Baccalaureate English National Exam Sciences June 2011: practice the Moroccan Bac English national exam online with interactive exercises, instant scoring, an answer key and a free PDF. 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 Sciences June 2011: Interactive Practice
English National Exam — Sciences June 2011
Interactive practice: Reading (15 pts) · Language (15 pts) · Writing (10 pts)
[1] We all know that the cell phone is one of the cheapest means of communication. We can communicate with our beloved ones, relatives, or any person all around the globe by sending a text message or by making a call.
[2] One important use of the cell phone is to send text messages. It is an easy way to communicate. We simply type the message, send it, and, in just a few seconds, it will reach another person in any place around the globe. Moreover, with the cell phone, we can send money, check internet emails, or even watch the news on TV stations.
[3] Technology certainly plays an important role in our daily life but too much use of cell phones may be harmful. According to some studies, we are exposed to electromagnetic radiation when we use cell phones. This radiation can cause biological transformations in the human body affecting the brain tissues and causing hair loss, skin reddening, memory loss, brain cancer, and sometimes death. Many researchers warn people against the use of cell phones because they think it causes brain cancer. Yet, there is no scientific evidence so far!
[4] A group of researchers in Europe are trying to determine the risks of using cell phones through a big project called Cosmos. They are studying the effect of mobile phones on users’ health. Professor Lawrie Challis, a member of that group, says: “the study is crucial, and we still do not know if the use of mobile phones causes cancer or not.” He also remarks that “the balance of evidence suggests that it does not, but we need to be sure.”
[5] Dr. Mireille Toledano, another investigator in the same project, suggests that “the best thing we can do now is to observe the health of a large number of users over a long period of time to see if, in the long term, there are any links between cell phone use and cancer.” The project will last for more than 20 years and will involve 250,000 phone users across five different European countries.
[6] In any case, the excessive use of cell phones may be too risky. Cell phones should be used for emergencies and not for long conversations. We need to be cautious; “prevention is better than cure” as the proverb goes.
A. Choose the best title for the text. (2 pts)
The best title is:
B. Are these sentences true or false? Justify. (3 pts)
Using cell phones for communication is very expensive.
Dr. Mireille Toledano is a researcher in the Cosmos project.
The Cosmos project will involve phone users only from Europe.
C. Answer these questions. (4 pts)
What diseases may be caused by electromagnetic radiation from cell phones?
What do the Cosmos project researchers want to find out?
How long will it take to complete the Cosmos project?
What should cell phones be used for according to the writer?
D. Find in the text words that mean almost the same as: (3 pts)
the world (paragraph 1):
dangerous (paragraph 3):
too much (paragraph 6):
E. What do the underlined words in the text refer to? (3 pts)
it (paragraph 2):
they (paragraph 3):
He (paragraph 4):
A. Give the correct form of the words between brackets. (2 pts)
Talented people are often (ambition) and creative.
Some parents show a lot of (tolerant) towards their kids’ behavior.
B. Rewrite the sentences beginning with the words given. (3 pts)
An earthquake destroyed a city in New Zealand in February 2011.
A city in New Zealand
“Will the students take part in the sports competition, Mrs. Brown?”
The headmaster asked Mrs. Brown
“I didn’t accept Jamal’s marriage proposal,” Leila said with regret.
Leila wishes
C. Put the verbs between brackets in the correct tense. (2 pts)
“It’s the best novel I (read / ever) !” Antonio told the teacher.
By this time next week, Younes (join) the summer camp in Ifrane.
D. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the list. (2 pts)
He wants to know … country will organize the next Olympic Games.
The young man … is next to me in the picture is my neighbor.
E. Fill in each blank with the appropriate phrasal verb. (2 pts)
Our teachers intend to … a new English club.
I really don’t … him on this point.
F. Match each expression with its appropriate function. (4 pts)
“Why don’t you join our sports team?” Tom asked his classmate.
“Could you make a photocopy for me, please?” Lina asked.
“I’m sorry, I’ve given you the wrong change,” the shop assistant said.
She didn’t train hard; as a result, she lost the tennis tournament.
Writing: An English friend of yours has decided to live in Morocco, and he/she needs your help to choose a city or town. Write an email to your friend to explain why the city or town you suggest is good for him/her to live in. (Approximately 200 words) (10 pts)
An English friend of yours has decided to live in Morocco, and he/she needs your help to choose a city or town. Write an email to your friend to explain why the city or town you suggest is good for him/her to live in. (Approximately 200 words) Cues: name of the city/town – geographical location – weather – people – customs – historical monuments – interesting places – economy – facilities (hospitals, libraries, shopping centers, schools, transport).
Answer key: Reading, Language and Writing
Reading
A. Choose the best title for the text. (2 pts)
b. Cell phone use and health
Most of the text deals with the possible health risks of cell phones.
B. Are these sentences true or false? Justify. (3 pts)
- False. “the cell phone is one of the cheapest means of communication” (paragraph 1)
- True. She is “another investigator in the same project”. (paragraph 5)
- True. It “will involve 250,000 phone users across five different European countries”. (paragraph 5)
C. Answer these questions. (4 pts)
- Brain cancer (and also hair loss, skin reddening, memory loss, and sometimes death).
- They want to find out the risks of using cell phones (if cell phone use causes cancer or not).
- More than 20 years.
- For emergencies (not for long conversations).
D. Find in the text words that mean almost the same as: (3 pts)
- the globe
- harmful
- excessive
E. What do the underlined words in the text refer to? (3 pts)
- The (text) message
- (Many) researchers
- Professor Lawrie Challis
Language
A. Give the correct form of the words between brackets. (2 pts)
- ambitious
- tolerance
B. Rewrite the sentences beginning with the words given. (3 pts)
- A city in New Zealand was destroyed by an earthquake in February 2011.
- The headmaster asked Mrs. Brown if (whether) the students would take part in the sports competition.
- Leila wishes she had accepted Jamal’s marriage proposal.
C. Put the verbs between brackets in the correct tense. (2 pts)
- have ever read (present perfect)
- will have joined (future perfect)
D. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the list. (2 pts)
- which
which country asks about a choice. - who
who is the subject and refers to a person.
E. Fill in each blank with the appropriate phrasal verb. (2 pts)
- set up
set up means to establish. - agree with
agree with someone.
F. Match each expression with its appropriate function. (4 pts)
- d. suggesting
- c. requesting
- a. apologizing
- b. cause and effect
Writing
Writing: An English friend of yours has decided to live in Morocco, and he/she needs your help to choose a city or town. Write an email to your friend to explain why the city or town you suggest is good for him/her to live in. (Approximately 200 words) (10 pts)
Subject: The best city for you
Dear Emma,
I was so happy to hear that you want to live in Morocco! I think Agadir is the perfect city for you.
Agadir is in the south-west of Morocco, on the Atlantic coast, so you can enjoy beautiful beaches and sunny weather almost all year round. The winters are mild and the summers are not too hot. The people are friendly and welcoming, and they will help you feel at home. You will also discover Amazigh customs, music and delicious food such as tagine and fresh fish.
There are many interesting places to visit, such as the old Kasbah on the hill and the Souss-Massa National Park. The economy is based on tourism, fishing and agriculture, so it is easy to find work. Moreover, the city has modern facilities: good hospitals, libraries, shopping centers, schools and an international airport.
I am sure you will love it. Please write back and tell me what you think.
Best wishes,
Salma
Download the full exam (Reading, Language and Writing) with the answers as a PDF.
Source: Moroccan Baccalaureate English National Exam, Sciences, June 2011 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.
Baccalaureate English National Exam Sciences June 2011: Exam Tips and Key Vocabulary
This Sciences June 2011 exam is built around a reading text about cell phone use and health, followed by language and writing tasks. Use the notes below after you finish the interactive practice, to review what you missed.
What this exam tests
- Reading (15 pts): comprehension questions, true or false with justification, finding synonyms and identifying references.
- Language (15 pts): word forms, vocabulary in context, rewriting sentences, language functions and short exchanges.
- Writing (10 pts): an email on a topic related to the unit.
Key vocabulary from the reading text
- radiation: إشعاع
- cancer: سرطان
- researcher: باحث
- evidence: دليل
- excessive: مفرط
- cautious: حذر
- prevention: الوقاية
- emergency: حالة طارئة
- risk: خطر
- study: دراسة
Grammar points to review
- Passive voice: be + past participle (The exam was corrected by the teachers).
- Reported questions: use the statement word order after the question word (Where did you go? becomes he asked where I had gone).
- Wish clauses: wish + past simple (present) or past perfect (past regret).
- Future perfect: will have + past participle (By the end of June, we will have finished).
Writing tips
- Start with a subject line and a greeting (Dear …), then say why you are writing in the first sentence.
- Develop two or three ideas in short paragraphs, each with a reason or an example, using linking words (First, Moreover, Finally).
- Finish with a polite closing (Best wishes) and your name.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is the Sciences English national exam?
The exam has 40 points: Reading 15, Language 15 and Writing 10.
Where can I find the answers to this exam?
Open the answer key under the exam, or download the exam and answers as a PDF with the button below the practice.
How should I use this page to revise?
Try each exercise first, check your answer, then read the answer key and the tips above. Repeat with other years from the list below.
More Baccalaureate English National Exams (Sciences)
Keep practicing with other years of the Moroccan Bac English national exam:
- Baccalaureate English National Exam Sciences July 2011
- Baccalaureate English National Exam Sciences June 2010
- Baccalaureate English National Exam Sciences June 2012
- All Baccalaureate National Exams
