Pays : Togo Année : 2017 Épreuve : Anglais
Examen : Bac, Série A4 Durée : 3 h Coefficient : 3
Read the following text carefully and answer the questions on it.
TEXT: The Scramble for Africa
Between 1880 and 1900, European nations took over most of the African continent. The
activities of these 20 years have become known as the "Scramble for Africa" as Europeans rushed
to stake their claim and establish new colonies.
By the 1860s France, Germany and the United States had all become successful industrial nations,
threatening Britain's position as the leading power in both industry and trade. Across Europe,
factories were producing cheap manufactured goods and European nations looked to Africa as a
massive potential market in which to sell them. Europeans also believed that Africa was a source of
valuable raw materials, such as rubber from the tropical forests. The discovery of diamonds and gold
in southern Africa only added to these expectations.
In the late 1870s and early 1880s, several European nations laid claim to regions in Africa. The
'French laid claim to the north bank. The Germans proclaimed rights to areas in west and southwest
Africa. In order to avoid conflict over Africa, the European nations held a conference in Berlin,
Germany, from 1884-5.
The Europeans decided to divide up Africa between them without regard for African peoples and
their cultures. After the Conference, the "Scramble" began. The African people fought to defend
their lands, but the invention of the Maxim-gun (a type of machine-gun) gave European armies a
major advantage over their African opponents. Many thousands of Africans died in the wars against
European powers.
By the beginning of the 20th century, almost all Africa was ruled by seven European nations –
Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Italy.
British History Encyclopedia(1999).
SECTION ONE: COMPREHENSION (09 points)
A- Reading comprehension questions (05 points)
1. Name the countries involved in the “ Scramble for Africa” before the first World War.
2. Give two main reasons for this scramble.
3. What was the purpose of the 1884-5 Conference in Berlin?
4. Say what native African people tried to do and why they were unsuccessful.
5. In your opinion, do you think it is fair and just for Europeans to divide up Africa between them
without regard for African peoples and their cultures? Why?
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B- Vocabulary (04 points)
1. Look for a synonym of the following words or group of words in the text.
a) an unceremonious scuffle or struggle for something.
b) unprocessed natural product.
c) to insist upon as right.
d) separate into parts or sections.
2. Find the opposite of the following words.
a) cheap b) successful c) to sell d) advantage.
3. Form a verb from these words.
a) colonies b) valuable c) discovery d) industrial.
4. Form an adverb from the following words.
a) added b) threatening c) cheap d) power.
SECTION TWO: LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE (04 points)
A- Write correctly the verbs in brackets. (01 point)
1. Would you mind (help) me do my homework?
2. Had you known, you (not go) with him.
3. Ten years ago, we (fly) to London.
4. Before I went there, the train already (leave).
B- Work out the suitable question tag for each of these sentences. (01 point)
1. Let’s go for a break,…………………………. ?
2. Everybody hates war, ……………………….?
3. Africa must change a lot, …………………….. ?
4. If you had told me the truth, I would have resigned with the work, ……………….. ?
C- Rephrase the following sentences. (01 point)
1. a) They looted the house and then ran away.
b) After the house ………………….
2. a) As Olou got the bad news, he fainted.
b) On ………………….
3. a) You get old and your legs become weak.
b) The ………………….
4. a) All of us sought for money after all.
b) Money ……………….
D- From the words or group of words lettered a-d, choose the one that best completes each
of the following sentences. (01 point)
1. A good citizen abides ……………… the rules of the land.
a) with b) by c) to d) in.
2. The patient died …………………. malaria.
a) from b) off c) of d) through.
3. If she ……………… your senior prefect, would you insult her?
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a) were b) has c) is d) would be.
4. It is high time candidates …………………….. attention to instructions.
a) pay b) to pay c) should pay d) paid.
SECTION THREE: WRITING (04 points)
You are Kisso Danielo a pupil at Kwatcha College in Lomé. Write an article for publication in your
school magazine on the importance of learning English nowadays. (Not more than 150 words).
SECTION FOUR: TRANSLATION (03 points)
Translate the following passage into French
Citizenship is a sacred honor, a plaque we carry proudly on our chest. A citizen is a
member of a country. He has the right to ask for its protection, and the duty to protect it and obey
its laws and rules.
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