……………………………… HIGH SCHOOL (May, 2013)

Foreign Languages, Year Three. Time Allotted: 3h,30mns

MOCK BACCALAUREATE ENGLISH EXAM

EXAM 1
PART ONE: Reading (14pts)
A/ Comprehension (7pts)
Read the text then do the activities.
The name China comes from the early Chin dynasty that once ruled the
area covering modern China. The Chin dynasty is important because it united all
of China under one emperor. Chinese civilization developed around 5000 years
ago. China has a recorded history of more than 3600 years and another early
2000 years of unrecorded history.
Chinese civilization spread to many parts of Asia, influencing the
development there. For example, Chinese beliefs influenced Japan and the Far
Eastern region of Asia. At the same time Chinese civilization was open to
influences from outside. Chinese civilization depended much on long distance
trade. Chinese people had a trade relationship with the Mesopotamians, the
people from the Indus River valley and the Swahili from the eastern coast of
Africa.
China held many cultural groups or ethnic divisions. More powerful
groups absorbed other, smaller ones. The different climates across the country
resulted in people living differently. The people of ancient China were divided
into inner Chinese and outer Chinese people. Two major rivers, the Yellow River
and Yan Tse River together with small rivers provide plentiful water. These help
keep the fertility of the soil; and thus, a highly developed irrigated farming at
that time.
The people of ancient China had strong and rich religious beliefs. Although
it had started in India, the dominant religion was Buddhism. It spread widely in
China but many people still held on to other traditional beliefs. Like many
African societies, Chinese people used to worship their ancestors. Chinese
emperors encouraged the people to regard them as “God sent semi-divine or
heavenly emperors”. This allowed the emperors to go on conquering other
independent peoples. Many of the Chinese beliefs and rituals are still practiced,
today.
It could be said that Chinese civilization is the only ancient one still
existing today. Chinese civilization produced many things which are still in use
today. Things like paper, the compass, and gunpowder.

http://www.sahistory.org

1/ Copy on your answer sheet the correct answer a, b or c:(1pt)

The text’s discourse is……
a)- narrative. b)- argumentative c)- prescriptive.
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2/ Are these statements true or false ? (2pts)

a- The Chinese civilization had no impact on the other countries.

b- The Chinese originated from the same ethnic group.
c- Buddhism was the unique religion in ancient China
d- The Chinese civilization depended a lot on commerce with other nations.

3/ Match the ideas with the appropriate paragraph: (1.pt)

Ideas Paragraph
a-China’s varied population races 1
b-The Chinese everlasting civilization 2
c-The Chinese beliefs and religions 3
d-The origin of China 4
e-China ‘s relation with the other nations. 5

4/ Answer the following questions according to the text.(2pts)

a- What helped China to develop its farming?

b- Has the Chinese Civilization ended ? justify your answer from the text.

5/ What do the underlined words in the text refer to.: (1pt)

which (§5) It (§4)

B/ : Text Exploration (7pts)

1/ Find in the text words closest in meaning to the following.(1pt)

a. extended (§2) b. relied on (§2)
c. advanced (§3) d. despite the fact that (§4)

2/ Fill in the table with the missing word category.(1pt)

Verb Noun Adjective

to depend ……………. …………….
……………. …………….. advanced
division

4) Ask questions on the underlined words.(1pt)

a) The Chinese civilization developed some 5000 years ago

b) The emperor was regarded as a semi-divine being.

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3/Complete sentence (b) so that it means the same as sentence (a).(2pts)

1. a) More powerful groups absorbed smaller ones

b) Smaller………………………………………………………
2. a) Like many Africans, The Chinese used to worship their ancestors.
b) Many Africans …………………………………. .
3. a) He wanted to know why china had had a developed farming.
b) He wanted to know, “…………………………………?”
4. a) The Chinese Civilization was so fascinating that I want to live that
period.
b) I wish I …………………………………………………

5/ Underline the stressed syllable in the following words? (1pt)

political - civilization - culture - achieve

6/ Fill in the gaps with four words from the list below.;(1pt)
- technology - rivers – many - role - ancient – - agriculture
Four of the world's …1…..civilizations emerged along large …2…in dry
climates, around 6000-4000 BCE, and it was not by chance. The rivers played a
key …3… in the emergence of ancient China, the Indus Valley civilization,
Mesopotamia, and ancient Egypt. The rivers not only made the development of
…4….possible but also gave the people in those four areas the opportunity to
develop commerce and build cities.

PART TWO:Written Expression (6 pts)

Choose ONE of the following topics:
Topic one: Use the following notes to write a composition about the causes of
the decline of ancient civilizations
-External conflicts: Invasions- war – conquests –loss of material and human
resources.
- Internal conflicts: civil wars- social disorder
- Environmental causes: climatic changes, epidemics
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Topic two: Write a composition of about 100 words on the following
topic:
Write a composition in which you explain and illustrate how the ancient
civilizations have helped humanity in its present life.

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