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National Baccalaureate Exam Sciences 2019 July

[1] Sophia smiles, blinks her eyes and tells a joke. You might think she was a human. You would only know she was a robot when you saw the cables at the back of her head. The humanoid robot was created by Hanson Robotics. Sophia has artificial intelligence (AI). Her brain is a computer made of electronic components. She spoke in Geneva to people meeting at a conference to discuss how artificial intelligence can be used to help humans.

[2] Over the years, machines and robots have changed how things are made. Fewer human workers are now needed to make things like cars or other products. David Hanson who made Sophia is a scientist. He agreed that fewer people will be needed for some types of work and that AI can be helpful. For example, it can help in health care and education in areas where there are not enough doctors and teachers. Robots can treat people who are sick and can teach with the knowledge of a computer.
[3] Still, there are fears that humans could lose control of the robots. Salil Shetty is the leader of Amnesty International, a group that works to protect human rights in 150 countries. At the conference, he warned that technology must be used only for good reasons. He said that artificial intelligence is still a mystery. Shetty is worried about using artificial intelligence as a weapon, or “killer robots”.
[4] Right now, Sophia does not really understand what she is. But Hanson said robots might be able to think for themselves in the future. This could be dangerous. One day robots might realize that they do not like working for humans. Hanson said we must learn how “to make the machines care for us.” Bill Gates and Elon Musk, along with other experts, have supported the use of AI on condition that it benefits rather than destroys humanity.
Adapted from: https://newsela.com
I. COMPREHENSION            (15 POINTS)
A. MATCH EACH PARAGRAPH WITH ITS CORRESPONDING IDEA. The first one is given.    (3 pts)
a. Activists are worried about the future of artificial intelligence. Paragraph 
b. Robots will replace humans in many jobs. Paragraph 
c. Robots may develop self thinking abilities. Paragraph 
d. Sophia looks like a human.  Paragraph 1
B. ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY.  ( 3 pts) 

1. The Geneva conference was about the possible benefits of artificial intelligence.  
 because 
      2. Shetty wants technology to be used for the good of humanity.
  because 
3. Sophia is aware that she is a robot.
 because 
C.  ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.  (3 pts)
1. Who designed Sophia?

2. How can robots help in health care?

3. What does Bill Gates think about artificial intelligence?
D. PICK OUT FROM THE TEXT AN EXPRESSION OR A SENTENCE WHICH SHOWS THAT  (2 pts)
1. we don’t know everything about artificial intelligence: 
2. robots may one day become independent: 
E. FIND IN THE TEXT THE OPPOSITE OF: (2 pts) 
1. natural: (paragraph 1) ≠        
2. safe (paragraph 4 )  ≠ 
F. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO?     (2 pts)  
1. The humanoid robot.     (paragraph 1) :  
2. themselves                       (paragraph 4) :   
II. LANGUAGE (15 POINTS)

A. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST.   (2 pts) 
placement   -   reader    -    service   -   management    -    centre      
1. Note taking and time    are necessary skills for university students.
2. Helping old people in hospitals is part of community 
B. REPLACE THE UNDERLINED WORDS WITH APPROPRIATE PHRASAL VERBS FROM THE LIST.    (2 pts) 
  called  for  -  came back   -  found out  -   went through  -  left  behind
1. Suzan suffered from  a terrible experience when her husband died in the factory fire.
2. The kids were sleeping when their father returned  home.
C. PUT THE VERBS IN BRACKETS IN THE RIGHT TENSE.     (2 pts) 
1. By the end of this century, machines (replace)  workers in many jobs.
2. Where (you/ spend)  your next summer vacation? 
D. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LISTS.     (2 pts)              
1. I downloaded the video  gained millions of likes on YouTube
 whom      -      whose       -     which
2. I’ll email you the questionnaire to fill in online; you  print it. 
can’t        -    needn’t       -   wouldn’t
E. REWRITE THE SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN.      (3 pts)
1. The employees stopped working because they didn’t get their salaries.
The employees wouldn’t have stopped working if 
2. “Let’s take a selfie with our star!”
 Fouad suggested 
3. Our school collected donations for a charity association.
     Donations 
F. MATCH EACH EXPRESSION WITH ITS APPROPRIATE FUNCTION. (2 pts)
a. apologizing b. asking for advice c. asking for clarification d. making a request
1. “What do you mean by Virtual Reality?” 
2. “Would you please send me the application form?” 
3. “I’m really sorry; it’s all my fault.” 
4. “Do you think I should call them now?” 
G. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING EXCHANGES APPROPRIATELY.      (2 pts)
1- Student A: What do you think of wearing the school uniform?
Student B: 

2- Client: I’m sorry to say it; your room service is not that good!
Hotel manager: 

 

Adjective order



What is an adjective?
A word that describes a noun.

Example:
A fast bike
A blue pen
A nice person
A smart student
An old house

Put the following adjectives in a sentence: fastblueamericannicebigold  


Put the following adjectives in a sentence: fastblueamericannicebigold  
My brother has a … bike.

My brother has a nice big old 

blue american fast bike.


If we don’t want to emphasise any one of the adjectives, the most usual sequence of adjectives is:

order
relating to
examples
1
opinion
unusual, lovely, beautiful
2
size
big, small, tall
3
physical quality
thin, rough, untidy
4
shape
round, square, rectangular
5
age
young, old, youthful
6
colour
blue, red, pink
7
origin
Dutch, Japanese, Turkish
8
material
metal, wood, plastic
9
type
general-purpose, four-sided, U-shaped
10
purpose
cleaning, hammering, cooking
Examples:
It was made of a 1strange6green8metallic material.
It’s a 2long4narrow8plastic brush.
Panettone is a 4round7Italian9bread-like Christmas cake.
Here are some invented examples of longer adjective phrases. A noun phrase which included all these types would be extremely rare.
She was a 1beautiful2tall3thin5young6black-haired7Scottish woman.
What an 1amazing2little5old7Chinese cup and saucer
Textbook activity:

Metaphors and Similes التشبيه والاستعارة



While both similes and metaphors are used to make comparisons, the difference between similes and metaphors comes down to a word.
في حين يتم استخدام كل من التشبيه والاستعارة لإجراء مقارنات 
، فإن الفرق بين التشابهات والاستعارات يرجع إلى كلمة واحدة
Image result for metaphor and simile difference


Similes use the words like or as to compare things—“Life is like a box of chocolates.” 
التشبيه, أو "سيميلي" يتم عن طريق استخدام أداة للمقرانة ك "مثل" أو "ك" مثلا.


Metaphors directly state a comparison—“Love is a battlefield.”

بينما تشير الاستعارات مباشرة إلى مقارنة - "الحب ساحة 
 معركة" دونما استخدام أدوات للمقارنة.
Exercise:


key answers:

Exercise B. 1.m 2.m 3.m 4.s 5.s 6.s 7.m


التعبير عن اليقين وعدم اليقين باللغة الإنجليزية Expressing Certainty and Uncertainty in English

Expressing Certainty and Uncertainty in English

Asking for Certainty: طلب اليقين

  1.  Are you sure?  هل أنت واثق؟
  2.  Are you sure about it?  هل أنت متأكد حيال ذلك؟
  3.  Are you certain about it?  هل أنت متأكد من ذلك؟
  4.  Do you think it is true?  هل تعتقد ذلك؟
  5.  Do you think so?  هل تعتقد أن هذا صحيح؟
  6.  How sure are you?  كيف بالتأكيد أنت؟


Expressing Certainty: التعبير عن اليقين

  1.  Yes, I am certain   نعم أنا متأكد.
  2.  I’m a hundred percent certain …  أنا متأكد مئة في المئة ...
  3.  I’m absolutely sure.  أنا متأكد تمامًا.
  4.  I have no doubt about it.  ليس لدي أي شك في ذلك.
  5.  I’m sure about it.  أنا متأكد حول هذا الموضوع.
  6.  I don’t think there can be any doubt about …. لا أعتقد أنه يمكن أن يكون هناك أي شك حول ...
  7.  Of course. بالطبع بكل تأكيد.
  8.  I’m positive.  أنا متأكد
  9.  I’m quite sure about it. أنا متأكد من ذلك.
  10.  No doubt about it.  لا شك في ذلك.
  11.  I’m absolutely certain that… أنا متأكد تمامًا أن ...

 Expressing Uncertainty:  التعبير عن عدم اليقين
  1.  I’m not sure about it. أنا لست متأكدا من ذلك. 
  2. I doubt it.اشك به. 
  3. I’m not really sure about… لست متأكدًا من ... 
  4. I don’t know for sure…لا اعرف بالتأكيد ...
  5. It’s very unlikely. هذا مستبعد جدًا. 
  6. I have my own doubts. لدي شكوكي الخاصة. 
  7. I don’t think so.لا أعتقد ذلك. 
  8. I don’t believe this is true.لا أعتقد أن هذا صحيح.
  9.  There’s some doubt in my mind that …هناك بعض الشك في ذهني أن ... 
  10. I’m not a hundred percent sure. لست متأكدا مئة في المئة. 
  11. I don’t know yet. لا اعرف حتى الان.



Modal verbs with arabic equivalent

It is necessary to — من الضروري أنExample: It is necessary to get eight hours of sleep.
Translation: من الضروري أن نحصل على ثماني ساعات من النوم

Must/Should — يجب أنExample: You must come visit me in Beirut.
Translation: يجب أن تزورني في بيروت

May/Might — يمكن أنExample: You might call Sarah before 7.
Translation: يمكن أن تتصل بسارة قبل الساعة السابعة

It is impossible to — من المستحيل أنExample: It is impossible to convince Muhammad to exercise more.
Translation: من المستحيل أن يقتنع محمد بأن يمارس الرياضة أكثر

It is possible to — من الممكن أنExample: It is possible to run into school friends at this restaurant.
Translation: من الممكن أن نلتقي بأصدقاء المدرسة في هذا المطعم

It is expected that — من المتوقع أنExample: It is expected to rain today.
Translation: من المتوقع أن تمطر اليوم

It is easy to — من السهل أنExample: It is easy to take this train to Ahmad’s home.
Translation: من السهل أن نأخذ هذا القطار الى بيت أحمد

It is probable that — من المحتمل أنExample: It is probable that Fatima will visit us over Eid.
Translation: من المحتمل أن تزورنا فاطمة في العيد

It is customary to — من المعتاد أنExample: It is customary to take a family vacation to Morocco.
Translation: من المعتاد أن نأخذ عطلة عائلية الى المغرب

It is hard to — من الصعب أنExample: It is hard to convince my parents to eat healthier.
Translation: من الصعب أن أقنع أهلى بالاكل الصحي

It is been decided that– من المقرر أنExample: It is been decided that Munir will graduate this year.
Translation: من المقرر أن يتخرج منير هذه السنة

It is permitted to — من المسموح أنExample: It is permitted to smoke in this designated area.
Translation: من المسموح أن ندخن في هذه المنطقة المخصصة

It is preferable that — من المستحسن أنExample: It is preferable that you visit your friend before he leaves to Qatar
Translation: من المستحسن أن تزور صديقك قبل رحيله الى قطر

It is natural that — من الطبيعي أنExample: It is natural that leaves fall off trees during Autumn
Translation: من الطبيعي أن تتساقط الاوراق عن الشجر في الخريف

It is forbidden to — من الممنوع أنExample: It is forbidden to play with your friends before finishing your homework
Translation: من الممنوع أن تلعب مع أصدقائك قبل الانتهاء من دروسك

For now take care and stay tuned for upcoming posts!
Happy Learning!



Exercise on Modal Verbs and their Substitutes


Use modal verbs where possible. 
  1. You (must)  get up early tomorrow.
  2. You (not / need)  call a baby sitter.
  3. We (may)  watch the film tonight.
  4. He (not / can)  see me yesterday.
  5. She (must)  stay at school yesterday afternoon.
  6. (may / you)  go to the disco yesterday?
  7. He (not / must)  sleep now.
  8. You (not / need)  answer.
  9. He (ought to)  give evidence at the court yesterday.
  10. Since he bought the new car he (not / can)  sleep.