English Test – Human Genome Map

1. A six-country scientific association revealed yesterday that it had drawn up a complete human genome map, completing one of the most ambitious scientific projects ever and offering a major opportunity for medical advances. The association’s president, which comprises Britain, China, France, Germany, Japan, and the United States, said the work had been finished two years ahead of schedule.

2. The heads of the government of these countries said in a joint statement that now “revolutionary progress will be made in biomedical sciences and the health and welfare of mankind.” Scientists have predicted that major progress can be made in many incurable and genetic diseases.

3. The National Human Genome Research Institute, the leading agency in the United States, said the work was historic. It added in a statement that ” the international efforts to sequence the three billion DNA letters of the human genome is considered by many to be one of the most ambitious scientific undertakings of all time, even compared to splitting the atom or going to the moon. ” Francis Collins, the leader of the international team said.

4. “All of the project’s goals have been completed successfully-well in advance of the original deadline and for a cost substantially less than the original estimate.” The human genome map cost about $ 2.7 billion to draw up, about $300 million under the predicted cost, according to the US Institute.

5. Research by hundreds of experts at 20 centers in the six countries started in 1990, and the first draft of the human sequence was made public in June 2000. Scientists announced last February that they had completed a map of 95 % of the human genome.

6. Their outstanding work will be noted in the history of science and technology, as well in the history of humankind, as a landmark achievement.” According to experts, knowledge of the genome will enable scientists to find better ways of preventing medical problems, new drugs to treat previously untreatable disorders, and medicines with fewer side effects.

I.COMPREHENSION [15 POINTS]

(BASE ALL YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT)

A. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS (4 pts; 1 point each) 

1. What scientific achievement did the association announce?
2. How do the scientists describe the human genome map?
3. How long did it take the experts to complete the genome map?
4. What characteristics will future medical drugs have?

B. ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY (4 pts, one each) 

1. The heads of the states in the six countries reacted positively to the genome map.
2. The treatment of genetic diseases will improve thanks to the genome map.
3. The research was conducted in the USA.
4. The cost of the project was over-estimated at the beginning

C. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS THAT MEAN THE SAME AS (4 pts; 1 each) 

1. Occasion (paragraph 1)……………………………………………….
2. Prosperity (paragraph 2)…………………………………………..
3. Purposes (paragraph 3)………………………………………….
4. Great (paragraph 5)……………………………………………….

D. WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO (3pts; 1 each)

1. The work (paragraph 1)………………………………………
2. These countries (paragraph 2)………………………………………….
3. Their ( paragraph 6)…………………………………………………………

II.LANGUAGE [15 POINTS]

A. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST BELOW (3pts)

destruction – exclusion – participatory – preserve –available – slow down

1. ……………………..! There’s an accident happening in front of us.
2. Our environment is in a state of complete…………………… We have to protect it.
3. In the past, many women suffered from marginalization and ……………………………….

B. GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS BETWEEN BRACKETS (3pts; 1 each)

1. (prevent)…………………is better than a cure.
2. We need some (finance)……………………….support to realize this project.
3. I didn’t see the film till the end because it was (interesting)…………………………

C. PUT THE VERBS BETWEEN BRACKETS IN THEIR CORRECT FORM (3pts; 1 each) 

1. When I arrived at the shop, the thieves (already/run)…………………………………..away.
2. By the end of the next month, I (know)……………………………..my exam results.
3. If only I (not/throw)…………………………those papers. I could use them in my projects.

D.REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN (4pts) 

1. In spite of living in London for four years, Aziz can’t speak fluent English.
   • Although ………………
2. I am almost certain that Jack belongs to a rich family.
   • Jack …………………
3. “You may leave once you finish.”
   • The teacher told the students………….
4. The government has implemented a new educational system
   • A new educational system ………

E. WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES EXPRESS (2 pts)

1. “I deeply regret that”: …………..
2. “What do you mean?”: ……………………..
3. “As I see it, foreign languages are important.” : …………………….
4. “Oh, Goodness! Morocco lost the match again.” : …………………….

III. WRITING [10 POINTS]

Imagine you traveled to a city or village in Morocco and had a problem. Write a letter to a pen pal telling him/her about your problem and the solutions you found.

Key Answers to English Test – The Human Genome Map

I. COMPREHENSION [15 POINTS]

A. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS (4 pts; 1 point each)

1. It had drawn up a complete human genome map
2. One of the most ambitious scientific undertaking of all time
3. 10 years
4. Fewer side effects.

B. ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY (4 pts, 1each)

1. True “revolutionary progress will be made in biomedical sciences and in the health and welfare of mankind.”
2. True “Scientists have predicted that major progress can be made in many incurable and genetic diseases.”
3. False “Research by hundreds of experts at 20 centers in the sic countries”
4. False “The human genome map cost about $ 2.7 billion to draw up, about $300 million under the predictedcost

C. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS THAT MEAN THE SAME AS (4 pts; 1 each)

1. Occasion (paragraph 1): opportunity
2. Prosperity (paragraph 2): welfare
3. Purposes (paragraph 3) goals
4. Great (paragraph 5): outstanding

D. WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO (3pts; 1each)

1. The work (paragraph 1): human genome map
2. These countries (paragraph 2): Britain, China, France, Germany, Japan and the United States
3. Their (paragraph 6): Scientists / hundreds of experts

II. LANGUAGE [15 POINTS]

A. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITHE THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST BELOW (3pts)

destruction – exclusion – participatory – preserve –available – slow down

1. Slow down! There’s an accident happening in front of us.
2. Our environment is in a state of complete destruction. We have to protect it.
3. In the past, many women suffered from marginalization and exclusion.

B. GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS BETWEEN BRACKETS (3pts; 1 each)

1. Prevention is better than cure.
2. We need some financial support to realize this project.
3. I didn’t see the film till the end because it was uninteresting

C. PUT THE VERBS BETWEEN BRACKETS IN THEIR CORRECT FORM (3pts; 1 each)

1. When I arrived at the shop, the thieves had already run away.
2. By the end of the next month, I (know) will have known my exam results.
3. If only I didn’t throw those papers. I could use them in my projects.

D.REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN (4pts)

1. Although Aziz lives in London for four years, he can’t speak fluent English.
2. Jack must belong to a rich family. 
3. The teacher told the students that they might leave once they finished.
4. A new educational system has been implemented.

E. WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES EXPRESS (2 pts)

1. Regret
2. Asking for clarification
3. Expressing opinion
4. Responding to bad news