]size=18]BEM June 2009
What if you had to work today ?
A hundred years ago many children had to work . Some weren't even ten years old .Their workday was often sixteen hours long .These children never went to school. they head no time to play .They hardly ever got fresh air .How could this happen ?
Some children had no mothers or fathers who could look after them .Others had to take care of their sick parents .Most were just helping their families earn money to live .
Many people worried about such children .They forced the people who made the laws to do something about this problem .
In 1916,a new law was passed .For the first time in the United States , young children were not allowed to have jobs in factories .
People today understand that children need to rest and play .They know ,too ,that schoolwork is the best kind of "job" for young minds.
Adapted from "Reading for Content"
By Jane Cutler and Janet Joers.
Part One : (14points)
A ) Reading Comprehension (7points)
Read the text carefully and do the following activities :
Activity One (3poinst)
Read the following statements and write "true" , "false" or "not mentioned".
1) All the children had to go to school a century ago .
2) It was hard for some parents to look after their children.
3) Parents who sent their children to work had problems .
Activity Two (2points) :
Answer the following questions :
1) Did people feel concerned about children's work ?
2) Were their actions against children's work unsuccessful ?
Activity three ( 2points)
Find in the text words or phrases that are closest in meaning to the following :
a) were obliged = b) the majority =
c) not permitted = d) relax =
B / Mastery of Language (7points)
Activity One (2points) :
Supply the punctuation and the capital letters where necessary .
all children should have the right to education they should also have the right to free medical care
Activity Two (3points) :
Write the correct form of the verbs in brackets .
Years ago ,children (to not have to ) go to school .Now ,there's a law .Children must ( to stay) at school till the age of sixteen . So, if some parents ( to not respect) the law ,they will be in trouble .
Activity Three ( 2points)
Find in the text four words that have the following sounds :
/ ei / (say) /ai / (right)
1-
2- 1-
2-
Part two : (6points)
Written Expression .
A lot of children , in the world , do not go to school because they have to work to help their parents .You feel concerned about this problem .
Write an article for your school magazine about children's rights .
These hints can help you :
- Children's protection (education / health / food …..)
- Children's leisure (games / sports …..)
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