Foreign countries have always had their attention focussed on the Moroccan coast . It has an exceptional geographic and strategic position thanks to its double façade onto the Atlantic and the Mediterranean . Morocco has an important role to play in the field of sea fishing .However , the fishing sector was only raised to national priority level in 1981 ,and the building of the major ports began in 1977/78. Morocco has been late in establishing a port policy for one reason , that is priority was first given to agriculture , the other great vocation of the country . There is now a port every 200 kms .The reality is that Morocco’s relations with the outside world depend totally on its coastal opening .95 % of its exports are sent by sea every year .

A paradoxical situation to say the least , as the Moroccan coast is amongst the most abundant in fish in the world , but Moroccan people have never been gourmet fish eaters .It is true to say that the rise in meat prices has encouraged many households to eat sardines and whiting , but in general , fish has never really entered Moroccan eating habits as it has always been considered a second – rate food . Consequently , the local market is far from absorbing the annual catch of the Moroccan fisher-men .The average annual consumption per-inhabitant is no more than 5 kg , where as in Europe , it is as high as 30 kg per-head .The aim is to triple this sector and to encourage the Moroccans to consume more fish .

Morocco has also submitted to the World Food Programme a noble project that was to be not only profitable for Morocco , but humanitarian at the same time : Sardines to fight the famine in Africa .Tinned sardines , rich in protein , could become a food similar to wheat or milk, which could be distributed to the starving populations of the black continent .For this reason ,many canning factories are established in different places in Morocco .To make this industry more successful , the Moroccans should also consume the tinned fish .Major publicity campaigns aim at convincing the Moroccan people who are used to eating fresh fish , to include tinned fish in their gastronomy .Agreements made with Japan would enable fishermen and investors to be familiarised with this type of fishing , projected towards the future .



I)- COMPREHENSION : (20 points)



A)- Answer these questions from the text (6 points).



1- Why was Morocco late in giving importance to the fishing industry ?

2- What is the paradoxical situation in Morocco concerning fish consumption?

3- What is the aim of the project that Morocco gave to the World Food Programme ?



B)- Are these sentences true or false ? Justify (6 point)

1- The Moroccans’ consumption of fish is more than the Europeans’.

2- All the fish that enter the local market is absorbed .

3- The starving blacks in Africa benefit from the canning industry.

4-
C)- Find in the text words or expressions that mean the same as :(4 points



1)- due to :…………..(paragraph 1). 3)-Starvation :……..(parag 3)

2)- rich in :…………..(paragraph 2). 4)-to add :………..(parag. 3)



D)- Complete these sentences according to the context :(4 points)

1)- The rise in meat prices has pushed …………………………

2)- The project submitted to the world food programme is both ….

…………………



II)- LANGUAGE : 20 points



A)- Rewrite these sentences correctly : 6 points



1)- I’m the one .My purse was stolen . (whose) .

……………………………………….

2)-Provided that you do you job perfectly ,no one will blame you .

( As long as………).

3)- I can’t go to the party because I have no new clothes.

If ………………………………………

4)- I can’t go to work in America because I don’t speak English .

I wish …………………………………….

5)- It’s not a good idea to eat junk food all the time.

It’s better to avoid …………………………………..

6)- It’s impossible for Ahmed to kill some one .He is soft –hearted.

Ahmed ……………………….the criminal.



B)- Write the verbs between brackets in the correct tense :4pts.



Dear Nadia ,

I am sorry I (not/be) …………… in touch with you for so long , but I (to have)……………no time of rest since I ( arrive) ………….. here . Last week , I (to go) ………….. to the Oxford university where I ( to meet)……….some students and (to see ) ………..a couple of colleagues . I will work with .Next week , I (to came ) ………… back to Morocco and I (to talk) …………to you about all that I have seen .



C)-Replace the words in brackets with a suitable phrasal verb (look into

-look after – try out – turn up – hold up- get over ): 6 points .



1)- Before you take the tape-recorder home ,you must (test)

……….. it……….. to see whether it works or not .

2)- I haven’t really (recovered from)…………the shock .

my close friend is my husband’s girl friend .

3)- Working women are always in need of some one to (take care of)

………….. their kids.



D)- Functions : 4 points



1)- Express Advice in two different ways :

Situation : It would be a good idea for you to stop smoking now.

a)- you ……………………………………..

b)- you……………………………………..



III)-WRITING :20 points



Write an article to be published in a business magazine about the advantages of fishing in Morocco