BACLA

ENGLEZA

LILIANA HUZDUP

colecþia STUDIU

)

BAC LA ENGLEZÃ

LILIANA HUZDUP

prima ediþie 2006

corecturã: prof Cristiana Oºan

Copertã, tehnoredactare ºi tipar - PapyrusPrint

EDITURA AMETHYST

Str. Alexandru Vlahuþã, bloc Lamã B, sc.1, ap 1Cluj-Napoca, cod 401160.tel: 0744 670 733e-mail: editura.amethyst@yahoo.com

ISBN - 10973-878-95-0-8

ISBN - 13978-973-878-95-0-0

FOREWORD

This book is meant to help students to prepare for the

Baccalaureate exam.

I have decided to use my experience as a high school teacher to

guide students to prepare a discourse, to tackle a literary text or to

write an essay according to the requirements of the NATIONAL

CURRICULUM.

This book is a precious instrument for students and a useful

guide for teachers.

Good luck!

Liliana Huzdup, teacher.

PREFAÞÃ

Aceastã carte este conceputã pentru a veni în ajutorul elevilor

care se pregãtesc pentru examenul de Bacalaureat.

M-am hotãrît sã-mi folosesc experienþa de profesor la liceu

pentru a-i ghida pe elevi sã pregãteascã un discurs, sã abordeze un

text literar sau sã scrie un eseu în concordanþã cu cerinþele

PROGRAMEI NAÞIONALE.

Aceastã carte este un instrument preþios pentru elevi ºi un ghid

util pentru profesori.

Succes!

Profesor, Liliana Huzdup.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD ................................................................................ 3PREFAÞÃ ............................................................................................. 4

I.THE ORAL EXAMA’) Discourses/1-2 classes/week ................................ 7A’’) Discourses/3-4 classes/week ............................ 20B) Literary texts: ....................................................................... 30

II.THE WRITTEN EXAM:A. The narrative essay .......................................................... 38B. The descriptive essay ...................................................... 42C. The argumentative essay ............................................. 46D. The reflective essay ........................................................ 50

III. Possible titles of essays: .................................................... 55

Bibliography: ................................................................................ 57

I.THE ORAL EXAM

A’) DISCOURSES1-2 classes/week

1. The last school week

� Refer to the idea that people value most what they are about to

lose (the impact of the word “ the last”.)

� Why is this week different from the others?

� Are you sorry to leave school or are you looking forward to it?

� Refer to your feelings towards: your mates (the favourites and

the ones you don’t like) and your teachers.

� What will you miss most and why?

2. Travelling - a special place to visit

� Reasons for travelling : (relaxing, being away from the city and

its busy life, a time to think) .

� The location of that special place.

� Reasons for choosing it and not another place.

� Description of the place: geographical features, special attractions.

� Convince the audience to go there.

3. Practicing sports keeps you active and healthy. What else

should we do to keep healthy and fit?

� The importance of practising sports.

� What sports do you practice? /How do they help you to keep fit

and healthy?

Sports should be associated with:

� a healthy diet.

� a positive approach to life (positive thoughts, optimism, no

anger, fear or other negative feelings).

� Eight hours of sleep every night.

� food supplements and vitamins (prevent diseases).

� walking for half an hour daily.

4. Life a century ago

� A “picture” of the society a century ago (customs, manners /position

of men and women in society)

� Underline the advantages and disadvantages of this life style.

� Compare it with life nowadays and express your preference for

one of them (Motivate your choice – three reasons)

5. An object (a legend or a recipe) that has been in the family

for generations

� Name it and describe it.

� Mention its significance for the former generations.

� What does it mean to you?

� Will you make sure it will continue to be in the family for the

future generations?

8 Bac la Englezã

� What will you do to make sure it will happen?

6. A humorous/ tragic character in a book / film

� The name, age, nationality (mention the book or film where

you encountered him/her.)

� Physical portrait.

� Moral portrait (examples of situations/ qualities and flaws)

� Hobbies/ free time activities.

� Something special about this character.

� Why have you chosen this character? (Give some reasons).

7. A wonderful trip with your class

� Time, place and characters.

� Report a series of events that happened there (happy or sad).

� Which were the situations that helped you and your mates to

get closer?

� Why was it a wonderful trip?

8. The plot of a film that can be considered a work of art

� The title, the cast, the director

� The plot (a summary of the main events)

� Special prizes or awards.

� Why can it be considered a work of art?

9. A speech about your country

� A general presentation of the beauties of our country.

Liliana Huzdup 9

� Zones of touristic interest (Maramureº, the monasteries of

Moldova, Transylvania, the Danube’s Delta, the seaside resorts)

� Romanian “ambassadors” abroad: Nadia Comãneci, Gheorghe

Hagi, Sabin Bãlaºa.

� Specific items (folklore, traditions, costumes, food, music).

� Your arguments to convince the audience to visit Romania.

10. Romania will become a member of the EU. Express your

view on the matter

� The importance of this event.

� Its impact on our society (good side / weak points) at different

levels (economic, political, cultural).

� How would it change our lives? (for the better or for the worse)

� How will this change affect you?

� European citizenship – a dream that will finally become true.

11. Childhood and adolescence

About childhood in general (universe of idealism)

� the happiest period of life (innocence, sincerity, openness, no

worries, creativity)

� Your childhood:

� How was your life then? (memories, incidents).

� Passage to adolescence. (rites of passage)

� What changed into your life? (arguments, examples)

� What do you prefer: childhood or adolescence? Why? (at least

three reasons)

� Can we keep childhood in our hearts forever? How?

10 Bac la Englezã

12. The most representative personality of the 20th century

� Name / nationality / field of activity.

� Reasons for choosing him / her.

� His / her contribution (Prizes / awards).

� What made him / her famous?

� His / her influence on your life.

13. Free time (importance, ways of spending it)

� Free time and its importance in our lives

� Americans speak of “ quality time “ – It’s not quantity (how

much you have) but quality (how you spend it) that really

matters .

� Ways of spending it: - with family, travelling, going out,

doing housework;

- with friends, having fun

- by yourself, resting, reading, watching TV

� Which way is the most pleasant? Why?

� Would life be possible without free time?

� What would it be like?

14. Famous actor / actress

� Name / age / nationality.

� Phsysical / moral portrait.

� Films in which he / she played.

� Prizes / awards.

� The moment when he / she became famous.

� Reasons for being famous.

Liliana Huzdup 11

{

� Is he / she a model for you? Justify your answer.

15. Television

� Television is a very popular source of entertainment among

the young and the old.)

� The importance of television (it provides information) and its

huge responsibility (it educates, it improves people’s lives)

� Television: - good side (news, films, entertainment)

- bad side (violence, negative news, pornography)

� Its impact on people’s lives (especially on children and teenagers):

They take for granted what they see and they try to imitate it.

� The role of television in your life. Are you influenced by it? In

what way? (negative or positive ?)

� A conclusion: TV or not TV?

16. A friend in need is a friend indeed (refer to a literary text

or to your own experience)

� Friends are very important in our lives.

� Reasons : they offer support, affection, trust.

� Friends are for good and for bad times .

� In difficult times we come to appreciate the value of a

friendship (reasons, examples).

� When we feel lonely, we need affection, support, we need

somebody to talk to, we need to trust the person.(example: a

literary text, a film or your own experience).

12 Bac la Englezã

17. Christmas & Easter

� The significance of Christmas: the birth of the Holy Child.

Symbols: fir tree, Santa, presents, carols

� Preparations for Christmas.

� Christmas Eve: carols, Santa

� Christmas Days: - going to church

- a meal with the family

Traditional food: pork, sponge cake

Easter – its significance – Christ’s Resurrection

Symbols: red eggs (which became red because drops of Christ’s

blood fell on them, the Easter Bunny)

� Preparations.

� Easter Eve: - going to church.

- the Resurrection Light into your house.

� Easter Day: - going to church

- a meal with the family (the tradition of breaking eggs)

- the tradition of wearing new clothes (purification

of the soul)

Traditional food: lamb steak, sponge cake, red eggs.

18. Your best friend

� Name / age / grade.

� Physical and moral portrait.

� Hobbies.

� How long have you known him / her?

�Reasons for admiring him / her.

Liliana Huzdup 13

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19. If you won the national lottery, what would you do with

the money?

� Are you usually lucky with the lottery?

� Do you play often?

� If you won, would it be a surprise for you?

� What would you do with the money?

a) Spend it: buy a house, a car, clothes?

b) Save it in the bank?

c) Invest it: start a business or invest in stock – shares?

20. Junk food

� Fast food restaurants are crowded! Why?

� An old saying: You are what you eat.

� Junk food:

� Advantages: it is tasty, it contains many calories; it is easy to

find; it is easy to eat. (even walking or at work)

� Disadvantages: it is not healthy; you can get fat and ill (it

contains many chemical additives).

� Fast food restaurants are crowded. Reasons:

� They are cheap (compared to a restaurant that offers healthy food)

� You don’t wait a lot for the food to be prepared.

� The food is tasty and attractively presented (a lot of publicity

is made for these places)

14 Bac la Englezã

21. Top models and football players make money easily.

Advantages Disadvantages

Their careers are glamorous - They have no personal life

and well paid - No freedom (imposed diet,

(much money) almost no free time)

- Every step they take is

decided by somebody else.

� Can we say the money is made easily ? Reasons :

(Try comparing them with other categories of jobs: teachers, doctors)

Advantages Disadvantages

� Eight hours of work.

� Partial power of decision. Less money.

� A personal life after work.

22. The role of the press

� Which form of media has the greatest impact? Why?

� Press: � advantages: - it keeps you informed

- it is relatively cheap

- it is accessible to everyone

� disadvantages: subjectivity / manipulation

The role: � to inform, to help people have their own opinion.

� to mirror reality

The importance of the press in our society.

Liliana Huzdup 15

{

23. Advertisements (Do they lie to us? Are they stupid?)

� Advertisements: - an industry that has conquered the world

� They are found everywhere: on TV, in newspapers, on the

Internet, in the street,

� Aim: to convince people to consume.

� Advantages: they inform you about new products

� Disadvantages: they could become annoying.

� Too much publicity induces the feeling of annoyance, boredom, refusal.)

� A selection should be made there are many categories of

advertisements: sometimes they may be stupid, they don’t

advertise a product, they sell an image)

� They could also exaggerate the qualities of a product, they could

go as far as masking the truth which is the equivalent of a lie.

24. The 20th century (3 major things which are crucial for

mankind).

� The 20th

century – a crucial point in the development of mankind:

� discoveries in medicine (cures for many diseases, examples)

� the advanced technique : computers, Internet (details)

� the advanced military equipment (USA, Russia)

� The idea: To use this discoveries for good purposes not to

destroy the world (examples)

25. Fewer people go to the cinema

� Nowadays we have less free time (working late hours)

16 Bac la Englezã

� Modern devices: computers, home cinemas (advantage: people

stay at home and watch films ; disadvantage : no socializing)

Cinemas � places to meet friends

� opportunity to discuss a film.

In our century there is a tendency to search entertainment in

solitude – that leads to alienation .

26. Supermarkets / markets / shops

Where would you go shopping? Why?

� What would you choose ? Reasons

� Weekdays : shops – for everyday needs

� In the weekend (once a week) : the supermarkets : to buy

everything you need for the following week.

Liliana Huzdup 17

Advantages Disadvantages

Supermarkets

Market

Shops

- all the products in the

same place

- certificate of quality

- fresh products

- small prices

- close to the house

- more intimate

- canned or packed

products

- no quality guarantee

- sometimes no health

guarantee

- few products

- more expensive

27. A personality you admire

� Name / age / nationality

� Physical and moral portrait

� Behaviour (examples of situations)

� Profession / job.

� Achievements (prizes, awards)

� Hobbies, interests.

� The reason why you admire him / her.

28. Characterize the beginning of this century

� Predictions said this century would bring a break from last century.

� The beginning seems to be the prolongation of some tendencies

from the 20th

century: materialism, sexual decadence, violence.

� But in the same time there is a desire for changing, an awareness

that evil has to come to an end, that purity, love, sincerity, have

to come out

� The fight between the two tendencies: Light &Dark

Good & Evil

� The dawn of a New Era: of peace, understanding and spiritual love.

29. Pop singers, sportsmen and film stars must be inspiring for

the young

� Young people have always looked for models (in their parents,

teachers and later in pop singers, sportsman, film stars)

� It is not good to imitate but to adapt.

18 Bac la Englezã

�Pop singers, sportsmen and film stars can offer the image of

successful, famous, rich people.

� Young people can be inspired by their determination to

succeed, strong will to continue even if sometimes they face

difficulties.

� Would you be inspired by any some of these people? By whom? In

what way?

30. You are a mayor: three things you are going to do as soon

as possible.

� The function honors you and proves you that citizens trust you ;

that means you have a huge responsibility: to try to make them

content.

� A mayor should ask the citizens for suggestions and take into

account the citizens’ wishes.

Measures:

� to create new parking places

� renovate old buildings (with historical and cultural importance)

� to rent buildings and grounds that belong to the Town Hall

and use the money to improve the public transport, build

shelters for vagrant dogs.

� to build shelter for homeless people.

� to raise funds with the help of sponsorship and to support the

education system, the health system in your city.

Liliana Huzdup 19

A’’) DISCOURSES3-4 classes/week

1. Modern means of communication versus traditional way of life

� Modern means of communication: telephone, mobile phone,

Internet, fax

Advantages: � a lot of time is saved

� the information travels quickly

Disadvantages: � encourage alienation (people don’t meat, they

don’t talk, they just phone or send an email.)

� People don’t have personal contact (eye/body contact)

In modern times: There is no real communication, people are in

a hurry, they don’t pay attention to relationships anymore.

Time in a stress factor.

The traditional way of life: They paid attention to real communication,

the aim and the time didn’t matter so much.

2. Generation gap

Causes: � different levels of understanding the issues.

� lack of tolerance

� desire to impose one’s point of view (no real communication

which has the aim of detecting everybody’s needs and

possibilities.)

20 Bac la Englezã

Solutions: � more openness

� real communication : more time spent together

� desire to know the opposite side and to respect a

different view, to accept it

� wish to share each other’s experience

� children can learn from parents, but parents can

also learn from children

3. The country’s national character (influenced by climate,

geographical position)

� The country’s national character is influenced by: - climate

(temperate continental - four seasons which means balance:

everything that happens follows a cyclical order)

� Any change creates a lack of poise

� Now we have two seasons: winter and summer (spring almost

doesn’t exist) Our national character suffers a transformation)

� The geographical position: our borders and our neighbors

influence us.

� There is a fight to change Romania’s borders (with Hungary,

with Ukraine and Moldova)

� Any change generates a modification in the national character.

4. The role of family and home environment in the formation

of the character

� Family and home environment: the first stage of the school

called “ life “

� The beginning is always very important.

� Family gives you security, unconditional love, support.

Liliana Huzdup 21

� They also help you to correct your mistakes in a mild way.

The home environment is warm.

Home is where you come to heal your heart wounds.

Without them(family and home) man finds it difficult to keep

balance.

5. The great potential of tourism

� Tourism: a source of income.

Some countries have tourism as a major / main source of income

(Spain, Greece)

The tourism in Romania is not exploited but has a great potential.

Touristic sights: Monasteries in Moldova

Maramureº

The Danube’s Delta

The mountain resorts

The seaside resorts

Solution: Modernization of roads, means of transport, hotels, restaurants

Publicity

6. One of your dreams and what you do to make it come true

Dreams : 1. to have a brilliant career

2. to travel all over the world

3. to meet your soul mate

What you do : 1. Study, hard work, dedication, sacrifices

2. Save money, get informed, establish a strategy.

3. Open your heart, try to know as many people

as you can.

22 Bac la Englezã

{

7. Scientists, artists and Olympic medallists have been

Romania’s ambassadors abroad

8. My town - a better place to live in

� A cleaner place.

� Safer (no burglars, thieves).

� Less crowded.

� No vagrant dogs.

� Less polluted.

� With renovated buildings and historical monuments.

� Peace and harmony between all the ethnic groups.

9. A century ago: walking on the Moon – unthinkable. Now -

people buy lots on the Moon

Liliana Huzdup 23

During the

communist

regime

- our connections with the rest of the world

were broken

- Romania was isolated

- The only “ ambassadors “ scientists, artists,

sportsmen as science, art and sport have no

borders.

Since Romania isolated itself from the world,

other countries ignored it so people knew

nothing about us (about our history,

geography ......)

The only “image” they had about Romania

was Nadia Comãneci, or Hagi or Ana Aslan,

Victor Babeº.

{

� A century ago – science and knowledge were limited.

� People were afraid of exploring,

� There were afraid of the unknown.

� Now, mankind has surpassed its limits and its fears.

� The journey towards other planets coincides with an expansion

of conscience, an openness towards other civilizations and their

lifestyle.

� Earth has become a stage where Good and Evil fight.

� People are in a desperate search of balance, of peace with the

Universe.

� They hope to find an answer on the Moon.

10. Superstitions. Do we still believe in them? Why ?

� Superstitions - how did they appear? From people’s need to

explain some things that couldn’t be explained scientifically.

� Men were afraid of Nature.

� Fear that’s what made them believe in superstitions.

� Superstitions are a kind of manipulation.

� Today, we still believe in them.

� Causes: lack of information, refusal to explain things logically.

� Ignorant people indulge in this situation.

� Solution: We should seek the real cause of things (There is

always one) in our behaviour. Changing it and our thought

could make the whole situation change.

11. The moving picture: the most popular art

Reasons - people are very busy

They don’t spend “ quality time “(no reading, no art

24 Bac la Englezã

exhibitions, no concerts, theatre plays)

They choose cinemas or even more comfortable, home

cinemas or TV.

This leads to alienation; no socializing, no real

communication, just you and the screen.

Advantages Disadvantages

- You save some time - A limited perspective

- No difficulty of choice - No socializing

12. Can money buy anything?

� Money can buy objects: houses, cars, luxury objects. holidays, clothes

� It can’t buy : peace of heart, feelings, tranquility, love

� What is most valuable in your life? Why?

� Can it be bought with money?

13. Your portrait

� Name / age

� Physical and moral portrait (qualities and flaws.)

� Behaviour (examples of situations either negative or positive)

� Your evolution in time.

� Hobbies, activities.

� Self appreciation (boast and critics).

14. Characterize your generation

� (Clothes, behaviour, interest, beliefs, ideals)

� Point the differences from the previous generation

Liliana Huzdup 25

� Generation of rebels - inclined to search for the extremes.

� Clothes mirror this attitude: either short or long, too tight or too large.

� Behaviour : not obeying any rules.

� They find their interests in material life (clothes, luxury, cars,

money)

� Estrangement from spirituality.

� Ideal: material (not spiritual).

� The previous generation: more submissive, sensitive to influences,

a balanced attitude.

� Material ideals (spiritual support).

15. Three dangers mankind faces (solutions)

� Alienation (cause; no real communication)

� It can lead to violence, drugs.

� Lack of religion (cause: interest in material things)

� It can lead to depression, madness

� Solution: church, religious books, spiritual life.

� Breaking up of families (cause : seeking pleasure, not real love,

selfishness)

Solution : a turn to a traditional way of life.

� Diseases (causes: stress, bad habits of nutrition)

Solution : a return to the traditional way of life, healthy life,

healthy food

26 Bac la Englezã

16. Uses and abuses of advertising

� Advertisement - “ the soul of commerce “

� Our society: - materialistic.

- based on consume and consumers.

� Good side: - it makes the products known to the consumers.

- if used correctly it’s the art of presenting a new product.

- it contributes to the producers’ profit.

� Bad s ide : - it doesn’t promote the quality of the product, it

sells an image.

- there’s too much use of sexuality and sexual messages.

- sometimes it is annoying because it almost obliges

the client to buy something

17. The plot of a love story. Reasons for choosing it.

� Name, author

� Characters/main events.

� Reasons for choosing it.

Example:

Romeo and Juliet / by W. Shakespeare

�They come from two enemy families/

They marry secretly / Romeo is banned from the city.

Juliet takes a sleeping potion / Romeo thinks her dead / He

commits suicide.

She understands his gesture / She commits suicide too.

Reason : the power of love triumphant over mundane things.

Love is even stronger than death.

Liliana Huzdup 27

{

{

{

18. Romania’s system of education

A. Good side

� Our pupils are very well prepared./They get international prizes

and awards./ Modern methods of teaching are used.

B. Bad side

� It is centralized and rigid

� There’s too much information

� There are too many classes a week for each pupil.

� The stress is on general knowledge with little or no specialization

� The staff is badly paid.

� Little money for auxiliary materials and teaching aids is given.

� Comparison with Western Europe

� There is much freedom of expression, personalized work;

There are less details (only main facts)

� There are modern teaching aids.

� There is not such a busy schedule.

19. Real life is more astonishing than movies / books.

� Movies / books contain extraordinary facts, stories of

adventures, but they lack the sense of reality.

� You can’t really “taste” them, they are offered to you by

someone else who did.

� Trying to get into the atmosphere is like living someone else’s

life, imitating.

� Your own life is original, you enjoy every moment of it with

joys and sorrows.

28 Bac la Englezã

It’s spicy, astonishing unique.

You can’t compare it with movies and books.

Real life has nothing to do with fictional life life.

20. Volunteering

� It’s an interesting activity

� You get to know people / make friends / gain experience

� You have the opportunity to get involved in projects

� Romanian young people are eager to volunteer (reasons)

� Have you ever volunteered?

� How was your experience?

� If not, would you volunteer?

Liliana Huzdup 29

B) LITERARY TEXTS:

How to tackle a text:

1. Read the text for a general idea. (Reading for gist)

2. Underline the key words.

3. Read the text more attentively. (Reading for details)

4. Summarize the text(50-75 words)

5. Comment upon the text (Express your opinions about the text

Give examples / quotations from the text and sustainable arguments.

6. Make a comparison between this text and another text / a film

/ a book or your life experience.

Text 1

“Elaine. Oh, I won’t think of Elaine ! Indeed I can’t, because

when I try to, a terrible weight settles on my chest, as if I’d

swallowed something impossible to digest, a lump of undercooked

potato or a half-boiled egg. Actually, Elaine is rather like both

those things. Her skin is white and floury and sort of pulpy, like a

fruit that’s been sitting in the bowl too long and ought to be

thrown away. I’m sure that inside she must be going soft and

nasty.... But on the surface there’s lots of red lipstick and nail

polish and blue eye shadow. She thinks these things make her look

young I’ve heard her say so - “Of course always having looked

young for my age...” I don’t know why she thinks she needs to look

young. She isn’t, and she’s probably going to marry Daddy (yes,

yes, I do know that, though I’m not supposed to) and he’s not

young either. So why should she need to pretend?

I don’t wear lipstick or nail polish - I mean, who does these

days? – and Elaine seems to resent that. She’s always going on

about my clothes and my hair and what a sight I look, as if I were

about ten, as if she had the right to. I wish someone would tell

her that it’s rude to go on like that, with anybody. I wish I

could...... I can’t .......”

(“Different” written by Gillian Tindall)

The analysis of the text:

It’s a fragment from the novel “Different” written by Gillian Tindall.

It’s a first person narrative (The narrator is a character “ Ok, I won’t

think of Elaine ....” which implies subjectivity.

I. Key words

Impossible to digest soft, nasty, red lipstick, eye shadow, to look young

II. The idea of the text:

The author describes her step mother to be, Elaine.

III. Summary:

Gillian dislikes Elaine completely. She hates her look, the fact

the she wears make-up, her attempts to look younger than she is

and her “rude” way of intruding in the girl’s life But Elaine is going

to marry her father and Gillian is aware of the fact that they

should have a good relationship. In Gillian’s opinion this means”

no intrusion” in her life.

Liliana Huzdup 31

IV. Comments :

Gillian can’t stand Elaine: “ a terrible weight on my chest as if

I’d swallowed something impossible to digest, a lump of

undercooked potato or a half-boiled egg.”

She begins with a physical description criticizing her skin: “ her

skin is white and floury and sort of pulpy, like a fruit that’s being

sitting in the bowl too long “Naturally the girl doesn’t approve

Elaine. She thinks she is trying to be false by hiding her real age

under the mask of make-up. “Why does she need to look young?

She isn’t ”Gillian hates Elaine because she is too intruding. Gillian

doesn’t like wearing make-up and her style of dressing seems too

different from Elaine’s and she doesn’t like to be bothered about it.

She considers this “rude”.

Maybe she is too tough and judges Elaine because she believes

this woman wants to take her mother’s place. Elaine doesn’t seem

to be the kind of woman Gillian would like for a step-mother or

maybe she is not prepared to accept any woman beside her father.

Elaine’s attempts to advise Gillian might prove her real wish to

get closer and to get on well with her step daughter but she hasn’t

found the proper means to do that.

V. Comparison

In real life this situation is often met : teenage girl/boy doesn’t

like step mother/step father to be .

Luca’s mother was divorced and she was dating another man.

She introduced John, her fiancé to her teenage boy, Luca. From

the first moment Luca saw John, he couldn’t stand him, He didn’t

like his polite way of speaking, his ellegance, his fake smile. John

32 Bac la Englezã

was not al all like his father but obviously he was trying to get close

to Luca. The boy was annoyed and everything he wished was to be

left alone, not to be forced to accept another man taking his

father’s place.

Wh - questions:

Build the questions to which the underlined words are the answers:

“Elaine Oh, I won’t think of Elaine! Indeed I can’t, because

when I try to, a terrible weight settles on my chest, as if I’d swallowed

something impossible to digest, a lump of undercooked potato or a

half-boiled egg Actually, Elaine is rather like both those things.

Her skin is white and floury and sort of pulpy, like a fruit that’s

been sitting in the bowl too long and ought to be thrown away. I’m

sure that inside she must be going soft and nasty...But on the

surface there’s lots of red lipstick and nail polish and blue eye

shadow. She thinks these things make her look young: I’ve heard

her say so - “Of course always having looked young for my age...” I

don’t know why she thinks she needs to look young. She isn’t, and

she’s probably going to marry Daddy (yes, yes, I do know that,

though I’m not supposed to) and he’s not young either. So why

should she need to pretend?

I don’t wear lipstick or nail polish - I mean, who does these days?

-and Elaine seems to resent that. She’s always going on about my

clothes and my hair and what a sight I look, as if I were about ten,

as if she had the right to. I wish someone would tell her that it’s rude

to go on like that, with anybody. I wish I could ..... I can’t .......”

Liliana Huzdup 33

Solution :

Where has the fruit been sitting too long? In the bowl.

What does she need? To look young.

Whom is she going to marry? Daddy.

Who seems to resent that? Elaine.

Text 2

“ June and Malcolm Harding spent their life savings on their first

home and thought they were set for life. But just over a year later,

June handed the keys back to the estate agent. Since then they’ve

also sold most of their furniture. All to give their daughter Kelly

the chance to become a world champion ice-skater.

What started as a way to stop Kelly being bored in the summer

holiday has become the focus of all their lives. She won her first

competition after 10 weeks of skating lessons. Soon after, Kelly’s

coach left Britain for Canada and her parting words changed the

Hardings’ lives forever. “Find the money to keep Kelly on ice”, she

urged. “She’ll go all the way to the top”. From then on, there was no

question - whatever it cost to make Kelly a winner, they’d find a way.

June has her own reasons for wanting Kelly, her daughter, to

become a skating star. “I started skating when I was ten “, June

said. “I saved all the money I could for lessons by doing errands for

neighbours. But Mum and Dad were poor and when Mum saved to

buy me boots, Dad said that was it. I never skated again. I wasn’t

going to let that happen to Kelly. “

Kelly, now seventeen, was placed first in the last year’s junior

championship and has won nearly thirty competitions so far. “ I know

I’m very lucky”, she admits. “ Mum and Dad have given up their own

lives just for me and I’m determined not to let them down”.

34 Bac la Englezã

Key words

Main idea

Summary

Comments

Liliana Huzdup 35

Comparison

Wh - questions

Build questions to which the underlined words are the answers:

“ June and Malcolm Harding spent their life savings on their first

home and thought they were set for life. But just over a year later,

June handed the keys back to the estate agent. Since then they’ve

also sold most of their furniture. All to give their daughter Kelly

the chance to become a world champion ice-skater.

What started as a way to stop Kelly being bored in the summer

holiday has become the focus of all their lives. She won her first

competition after 10 weeks of skating lessons. Soon after, Kelly’s

coach left Britain for Canada and her parting words changed the

Hardings’ lives forever. “Find the money to keep Kelly on ice”, she

urged. “She’ll go all that way to the top”. From then on, there was

36 Bac la Englezã

no question - whatever it cost to make Kelly a winner, they’d find

a way.

June has her own reasons for wanting Kelly, her daughter, to

become a skating star. “I started skating when I was ten “, June

said. “I saved all the money I could for lessons by doing errands for

neighbours But Mum and Dad were poor and when Mum saved to

buy me boots, Dad said that was it. I never skated again. I wasn’t

going to let that happen to Kelly. “

Kelly, now seventeen, was placed first in the last year’s junior

championship and has won nearly thirty competitions so far. “ I know

I’m very lucky”, she admits. “ Mum and Dad have given up their own

lives just for me and I’m determined not to let them down”.

Liliana Huzdup 37

II.THE WRITTEN EXAM:

A. THE NARRATIVE ESSAY

It presents a series of events in a chronological order, connected

between them and based on the writer’s experience or imagination.

Plan

Devices

� Vivid descriptions of the scenes, “spicy” incidents are needed

to keep the reader’s interest to make the story “catchy”

� The “flashback” method. The story must begin with an

awkward situation, then we must “sprinkle” it with “flashbacks”

which help us understand how we get into it and finally a return

to present where we should draw a conclusion (P.S Morell)

Tips

� The most interesting part of the story should come at the end!

In this way the reader will feel “ the suspense”.

Introduction (place, time, characters, atmosphere)

Main body - the events narrated in a clear and logical way

Conclusion- the end of the story

- references to people’s reactions, feelings

� Make out a plan (or a draft) . While writing, you could alter it

or even cut some parts of it.

� Try to have a logical link between paragraphs.

� Avoid the unimportant details and keep a balance between the

length of the paragraph and its content.

� Avoid personal statements such as: ”I don’t like this subject ...”

or “ In my opinion this is a stupid thing ...”

� Use Past Continuous, Past Simple and Past Perfect to narrate

the events.

� Use linking words such as before, after, then, later, until,

finally.

� You could write the essay using either the first person singular

(I) or the third person singular (he / she)

� Try to read your essay again to correct the grammar or word

order mistakes or to avoid repetitions.

Title: The woman on the rail

Main event: At midday a deaf woman picks flowers near some

rails in a desert place

The woman on the rail

Plan

Before the event

1. Midday: rails hot - silence - nobody around

2. Woman on the rails. The train approaching from behind.

She is not disturbed.

Liliana Huzdup 39

3. Someone far away sees her. He shouts - No answer.

4. Woman seems to stop. Man running towards her.

The event

1. The train is close to the woman. The mechanic slows down

but he can’t stop. He sounds the horn .The man waves. He

throws a ball. The woman goes to catch it. She walks away

from the rails. She is saved. The train passes.

After the event

The man tries to speak to the woman. She is deaf. They communicate

through signs. The woman thanks him.

It was a hot summer day. The place seemed to be deserted: no

houses, no people around just a field with colored flowers and rails.

A young woman was walking around picking flowers. She was

caught by her activity so deeply that she didn’t notice she had

approached the rails. She found her favourite flowers, poppies, there.

She sat down and picked them up gathering them in a huge bunch.

At a certain moment a whistling was heard, sign that a train was

coming but the woman didn’t move. Far away you could see the

silhouette of a man approaching.

The woman went on picking flowers without suspecting that the

train was coming from the opposite direction and that she was in

danger. The man noticed it and started running towards her. He

tried to draw her attention shouting. But she could not see him as

he was approaching from behind. He was desperate. The train was

40 Bac la Englezã

almost near her, the mechanic sounded the horn, he slowed down

but he couldn’t stop the engine, it was a question of a few

moments....and suddenly the man had an idea! He threw he ball

he had in his hands as far as he could. The woman saw the ball and

crawled to catch it and ... at that very moment the train’s wheels

touched the rails where the woman had sat. She was saved!

She turned round, holding the ball. She saw a man behind her,

and the train going slowly away and her flowers smashed on the

rail and at that moment she understood everything. She looked up

with her eyes full of tears and gratitude. She bowed her head and

joined her hand just like in a prayer. It was her way of thanking

the man for having saved her life as she could not speak or hear.

The man was astonished. He hugged her. Now he understood

why she couldn’t hear either the whistling, the sound of the horn

or his shouts. Blessed be the moment when he thought of throwing

the ball!

Finally he took the woman’s hand and they walked to the

nearest village together.

Liliana Huzdup 41

B. THE DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY

Structure

Plan

Introduction place, time, main characters

Main body description of main elements

Conclusion the writer’s opinions / feelings

Describing

persons

Describing

places

Describing

events

Introduction - who the

person is

- where and

when you met

her / him

-the reason for

choosing her /

him

-the name and

location of the

place.

- the reasons for

choosing it.

-the name and

the type of the

event

-time and place

-the reasons for

choosing it

Main body -physical and

moral portrait

-behaviour

(examples of

situations)

-hobbies,

-personal

achievements

-general

impression of

the place.

-particular

views.

-the

preparations for

the

event.(before)

- the event

itself (during)

Devices

� The roving report: It consists of a constant shift of interest from

general to particular from the whole scene to details . You should

use sounds, views, colors, smells, movements to achieve this effect.

� The contrast: You should use as many contrasting words as possible:

new / old, night / day, actual / ideal, to create variation.

� The unusual or fantastic:

You should seek beauty in common places or things, you should

notice strange persons or objects, a weird atmosphere. All these

create mystery, surprise.

Tips

� It is necessary to make out a plan, writing down a few ideas

under each heading.

� When planning the essay, you should think of a central idea

and everything you describe will be related to it.

� Each aspect of the description should be presented in a

separate paragraph.

� In the first paragraph you should deal with the subject in

general and in the rest of the paragraphs you will bring details.

Title: A night out in a foreign city

Central idea: A night out in an unknown city can become a

pleasant adventure.

Liliana Huzdup 43

Conclusion -your opinions/

feelings

-your opinions/

feelings

Peoples’

opinions (after)

A night out in a foreign city

Plan

It was a beautiful autumn day. Richard and Angela were visiting

S.., a town in Transylvania. They decided to have a walk in the

town to admire the beauties and to take part in The September Fest.

They arrived at the Central Square and they stopped in the

middle of the crowd, gathered around the stage. There were young

people, teenagers and children, clapping their hands holding lights

and balloons and waiting for their favourite pop band to perform.

There was even a boy disguised in one of the pop stars, wearing

identical clothes and shouting his name. Backstage there was a

dumb show performed by some art students. They were also

warmly applauded by the audience. Richard and Angela found all

this fascinating. A little further from the stage they could see “ a

flames show “ : some amateur artists created special effects which

looked like real flames ; if you were brave you could take part in

44 Bac la Englezã

Introduction An autumn day in S..,

Decision to spend the evening out.

Main body Arrival at the Square: people / stage / singers /

actors / artists / craftsmen

Incident : the potter wrote Angela’s name on the mug.

Leave square - Different atmosphere, park,

silence, roman

The return:

Conclusion After midnight: Arrival at the hotel.

Surprise that getting lost in a foreign city can be a

pleasant adventure.

the show. Richard volunteered. He had the sensation of being

surrounded by fire from all sides, first by calm, friendly flames then

little by little they turned into strong violent, consuming flames.

In the end he saw some romantic flames in a fireplace. It was a

unique experience.

Later they went to visit the ”Craftsmen exhibition”. There they

could admire hand made pottery, clay statues, icons and crystal

jewellery. The craftsmen invited them to see how they created

these objects. Angela saw a woman sitting down around a potter’s

wheel, her hands dipped in clay, shaping a mug .She wrote

Angela’s name on it and said :”for you ”Angela was speechless with

emotion. She thanked the woman with tears in her eyes.

After that, they left the crowded and noisy square for a quiet

place : the park. It was a deep silence and they could hear the

purling of the water spring. They held each other ‘s hand losing

track of time.

Later, after midnight, they went back to the hotel In the

morning, sitting in their room near a cup of Turkish coffee,

Richard and Angela agreed that it was a pleasant adventure to get

lost in a Romanian city.

Liliana Huzdup 45

C. THE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

It is an essay concerned with ideas and the writer is required

to deal with a certain topic expressing opposing points of

view (in favour / against)

Types of argumentative essays

� for and against : both sides are discussed with proper reasons

� argumentative opinion : different points of view are expressed,

each of them being supported by

reasons / examples

The opinion essay:

Plan:

Devices

� Illustration, examples : They are needed so that the abstract

idea could become clear.

Introduction The topic is clearly stated, the main sides are

introduced.

Main body Each side presents its points of view and

arguments / examples (no personal commitment

of the author)

Conclusion A balanced consideration of the writer.

(the writer’s opinion may be included here)

� Contrast: It is necessary to underline the differences between

the sides.

� Humour: It is welcome to show the writer’s detachment.

Tips

� Achieving the task successfully depends on how well you use

your knowledge.

� When referring to fact, you need accuracy. Don’t invent facts

to prove an idea.

� It’s better to begin by considering the opposite side in order to

avoid possible objections.

� Avoid taking sides. However if you want to make your point of

view known you may express it in the conclusion indirectly.

Every man is the architect of his own future

Plan

Liliana Huzdup 47

Ideas Plan

- free will(choice between good

and evil) destiny (karma)-

fatalists: what’s meant to

happen will happen

- architect: imagination,

creativity, freedom of choice /

the future can be shaped

- without an architect a building

can’t be achieved(oneness)

Introduction:

Man’s role in building his

future is decisive.

Main body:

Philosophy and free will.

Theology has the same view.

Man’s role in building his future has been a matter of debate for

philosophers and theologians. A multitude of hypothesis have

been put forward such as “ the blind fate “ or “ the free will “, but

all of them led to the same conclusion: it is man who takes the

final decision, otherwise said future lies in his hands.

The idea of “free will” is supported by some philosophers.

Throughout his life man faces different situations and is offered

the possibility to choose. Making his choices conscientiously, he

becomes responsible for his deeds. Romeo and Juliet from

Shakespeare’s tragedy are the best illustration of “free will”.

Theologians have the same view regarding this matter. God

created man and gave him the liberty to choose between Good

and Evil. There is a destiny for each person, which means that

everyone has a special mission here on Earth and we are allowed

to choose the way to achieve it. So destiny implies free will and

must not be mistaken with fate.

In contrast, fatalists believe everything is set up and man has no

power to oppose the events. According to this view, Tess of the

48 Bac la Englezã

Ideas Plan

(There is a destiny but every

person has a free choice to

change it).

Fatalists believe that nothing

could be changed.

Conclusion:

Every thought and every action

is a “brick” used to build our future.

D’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy’s character is considered a victim of

her fate; she is not responsible for her gesture, she is believed to

have followed her instinct. The flaw of this theory consists in the

fact that they neglect man’s potential. If man couldn’t influence

his future, his abilities to think and feel would be useless.

Using his creativity the man-architect builds his future out of

thoughts and actions.

Liliana Huzdup 49

D. THE REFLECTIVE ESSAY

“It is an exercise in contemplation on any given subject “

(G. Alexander)

The reflexive essays are of two types :

1. Descriptive - reflective - It contains a description and your

conclusions, personal views and feelings on the topic

ex. Cruelty to animals

2. Abstract - reflective - It contains a metaphorical

interpretation of the topic . It is important to reason rather

than to describe your feelings.

ex. On biting off more than you can chew.

Plan

Introduction - All the aspects of the subject in a

concentrated form.

- A reference to a quotation, saying, rhetorical

question

Main body - Each idea stated in the introduction should

bedevelopped in one paragraph.

- A diversity of perspectives should be included

(for each argument)

- The ideas should evolve from general ones to

individual ones.

Devices

� Description (especially in descriptive reflective essays). Your

comments should be based on what you describe.

� Illustration / examples (especially in abstract reflective essays).

Try to prove your ideas by giving examples.

� Contrast It gives variety to the essay and it makes it more

interesting

� Humor Irony, satire and parody should be part of a reflective

essay in order to amuse the reader and to offer him a different

perspective on things.

Suggestions:

� Build a two columns plan : in the left column (Ideas) write

down the ideas in the order in which they come to your mind

and in the right column write the actual plan : Introduction,

Main Body, Conclusion.

Tips :

1. It is absolutely necessary to make up a plan.While writing you

can change it.

2. .When you interpret the subject, stick to one approach ; either

descriptive or abstract. Don’t mix them. Pay attention to the task!

3. Avoid the so called “pseudo-historical” approach (This means

Liliana Huzdup 51

Conclusion - The writer’s opinion and a balanced

consideration on the topic.

- All the ideas from the introduction

writing about the “history” of the subject from the earliest times

to the present.

4. Your essay must have unity, so that if you take a part of it, it would

spoil the effect on the whole.

5. Each paragraph is a unit of thought and it deals with an aspect

of the topic

6. A reflective essay should be written in the third person singular.

The reflexive abstract essay

Lost opportunities

Plan

52 Bac la Englezã

Ideas Plan

- Opportunity = chance to do

something, situation in which

it is easy for you to do

something.

- Lost / missed opportunity - a

chance you didn’t use

- Opportunities suppose a risk.

- Fear hinders you to take

advantage of them.

- Regret has no place.

(Don’t cry over spilt milk)

- Lost opportunities stimulate

progress(They can help you to

use a better opportunity in the

future)

Introduction:

Lost opportunities – a phrase

we all are familiar with.

Main body:

Perspectives:

- Financial : occasions to make

money; they suppose a risk.

Lost opportunities mean fear of

risk, lack of information.

- Emotional: possibilities to

build a relationship; they

suppose openness, sincerity,

unconditional love.

Causes of failure: selfishness, fear.

“Lost opportunities” is a phrase we all are familiar with, may they

refer to money, relationships or evolution.

As far as financial opportunities are concerned, they come out in

everyone’s life. The only thing you should do is to take advantage

of the chance to make money. If you are not ready to risk then you

miss them. ”The loyal employer”, often met in Dickens’s novels, is

the best illustration of the person who missed all financial

opportunities and remained poor all his life.

But still the emotional opportunities are the most common.

They imply the possibility to build a suitable relationship. But if

you are not ready to give unconditional love and in the same time

open to receive it you can miss the opportunities. Scarlet O’Hara,

a well known American fictional character is famous for her lost

opportunities regarding Rhett Butler.

Liliana Huzdup 53

Ideas Plan

- Spiritual: opportunities appear

when you are ready.

- The impact of the lost

opportunities on your soul.

- Regret has no point. Any failure

can be turned into a success.

Conclusion:

No matter how many

opportunities you have missed,

what really matters is to be

willing to learn and move on,

be open in the future.

From the psychological point of view, every missed opportunity

leaves a trace of regret behind. However people finally understand

that regrets are useless and they hinder evolution. The English

have a proverb: ” Don’t cry over spilt milk.”. Lost opportunities

must not break our wings but on condition that we should assume

them and try to learn to be open and take the risk.

Therefore lost opportunities should teach us valuable lessons

and help us to turn failure into success in the future.

54 Bac la Englezã

III. POSSIBLE TITLES OF ESSAYS:

Narrative

Holiday adventure

Shipwreck

Pages from a diary

A story called “ The Terrible Twins”

An imaginary journey in a balloon

Your most embarrassing experience

If I were Prime Minister

The time I was ill

A trip by boat / ship

Descriptive

A snowy landscape

My best friend

Busy market place

The season I like best

A day by the sea

The house of the future

Myself in twenty years’ time

An ideal schoolteacher

A fashion show

A thunderstorm

My parents

56 Bac la Englezã

Reflective

Youth and old age

Lost opportunities

Television and education

Modern art

Witches and witchcraft

Intuition

Deserts

New Year’s Eve

Materialism

Peace of mind

On living to be a hundred

On being lazy

Argumentative

You can never have enough money.(Argue in favour or against)

Should we enjoy having more leisure?

Every man is the architect of his own future. (Argue in favour of

this statement)

Good fences make good neighbours (Robert Frost)

Prevention is better than cure.

Should books, plays, films be subjected to censorship?

You cannot bully Nature.( Argue in favour of this statement.)

Is it a truly successful marriage an attainable ideal?

Do we ever learn from our mistakes?

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Liliana Huzdup 57

Alexander, G

Morell, P. S.

Bantas, A; Clontea, V

Bell, J; Gower, R.

Parlog, Hortensia

Maisonnave, J

Swan, Michael

Hornby, A S

Essay and letter writing, Longman 1993.

Secondary Certificate English, Thomas

Nelson Ltd, 1983

Manual de literature engleza si

Americana, Editura Teora, 1996.

Upper Intermediate Matters, Students’

Book, Longman, 1996.

Sinteze ºi exerciþii de limba ºi literatura

englezã pentru examenele de bacalaureat

ºi admitere, Amarcord,1996.

Préparation au baccalaureat écrit et oral,

Hatier, Paris,1991

Practical English Usage, International

Student’s Edition, Oxford University

Press,1996.

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

of Current English,

Oxford University Press, 1995.

pentru comenzi:editura.amethyst@yahoo.com

ISBN - 10973-878-95-0-8

ISBN - 13978-973-878-95-0-0