Level : Second year classes
Streams: SC&Ex,T&M,M&EC,Maths Duration : 2 hours

First Term English Examination
Part One: Reading (15pts)

Read the text carefully then do the activities below:

Solar energy is the most resourceful sources of energy for the future. One of the reasons for this is that the total energy we receive each year from the sun is around 35,000 times the total energy used by man. Solar energy is presently being used on a smaller scale in furnaces for homes and to heat up swimming pools. On a larger scale use, solar energy could be used to run cars, power plants, and space ships.
Use of solar electric systems decreases the amount of local air pollution. Solar rural electrification also decreases the amount of electricity needed from small diesel generators. Photovoltaic systems produce electric power with no carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Fumes from kerosene lamps in poorly ventilated houses are a serious health problem in much of the world where electric light is unavailable. The World Bank estimates that 780 million women and children breathing kerosene fumes inhale the equivalent of smoke from 2 packs of cigarettes a day.
Solar home systems provide the least-cost means of receiving high quality home lighting, while providing brighter lighting, as well as access to radio and television. When low-cost financing is available, monthly payments for a solar home system are often below what a family is currently paying for kerosene, dry-cell batteries, candles, and recharging car batteries.

A-Comprehension:

1) The discourse is:
a-narrative b-descriptive c-expository

2) Are the following statements true or false?
a- Solar energy is being used largely in present days.
b- The solar energy doesn’t cause pollution.
c- Kerosene which is used for lighting lamps causes health problems.
d- We cannot use energy to power television.

3) Choose a suitable title to the text:
A-Solar Energy and Health
B-Solar Energy and Environment
C-The Benefits of Solar Energy

4) Answer the following questions according to the text:
a-Why is solar energy the most resourceful sources of energy for future?
b-What are the positive aspects of solar energy? Mention three of them.
c-Is the kerosene dangerous? Quote from the text to justify your answer.

B-Text Exploration:

1) Find in the text a word whose definition is: "a source of power used for driving machines, providing heat…etc"

2) Find in the text words that are opposites of the following words:
a-least≠……… b-increases≠………
c-sending≠……… d-low≠………

3) Paraphrase the following sentences using the prompts given:
1) a- The use of solar electric lighting system increases the quality of health care provided .
b- The quality………………………………………………………………………………
2) a-Photovoltaic can also power televisions.
b-Televisions…………………………………………………………………………….....

3) a- Alternative energies are being used by developed countries
b- Developed………………………………………………………………………………

4) Discourse: Fill in the blanks using the following words:
source- alternative energy – fossil- renewable energy-fuels-replace.
… (1)…refers to any … (2)…of usable energy intended to … (3)… conventional energy such as … (4)…,… (5)….It is often synonymous with … (6)…

5) Classify the following words according to their pronunciation of their final‘s’: plants- increases- improves- procedures- ships-homes-furnaces-houses.

/S/ /Z/ /IZ/


Part Two: Writing (5pts)

Choose one of the following topics.

Topic one: Write a composition about pollution using the following guidelines:

Causes:-factories wastes/fumes and smokes of cars /noise/…

Consequences:-Health problems/hearing loss/global warming…


Topic two: Do you think that the preservation of the forests is a great challenge? State your reasons.


Good luck