance was given to the campaign against child labor. The last time there was hope for change was at the turn of the last century, during the campaign to get US children out of factories.

Brazil, the South America’s largest, richest and most heavily populated country, exports everything from shoes to orange juice to the U.S its largest market. Yet, for all its riches, Brazil also the enormous problems: 76% of the population lives in urban areas, In the countryside millions of workers work as day laborers. Among them are badly-paid children under 14 who work illegally.

Parliament members denounced Nike’s involvement with child labor, and asked the Brazilian government to cancel the sponsorship contract signed with that company. It means that the Brazilian soccer team wouldn’t use Nike’s symbol on their T-Shirts or any other sports material until the company stopped the exploitation of children .According to the international Labor Organization, there are 250 million working children around the world 3.8 million of them are from Brazil.

Brazil has been working with UNICEF and the international Labor Organization to eradicate child labor, which has become a national issue. The municipal Child Foundation programme id designed for children working on sugar – cane plantations under hazardous conditions, or for those about to start working in such places. The project has managed to enroll 330 children in public schools, provided them with additional educational activities and food, and helped transport them to the local public health posts for medical and dental care. As a result of the project, employers began banning children from their fields.

COMPREHENSION  (15 points)

BASE YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT

A-    ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY  (3 points)               

1-     There has never been any child labor in the USA.

2-     Brazil has many commercial exchanges with the USA.

3-     In Brazil, the majority of people live in the countryside.

B-    CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE ANSWER FROM THE LIST GIVEN  (2 points)

1-     Which title is the most suitable for the text?

a)                  UNICEF in Brazil.

b)                  Child labor in Brazil.

c)                  Sports in Brazil.

2-     the purpose of the writer is to:

a)                  Criticize the advertising of NIKE.

b)                  Give us facts.

c)                  Talk about UNICEF projects in the world.

C-    PICK OUT FROM THE TEXT EXPRESSIONS WHITCH MEAN THE SAME AS: (4 pts)

1-     Working children get very little money for their work.

2-     Children will no longer work in sugar – cane plantations.

D-FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS THET MEAN THE SAME AS : (3 pts)

1- Criticized severely ( pph 3) …………………………………

2- Eliminate (pph 4) …………………………………….

3- Dangerous (pph 4) ………………………….

E –WHAT DO THE UNDELINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO (3 pts )

1- them :                           2: their :                         3: those

LANGUAGE: (10 points)                                                                     

A-    PUT THE VERBS BETWEEN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT TENSE: (2pts)

1-By the year 2030, the population of some African countries (double)…………………

2- Why did you tell her about the surprise? I really wish you (keep) ………………….it secret.

B- GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS BETWEEN BRACKETS: (2pts)

1- If you want to be a (success)…………..……diplomat, you have to demonstrate a good mastery of the language of the host country and know its culture in (deep) ………….…….

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

1-when people get educated, the country develops fast.

The more ……………………., the……………………………….

2-you should not leave a baby alone at home without a babysitter.

A baby………………………………….

D/ MATCH THE WORDS THAT GO TOGETHER TO MAKE COLLOCATIONS (2pts)

                                                           a- monuments

1-     Family                                          b- societies

2-     Primitive                                      c- code

                                                           d- penalty

D-    FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORD FROM THE LIST (2pts)

Purchase               -          indigenous      -           pilgrimage           -       pinpoint

1-     To be able to overcome difficulties, you have to ……………..them first.

2-     The …………………people of America are Red Indians

  

WRITING: (15 points)

Road accidents are very serious problem in Morocco.

Write an article to your school magazine explaining the causes and the consequences of road accidents, and offer adequate solutions to reduce their number.

The Internet 

Sciences & L O 2005

The Internet is responsible for the wide dissemination all over the world. It is perhaps the greatest invention of the 20^th century and gives great power to the users.

            The Internet has its own culture, its won way of communicating, no law enforcement, no national boundaries as well as free access to every kind of information known to mankind. It has become familiar to many children all over the world. Some of them use the Internet everyday. Parents need to be in close touch with their kids as they explore the Internet. Moreover, teachers need to help students use it appropriately and safely.

            Kids and teenagers need to learn to be responsible for their own behaviour on the Internet with guidance from their families and communities. It’s not at all common for   them   to know more about the Internet and computers than their parents or teachers. If that’s the case in your home or classroom, don’t despair. You can use this as an opportunity to turn the tables by having your child teach you a thing or two about the Internet. Get your children talk to you about what’s good and what is not really good about the Internet experience.

            Just as adults need to help their kids stay safe, they also need to learn not to overreact when   they   find out a child or a teenager has been surfing inappropriate material or strayed from a rule. Don’t blame or punish your kids if they tell you about an uncomfortable online encounter. Your best strategy is to work with them, so you both can learn from what happened and figure out how to keep it from happening again.

            Adolescents and young adults have become the largest segment of the world population with internet access. For that reason, the threat posed by drug-related activities occurring on the Internet is quite serious.

            But the Internet has so far served as a very valuable tool to bring mankind closer together and to remove some of the barriers inherent in the “real” world. It has had a great impact on those countries that have adopted its use and provides some kind of measure of the gap between first world and third world countries.

COMPREHENSION (15 points)

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

1- There are legal restrictions to the Internet.

……………………………………………………………………………

2- All children learn how to use the Internet from their parents.

…………………………………………………………………………..

3- The majority of Internet users are teenagers and young adults.

…………………………………………………………………………

B- Answer these questions :  (5 pts)

1- List two important advantages of the Internet:

………………………………………………………………………

2- What are two risks related to surfing on the Internet?

………………………………………………………………………

3- How can parents protect children from misusing the Internet?

……………………………………………………………………

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

1- In contact  (parag 2): ……………………………………

2- Change the situation to one’s advantage (parag 3) ……………………

3- Menace (parag 5) : …………………………………………….

4- Existing as part of (parag 6) : ……………………………………

E- What do the underlined words in the text refer to?   (3 pts)

1- Them: ………………………………………………

2- They   : ……………………………………………

3- It:  …………………………………………………

LANGUAGE ( 15 points)

A- Fill in the blanks with an appropriate phrasal verb from the list:

Put up - pick up - make up - look up

1-Don’t believe what she says. She likes to ………………………..stories.

2-It difficult to …………………….with noise in big cities.

B- Put the verbs between brackets in the correct tense:

1- By the end of next month, the committee (take) …………………………a final decision.

2- An important multinational (organize)………………………… a seminar in our country last month.

C- Give the correct form of the words between brackets:

1- The book gives a good (describe)……………………………..of life on a farm.

2- My neighbour is a very (rely)……………………………… person. He’s always ready to give me a hand.

D- Rewrite the sentences beginning with the words given:

1- “I didn’t take the test”, Nadia said regretfully.

Nadia wishes………………………………………………………………

2- The children are not well educated because the family is not small.

If ………………………………………………………………………

3- “I didn’t see the film last night”, Naima said.

Naima told Mohamed …………………………………………………

4- We should collect more money to build the mosque.

More money…………………………………………………………

E- Complete the following sentences with the appropriate linking word:

Although - in spite of - because - owing to

1- ……………………..it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday.

2- ………………………..all our careful plans, a lot of things went wrong.

3- I went home early ……………………………I wasn’t feeling well.

4- I went to the doctor’s the next day ………………………a terrible headache I had.

F- Fill in the blanks with   “make” or “do”:

1- I couldn’t ………….my homework because I was sick.

2- Laila is going to ……………..a party for her birthday.

3- Did you……………..any mistakes in the last test?

4- Karima often ……………the housework before coming to school.

5- I want to ………………..a course in English this summer.

G- Function

You complain to your neighbour about his/her kids who make so much noise at night but he/she refuses.

 You: ………………………………………………………….

Your neighbor: ……………………………………………………

WRITING:

"Nowadays an illiterate person is someone who does not know how to use a computer."

Write a letter to the editor of your school magazine giving your opinion and illustrating your argument with examples from real life.

 The Information Technology

Sciences  2004

The information technology revolution is creating a divided society according to a report by the electronics firm, LOROMA. Those who have no access to electronic information could be at a disadvantage in the employment market. The report warned that the working class and unemployed people, in particular, could fall into the "information void". Older people risk missing out opportunities to make their lives easier, such as on-line shopping. 'Having a population with no knowledge of information technology – to prepare the country for the future- means that the society will fall further and further behind in the ability to take advantage of everything that technology has to offer,' the report says.

Switched on

Ron Stanley’s home is full of computer equipment. The 26-year old accountant admits, 'I feel I have the latest thing, the fastest machine that is available.' He was given his first computer when he was 12. 'I loved the games, then when I went to college, I started using personal computers properly,' He still loves playing games and has recently bought two new game machines. He also has a new PC with Internet connection and fax modem. ‘My parents gave me a computer when I was younger; that’s why I have become so interested in them.

Turned off

            At 35, Susie Vincent feels as if the information revolution has passed her by. ‘Computers don’t interest me at all. Everybody talks about surfing the net, downloading new software and sending e mails – it makes me feel so old-fashioned. But I’d prefer to pick up the phone or write a note.’ She agrees that her dislike of computers is partly caused by fear. ‘It annoys me. I am an intelligent, professional woman, but when someone mentions technology, my brain switches off. And I feel stupid because I don’t understand. My daughter is only ten, but she has no fear of computers. Nobody taught me about them when I was at school so I have no confidence in using them. As time passes, I feel the gap between people like me and people who understand computers is getting wider and wider. I worry that there are millions of people on the job market who have computer knowledge. I m afraid it will damage my chances of moving on or changing jobs.’

COMPREHENSION: 15 points

BASE YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT

A/ ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: 4 pts

1. Why is Ron Stanley’s home full of computer equipment?

2. Why doesn’t Susie Vincent feel comfortable with computers?

B/ ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY: 2 pts

1. The working class and the unemployed people will be the most affected by information technology.

2. Susie thinks she will find it difficult to change jobs in the future.

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

1. Buying things through the Internet (pp 1): ……………………………

2. Correctly (pp 2): ……………………………….

3. Out-dated (pph 3): …………………………

D/ COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES ACCORDING TO THE TEXT: 3 pts

1. In order to prepare a country for the future, the population must……………

2. Ron Stanley’s interest in PCs started when …………….

3. Unlike her mother, Susie’s daughter………………….

LANGUAGE: 15 pts

A/ FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS IN BRACKETS: 6 pts

Some urban agencies have thought about more 1 …………………………. (effective/efficient) ways of reducing the pollution that exists in 2 ……………………… (industrious/industrial) cities and which …………….. (affects/effects) people’s health. These ways will certainly 4………………. (assure/ensure) a better and safer life to the inhabitants of these cities.

B/ FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE APPROPRIATE ARTICLE WHERE NECESSARY: 4 pts

1.      My friend Jamal is going to study ______ Physics at _________ university

2.      What ___________ beautiful weather! Why don’t we go out for _________ walk?

3.      No one can deny that __________ computer is __________ important invention.

4.      Ali     : What’s _________ longest river in Africa?

      Nadia: I don’t know Perhaps __________Nile!

C/ REWRITE THESE SENTENCES YSING THE WORDS GIVEN: 4 pts

1.      It’s not necessary to take a taxi. The theatre is just round the corner.

We ………………………………………………………

2.      Hard work causes a lot of stress.

………………………………………is due to ………………………….

3.      It’s forbidden for passengers to use mobile phones on the plane.

Passengers aren’t ……………………………

4.      You shouldn't’t leave medicines within children’s reach.

Medicines ………………………………………………………….

D/ MATCH THE FUNCTIONS IN COLUMN A WITH WHAT THEY EXPRESS IN COLUMN B:

A	B
1. You may leave if you don’t feel well.	a- opinion
2. Patients have to follow their doctors’ advice.	b. cause and effect
As far as I'm concerned, newspapers are the best means to get well Informed.	c- permission
	d- obligation

WRITING: 10 points

            "Nowadays an illiterate person is someone who does not know how to use a computer."

Write a letter to the editor of your school magazine giving your opinion and illustrating your arguments with examples from real life.