Mahmoud Bachen Secondary School Level: 3rd Year SC / M / TM / GE

Duration: 2 hours

First Term English Exam

PART 1: READING (15 points)
Read the text carefully then do the activities.
Running a business ethically is good for business. However, “business ethics” if
properly interpreted means the standards of conduct of individual business people, not
necessarily the standards of business as a whole.
Applying ethics in business makes good sense. A business that behaves ethically
induces other business associates to behave ethically as well. If a company (or a manager)
exercises particular care in meeting all responsibilities to employees, customers and
suppliers, it is usually awarded with a high degree of loyalty, honesty and productivity. For
example, employees who are treated ethically will more likely behave ethically themselves
in dealing with customers and business associates. Besides, a company that refuses to
discriminate against older or handicapped employees often discovers that they are fiercely
loyal, hard working and productive.
The best way to promote ethical behaviour is by setting a good personal example.
Teaching an employee ethics is not always effective. One can explain and define ethics to
an adult, but understanding ethics does not necessarily result in behaving ethically. Personal
values and ethical behaviour are taught at an early age by parents and educators.
Ethics are important not only in business but in all aspects of life because it is an
essential part of the foundation on which a civilized society is built. A business or society
that lacks ethical principles is bound to fail sooner or later.

A) COMPREHENSION: (07 points)

1- The text is about:
a) The advantages of ethics in business.
b) Ethics and ethical behaviour in business.
2- Say whether the following statements are true or false?
a) Ethical behaviour raises the degree of productivity.
b) Discriminating against the elderly is morally accepted.
c) Ethical behaviour is best transmitted through exemplification.
d) The neglect of ethical virtues can lead to failure.
3- Identify the paragraphs in which the following ideas are mentioned.
a) The good effects of ethics in business.
b) The threat of neglecting ethical values in business and society.
4- Answer the following questions according to the text.
a) List two advantages of practising ethics in business.
b) How can a company or society support ethical comportment?
c) Who are the first responsible of teaching moral principles?
5- What or who do the underlined words in the text refer to?
a) themselves (§2) b) which (§4)
B) TEXT EXPLORATION: (08 points)
1- Find in the text words closest in meaning to the following:
a) encourages (§2) b) standards (§3) c) indispensable (§4)
2- Complete the following chart:

Verbs Nouns Adjectives

……………. productivity …………......
to necessitate …………….. ……………..
……………… …………….. advisable

3- Connect each pair of sentences with one of the given connectors. Make any
necessary changes
such...that - provided that - because - so...that
a) Public authorities stop smuggling drugs. They set stricter laws.
b) They are honest. Their customers feel confident with them.
c) He is a famous person. He attracts a large buying public.
4- Rewrite sentence (b) so that it means the same as sentence (a).
1- (a) Some managers are setting a good personal example.
(b) A good ...........................................................................
2- (a) We should respect ethics in managing public funds.
(b) It’s high time..................................................................
5- Classify the following words according to the pronunciation of their final “s”.
standards - ethics - practices - employees
/s/ /z/ /iz/

6- Reorder these sentences to get a coherent paragraph.

a) such as business, medical, political, environmental, religious, or personal ethics.
b) Ethics is a moral code involving a clear understanding of right and wrong.
c) When people talk about ethics, they may be focused on one specific area,
d) Another word for ethics is values.

PART 2: WRITTEN EXPRESSION (05 points)

Choose one of the following topics.
Topic 1: Use the following notes to write a composition of about 120 on the following
topic.
Some people think that bribe-taking is the best way to get what they want. This is a
totally mistaken claim. Justify.
 Giving a bad reputation / image to the country.
 It is an illegal / unethical practice that we should fight now.
 People should complain about bribe-taking since there are honest servants and
strict laws.
 If it were useful, it wouldn't be forbidden by law.
Topic 2: Though cheating is an unethical practice, the number of pupils trying to cheat in
exams is increasing. What do you think the causes of this unethical phenomenon are and
how can we put an end to it?