Reading Test - 2Bac S.H.

stream - November

Hi there, I’m Hassan, and I’d like to introduce you to a very special lady. Her name is
Hajja Rabha and she is my classmate Ali’s grandmother. We have always respected this woman for
her passion for learning.
She is over seventy, but she insists on going to school to combat illiteracy. In two years time
she has learned as much as Ali and I have learnt in our entire life. Her slogan* is, “Nobody is too old to
learn”. Now she can read and write, and she usually does. She can also help her grand children with
their arithmetic homework.
Last night, Rabha was sitting by Ali’s computer when he asked her if she was creating a
facebook account. She smiled at him and said, “No, I want to chat with Hajja Malika. Kidding! I’m just
trying to understand how this device works.” Ali was amazed how energetic his grandma is! She is such
a vigorous woman that she looks years younger than us both. Everybody in the village truly admires
this extraordinary lady for her vivacity.
slogan* : ‫ر‬
BASE ALL YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT
I. Comprehension
A. Answer the questions 4 pts
1. What does the text talk about?
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Who and what is Ali?
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why do Hassan and Ali respect Rabha?
___________________________________________________________________________________
4. Why is Rabha using a computer?
___________________________________________________________________________________
B. Say if these sentences are TRUE or False and Justify. 4 pts
1. Hassan’s grandmother is a special lady. [____________]
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Rabha is an illiterate old woman. [____________]
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. Rabha reads and writes regularly. [____________]
___________________________________________________________________________________
4. Rabha is an active woman. [____________]
___________________________________________________________________________________
C. What do the underlined words in the text refer to? 2 pts
1. this woman (§ 1, L 2) ______________________ 2. their (§ 2, L 4) ___________________________
3. this device (§ 3, L 3) ________________________ 4. us (§ 3, L 4) ____________________________
D. Find in the text words or expressions meaning almost the same as
1. enthusiasm (para. 1) _________________________ 2. fight (parag. 2) ________________________
3. Joking (para. 3) _____________________________ 4. really (para. 3) ________________________
E. Pick out from the text sentences which say that: 3 pts
1. Hajja Rabha learns quickly.
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Rabha believes that age has nothing to do with learning.
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. Hajja Rabha is a respectful old woman in her community.
___________________________________________________________________________________

1 M. Abdessalami
 Reading Test - 2Bac S.H. stream - November

II. Writing:

Imagine Hajja Rabha and try to describe her less than 200 words. 5 pts

---------------------------------- GOOD LUCK --------------------------------

This Space is left blank intentionally

2 M. Abdessalami
 Reading Test - 2Bac S.H. stream - November

Hi there, I’m Hassan, and I’d like to introduce you to a very special lady. Her name is
Hajja Rabha and she is my classmate Ali’s grandmother. We have always respected this woman for
her passion for learning.
She is over seventy, but she insists on going to school to combat illiteracy. In two years time
she has learned as much as Ali and I have learnt in our entire life. Her slogan* is, “Nobody is too old to
learn”. Now she can read and write, and she usually does. She can also help her grand children with
their arithmetic homework.
Last night, Rabha was sitting by Ali’s computer when he asked her if she was creating a
facebook account. She smiled at him and said, “No, I want to chat with Hajja Malika. Kidding! I’m just
trying to understand how this device works.” Ali was amazed how energetic his grandma is! She is such
a vigorous woman that she looks years younger than us both. Everybody in the village truly admires
this extraordinary lady for her vivacity.
slogan* : ‫ر‬
BASE ALL YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT
I. Comprehension
A. Answer the questions 4 pts
1. What does the text talk about?
It talks about Hajja Rabha combating illiteracy
2. Who and what is Ali?
Ali is Hajja Rabha’s grandson, Hassan’s classmate, and he is a student.
3. Why do Hassan and Ali respect Rabha?
They respect her for her passion for learning.
4. Why is Rabha using a computer?
She wants to understand how it works.
B. Say if these sentences are TRUE or False and Justify. 4 pts
1. Hassan’s grandmother is a special lady. [__False__]
Ali’s grandmother is a special lady, not Hasan’s.
2. Rabha is an illiterate old woman. [__False___]
Now she can read, write and do some arithmetic.
3. Rabha reads and writes regularly. [__True___]
“Now she can read and write, and she usually does”.
4. Rabha is an active woman. [__True___]
She wants to know how to use the computer.
This woman is passionate, vigorous, energetic and vivacious.
C. What do the underlined words in the text refer to? 2 pts
1. this woman (§ 1, L 2) ____ Hajja Rabha_______ 2. their (§ 2, L 4) ___ grandchildren’s_______
3. this device (§ 3, L 3) _____the computer_______ 4. us (§ 3, L 4) ____Hassan and Ali_________
D. Find in the text words or expressions meaning almost the same as
1. enthusiasm (para. 1) ____passion________ 2. fight (parag. 2) _____combat_______
3. Joking (para. 3) _____Kidding_________ 4. really (para. 3) ______truly___________
E. Pick out from the text sentences which say that: 3 pts
1. Hajja Rabha learns quickly.
In two years time she has learned as much as Ali and I have learnt in our entire life
2. Rabha believes that age has nothing to do with learning.
Her slogan is ‘'Nobody is too old to learn'’
3. Hajja Rabha is a respectful old woman in her community.
Everybody in the village truly admires this extraordinary lady for her vivacity.

3 M. Abdessalami
 Reading Test - 2Bac S.H. stream - November

II. Writing:

Imagine Hajja Rabha and try to describe her in less than 200 words. 5 pts

~ Sample Writing ~

Hajja Rabha is my neighbour and she is such a lovely dynamic old woman! She is
short and slim, and she moves very slowly. As she has difficulty walking straight due to old
age, she always uses a cane to assist her frail skinny body. This sweet little lady has got tiny
brown eyes dug into an oval wrinkled pale face. She has also got very short curly hair that
has turned reddish, but this natural hairstyle suits her perfectly well.
What is amazing about Hajja Rabha is that she always cares about her appearance.
She usually wears clean baggy dark clothes. She is a tidy woman especially in special
occasions such as marriage ceremonies. Everybody treats her with great esteem.
Despite her old age, Hajja Rabha is such a spirited person that is full of vitality. She is
an exceptionally vivacious extroverted and sociable woman whom everybody envies for her
outgoing and optimistic character. She is my ideal person. I always consider her as the wisest
and the most admirable personality in our community.

4 M. Abdessalami