Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of National Education
National Baccalaureate English Exam 2024
Stream: Arts & Human Sciences | Session: Normal
T Reading Comprehension Text
[1] Located in the north-west of Morocco, Chefchaouen, also known as Chaouen, attracts more and more local and foreign visitors throughout the year. The city was founded in 1471, and it has more than 42,700 inhabitants. Because of its bright blue colors, Chefchaouen is called the 'Blue Pearl'.
[2] The blue pearl of Morocco is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. In 2018, the city won the trophy for the best African city. A year later, it ranked 9th for having the most beautiful streets in the world. The French brand Louis Vuitton chose Chefchaouen to advertise their new Spring-Summer 2020 collection. These events celebrate the great success of the city as a renowned touristic and cultural capital.
[3] Chefchaouen has always been one of the country's most photographed cities. Thanks to its attractive scenery, tourists who visit this city are hoping for the best selfie. With more than 620,000 posts on Instagram with the hashtag #Chefchaouen, the city is now the most instagrammable city in Morocco. Influencers crowd in the city on a daily basis just to get a nice shot for their social media presence. They are more interested in the selfie than the city itself.
[4] Because of this big and harmful tourism in the city, Fodor, a travel magazine, adds the city to the list of places 'harmed by Instagram'. However, locals tell a different story. For them, the city's being famous on Instagram has created more business opportunities. Riads are renovated, more hotels have opened, and restaurants are receiving more clients. Hamza, a creative inhabitant of the Medina, for example, has turned his house into a museum. "All these people come and put photos of my house on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. It is famous now. I have been able to have a business of my own because of it," says Hamza. To better serve tourists, some locals have learned English and others have even tried Chinese because the city is becoming so popular in Asia.
[5] If you ever plan to visit Chaouen, do your best to preserve the city's beauty. When you see shoes near the door, kindly take off yours before entering the room. When you take pictures, you need to respect the inhabitants' privacy, otherwise expect a non-welcoming smile. Please ask for permission if you want to take pictures inside the house. This is the best way to have a good relationship with the population.
I COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)
| Dates | Event/information |
|---|---|
| 1471 | The year Chefchaouen was founded |
| 2018 | Chefchaouen won the trophy for the best African city |
| 2019 | Chefchaouen was ranked 9th for its beautiful streets |
- International recognition of Chefchaouen as a touristic and cultural city → Paragraph 2
- Rules to respect when you visit Chefchaouen → Paragraph 5
- Opportunities that tourism offers to local people → Paragraph 4
1. Chefchaouen is visited by tourists mostly in Spring. → False. Justification: "...attracts more and more local and foreign visitors throughout the year."
2. Chefchaouen is the Moroccan city with the greatest number of pictures on Instagram. → True. Justification: "...the city is now the most instagrammable city in Morocco."
3. Influencers visit Chefchaouen because they love the city. → False. Justification: "They are more interested in the selfie than the city itself."
1. What did Louis Vuitton brand do in Chefchaouen?
→ They used the city to advertise their new Spring-Summer 2020 collection.
2. Why does Fodor magazine add Chefchaouen to its list of cities?
→ Because of the big and harmful tourism / it considers it a place 'harmed by Instagram'.
3. List two ways local people have benefited from the city's being famous.
→ Business opportunities increased / Riads are renovated / More hotels have opened / Restaurants receive more clients / Locals started their own businesses.
1. Hamza has become able to have his own business thanks to the tourists who visit the city / the fame on social media / people putting photos of his house online.
2. Locals are learning Chinese because they want to serve/communicate with Asian tourists / the city is becoming so popular in Asia.
1. renowned (paragraph 2) means: a. famous
2. renovated (paragraph 4) means: c. made new
1. them (paragraph 4): refers to locals.
2. it (paragraph 4): refers to the house / Hamza's house.
II LANGUAGE (15 POINTS)
1. Because her mother is old and sick, Jalila has to look after her all the time.
2. You should see a doctor if you still don't feel well.
3. My friend Anir, who is a vegetarian, doesn't eat meat.
1. Because of wars and natural disasters, the number of people who need help has increased.
2. The use of renewable energies will help in reducing gas emissions.
1. You cannot have a healthy life-style without exercising and eating balanced food.
2. The performance of our national football team was outstanding in the last World Cup.
1. It's always important to avoid judging people based on their cultures.
2. By 2050, scientists will have discovered other ways to explore space.
1. "We should protect forests," said an ecologist.
→ An ecologist advised people to protect forests.
2. I may get up early tomorrow. I will have enough time to finish my work.
→ If I get up early tomorrow, I will have enough time to finish my work.
3. We should re-use bags to protect the environment.
→ To protect the environment, bags should be re-used.
1. Bob: Please accept my apologies for not sending you the file earlier. Simon: b. I can understand that.
2. Leila: I think there's no difference between an Apple and a Samsung phone. Hind: a. I can't agree more.
1. Mourad: The use of artificial intelligence in education has many potential problems.
Zaid: (Suggested answer) "I agree, we need to be careful about data privacy and over-reliance on technology."
2. Adil: I'm sorry, but there is a problem with the tablet I bought here yesterday.
Shop assistant: (Suggested answer) "I apologize for the inconvenience. Could you show me the receipt so we can exchange it?"
III WRITING (10 POINTS)
Prompt: "I do many things that make me happy. The first thing..."
Model Completion: "...is spending quality time with my family and friends. It helps me relax and recharge after a busy week. Secondly, I enjoy reading books and exploring new hobbies, which expands my knowledge and keeps my mind active. Finally, practicing sports regularly boosts my energy and improves my mood. All these activities contribute to a balanced and fulfilling life."
Prompt: Reply to Julia about how you want your country to be like in 20 years.
Model Email:
Hi Julia,
Thank you for your email. It's inspiring to hear about your vision for the future. As for me, I hope my country will be more developed and environmentally friendly in 20 years. I imagine a place where renewable energy powers our cities, and public transportation is efficient and free for everyone. Education and healthcare will be accessible to all citizens, regardless of where they live. I also hope we will preserve our rich cultural heritage while embracing modern technology. Ultimately, I dream of a peaceful and prosperous society where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.
Looking forward to hearing more about your plans!
Best regards,
[Your Name]
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.