Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of National Education
National Baccalaureate English Exam 2024
Subject: English Language | Stream: All Streams
T Reading Comprehension Text
[1] Sadio Mané, born on April 10th, 1992, grew up in the small village of Bambali in Senegal. While growing up, he lived with his uncle as his parents had lots of children and could not financially satisfy their basic needs. "My parents never had money to send me to school. Every day, I would always go to play football with my friends in the street," Mané said.
[2] Mané's interest in football began at an early age but his father didn't want him to take football as a profession. Like many ambitious footballers, his love for the sport helped him to join a local team in Bambali. His journey from the streets of Bambali to the world's top footballers is a result of his talent and hard work. "I always thought of the Premier League, which I watched on TV. It was a big dream," said Mané. Mané's biggest inspiration came from the great performance of his country's team in 2002 World Cup. In the opening match, they won France 1-0.
[3] Sadio Mané is known for his contribution and support to his community. "My goal is to support people. I suffered from hunger, worked in the fields, and played without shoes. Now, I can provide clothes, shoes, and food for people in extreme poverty," Mané said. In 2019, he donated money to build a school in his village. He has also made big donations to develop health services in Senegal. He also gives 70 euros each month to some poor Senegalese families.
[4] Mané earns about 10.2 million dollars each year and is one of the top footballers in the world. However, recently, there was one photo in which Mané was carrying a broken mobile phone. Many fans asked why Mané didn't have a new phone. Others responded that this is a proof of how modest the Senegalese player is.
[5] Throughout his career, Sadio Mané played for different clubs in France, Austria and England. Because of his great talent, he managed to move to one of the top clubs in England: Liverpool FC. Mané has received many individual awards for his outstanding performance. In 2019 and 2022, he was awarded African Ballon d'Or. Sadio Mané serves as a role model for many young people in Senegal and across Africa.
I COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)
BASE ALL YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT.
| Dates/Figures | What they refer to |
|---|---|
| 2002 | The year Senegal won France in the World Cup. |
| 10.2 million dollars | The amount of money Mané earns each year. |
1.5 pts (0.75 each)
| Statement | Choice | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| 1. As a child, Mané played football in the street. | T | "Every day, I would always go to play football with my friends in the street." |
| 2. Mané's father encouraged him to take football as a profession. | F | "Mané's interest in football began at an early age but his father didn't want him to take football as a profession." |
2 pts (0.5 for choice + 0.5 for justification)
1. Why did Mané live with his uncle?
Because his parents had many children and could not financially satisfy their basic needs / His parents were poor.
2. What was Mané's biggest inspiration?
The great performance of his country's team in the 2002 World Cup.
3. Give two things Mané has done to support his community.
(Any two) He provides clothes, shoes, and food for people in extreme poverty / He donated money to build a school / He made donations to develop health services / He gives 70 euros monthly to poor families.
3 pts (1 pt each)
1. Thanks to his talent and hard work / outstanding performance / great talent, Mané became a top footballer.
2. Mané's having a broken phone is a proof of his modesty.
2 pts (1 pt each)
1. Mané had a difficult childhood. (Paragraph 3)
"I suffered from hunger, worked in the fields, and played without shoes."
2. Mané was chosen the best player in Africa two times. (Paragraph 5)
"In 2019 and 2022, he was awarded African Ballon d'Or."
2 pts (1 pt each)
1. motivation (Paragraph 2): inspiration
2. help (Paragraph 3): support
2 pts (1 pt each)
1. they (Paragraph 2): his country's team / Senegalese national football team
2. the Senegalese player (Paragraph 4): (Sadio) Mané
2 pts (1 pt each)
II LANGUAGE (15 POINTS)
Clean energy (1) initiatives will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save the planet from the devastating (2) effects of climate change.
2 pts (1 pt each)
1. Parents show a lot of admiration (admire) for the efforts schools make to support children.
2. Women have proven to be active and energetic (energy) in a variety of domains.
1 pt (0.5 pt each)
1. Salah is eager to join (join) the music club in his school.
2. By the time we arrive, the wedding will have ended (end).
2 pts (1 pt each)
1. I often hang out with my friends on the weekends. (hang out / hang up / hang on)
2. She is the artist who has made these beautiful paintings. (which / who / when)
3. It's cloudy and cold. It may rain any time this afternoon. (may / must / can't)
3 pts (1 pt each)
1. "Artificial intelligence will change the future of work," said Khalid.
Khalid said that artificial intelligence would change the future of work.
2. The sports club may organize a competition tomorrow. I may participate.
If the sports club organizes a competition tomorrow, I may/will participate.
3. To increase its sales, the company developed an e-commerce platform.
An e-commerce platform was developed by the company to increase its sales.
3 pts (1 pt each)
1. Customer: It bothers me to find my room dirty.
Hotel clerk: b. Ok. We'll fix it, sir.
2. Ahmed: I'm really sorry. I have lost your book!
Nora: a. That happens.
2 pts (1 pt each)
1. Patient: I'm having hard time managing stress at work.
Doctor: (Accept any appropriate answer)
You should try to relax / Take some time off / Practice meditation.
2. Hassan: Summer is not a good time to travel with your family.
Nadia: (Accept any appropriate answer)
I disagree / Actually, many families travel in summer / What about spring instead?
2 pts (1 pt each)
III WRITING (10 POINTS)
Prompt:
Nowadays some people keep pets such as dogs, cats and birds. My favorite pet is ............... I like it because .......................................................................
Sample Answer:
"Nowadays some people keep pets such as dogs, cats and birds. My favorite pet is a cat. I like it because it is a very clean and quiet animal. Furthermore, cats are independent and easy to take care of in a small apartment. Another reason is that playing with a cat helps me feel relaxed after a long day of school. In short, having a cat provides great companionship and joy to my daily life."
Scoring Criteria:
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Relevance of content to the task | 2 pts |
| Appropriateness and variety of vocabulary | 1 pt |
| Grammar and mechanics | 1 pt |
💡 Tip: Use adjectives like loyal, playful, friendly, or protective to describe your pet.
4 pts
Topic:
Write a reply to Liza explaining why you moved to a new neighborhood.
(DO NOT WRITE YOUR NAME OR SIGN THE EMAIL)
Suggested Email:
"Dear Liza,
It is great to hear from you! You asked me about why I changed my neighborhood. The main reason is that my old area was too noisy and crowded. Secondly, my new neighborhood is much closer to my school, which saves me a lot of time every morning. In addition, there are many modern facilities here, like a beautiful park and a large library. I feel much more comfortable and safer in this new place. You should come and visit me soon!
Best regards,"
Scoring Criteria:
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Relevance of content to the task | 3 pts |
| Appropriateness and variety of vocabulary | 2 pts |
| Grammar and mechanics | 1 pt |
Writing Guidelines:
- Greeting: Dear Liza / Hi Liza.
- Body: Give at least 2 or 3 logical reasons (facilities, distance, safety).
- Connectors: Use First, Moreover, Also, That's why.
- Closing: Best regards / Write back soon.
⚠️ Important: Stay anonymous (No signatures).
6 pts
Tips for Success:
📅 Manage Your Time
Allocate time wisely across Comprehension, Language, and Writing. Leave at least 30 minutes for the writing section.
📝 Practice Past Papers
Familiarize yourself with the QCM style, gap-fills, and rewriting tasks to improve speed and accuracy.
🔍 Check Your Work
Review tenses, subject-verb agreement, and spelling. In writing, ensure clear paragraphs and logical connectors.