Ministère de l’Éducation Nationale République du Mali
Centre National des Examens et Concours de Un Peuple-Un But-Une Foi
l’Éducation
EXAMEN : Baccalauréat malien BAC 2015
Série: TAL SESSION : Juin 2015
Épreuve: Anglais Durée: 3 heures Coefficient: 3
TEXT: DEMOCRACY
Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the
decisions that affect their lives. Democracy allows eligible citizens to participate equally either
directly or through elected representatives in the proposal. Democracy is a system of rule by
laws not by individuals. In a democracy, the rule of law protects the rights of citizens,
maintains order, and limits the power of the government. All citizens are equal under the law.
No one may be discriminated against on the basis of their race, religion, ethnic group, or
gender. No one may be arrested, imprisoned, or exiled arbitrarily. If you are detained, you
have the right to know the charges against you, and to be presumed innocent until proven
guilty according to the law. Anyone charged with a crime has the right to a fair, speedy, and
public trial by an impartial court. No one may be taxed or persecuted except by a law
established in advance. No one is above the law, not even a king or an elected president. The
law is fairly, impartially, and consistently enforced by courts that are independent of the other
branches of government. Torture and cruel and inhumane treatment are absolutely forbidden.
The rule of law places limits on the power of government. No government official may violate
these limits. No ruler, minister, or political party can tell a judge how to decide a case. Office
holders cannot use their power to enrich themselves. Independent courts and commissions
punish corruption, no matter who is guilty.
If democracy is to work, citizens must not only participate and exercise their rights but
they must also observe certain principles and rules of democratic conduct. People must respect
the law and reject violence. Nothing ever justifies using violence against your political
opponents, just because you disagree with them. Every citizen must respect the rights of his
or her fellow citizens, and their dignity as human beings. No one should denounce a political
opponent as evil and illegitimate, just because they have different views. People should
question the decisions of the government, but not reject the government's authority. Every
group has the right to practice its culture and to have some control over its own affairs, but
each group should accept that it is a part of a democratic state.
QUESTIONS (20 points)
I- READING COMPREHENSION (5 points)
A. Multiple choice questions (1 point)
Copy the complete sentence containing the correct answer.
1. In democracy ... is/are discriminated.
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a. some religious groups
b. some ethnic groups
c. women
d. no one.
2. In democracy a … decides a case.
a. ruler
b. minister
c. deputy
d. judge.
B. True / False questions (2 points)
Copy the true sentences and correct the false ones.
1. Citizens are equal in democracy.
2. Democracy is a system of rule by individuals.
3. In democracy people are arrested arbitrarily.
4. The government has no authority in democracy.
C. Answer the following questions (2 points)
1. What is the importance of the rule of law?
2. What enforce the law?
II- LANGUAGE (10 points)
A. Copy down each word from the list on the left with the correct definition from the
right. (2 points)
A B
Eligible a formal indictment fit and worthy to be chosen
Proposal what is offered for consideration
Charges judicial examination in law court of accused
Trial person
B. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct forms. (2 points)
1. My unmarried friends are always telling me how to bring up my children. I sometimes
think that if they (have) children they (make) just as many mistakes as I do.
2. This flat would be all right if the people above us (not be) so noisy.
3. If you aren't going to live in the house why you (not sell) it?
C. What do you say in these situations? (2 points)
1. Your brother wants to eat the soup, but it is too hot.
2. Your friend says a word that is not a nice word.
D. Translate into English (2 points)
1. L'Amérique est une terre de démocratie où résident beaucoup de nationalités
et une diversité d'ethnies.
2. Après sa découverte par Christophe Colombe en 1492, des milliers
d'Européens et d'Asiatiques y ont trouvé refuge.
D. Translate in French (2 points)
From « Democracy is a form of... » to « ... representatives in the proposal. »
III- COMPOSITION (5 points)
Choose only one topic.
1. Comment the following assertion in ten (10) lines.
"In democracy all citizens are equal under the law."
2. Leyla Kounta, a new student at the Faculty of Arts and Languages, Lancaster
University, England, would like to open an account. She writes a letter to the Manager
of Royal Deposit and Credits Bank P.O. Box 1125, Lancaster, England. Write Leyla's
letter with the appropriate layout.
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