Baccalaureate English National Exam Arts July 2014: practise the full Moroccan national English exam for the Arts stream, session July 2014, with interactive questions, instant checking, an answer key and a free PDF with answers. For official information about national exams, visit the Moroccan Ministry of National Education.
Table of Contents
- Practice the exam online
- Answer key (Reading, Language and Writing)
- Exam tips and key vocabulary
- More Baccalaureate English national exams
Baccalaureate English National Exam Arts July 2014: Interactive Practice
English National Exam — Arts July 2014
Interactive practice: Reading (15 pts) · Language (15 pts) · Writing (10 pts)
[1] Ibn Sina, also known as ‘Avicenna’, was indeed a true polymath with contributions in many fields such as medicine, psychology, pharmacology, geology, physics, astronomy, chemistry and philosophy. He was also a poet and an Islamic scholar and theologian. His most important contribution to medical science was his famous book known in the West as the Canon. This book is an immense encyclopedia of medicine. It comprises the entire medical knowledge available from ancient and Muslim sources.
[2] This great scientist was born late in the tenth century in the village of Afshana, near Bukhara which is also his mother’s hometown. His father, Abdullah, was from Balkh which is now part of Afghanistan. Ibn Sina received his early education in his hometown and by the age of ten he learnt the Quran by heart. He had exceptional intellectual skills which enabled him at the age of fourteen to do better than his teachers. During the next few years, he devoted himself to the study of Islamic laws and principles, philosophy and natural sciences. Ibn Sina also studied the work of Aristotle on metaphysics but couldn’t fully understand it because of his young age. It was only after reading a manual by the famous philosopher Al Farabi that he found a solution to this problem.
[3] At the age of sixteen, Ibn Sina dedicated all his efforts to learning medicine and by the time he was eighteen he became a famous doctor. During this time, he was able to cure Ibn Mansour, the King of Bukhara, of an illness which no other doctor could cure. The King wished to reward him for this achievement, but the young doctor only asked for permission to use the prestigious royal library.
[4] When his father died in 1002, he left Bukhara and moved to Jurjan, where he lectured on logic and astronomy. There, he met his famous contemporary Al-Biruni. Later, he travelled to Rai and then to Hamadan, where he wrote his famous book the Canon and also cured King Shams al-Daulah of a severe illness.
[5] From Hamadan, he moved to Isfahan, where he finished many of his greatest writings. Shortly afterwards, his health started to deteriorate, so he travelled less often. He spent the last twelve years of his life in the service of Abu Jaafar, whom he accompanied as his doctor and scientific consultant. He died in June 1037 and was buried in Hamadan.
[6] Besides his monumental writings in medicine, Ibn Sina also contributed to mathematics, music and other fields. His findings inspired later scientists in various fields of knowledge and he is still considered a valuable reference to many researchers.
A. Are these sentences true or false? Justify. (3 pts)
1. Ibn Sina’s mother and father were from the same town.
2. Ibn Sina was also interested in arts.
3. Ibn Sina could recite the Quran at an early age.
B. Answer these questions. (3 pts)
1. Why did the King of Bukhara want to reward Ibn Sina?
2. Where did Ibn Sina meet Al-Biruni?
3. How did Ibn Sina serve Abu Jaafar?
C. Complete the following sentences. (3 pts)
1. Ibn Sina’s book the Canon contains a lot of information about …
2. Thanks to Al Farabi’s book, Ibn Sina …
3. After moving to Isfahan, Ibn Sina didn’t travel much because …
D. Choose the best answer. (2 pts)
1. polymath (paragraph 1) means:
2. exceptional (paragraph 2) means:
3. a severe illness (paragraph 4) means:
4. monumental writings (paragraph 6) means:
E. What do the underlined words in the text refer to? (2 pts)
1. It (paragraph 1):
2. the young doctor (paragraph 3):
F. Choose the best title for the passage. (2 pts)
The best title is:
A. Replace the underlined words with the appropriate phrasal verbs from the list. (2 pts)
got back · picked up · took out · got into · found out
The investigators were very professional. They discovered not only how the two criminals stopped the alarm system, but also how they entered the bedroom without breaking any windows.
B. Give the correct form of the words between brackets. (2 pts)
John: After the (excel) performances of candidates, it will be difficult for the jury to choose the best one.
Bob: I know it’s hard, but they have to choose the most (talent) one.
C. Fill in the blanks with the right words from the list. (2 pts)
who · where · which · when · whose
This is the video was seen by millions of viewers this week. It shows the suffering of families children were killed in the war.
D. Rewrite these sentences beginning with the words given. (3 pts)
“Have you ever been to the south of Morocco?” Jawad asked his guests.
Jawad wanted to know
We should encourage students to take part in social activities.
Students
Kawthar was late for school yesterday; that’s why she missed her math test.
If Kawthar
E. Put the verbs between brackets in the correct tense. (2 pts)
Dear mum and dad,
I hope you’re fine. I (call) you yesterday but there was no answer. Now, I (stay) with my aunt Laura. So far, I (visit) many apartments but they are all expensive. I hope that by the end of this month, I (find) a nice one.
F. Join the pairs of sentences with the linking words given. (2 pts)
The children were exhausted after the trip. They went to bed immediately.
1. (that’s why)
Rachid’s communication skills have improved. His coach helped him a lot.
2. (thanks to)
G. What do you say in the following situations? (2 pts)
1. You don’t know how to write a CV in English.
You: (make a request to your teacher) …
2. Your classmate can’t decide what to do during the holidays.
You: (make a suggestion) …
Writing: Write an article about improving rural areas in Morocco. (10 pts)
Write an article about the changes which you think would make rural areas in Morocco a better place to live. You may write about the following: transportation, roads, schools, entertainment, health centres, job opportunities, etc. (Approximately 300 words)
Answer key: Reading, Language and Writing
Reading
A. Are these sentences true or false? Justify. (3 pts)
- False. “His father, Abdullah, was from Balkh…” while Bukhara is “his mother’s hometown.” (paragraph 2)
- True. “He was also a poet” (paragraph 1) / he contributed to “music” (paragraph 6).
- True. “By the age of ten he learnt the Quran by heart.” (paragraph 2)
B. Answer these questions. (3 pts)
- Because Ibn Sina cured him of an illness that no other doctor could cure.
- In Jurjan.
- As his doctor and scientific consultant.
C. Complete the following sentences. (3 pts)
- medicine (the entire medical knowledge from ancient and Muslim sources).
- found a solution to his problem of understanding Aristotle’s work on metaphysics.
- his health started to deteriorate.
D. Choose the best answer. (2 pts)
- c. someone who knows a lot about different subjects.
- a. extraordinary.
- a. a serious illness.
- b. very important writings.
E. What do the underlined words in the text refer to? (2 pts)
- The Canon (his famous book)
- Ibn Sina
F. Choose the best title for the passage. (2 pts)
b. Ibn Sina’s biography
The text tells the story of his life.
Language
A. Replace the underlined words with the appropriate phrasal verbs from the list. (2 pts)
found out · got into
B. Give the correct form of the words between brackets. (2 pts)
excellent · talented
C. Fill in the blanks with the right words from the list. (2 pts)
which · whose
D. Rewrite these sentences beginning with the words given. (3 pts)
- Jawad wanted to know if his guests had ever been to the south of Morocco.
- Students should be encouraged to take part in social activities.
- If Kawthar hadn’t been late for school yesterday, she wouldn’t have missed her math test.
E. Put the verbs between brackets in the correct tense. (2 pts)
called · am staying · have visited · will have found
F. Join the pairs of sentences with the linking words given. (2 pts)
- The children were exhausted after the trip; that’s why they went to bed immediately.
- Rachid’s communication skills have improved thanks to his coach.
G. What do you say in the following situations? (2 pts)
- Could you please help me write a CV in English?
- Why don’t we go camping together? / What about visiting your grandparents?
Writing
Writing: Write an article about improving rural areas in Morocco. (10 pts)
How to Make Rural Areas Better Places to Live
Many people in Moroccan rural areas still suffer from a lack of basic services. Some changes could make life there much better.
First, the government should build good roads and provide public transport, so that villagers can reach schools and hospitals easily. Second, every village needs a school and a health centre with enough doctors. Third, young people need entertainment, such as sports fields and cultural centres. Finally, creating job opportunities, for example in farming cooperatives and small crafts industries, would stop young people from leaving for the cities.
In conclusion, if these changes are made, rural areas will become more attractive places to live.
Download the full exam (Reading, Language and Writing) with the answers as a PDF.
Source: Moroccan Baccalaureate English National Exam, Arts, July 2014 session. The score counts only the questions that can be checked automatically; open answers (chart, sentences, dialogues, writing) are for self-checking against the model answers. More than one correct answer is often possible.
Exam Tips and Key Vocabulary
What this exam tests
The reading text of the July 2014 Arts exam is about Ibn Sina (Avicenna), the great scientist and doctor, and his life. The paper tests Reading, Language and Writing, so read the text twice before answering and base every answer on the text.
Key vocabulary from the text
- polymath: موسوعي
- encyclopedia: موسوعة
- exceptional: استثنائي
- devoted: كرّس
- cure: يشفي
- reward: يكافئ
- severe: شديد
- deteriorate: يتدهور
- monumental: ضخم
- consultant: مستشار
Grammar points in this exam
- Phrasal verbs (find out, get into)
- Word formation (excellent, talented)
- Relative pronouns (which, whose)
- Reported questions, passive and conditional type 3
- Present and future tenses
- Linking words and language functions
Revise these structures: the Language section of this exam is built on them.
Writing tips
The writing task asks for an article about improving rural areas in Morocco. Give each change a short paragraph with a reason (roads, schools, health centres, entertainment, jobs) and end with a conclusion.
FAQ
Where can I download this exam with answers?
Use the download button under the exam: the PDF contains the original exam pages and a one-page answer key.
Are the answers on this page official?
No. They are model answers written for practice; any appropriate answer is accepted.
More Baccalaureate English National Exams (Arts)
- Baccalaureate English National Exam Arts June 2014: the other 2014 session
- Baccalaureate English National Exam Arts July 2013
- Baccalaureate English National Exam Arts July 2015
- All Baccalaureate National Exams
