Anglais

Baccalauréat de l'enseignement général

Madagascar

Session 2007

 

 

Does sport bring the nations together?

Sir, the idea that international sport creates “goodwill” between nations is a very false one in my opinion. Nearly all modern sport is fiercely competitive. You play to win, not for fun and exercise. Although it is absurd to think that kicking, hitting or throwing a ball is a test of national virtue, spectators at great international matches often behave like hooligans in support of their own teams, the rules of the games and fair play are forgotten as strong feelings of national pride are aroused. Sometimes the police have to intervene in order to prevent the crowd from invading the field and causing great damage. There have been actual riots at some matches. If this is what “goodwill” between the nations means, I’ll have none of it.

People would do better use up their surplus energy for long walks, swimming, riding horses, even climbing trees. Life is competitive enough without adding sport to it.

Yours faithfully,

    

QUESTIONS                                                                      Jonathan Mailer

A -       Reading comprehension        (7 pts)

I -    Find in the text (1 pt)

1 -   The equivalent of: “pleasure”.

2 -   The opposite of: “lose”.

 

II -   True or False. Justify your answer (1 pt)

1 -   Spectators at international matches come even to fight between themselves.

2 -   The letter talks about the good sides of sport.

 

III -  Choose the one correct answer (1 pt)

1 -   At great international matches, what matters much is :

a -   national pride

b -   fair play

c -   support

2 -   Sometimes, the police have to intervene:

a -   to cause great damage

b -   to stop people’s anger

c -   to control the match                                                                                 

 

IV -  Complete with words taken from the text (1 pt)

1 -   Kevin decided to go to the swimming-pool _ _ _ _ it rained

2 -   We should make an effort not to _ _ _ _ _ our natural resources

 

V -   Answer the questions (3 pts)

1 -   Why are modern sports said to be essentially competitive?

2 -   When does fair play disappear at great international matches?

3 -   Do you agree that the strong feelings of national pride can make people forget fair play at international matches? Why?

 

B -       Grammar in use

Fill in the blanks with the suitable grammatical items (2 pts)

One day, a man went into a shop to buy some new clothes, but suddenly he changed his mind. He asked to try a suit on. _ _ _ _ _ he had put the new suit on, he ran _ _ _ _ _ from the shop. The shopkeeper _ _ _ _ _ was a very old man tried to run after him _ _ _ _ _ didn’t catch him. _ _ _ _ _ he went back to his shop _ _ _ _ _ called the police. The latter came with _ _ _ _ _ trained dog, made it sniff the thief’s clothes and went to pursue _ _ _ _.

 

C -       Indirect test of speaking (4 pts)

I -    Same or different (1 pt)

II -   Complete this dialogue (3 pts)

Tony :     Robert, how are you?

Robert :  _ _ _ _ _ , Tony. I wonder if you know the news.

Tony :     _ _ _ _ _ ?

Robert :  I was completely upset to know that our friend Richard was dead.

Tony :    _ _ _ _ _ .

 

D -       Writing (7 pts)

People say that money brings happiness. Do you agree or disagree?

(about 80 words)