MINISTERE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR REPUBIQUE DU CAMEROUN

MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION PEACE - WORK- FATHERLAND

BTS 2019

Technique d’expression anglaise. For all specialties

Duration : 3hours PAPER 1

B) Linguistic competence ( 15 mks)

1) GRAMMAR (10mks)

a). Ask questions corresponding to the following answers . The first one has been done for you.

EXAMPLE.

Two auditors attended the board meeting held in the premises of the Yaounde Conference Centre.
Answer: Where did the board meeting hold?

1. My mother was twenty years old when she got married

Answer:
2. Our boss cut every body’s salary by half because of poor performance.
Answer:
3. It takes about three and half hours to drive from Yaoundé to Muea during the dry season .
Answer:
4. Charly knows a believer who prays fives times a day.
Answer:
5. Second-hand wares cost about one – tenth of their original price.
Answer:

b) Choose the correct answer from the brackets to fill in the blank space

1. Since the death of his wife many years ago, this widow has never ………… of getting married again.
( think , thought, thinking, thing)

2. Before Jacques Chirac took power in France, he ……………… working as Prime Minister for very long
years. ( will be , is, had been, has been ).

3. The first prize will be given to ………………….. the headmaster meets on his way. ( who, whomever,
whoever, what ).

4. Business is closed at 4.30pm ……………..Saturdays, for security reasons.( the , in, on, each)

5. Policemen rushed to the scene only to find out that the burglars ……………. the safe.
( had opened , was opened, opening, open).

II) VOCABULARY( 5mks)

a) Fill in the blanks with a word formed from the one in brackets.
1. All the guests refused the meal because it was too ……….. (oil)
2. The Limbe ………….. (sun) and sandy beaches are recommended for seaside tourism.
3. …………… ............(happy). is what everybody dreams for.
4. Why should someone ……….. your days when they do not know who gave them to you. (short)
5.People no longer get married for better and for ………………… (bad)
b) Choose the correct word in brackets and write it in the blank space in each sentence.

1. There is no need getting up when the assistant general manager …………. your office.(enters, enters into,
get, enters to)

2. He’ll bring you many nice toys when he …………………. Back. ( returns, comes, goes, return)
3. It is actually not easy to choose …………………….. these four options ( between, among, of, at)

4. It is not nice to find …………………alone in front of the Management when major issues such as
retrenchments are to be decided upon .( oneself, each other, one another, they)
5. My mother always sits …………………… her husband when the latter is giving us pieces of advice. (beside,
besides, front, size

B/. Reading comprehension Comprehension:10marks

ORIGIN OF A STOCK EXCHANGE

The transaction concerning shares and other securities take place in the Stock Exchange. The
New York Stock Exchange is located in Wall Street, In the lower part of Manhattan. Wall
Street took it name from the palisade which was built in the 17 th century to protect the
Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam from an invasion by the English.

The working of the Stock Exchange is not as complicated as many people think. All
trading takes place on the floor of the Stock Exchange and it is governed by strict rules. Each
stock is traded at only one post. Members interested in this stock congregate around this post.
Some bid for the stock, others offer it for sale. Transactions are carried out in this manner.

When some particular stock is in great demand, its price rises. On the contrary, when the
offers for sale are very numerous, the price of the stock falls. The administration of the Stock
Exchange is vested in a Board of Governors. Conditions for membership of the Stock
Exchange are admitted only if their financial reputation is beyond reproach.

The Stock Exchange offers opportunities for speculation. A speculator deals for the
account, which means that his transactions need not be settled until the following account-
day. Since stock varies in price from one minute to the next, many changes may take place
before account-day. A “bull” is a man who acts in expectation of a rise in the price of some
stock. On the contrary, the dealings of a “bear” are based on the expectation of a drop in the
price of shares.

The Wall Street area is recognized as the financial capital of the United States . Besides
the Stock Exchange , all the chief financial institutions of the United States ( the major banks
and corporations) have their head-offices there. The importance of Wall Street is not limited
to the United States. It extends to the whole capitalist world where the fluctuations of the
New York Stock Exchange can be felt. This was dramatically evidenced by the world crisis of
the thirties.
QUESTIONS.

1- Where did the world crisis of the 1930’s originate?

2- There is one Stock Exchange in Gabon .Do you know where another one can be found in
Central Africa? Give the city and the country.
3- Explain briefly the concept of “the law of supply and demand” . Get inspiration from the
first two sentences of the third paragraph of the text.
4- In what way is a “bull” different from a “bear” ?
5.Which reality does the word “this” of the last paragraph refer to ?

C)- TRANSLATION

-1. Translate the last paragraph of the text into French.( 2.5 mks)

-2. translate the following sentences into English. (2.5 mks)

1. Le président du conseil d’administration veut que tous les actionnaires viennent beaucoup
plus tôt.

2. Parmi les points à l’ordre du jour, le onzième point, c’est- à -dire boire et manger est le plus
attendu.

3. Ce directeur général dirige cette entreprise depuis au mois huit ans .

D. Writing composition ( 10mks)

Write an essay of between 200 and 250 words on one of the following topics

1. Apply for a job of your choice to any company of your choice.

2. Compare and contrast the management of State-owned corporations and that of private
Companies.

3. Why , according to you, is Africa still poor despite its numerous riches ?
Suggested answers ( CORRIGE) FOR PAPER 1

1. The world crisis of the 1930’s originated in New York, in the United States of America , at
Wall Street.

2. Another one can be found in Douala in Cameroon

3. When demand is higher than supply, prices increase and when supply is higher than
demand , prices decrease.
4. A “bull” is different from the “bear” in the sense that the former always expects prices to
go up whereas the latter expects prices to fall..
5. The reality to which the word “this” refers to is the fluctuation of the New York Stock
Exchange.

B-1 La zone de Wall Street est reconnue comme la capitale financière des Etats- Unis. En
plus de la Bourse, toutes les principales institutions financières des Etats- Unis ( les grandes
banques et les grandes entreprises) ont leurs sièges là-bas. L’importance de Wall Street ne se
limite pas qu’aux Etats-Unis. Elle s’étend dans tout le monde capitaliste où les fluctuations
de la Bourse de New York peut être ressentie. Ceci a été mis en évidence et de manière
dramatique, avec la crise mondiale des années 30

B-2
1 The Chairman of the Board of Directors wants all shareholders to come much earlier.

2. Among the items on the agenda, item eleven, that is, eating and drinking is the most
awaited.
3. The General Manager has been running this company for at least eight years.

C. Grammar.
a)
1.How old was your mother when she got married?
2. Why did your boss cut everybody’s salary by half?
3.How long does it take to drive from Yaoundé to Muea during the dry season?
4. How often does a believer that Charly knows pray?
5.How much do second-hand wares cost?

b)
1. thought; 2. had been ; 3. whomever; 4. on; 5. had opened

Vocabulary
a)
1. oily; 2. sunny; .3. happiness; 4. shorten; 5. worse.

b)
1. enters; 2. comes; .3. among;.4. oneself; . 5. beside.
MINISTERE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR REPUBIQUE DU CAMEROUN
MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION PEACE - WORK- FATHERLAND

Technique d’expression anglaise BTS 2019 Paper II

FOR ALL SPECIALTIES Duration: 3hours

Coefficient: 3

A) Linguistic Competence (15 mks)

I) GRAMMAR/ (10marks)

1). Adapt the words in brackets so that they fit in the blank spaces

a). When I cash my salary, I will ………………….settle all my debts.(must)

b). In the present context of economic hardship people can’t help…… ..…………grateful to whoever
gives them to eat and to drink. (to be).
c). It is high time certain civil servants ………………… realising that life is no longer what it used to
be. (to begin).
d). Almost every young African is now looking forward to………………abroad either for studies or
for a stay. (go).
e). Did all the board meetings ……………….. in the same venue and at the same time ? (to hold).

2). Fill in the blanks with the correct word selected amount the ones found in brackets.

a). The teacher came after we had been waiting for ………………… hour. (a half; half; half an ,
some).
b). The typist ……………. I caught polishing her finger nails instead of working did not receive any
pay. ( whose; whom; who; which).
c). They returned home late after they………………… their tasks. (Completed; have completed;
finished; had completed).
d). Everyone must close ……………………. mouth now that the truth is being revealed. (his; hers;
her; their: theirs)
e) These pieces of …………….. must be taken seriously as they are the last to be given by our
outgoing dean. (advice; advices; advise; advises).

B)/ Vocabulary (5 marks)

I. Match each word with its antonym

a. Heavy 1. Death
b. Dead 2. Alive
c. Wealthy 3. Recorded
d. Smooth . 4. Light
e. Flat 5. Poor
f. Deep 6. Rugged
g. Live 7.Sell
h. Goods 8. Hard
i. Purchase 9. Service
j.Life 10. Shallow

II). Do as instructed.
1. Make an adverb from “Good”; “Happy” and “Fast”
2. Make an adjective from “Sun”; “Rock” and “Sand”
3. Make a noun from “Dark”; “Small” and “Busy”
4. Make a verb from “Strong”; “Large” and “Red”
5. Give the plural of “A stadium” ; “The crisis” and “A tooth”

B) Reading Comprehension (10 mks)

MARINE INSURANCE

Marine insurance is aimed at protecting ships and their cargoes against the perils of the sea.
Let us suppose a manufacturer wishes to insure a cargo valued at £250,000 from London
to Dombay. He can apply to an insurance company direct or through an insurance broker. The rate
of premium, naturally, will vary with the type of goods, the quality of packing, the length of the
voyage and the sea-worthiness of the ship: the greater the risk, the higher the premium will be.
When the two parties of the proposed contract agree, a policy will be issued but, if it is a large or a
very high-risk cargo, the broker draws up a document called “slip” with all relevant details. This
“slip” he hands to several insurance companies or underwriters of Llod’s. Those who agree to
accept the risk sign or insure. When the total sum of £250,000 has been underwritten, the broker
types the actual policy and gets the insurers to sign again. This policy will be delivered to the
insured.
Marine insurance is divided into two sub-branches, hull insurance and cargo insurance.
There are also insurances for freight and liabilities. For a person making insulated imports or
exports, a single policy to cover each individual shipment may be adequate, so long as he has
knowledge of the shipment in sufficient time to enable him to arrange cover. Even so, a small
open policy would give greater protection.
For an importer or exporter with a regular flow of business, however, an open policy or
open cover is of prime importance. He must have the protection of automatic cover, with the
comforting knowledge that omission, in good faith, to declare a particular shipment to his insurer
would not leave him
uninsured even in the event of a loss before the omission was discovered. Such omissions do occur
in the best organisations.
General average is a loss or expense deliberately incurred by the Master of the ship to
procure the safety of the whole venture. It is to the benefit of all, and accordingly all interests
saved, both ship and cargo, are required to contribute to the loss or expense in proportion to their
saved values.
Particular Average is a partial loss or damage resulting from some accidental or fortuitous
cause, and it applies only to the particular goods affected.
When damage is sustained, the captain writes a detail report of the occurrence in the ship’s log-
book. At his first port of call he goes before a consul or notary public to make a declaration of
oath, in which he describes the accident. The damage is assessed by an Adjuster. The laws relating
to Average adjustment have differed for many years in various ports throughout the world, and
this used to mean endless litigation. The spirit of international co-operation has, however, at last
prevailed, and now most countries accept the York-Antwerp Rules laid down by a world congress
held in 1887and revised in 1950.

Questions.

1. Give three “perils of the sea” that can affect ships and their cargoes.
 2. In the world of insurance, what do you call the person that acts as middle person
between an insurance company and a client?
3. What is the difference between hull insurance and cargo insurance?

4. How many versions of law relating to insurance are mentioned in the text and what
are they?

5. What is the importance of insurance in the survival of any business?

C) Translations/ 5 marks

I). Translate into French; from “Let us suppose…” to “ … the higher the premium will be”.(2.5
marks)

II) Translate the following sentences into English.(2.5 marks)

a. L’assurance maritime deviendra ce que l’assurance en général voudra qu’elle

devienne.
b. Nos téléviseurs ne fonctionnent pas depuis la dernière coupure d’électricité.
c. Qui est ce que mon patron veut que je rencontre pour mon problème d’augmentation
de salaire ?

D/ Written Composition ( 10 marks)

Treat any of the following essay topics in about 300 words.

1. Taking an insurance policy is “leaping into the dark”: Discuss.

2. Do you agree with this manager of a famous insurance company in Cameroon who once said
that without the existence of insurers, the highest building in the United States of America
would not have been built as nobody would risk their money if a spark from a cigarette stick
could reduce everything in ashes?

3. What can insurers insure?

suggested answers (Corrigé) FOR PAPER II

1. Give three “perils of the sea” that can affect ships and their cargoes.

Answer: Here are three perils of the sea that can affect ships and their cargoes: Fire; piracy; shipwreck

2. In the world of insurance, what do you call the person that acts as middle person between an insurance
company and a client?
A/ that person is called “ insurance broker”

3. What is the difference between hull insurance and cargo insurance?

A/ The difference is that hull insurance covers the ship as a container and not the goods carried by the ship;
Whereas cargo insurance covers only the goods transported by the ship and not the ship itself.

4. How many versions of law relating to insurance are mentioned in the text and what are they?
A/ There are two versions: the York-Antwerp Rules of 1887 and the ones of 1950.

5. What is the importance of insurance in the survival of any business?

A/ The importance is that insurance, by protecting a business insures its survival in the sense that the
promoter is reimbursed in case of damage which could have lead to closing down.

II/ Essay.

Treat any of the following essay topics in about 300 words.

1. Taking an insurance policy is “leaping into the dark”: Discuss.

2.Do you agree with this manager of a famous insurance company in Cameroon who once said that without
the existence of insurers, the highest building in the United States of America would not have been built as
nobody would risk their money if a spark from a cigarette stick could reduce everything in ashes?

3. What can insurers insure?

III/ Translations
A. Translate into French; from “Let us suppose…” to “ … the higher the premium will be”.

A/ Supposons qu’on fabricant veuille assurer un cargo évalué à 250.000 livres sterling, de Londres à
Bombay. Il peut s’adresser à une compagnie d’assurance soit directement soit à travers un courtier
d’assurance. Le montant de la prime , naturellement variera en fonction du type de marchandise, de la
qualité de l’emballage, de la longueur du voyage et de la navigabilité du bateau ; plus le risque est grand
plus la prime sera élevée.

III) Translate the following sentences into English.

a. L’assurance maritime deviendra ce que l’assurance en général voudra qu’elle devienne.

A/ Marine insurance will become what insurance in general wants it to become.

b. Nos téléviseurs ne fonctionnent pas depuis la dernière coupure d’électricité.

A/ Our television sets have not being functioning since the last power cut.

c. Qui est ce que mon patron veut que je rencontre pour mon problème d’augmentation de
salaire ?
A/ Whom does my boss want me to meet for my salary problem?
IV/ GRAMMAR

A. Adapt the words in brackets so that they fit in the blank spaces

1. When I cash my salary, I will have to .settle all my debts.(must)

2. In the present context of economic hardship people can’t help …being…grateful to. whoever gives them to
eat and to drink. (to be).
3. It is high time certain civil servants …began…… realising that life is no longer what it used to be. (to begin).
4. Almost every young African is now looking forward to…going……abroad either for studies or for a stay.
(go).
5. Did all the board meetings …hold….. in the same venue and at the same time ? (to hold).
B. Fill in the blanks with the correct word selected amount the ones found in brackets.
1. The teacher came after we had been waiting for …half an …… hour. (a half; half; half an , some).
2. The typist ……whom…. I caught polishing her finger nails instead of working did not receive any pay.
( whose; whom; who; which).
3. They returned home late after they……had completed… their tasks. (Completed; have completed ; finished ;
had completed).
4. Everyone must close ……their……. mouth now that the truth is being revealed. (his; hers; her; their: theirs)
5. These pieces of ……advice….. must be taking seriously as they are last to be given by our outgoing dean.
(advice; advices; advise; advises).
IV/ Vocabulary
A.
Match each word with its antonym

ANSWER
a. Heavy Lght 1. Death
b. Dead Alive 2. Alive
c. Wealthy Poor 3. Recorded
d. Smooth Hard . 4. Light
e. Flat Rugged 5. Poor
f. Deep Shallow 6. Rugged
g. Live Recorded 7.Sell
h. Goods Service 8. Hard
i. Purchase Sell 9. Service
j.Life Death 10. Shallow
B. Do as instructed.

1. Make an adverb from “Good”; “Happy” and “Fast”

Answer/ Well Happily and Fast
2. Make an adjective from “Sun”; “Rock” and “Sand”
A/ Sunny Rocky and Sandy
3. Make a noun from “Dark”; “Small” and “Busy”
A/ Darkness , Smallness and Business
4. Make a verb from “Strong”; “Large” and “Red”
To strengthen, to enlarge and Redden
5. Give the plural of “A stadium” ; “The crisis” and “A tooth”
A/ Stadia; Crises and Teeth