Amzil Mhamed Secondary School. 2021/2022
Level: Third Year L Ph.
Duration:02 hours.
The First Term Exam
Read the following passage carefully then do the activities:
Babylonia was a state in ancient Mesopotamia. The city of Babylon, whose ruins are located in
present-day Iraq, was founded more than 4,000 years ago as a small port town on the Euphrates
River. It grew into one of the largest cities of the ancient world u nder the rule of Hammurabi.
Several centuries later, a new line of kings established a Neo -Babylonian Empire that spanned from
the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. During this period, Babylon became a city of beautiful
and lavish buildings. Biblical and archaeological evidence point toward the forced exile of thousands
of Jews to Babylon around this time.
The town of Babylon was located along the Euphrates River in present -day Iraq, about 50
miles south of Baghdad. It was founded around 2300 B.C. by the ancient Akkadian -speaking people
of southern Mesopotamia.
Babylon became a major military power under Amorite king Hammurabi, who ruled from 1792
to 1750 B.C. After Hammurabi conquered neighboring city -states, he brought much of southern and
central Mesopotamia under unified Babylonian rule, creating an empire called Babylonia.
Hammurabi turned Babylon into a rich, powerful and influential city. He created one of the
world’s earliest and most complete written legal codes. Known as the Code of Hammurabi, it helped
Babylon surpass other cities in the region. Babylonia, however, was short-lived. The empire fell
apart after Hammurabi’s death and reverted back to a small kingdom for several centuries.
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-middle-east/babylonia
A/ Comprehension and Interpretation: 7pts
1. Say whether the following statements are true or false, according to the text. (2pts)
a. Babylonia first appeared in Mesopotamia.
b. Babylonia did not emerge and remained a small city state.
c. Babylonia was established byHammurabi.
d. Theruins of Babylonia are still present today.
2. Read the text and put the ideas in the order they appear in the text.
(2pts)
a. The collapse of Babylonia.
b. The time and the location of the establishment of Babylonia.
c. The emergence of the empire of Babylonia.
d. The achievements of Hammurabi.
3. Answer the following questions according to the text: (2pts)
a- How was the empire of Babylonia established?
b- Did the Code of Hammurabi help Babylon to overcome other cities in the region? Justify?
4. What/who do the underlined words refer to in the text? (1pt)
a- it (§1)……...........…
b- he ……………. (§4)
B/ Text Exploration: (8pts)
1. Find in the text words opposite in the meaning to the following: (1 pt)
a- poor(4§) …………...
b-weak(4§) …………….
2. Complete the chart as shown in the example: (2pts)
Verb
Noun
Adjective
to civilise
civilisation
civilised
...................
influence
.................
to create
.......................
.....................
3. Join pairs of sentences using the given conjunctions and make changes when necessary :
(3pts)
1. a- The ancient Greek city-states had a common language, religion and culture.
b- The ancient Greek city-states were not united.
-In spiteof .....................................................................................................................
2. a. Hammurabi died. b. Babylonia reverted back to a small kingdom for several centuries.
-After…………………………………………………………………………………..
4. Fill in the gaps with words from the list given:
Babylon
Ancient
located
(2pts)
Mesopotamia
The Hanging Gardens of ………….., a colossal maze of terraced trees, shrubs, flowers
and manmade waterfalls, are one of the Seven Wonders of the …………. World.
Yet archaeologists have turned up scant evidence of the gardens. It’s unclear where they
were ……… or whether they ever existed at all. Some researchers have uncovered
evidence that suggests the hanging gardens existed, but not in Babylon—they may have
actually been located in the city of Nineveh in ………….
Part Two : Written Expression : Choose one of the following topics : (5pts)
Topic One : Any civilization has a beginning, a point of development and an end. Write a short paragraph
about the beginning, development and the end of ancient Summerian civilization Make use of the
following notes.
-Began 5500 and 4000 BC.
- Located in Mesopotamia
-people settled in big city-states and built palaces and fortified towns.
-Developed farming, agriculture and writing.
-Collapsed After around 2000 B.C.
Topic Two :All ancient civilizations that flourished in the past collapsed for one reason or another.
Write a short composition explaining in it the reasons that have led to the collapse of ancient
civilizations.
Good luck 