Baccalaureate English National Exam Arts June 2014: practise the full Moroccan national English exam for the Arts stream, session June 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 June 2014: Interactive Practice
English National Exam — Arts June 2014
Interactive practice: Reading (15 pts) · Language (15 pts) · Writing (10 pts)
[1] International TV channels often cover hundreds of stories of young Sub-Saharan Africans who try to emigrate to Europe in search of a better life. They leave their countries crossing the Sahara Desert and the sea to reach the continent. Many of them lose their lives in the desert. Those who survive face the risk of death while crossing the sea on small and weak boats. Yet, only few migrants give up the dream and decide to return to their home country.
[2] In Morocco, there are about 15,000 African migrants who are awaiting the opportunity to cross over to Europe to realize their dream for a better life. But as the borders to Europe are more and more closed, more migrants are stuck in the country. Thomas Estrup, a Danish journalist, visited Morocco and wrote about the difficult situation of these migrants. Joshua is one of them. He is a young Nigerian migrant who has been on the road for more than five years. “No border control or fence will stop him from trying,” writes Thomas. “I will risk my life to get there. Either you succeed in escaping border control and expulsion or you die,” says Joshua.
[3] Joshua’s father died when he was young. Joshua left school after six years of education. He wanted to become an engineer, but his mother could not support his education or pay for his living. Unable to find a job, Joshua left his mother and five siblings, who are all thinking about leaving their home in Nigeria. In 2003, he made the 3,000 kilometers long trip through the desert. “I wanted to change my situation and start a new life,” Joshua says. “I wanted to go to Europe and find any job. I saw people from my hometown coming back from Europe with money.”
[4] Two years later, Joshua had his chance. He crossed to Spain with a group of seven Africans. He cut his feet and ankles while trying to climb the fences. Worse, he got caught by the Spanish police and was immediately deported back to his homeland. Back in Nigeria, he decided to make the trip through the desert back to Morocco and attempt to go into Europe a second time. “I had lost everything,” says Joshua. “I really wanted to try again.” He made both trips on foot and by car through Niger, Algeria and across the border to Morocco. It took Joshua several months to make each trip, most of which is through the Sahara desert.
[5] He simply set out alone with no money. During the trips, he would team up with people from other West African countries who were also heading to Europe. “The worst part was the desert in Niger. We were short of water and food. Also, the police would try to catch us,” Joshua says. “If I manage to escape border control, I know that I’ll make it into Europe. I have done it before and I’ll do it again,” he adds. Adapted from: http://www.theafricancourier.de/index.php
A. Choose the best title for the text. (2 pts)
The best title is:
B. Are these sentences true or false? Justify. (3 pts)
1. Many migrants from Africa use Morocco as a temporary place before crossing to Europe.
2. Joshua is the only member of his family who is thinking about immigration.
3. Joshua couldn’t stay in Spain for a long time.
C. Answer these questions. (3 pts)
1. How did Thomas Estrup know about Joshua’s story?
2. Why didn’t Joshua become an engineer?
3. What problems did Joshua and other Africans face while crossing Niger?
D. Pick out from the text sentences or expressions which show that: (2 pts)
1. It’s becoming harder to get to Europe. (paragraph 2)
2. Joshua hasn’t given up the hope of going to Europe. (paragraph 5)
E. What do the underlined words in the text refer to? (3 pts)
1. them (paragraph 1):
2. the country (paragraph 2):
3. his homeland (paragraph 4):
F. Choose the right answer. (2 pts)
1. “Those who survive” (paragraph 1) means:
2. “He would team up with the people” (paragraph 5) means:
A. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrasal verbs from the list. (2 pts)
look down · look after · turn down · take after · come back
Leila will be late for the party this afternoon because she needs to her little sister. She says she will join us when her parents from the dentist’s.
B. Put the words in brackets in the correct form. (2 pts)
1. Education is a very important factor in a country’s (develop) .
2. Taking care of the environment is the (responsible) of every citizen.
C. Rewrite these sentences beginning with the words given. (3 pts)
Samir goes to a cybercafé because he does not have an Internet connection.
If Samir
“I’ll take you on a trip to Agadir after the exam,” the father told his children.
The father promised
Our school has used Massar to process students’ marks.
Massar to process students’ marks.
D. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense. (2 pts)
Last summer, I travelled by plane to Paris for the first time. I (feel) very nervous during the journey because I (never / take) the plane before.
E. Correct the underlined mistakes. (2 pts)
1. The doctor advised my mother not eating sugar anymore. →
2. Do you still remember the teachers which taught you in primary school? →
F. Fill in each gap with the appropriate linking word from the list. (2 pts)
besides · despite · that’s why · although · due to
1. Jelloul speaks three foreign languages he has never been to school.
2. The doctor says that Amal’s sleeping problems are the long hours she spends online.
G. Match the expressions with their appropriate functions. (2 pts)
1. “I think that Bayern Munich is the best football team in Europe.”
2. “If only we hadn’t spoken to him that way.”
3. “I’m sorry to say this, but these are not the printers I ordered.”
4. “What about eating out together tonight?”
Writing: Write a report about an Earth Day event. (10 pts)
You attended an event organized by your school environment club to celebrate Earth Day. Use the information in the chart to write a report about this event.
Organizers: club members and some school teachers
Topic: environmental problems in the region
Date and place: 22nd April, Municipality conference room
Participants: about 120 people (teachers, students, environmentalists, school environment clubs, factory owners, NGOs…)
Activities: morning: 2 presentations, film and discussion; afternoon: debate + poster exhibitions + competition + prize distribution ceremony
Opinions and reactions: your own (Approximately 300 words)
Answer key: Reading, Language and Writing
Reading
A. Choose the best title for the text. (2 pts)
2. A young African’s dream
The text tells how Joshua keeps trying to reach Europe to build a better life.
B. Are these sentences true or false? Justify. (3 pts)
- True. “About 15,000 African migrants who are awaiting the opportunity to cross over to Europe.” (paragraph 2)
- False. “His mother and five siblings, who are all thinking about leaving their home in Nigeria.” (paragraph 3)
- True. “He got caught by the Spanish police and was immediately deported back to his homeland.” (paragraph 4)
C. Answer these questions. (3 pts)
- He visited Morocco and met Joshua, then wrote about the migrants’ difficult situation.
- Because his mother couldn’t support his education or pay for his living.
- They were short of water and food, and the police tried to catch them.
D. Pick out from the text sentences or expressions which show that: (2 pts)
- “As the borders to Europe are more and more closed, more migrants are stuck in the country.”
- “If I manage to escape border control, I know that I’ll make it into Europe.” / “I have done it before and I’ll do it again.”
E. What do the underlined words in the text refer to? (3 pts)
- Young Sub-Saharan Africans (migrants)
- Morocco
- Nigeria
F. Choose the right answer. (2 pts)
- c. Those who stay alive.
- b. He would join the people.
Language
A. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrasal verbs from the list. (2 pts)
look after · come back
B. Put the words in brackets in the correct form. (2 pts)
- development
- responsibility
C. Rewrite these sentences beginning with the words given. (3 pts)
- If Samir had an Internet connection, he wouldn’t go to a cybercafé.
- The father promised to take his children on a trip to Agadir after the exam.
- Massar has been used by our school to process students’ marks.
D. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense. (2 pts)
felt · had never taken
E. Correct the underlined mistakes. (2 pts)
- not to eat
- who
F. Fill in each gap with the appropriate linking word from the list. (2 pts)
- although
- due to
G. Match the expressions with their appropriate functions. (2 pts)
- expressing opinion
- regretting
- complaining
- suggesting
Writing
Writing: Write a report about an Earth Day event. (10 pts)
Report on the Earth Day Event
On 22nd April, our school environment club, together with some teachers, organized an event to celebrate Earth Day in the Municipality conference room. The topic was environmental problems in the region.
About 120 people attended: teachers, students, environmentalists, members of other school environment clubs, factory owners and NGOs.
In the morning, there were two presentations, then we watched a film and had a discussion. In the afternoon, there was a debate, a poster exhibition and a competition, and the day ended with a prize distribution ceremony.
In my opinion, the event was very successful and useful. The participants were enthusiastic, and many of them said that they had learnt a lot about pollution and how to protect our region.
Download the full exam (Reading, Language and Writing) with the answers as a PDF.
Source: Moroccan Baccalaureate English National Exam, Arts, June 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 June 2014 Arts exam is about Joshua, a young Nigerian migrant who tries to reach Europe. 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
- migrant: مهاجر
- border: حدود
- deport: يرحّل
- siblings: إخوة وأخوات
- fence: سياج
- expulsion: طرد
- survive: ينجو
- homeland: وطن
- team up: ينضم إلى
- support: يعيل
Grammar points in this exam
- Phrasal verbs (look after, come back)
- Word formation (development, responsibility)
- Conditional type 2, reported promises and passive present perfect
- Past simple and past perfect
- Although, due to and language functions
Revise these structures: the Language section of this exam is built on them.
Writing tips
The writing task asks for a report on an Earth Day event from a chart. Use the information in the chart in order, write in the past tense, and add your opinion at the end.
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 July 2014: the other 2014 session
- Baccalaureate English National Exam Arts June 2013
- Baccalaureate English National Exam Arts June 2015
- All Baccalaureate National Exams
