Author: Philippe Dudoué
Company: Education Nationale

Baccalauréat Technologique - Session 2003
ANGLAIS LV 1
Séries STI, SMS, STL, STT (CG-IG) et langue renforcée STT (ACC-ACA)

(Durée 2 heures - Coefficient 2)

L'usage du dictionnaire et des calculatrices est interdit

I happened to hear Ralph Messenger on the radio this morning - some kind of popular science magazine programme. He was being interviewed about "wearable computers". I switched on in the middle of the discussion, but as far as I could gather somebody's just written a book suggesting that as computers get smaller and cheaper in the future they could easily be worn on the person or actually implanted in the body, to monitor your pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, muscular tension, blood sugar level, etc., etc., and anyone with access to this information on their own wearable computers could tell from it what you were thinking and feeling. Is this feasible ? he was asked.

"Well, it's technically feasible," he said. "Computer chips are getting smaller and smaller and more and more powerful all the time. They're improving faster than any other machine in history. It's been calculated that if cars had developed at the same rate as computers over the last thirty years, you'd be able to buy a Rolls-Royce today for under a pound, and it would do three million miles to the gallon... So there's no reason why wearables shouldn't become cheaply available in the not-too-distant future."But why would anybody submit to being fitted with them ? he was asked. "Well, one suggestion is that domestic appliances could respond to the information and anticipate your needs - when you came in tired from work, say, the Teasmaid would make you a cup of tea and the TV find you a suitably relaxing programme without your having to lift a finger," he said. "But wearables could also be made compulsory in certain contexts. For instance, suppose there was a wearable that triggered a red light on the roof of your car when your blood-pressure and pulse rate went above a certain level." A sort of road-rage meter ? "Exactly. It could prevent a lot of accidents. Wearing one might be made a condition of holding a driving licence."

David Lodge, Thinks, 2001

I - General comprehension

Tick the correct answer

1.	The text is about computers that : 

☐ you can have in your car.
☐ you can carry in a special case.
☐ you can dress with.
☐ you can have inside you.

2.	These computers : 

☐ are already in use today.
☐ were used in the past.
☐ might be used in the future.
☐ will never exist.

3.	Ralph Messenger is : 

☐ the narrator.
☐ the name of a popular magazine.
☐ the journalist.
☐ the interviewee.

II - Detailed comprehension

1.	Right or wrong . Circle the correct answer. Justify your choice by quoting the text precisely : 

- The narrator heard the entire programme.  ☐ right ☐ wrong

(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

- Computers are becoming cheaper and cheaper. ☐ right ☐ wrong

(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

- The information given by wearable computers would be kept secret. ☐ right ☐ wrong

(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 
- Computer technology isn't changing quickly. ☐ right ☐ wrong

(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

- These computers would know in advance what you need. ☐ right ☐ wrong

(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

- They could be imposed on some people. ☐ right ☐ wrong

(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2.	Pick out two examples from the text of what wearable computers could do for you at home.

a. (Line    ) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

b. (Line    ) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3.	Pick out one sentence showing that the new technology might soon be available.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Tick the correct answer :

Wearable computers could : 

☐ control angry drivers
☐ cause road accidents
☐ make you blood pressure rise
☐ make your heart beat faster

Quote the text to justify your choice.

(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4.	Find in the text synonyms for : 

-	a sort 
(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

-	from what I understood 
(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

-	machines used at home 
(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

-	activated 
(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

-	avoid 
(Line    ) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

5.	Who or what do the underlined words refer to ?

-	I happened (l 1) …………………………………………………..

-	Your pulse rate (l 5) 	…………………………………………………..

-	on their own wearable computers (l 6/7) …………………………………………………..

-	he was asked (l 7) …………………………………………………..

-	wearing one (l 20) …………………………………………………..

III - Expression

Answer both questions one and two.

1.	Would you accept having a wearable computer implanted in your body ? (80 words)

2.	Does new technology frighten you ? (120 words)