Anglais

Baccalauréat de l'enseignement général

Madagascar

Session 2000

 

anglais – Séries : C – D

 

Text

Humid forests

Humid forests are often called rainforests because they receive a lot of rain during the whole year. In Madagascar they are found in the eastern part of the island, from Fort-Dauphin to the Vohémar area.

Rainforests are among the most complicated ecosystem on earth, in other words they contain many different kinds of plants and animals which interact.

Most of the plants and animals met in Madagascar exist nowhere else on earth. This means that Madagascar is important to people all over the world: many plants in Malagasy rainforests may contain substances that can be used to fight a disease. If the rainforests disappear or are cleared, these plants together with their precious substances will be lost for ever.

In Madagascar, a lot of people practise “tavy”. It is difficult to solve this problem because people burn or cut down trees for subsistence agriculture.

(Adapted from “Vintsy”, 1999)

QUESTIONS

I.Reading comprehension(7 pts)

A.Two main ideas of the text are shown in the following picture. Write one sentence for each of them:(0,5 pt x 2)

B.Scrambled summary: To summarize the text, put the sentences in order.(1 pt)

Many plants existing in our forests are precious.

where we can find rich fauna and flora.

Unfortunately, people destroy forests for cultivation; that is a problem.

Some regions of our island are covered with humid forests

C.Choose the right answer(0,5 pt x 2)

All plants and animals :

do not depend on one another.

are met in all countries.

are interdependent.

Rainforests :

exist only in Madagascar.

are not necessary, that’s why Malagasy people destroy them.

are the habitat of some medicinal plants.

D.Answer the following questions(1 pt x 2)

Why is Madagascar important on a world scale?

What for do people practise “Tavy”?

E.Vocabulary

Find in the text words:(0,5 pt x 2)

equivalent to: “include”.

opposite to: “few”.

Same or Different?(0,5 pt x 2)

a.- Plants and animals interact.

Plants and animal interest us.

b.- During the whole year.

- All the year round.

II.Language test(7 pts)

Grammar

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate grammatical items(0,5 pt x 6)

“It isn’t going to stop”, my mother said, “we … get home”. We were standing in the rain on the pavement, looking … a taxi. Lots of them came by but … all had passengers inside. “I … we had a car”, my mother said.

Just at that time a small man … was about seventy years old came up to us. He … my mother, “Excuse me, madam”. ( … )

B.Language functions(0,5 pt x 8)

Complete this dialogue

Lorna:What’s the matter with you?

Claire:I’m invited to Joy’s birthday party but I don’t have anything to wear.

Lorna:…………………………………………………. (Suggesting Claire’s green dress)

Claire:………………………………………………… (Refusing because it isn’t fashionable)

Lorna:…………………………………………………. (Offering to lend her silk dress)

Claire:………………………………………………… (Accepting the offer)

Lorna:You would look great in it.

Claire:………………………………………………… (Agreeing)

Lorna:Here you are, and have a nice time !

Claire:………………………………………………… (Thanking)

Lorna:…………………………………………………. (Automatic reply)

Claire:………………………………………………… (Taking leave)

III.Writing(6 pts)

One day, your class went on an excursion to a place outside the town. Report how you spent the day. (About 30 words)