الامتحان الوطني الموحد للبكالوريا 2023 - الدورة العادية - اللغة الإنجليزية - مسلك الآداب

### Moroccan National Baccalaureate Exam — Normal Session 2023 **Subject:** English — **Stream:** Letters and Human Sciences: Letters — **Code:** NS 10 **Duration:** 3 h — **Coefficient:** 4 --- ## Text **[1]** Internet has recently become the greatest market for successful businesses. One of the most inspiring success stories is that of Zoom. It is an American company offering remote video conferencing services. It is based in California and has offices in Europe, Asia and Australia. The story of Zoom has been a journey for its founder Eric Yuan. **[2]** Eric Yuan was born and lived in China until he was 27 years old. He got his bachelor's and master's degrees in applied mathematics and computer science from the Shandong University of Science and Technology in his country. He got married at the age of 22. Yuan immigrated to the U.S. in 1997. His visa application was denied 8 times, but he kept persisting. Finally, on the 9th attempt, he was approved, but the process lasted two years. **[3]** When Yuan arrived in USA, he started his first job in Silicon Valley as a software engineer at a young company called WebEx. In 2006, Yuan got an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Stanford Business School and became vice president of Engineering at **<u>the company</u>**. In 2007, Cisco Systems company bought WebEx for \$3.2 billion. Yuan wanted to develop new products at Cisco as customers had become dissatisfied with the quality of the services. Yet, he couldn't convince his bosses to let it happen. So, he left Cisco. **[4]** In 2011, Yuan started his own company and launched the Zoom platform. "I firmly believed I could develop a platform that would make customers happy. More than 40 fellow engineers followed me in my new venture," he explained. Five years later, Zoom hosted over 20 billion meeting minutes and its customers were 90% of the top 200 U.S. universities. **[5]** The breakout of corona virus pandemic in 2019 was a turning point for Zoom. Lockdowns were announced in almost all countries. Companies, schools and colleges started using Zoom Video Communications to conduct business meetings and deliver classes. Zoom offered its basic plan free for all. It also released a paid plan which allows unlimited meetings. Businesses and schools have to pay a subscription fee for the various products the company offers. On top of that, Zoom also makes money from the promotion of hardware products. The company gained over 2.22 million users in the first months of 2020. Currently, Zoom has 504,900 business customers and a value of \$9.2 billion. **[6]** Zoom, however, is facing a number of challenges. One of them is the fierce competitors such as Skype, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. Another major issue is the privacy and security problem. Security experts and even the FBI warn that Zoom's default settings aren't secure enough. Apple was forced to remove **<u>the software</u>** from Mac computers last year after a serious security threat. *Adapted from: www.startuptalky.com* --- ## I. COMPREHENSION (15 points) — Base all your answers on the text. **A. Fill in the chart with information from the text. (2 pts)** | Event / information | Date / figure | |---|---| | …… | \$3.2 billion | | …… | 2011 | | Total duration of meetings organized on Zoom platform | …… | | The value of Zoom company | …… | **B. Are these statements true or false? Justify. (3 pts)** 1. Yuan studied computer science in the US. 2. The American authorities accepted Yuan's visa upon his first application. 3. Yuan developed the Zoom platform in collaboration with others. **C. Answer these questions. (3 pts)** 1. Why did Yuan want to develop new products at Cisco? 2. Why was 2019 an important year for Zoom? 3. What is the advantage of using paid Zoom services? **D. Complete the sentences with information from the text. (3 pts)** 1. To make money from its services, Zoom …… 2. Skype and Microsoft Teams are …… 3. Apple computer company removed Zoom from its computers because of …… **E. Choose the right meaning of each word according to the text. (2 pts)** 1. persisting (paragraph 2) means: a. insisting – b. complaining – c. assisting 2. fierce (paragraph 6) means: a. weak – b. strong – c. unprofessional **F. What do the underlined words in the text refer to? (2 pts)** 1. the company (paragraph 3) 2. the software (paragraph 6) --- ## II. LANGUAGE (15 points) **A. Fill in the gaps with the correct words from the lists. (2 pts)** 1. The workers are …… so much noise that I can't concentrate on my homework. (making – taking – doing) 2. Can I borrow your umbrella? I can't stand …… around in the rain. (walk – walking – to walk) 3. Don't stop! We have to …… running to the finish line. (get on – put on – carry on) 4. The room …… the party was held is usually used for official meetings. (where – which – whose) **B. Fill in the gaps with the correct words from the list. (1 pt)** *natural – risky – non-profit – developing – endangered* Green Planet is a …… organization that aims to save …… animals and protect them in their natural habitats. **C. Put the words in brackets in the correct form. (2 pts)** 1. Most people use the internet for work and (entertain) …… 2. The local council is thinking of a plan to support (ecology) …… tourism in the area. **D. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense. (2 pts)** 1. Said (surf) …… the net last night when he (come) …… across an interesting article about Morocco. 2. Anass is doing two part-time jobs on the weekend. In three years' time, he (save) …… enough money to travel around Europe. 3. I really miss my friend Jamal. I (not / see) …… him for five years now. **E. Rewrite the sentences as suggested. (4 pts)** 1. You can see different types of fish at the sealife centre. → Different types of fish …… 2. "I will visit my grandparents at the weekend," Amina told her dad. → Amina promised …… 3. The employees didn't finish their work. They got into trouble. → If …… 4. Maria lives next door. However, we rarely see each other. → Although …… **F. Choose the appropriate responses. (2 pts)** 1. Bob: I think students shouldn't use artificial intelligence software at school. — Simon: …… (a. I suppose you're right. / b. Yes, let's. / c. That's amazing!) 2. Leila: Would you like to play golf with me this weekend? — Hind: …… (a. You're welcome. / b. Yes, I agree. / c. I'm not sure I can.) **G. What would you say in the following situation? (2 pts)** You: (Your friend is always late for the gym. Complain about it.) …… Your friend: (Responds to the complaint.) …… --- ## III. WRITING (10 points) — Do tasks 1 and 2 **TASK 1 (4 pts):** Complete the following paragraph. *I think the world will look different 30 years from now. For example, most jobs will be done by robots. Another example, ……* **TASK 2 (6 pts):** Write a reply to the following email. > *I have a high paying job but I do not like the boss and the working conditions. I am thinking about leaving it and looking for another one. What do you suggest I should do? I really need your advice. — Jamal* *Hi Jamal, ……* (Do not write your name or sign the email.)

## Suggested answers — English, Letters stream, normal session 2023 (NS 10) > Suggested answers for revision, written after reading the official exam. Comprehension answers may be phrased differently as long as they are drawn from the text. --- ## I. COMPREHENSION **A.** | Event / information | Date / figure | |---|---| | Cisco Systems bought WebEx | \$3.2 billion | | Yuan started his own company and launched the Zoom platform | 2011 | | Total duration of meetings organized on Zoom platform | over 20 billion minutes (five years after its launch) | | The value of Zoom company | \$9.2 billion | **B.** 1. **False.** "He got his bachelor's and master's degrees in applied mathematics and computer science from the Shandong University of Science and Technology in his country (China)." 2. **False.** "His visa application was denied 8 times… Finally, on the 9th attempt, he was approved." 3. **True.** "More than 40 fellow engineers followed me in my new venture." **C.** 1. Because customers had become dissatisfied with the quality of the services. 2. Because the coronavirus pandemic broke out and lockdowns were announced, so companies, schools and colleges started using Zoom for meetings and classes. It was a turning point for Zoom. 3. The paid plan allows unlimited meetings. **D.** 1. …charges businesses and schools a subscription fee for its various products and promotes hardware products. 2. …Zoom's fierce competitors. 3. …a serious security threat (privacy and security problems). **E.** 1. a. insisting 2. b. strong **F.** 1. the company → WebEx 2. the software → Zoom (the Zoom platform) --- ## II. LANGUAGE **A.** 1. making (*make noise*) 2. walking (*can't stand + V-ing*) 3. carry on (*= continue*) 4. where **B.** Green Planet is a **non-profit** organization that aims to save **endangered** animals… **C.** 1. entertainment 2. ecological **D.** 1. was surfing / came (past continuous interrupted by simple past) 2. will have saved (future perfect) 3. haven't seen (present perfect with *for*) **E.** 1. Different types of fish **can be seen at the sealife centre.** 2. Amina promised **(her dad) to visit her grandparents at the weekend.** (or: …that she would visit her grandparents at the weekend.) 3. If **the employees had finished their work, they wouldn't have got into trouble.** 4. Although **Maria lives next door, we rarely see each other.** **F.** 1. a. I suppose you're right. (agreeing) 2. c. I'm not sure I can. (declining an invitation politely) **G.** (other appropriate answers accepted) - You: I'm fed up with your being late for the gym every time! Why can't you come on time? - Your friend: I'm really sorry. It won't happen again, I promise. --- ## III. WRITING **Task 1 — model paragraph** > I think the world will look different 30 years from now. For example, most jobs will be done by robots. Another example, people will drive electric and self-driving cars, so roads will be safer and the air will be cleaner. Moreover, students will study online with the help of artificial intelligence and virtual reality instead of going to traditional schools. In addition, doctors will cure many diseases that are deadly today thanks to scientific progress. However, people may feel more isolated because they will communicate mostly through screens. **Task 2 — model email** > Hi Jamal, > > Thanks for your email. I'm sorry to hear that you are not happy at work. I understand how stressful it is to work with a difficult boss in bad conditions. > > In my opinion, you shouldn't quit your job right now, because it is well-paid and finding a new job may take a long time. First, why don't you talk to your boss politely and explain the problems you are facing? Maybe he doesn't realize how you feel. If nothing changes, you could start looking for another job while you are still working. You should update your CV, apply online and ask your friends about job offers. It would also be a good idea to take a training course to improve your skills. > > Remember that money is important, but your health and happiness matter more. Only leave your job when you find a better one. > > I hope my advice helps. Keep me informed! > > Best wishes, Useful tools: expressing advice (you should / why don't you / it would be a good idea to / if I were you, I would…), opening and closing an informal email. --- > **Note:** these are suggested answers for revision, not the official answer key. To check, see the textbooks and the official answer key published by the Centre National de l'Évaluation et des Examens.