ANGLAIS

EPREUVE D’ANGLAIS

Text : The heaviest rain in Kata

It was one Saturday after a very hot day, the sun was going down. For the whole day, the villagers had been at the mercy of the blazing sun. Goats, sheep and cows were found lying under trees. The wind had stood still, everything stood still except fowls which walked around the houses in search of grains and insects. Crickets sang monotonous songs announcing the heat. This was the third week since the heat started. The whole village was baked. It was so hot that men and women deserted their huts to under trees. In the evening, when the sun was going down, they would be seen going back lazily to their huts, looking very tired and discouraged, because normally after such a hot day rain usually fell. Heat was often followed by rains.
They had longed for rain, rain that came with a very wild wind which always swept the village and after which one could feel the humidity. The hot and wild wind usually changed into a breeze. But to their great surprise there were none of these signs.
‘Ah what a hot day !’ cried Ali as he stretched himself from his bed under the mango-tree. Moussa who was resting under a nearby tree sprang up and said.
‘The young men of today have sinned against the gods of the sky that is why there are no rains, but if this continues like this we shall all die of hun…..)
He had hardly completed the word when lightning struck the village, followed by thunder. Moussa was on his knees. He thought he had come to his end. Suddenly, without clouds in the sky, it started raining. It rained and rained and rained until snow fell. The rain continued till the next morning and many houses fell.
The next morning the men were seen carrying logs to support their falling houses. However, they were very happy because they could start farming. This was the heaviest rain they have ever had.

Vocabulary : blazing = ardent
To bake = cuire (du pain)
To long for = attendre impatiemment

I – Comprehension (4pts)

Choose and write down on your answer sheet the letter that is in front of the correct answer according to the text.
1) The villagers were at the mercy of the blazing sun means.
a) the villagers asked for mercy from the blazing sun.
b) the villagers could not do anything about the blazing sun.
c) the villagers were begging the blazing sun.
d) the villagers were the mercy of the blazing sun.
2) According to the text :
a) All animals and birds moved about c) Everything stood still
b) All birds and crickets moved about d) Only fowls moved about.
3) The crickets sang monotonous songs.
a) to say that the weather was hot. c) to say that the rain was coming.
b) to say that they were there. d) to say that they were tired.
4) Why did men and women desert their huts ?
a) because it was hot c) because they were lazy
b) because they were tired d) because they were lying under the trees.
5) Why could they not understand the lack of rains ?
a) because they were discouraged. c) because they were used to rains after heat.
b) because they looked tired. d) because it rained despite the heat.
6) What could one feel after the wind.
a) the water of the rain c) the breeze of the rain
b) the heat of the rain d) humidity of the rain
7) When the lightning struck, Moussa was…
a) happy c) frightened
b) surprised d) furious
8) Why were the villagers happy ?
a) because it had finally rained c) because they could start farming
b) because they had had the heaviest rains d) because they weather was cold.

II / Guided Essay (10pts)

1) What according to Moussa is the cause of the lack of rain (2 or 3 lines) (2pts)
2) Why were men seen with logs the next morning (2 or 3 lines) (2pts)
3) Describe the activities in your village after a heavy rain (8 - 10 lines) (6pts)

III / Grammar (4pts)

A / Choose the letter in front of the correct answer.
1 – The peasant…….. his son that he was travelling.
a- said b- told c- told d- say
2 – The player left the playground without……….a word
a- to say b- saying c- say d- said

B / Give the correct form of the bracketed verbs.
3 – If this villager (to work) hard, he would have got much money.
4 – This lorry has been (to drive) by a young boy.

C / Turn these sentences into the passive voice.
5 – I heard them speak English.
6 – Had Alidou collected my money ?

D / Report the following sentences.
7 – “I shall travel next week”, the engineer asserted.
8 – The policeman asked me ice where are you going ?

IV / Translate into English (2pts)

1 – Tout le monde sentira le vent quand il viendra.
2 – Plus il pleut, plus les villageois sont contents.
3 – Il se peut que mon père achète un nouveau vélo.
4 – Ce village a été frappé par la foudre.

                                                          SANS CORRECTION