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Lebanon Republic
Ministry of Education and Higher Education
Jamil Jaber Bazzi School

Teacher`s name: Salma Bazzi Name : ______________________

Subject : English Language Class : grade / Section : A/B
Exam : Monthly Date : 16 March 2020
Duration : 2 hours Year : 2019/2020
Part One: Reading Comprehension (24 pts)

Read the following text in which the writer sheds light on the risks of using cellphones for a long time, and
then answer the questions that follow.

Cell Phones
1. We all know that the cell phone is one of the cheapest means of communication.
We can communicate with our beloved ones, relatives, or any person all around
the globe by sending a text message or by making a call.
2. One important use of the cell phone is to send text messages. It is an easy way to communicate. We
simply type the message, send it and, in just a few seconds, it will reach another person in any place
around the globe. Moreover, with the cell phone, we can send money, check internet emails, or
even watch the news on TV stations.
3. Technology certainly plays an important role in our daily life but too much use of cell phones may
be harmful. According to some studies, we are exposed to electromagnetic radiation when we use
cell phones. This radiation can cause biological transformations in the human body affecting the
brain tissues and causing hair loss, skin reddening, memory loss, brain cancer, and sometimes
death. Many researchers warn people against the use of cell phones because they think it causes
brain cancer. Yet, there is no scientific evidence so far!
4. A group of researchers in Europe are trying to determine the risks of using cell phones through a
big project called Cosmos. They are studying the effect of mobile phones on users’ health.
Professor Lawrie Challis, a member of that group, says: "the study is crucial, and we still do not
know if the use of mobile phones causes cancer or not. He also remarks that "the balance of
evidence suggests that it does not, but we need to be sure."
5. Dr Mireille Toledano, another investigator in the same project, suggests that "the best thing we can
do now is to observe the health of a large number of users over a long period of time to see if, in the
long term, there are any links between cell phone use and cancer." The project will last for more
than 20 years, and will involve 250,000 phone users across five different European countries.
6. In any case, the excessive use of cell phones may be too risky. Cell phones should be used for
emergencies and not for long conversations. We need to be cautious; “prevention is better than
cure” as the proverb goes.

Questions:

A. Answer the following questions in complete sentences of your own. (7 pts)

1. What diseases may be caused by electromagnetic radiation from cell phones? (1.5 pts)
2. What do the Cosmos project researchers want to find out? (1.5pts)
3. How long will it take to complete the Cosmos project? (1.5 pts)
4. What should cell phones be used for according to the writer? (1.5 pts)
5. Do you think that cell phones can have a bad effect on children’s social skills? Give a reason for your
answer. (1 pt)
B. Complete the chart below with relevant information from the text. (2 pts)

Cause Effect
Receiving radiation from cell phones

Being easy to communicate, sending money and

watching the news

C. The following statements are false because the misinterpret information stated in text. Rewrite
them correctly. (3 pts)

1. Using cell phone for communication is very expensive.

2. Researchers of the Cosmos project are sure that using cell phones causes cancer.
3. Using cell phones for a long time is completely safe.

D. Pick out words in the text that have the following meanings. (3 pts)

1. The exchange of information (para .1)

2. The world (para .1)
3. Hurtful (para .3)

E. What do the following underlined pronouns in the text refer to? (3 pts)

1. It (para.2)
2. They (para .3)
3. He (para .4)

F. Rewrite the following sentences starting as indicated without changing the meaning. (3 pts)

1. Technology plays an important role in our daily life.

An important role ______________________________________________________________

2. Experts said, “young people must be aware of the dangers of the internet”
Experts said __________________________________________________________________

3. Tom spent too much time texting his friends. His mother got very angry with him.
If ___________________________________________________________________________

G. Correct the ONE grammatical mistake in each of the following sentences. (3 pts)

1. How long you have been reading this e-book?

2. Many companies is installing complex computer programs.
3. He spent so many time on his cell phone that his studies suffered.
 Part Two: Writing: (16/40)
Choose one of the following prompts.

Prompt A
“Unplugging TV can be a blessing rather than being a problem”
Explain the above statement in a well-organized essay, narrating an incident that you have heard about in
which a family decided to unplug their TV set one day and stop watching it. How did their lifestyle
change? What activities did they share together to spend their time? How did such attitude affect on the
family relationships.
Develop your ideas in essay of 150-200 words after filling in the chart below. Provide a suitable title for
your developed topic.

Title

Setting

Characters

Activities shared among family members

Effect of activities on family relationship

Prompt B

Organizer and title: 4 pts

Ideas: 6pts

Language: 6pts