CPGE /SETTAT / 2TSI 1&2 Exam Preparatory Lesson 1 March 2023

SECTION ONE : CRITICAL READING

Read the Text Below and Answer the Questions that follow.

Imagine a typical Tuesday morning. You park your car in the nearby Costco’s parking lot.
The lot is full, with vehicles parked nose to nose. You wait in a long line, similar to what you
would see at Disney on a typical weekend. When you finally get inside, you see rows upon
rows of empty shelves. You maneuver your shopping cart around frenzied shoppers, only to
find that Costco is out of face masks, nonperishable items, medications, hand sanitizers, and
hand soaps. The reason for this newound global love of hand sanitizers and masks? The fear
and panic as the coronavirus (known as ‘2019-nCov’ or ‘Covid-19) spreads globally.

Experts have warned us that face masks do not help stop the spread of Covid-19. However,
what is helpful are advancements in artificial intelligence and genetic technology.

Artificial Intelligence, or more commonly known as A.I., can warn of an upcoming epidemic
and give us enough time to prepare.

For example, BlueDot, a global artificial intelligence database company, uses A.I.-powered
algorithm, machine learning, and natural-language processing to analyze information from a
multitude of sources and track over a hundred infectious diseases.

On December 31st, 2019 Blue Dot sent out a warning to its customers to avoid Wuhan,
ahead of both the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World
Health Organization (WHO) To contrast that, the World Health Organization (WHO) did not
send out a notice until January 9th, 2020.

Earlier this month, BlueDot predicted where other Asian city outbreaks could be by
analyzing traveler itineraries and flight paths.

In the future, A.I. could even use social media data to predict human behavior and potential
outbreaks.

A.I. is not only able to warn us of an impending epidemic, but it can help us identify,
develop, and scale new treatments and vaccines faster than ever before.

The key to developing a vaccine is to be able to rapidly and efficiently recreate the virus’s
genome sequence and build a copy of the virus.

In just one month, scientists in China recreated the genome sequence of the virus. To
compare how extraordinary that is, it took scientists several months to recreate the genome
sequence of the SAR’s virus in 2003. Not only that, researchers in Australia created a lab-
grown copy of the virus from an infected patient.

Having an accurate genome sequence and an exact replica of the virus copy, we can
then quickly develop and validate diagnostic tests for the virus. We now have one vaccine

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CPGE /SETTAT / 2TSI 1&2 Exam Preparatory Lesson 1 March 2023

candidate entering clinical trials within three months.

Lastly, A.I. can help manage the outbreak and minimize fatalities by decreasing the burden
on the healthcare professionals and reminding patients on proper care procedures.

Physicians, nurses, and hospital staff are at high risk of Covid-19 exposure and contraction.
To date, thousands of hospital staff in China have been infected with the virus. A.I. can help
alleviate that burden. For example, China is using robots to provide faster diagnostic checks,
and Hangzhou city ambulances are assisted by A.I. to speed through traffic.

A.I. can also help remind us of what we should do in case we have contracted the virus.
China launched an app that helps people check if they have taken a flight or train with a
confirmed coronavirus patient. At the same time, China is using drones to ensure residents
are taking the appropriate precautions.

Although Covid-19’s rapid spread globally is scary, it gives us a ray of hope knowing the
awe-inspiring, boundary-breaking, cross-collaboration of our healthcare leaders, politicians,
and public servants.

Jun Wu Mar 19, 2020,

COMPREHENSION

Answer the following questions using your own words as far as possible.

1. In one complete sentence, state the main point of the reading passage.

2. Evaluate the examples suggested in the text to show the effectiveness of AI in fighting
coronavirus.

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CPGE /SETTAT / 2TSI 1&2 Exam Preparatory Lesson 1 March 2023

3. Summarize the reading passage in a paragraph of no more than 65 words( +/- 10%).

Commentary

Comment on the statement below. Do not exceed 75-word paragraph.

“I am skeptical that distance education based on asynchronous Internet technologies (i.e., prerecorded
video, online forums, and email) is a substitute for live classroom discussion and other on-campus
interaction. Distance education students can't raise their hands to ask instructors questions or
participate in discussions, and it's difficult or impossible for them to take advantage of faculty office
hours. Teaching assistants don't always respond to email, and online class discussion boards can be
neglected by students and faculty alike. In this sense, the "process of dialogue" is actually limited by
technology.”
― Ian Lamont

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CPGE /SETTAT / 2TSI 1&2 Exam Preparatory Lesson 1 March 2023

SECTION TWO : TRANSLATION

Theme
Translate the following paragraph into English.
La panique provoquée par l’épidémie de coronavirus est un terreau fertile pour la naissance de
rumeurs et intox en tous genres. Le risque de pandémie affole les esprits et les fausses
rumeurs sur les vecteurs de transmission de la maladie se répandent. Le virus appelé Covid-
19, suscite de l’angoisse. Des internautes peu scrupuleux partagent des informations non
vérifiées qui risquent de créer un vent de panique parmi la population.

Version
Traduire en Français le passage suivant: .
A lot of the concern about artificial intelligence in the workplace appears to be based on what
people have seen in cartoons, read in novels or watched in sci-fi movies, portraying a world
overtaken by robots. Now that AI-based systems and applications are gaining ground, people
are getting nervous about the role of machines. Will they take over our jobs?

SECTION THREE : WRTING

Write a four-paragraph persuasive essay in favor of Artificial Technology.

OR
Write a four-paragraph synthesis essay using the text (DOC1) , and Commentary tasks ( DOC2 ) and
the translation task . ( DOC 3)

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CPGE /SETTAT / 2TSI 1&2 Exam Preparatory Lesson 1 March 2023

END OF TEST