English Test

A- Do you agree that some jobs are more suitable for men than for women? Explain.
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Read the following text very carefully:

Eman Mohammed: the courage to tell a hidden story

When I turned 19, I started my career as the first female photojournalist in

the Gaza Strip, Palestine. My work as a woman photographer was considered
a serious insult to local traditions, and created a problem for me and my family.
The male-dominated field made my presence unwelcome by all possible
means. They made it clear that a woman must not do a man’s job. Photo 5
agencies in Gaza refused to train me because I was a woman. The “no” sign was pretty clear. Three of
my colleagues went as far as to drive me to an open air strike area where the sounds of explosion were
the only thing I could hear. Dust was flying in the air, and the ground was shaking under my feet. I only
realised we weren’t there to document the event when the three of them got back into the armored
Jeep and drove away, waving and laughing, leaving me behind. For a moment I felt terrified, humiliated 10
and sorry for myself but my colleagues’ action is not the only death threat I have received, although it
was the most dangerous one.
Women in Gaza are seen as passive creatures, a lot of women were not allowed to work or have an
education. With two conflicts in their lives, namely the war and social restrictions on their lives, the
bright stories women had to tell were fading away. To men, women’s stories were seen as insignificant. 15
When I started paying closer attention to the women’s lives in Gaza, I had access to worlds where my
male colleagues were forbidden. In front of a police compound in Gaza city during the first war in Gaza,
an Israeli air raid managed to destroy the compound and break my nose. For a moment, all I saw was
white, bright white, like these lights. I thought to myself, “Either I’m blind or I’m in heaven.” By the time I
managed to open my eyes, I had documented this moment. 20
My work is not meant to hide the scars of war, but to show the unseen stories of Gazans. As a
 Palestinian female photographer, the journey of struggle, survival and everyday life has inspired me to
overcome the community taboo and see the different side of war and its consequences. I have become
a witness with a choice: to run away or stand still.
http://www.ted.com/talks/eman_mohammed_the_courage_to_tell_a_hidden_story (adapted and abridged)

B. Decide whether the following statements are True or False . Quote from the

text to support ALL your answers.

1. Eman’s choice of career has had negative consequences for herself and her family.
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2. Her colleagues accepted her very well.

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3. Her life has already been put in danger by her own colleagues.
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4. Women in Gaza don’t have a very active role in society.

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C. Read paragraph 2 again (between lines 13-20) and find words / expressions to match the
synonyms below:

1. inactive __________________________________________

2. limitations __________________________________________

3. having little or no meaning __________________________________________

4. an attack by hostile aircraft __________________________________________

D. Give complete answers to these questions on the text. Use your own words.

1. What does the title of the text suggest about Eman?

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2. Do women in Gaza have an easy life? Explain.

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3. What is Eman’s objective as a photojournalist?

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II

A. Choose the best word for each space. Use the words only once and don’t repeat
them:

or / however / so / therefore

1. Unfortunately, discrimination is still a reality in many societies, ____________ women are not
allowed to go to school ______________ to get a promotion at work.

2. Other people have cultural traditions which are different from those of the country they live in
and ______________ they are not accepted in society.

3. Some communities are becoming more tolerant and open-minded; ______________ , it

takes time to change people’s mentality.

B. Rephrase the following sentences starting them as suggested. Don’t change their
meaning:
 1- “This is the right moment to show what we are capable of”, Eman explained.

 Eman explained ______________________________________________

capable of.

2- Jennifer is an Afro-American woman. She wants to live in a multicultural community.

 Jennifer is an Afro-American woman__________________ wants to live in a

multicultural community.

3- “My work is not meant to hide the scars of war”.

 The aim of my work ___________________________ the scars of war.

4- Eman’s colleagues took her to an open air strike area.

 Eman ________________________________________ by her colleagues.

C- Complete the following sentences with the right form of the verbs in brackets.

1. Eman (be) ______________really brave!

2. Yesterday while she (come) _______________ home from work, two men
(attack)____________ her. Luckily, she (escape) _____________ without any serious injuries.
3. If I (be)_______________ Eman, I __________________ (be) very frighten to go to work
every day.
4. She (just / arrive) _________________________ from a mission in Syria.
5. Next month she (go) _______________________ to Iraq. But right now she (rest)
_____________________ in her hotel.

III

Composition

Imagine you are Eman. Describe a day in your life as a photojournalist in Gaza. (Write
between 80-100 words)

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