1997 HSCEXAMINATION REPORT French Including: • Marking criteria • Sample responses • Examiners’ comments © Board of Studies 1998 Published by Board of Studies NSW GPO Box 5300 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia April 1998 Schools, colleges or tertiary institutions may reproduce this document, either in part or full, for bona fide study purposes within the school or college. ISBN 0 7313 1384 4 97463 Contents 2/3 Unit (Common) Listening Skills ..................................................................................4 Speaking Skills ..................................................................................7 Section I Ð Reading Skills.................................................................... 12 Section II Ð Reading and Writing Skills .................................................... 15 Section III Ð Options: Film, Literature, Song, French for Commercial Purposes..... 22 2 Unit General Section III Ð Options: Film, Literature, Song, French for Commercial Purposes..... 42 2 Unit General Listening Skills ................................................................................ 56 Speaking Skills ................................................................................ 60 Section I Ð Reading Skills.................................................................... 63 Section II Ð Writing Skills.................................................................... 65 3 Unit (Additional) Listening Skills ................................................................................ 71 Speaking Skills ................................................................................ 74 Question 1 Ð Reading Skills.................................................................. 79 Question 2 Ð Writing Skills .................................................................. 83 2 Unit Z Listening Skills ................................................................................ 90 Speaking Skills ................................................................................ 91 Section I Ð Reading Skills.................................................................... 94 Section II Ð Writing Skills...................................................................100 1997 HSC French Enhanced Examination Report 1997 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE FRENCH ENHANCED EXAMINATION REPORT FRENCH 2/3 UNIT (COMMON) LISTENING SKILLS General Comments Students generally performed very well and the standard of answers was high. The broad range of topics allowed students to show their listening proficiency in a variety of situations. The better students demonstrated their ability both to understand globally and to supply the necessary detail required by the questions. They knew how to make good use of the CandidateÕs Notes column for noting details that needed to be incorporated into their answers. Students showed a good knowledge of vocabulary. Students are advised to: ¥ read the question carefully and, if necessary, underline or highlight the key words; ¥ use the first listening for global comprehension and the second listening to check details; ¥ check the answer to ensure that it makes sense in English and that important words have not been omitted. Make use of the 2 minutes at the end of the test for this. Students should also be aware that: ¥ answers in point form are acceptable if all relevant information is included and there is a clear indication of global comprehension; ¥ they can take notes in the CandidateÕs Notes column during the first reading, for answers for which they are unsure of the details, and then listen for them during the second reading; ¥ they should pay particular attention to negatives, singularÐplural numbers and qualifiers, and time expressions; ¥ they should not use French except for names such as Minitel and should provide an English explanation of cognates if unsure of their acceptability; ¥ they should not include conflicting information in answers and should make sure their English expression is unambiguous; ¥ they should cross out any information that is not to be included in answers. 4 1997 HSC French Enhanced Examination Report Mark allocation and comments The 2/3 Unit (Common) Listening exam was marked out of a total of 40 points for 25 marks. (✔ means a point) Multiple Choice Items 1 (✔), 5 (✔), 9 (✔), 17 (✔) were well done. While listening to the item, students should progressively eliminate the incorrect choices. Students should not decide on a correct answer based solely on their general knowledge. Item 2 (a) (✔) (b) (✔✔) Some students used their general knowledge about the Tour de France instead of listening to the details given in this item. They did not pay attention to the tense and confused the number who finished with the age of the participants. Some students confused Žtape with Žtat and the different meanings of course. Item 3 (a) (✔✔) (b) (✔✔) In this item, detail was required as well as global understanding. Some students did not distinguish between leg and legs or between when and as soon as. For example, have a bath was not sufficient Ð the qualifier hot was necessary. Se tenir debout also caused some problems. Item 4 (a) (✔✔) (b) (✔✔) Detail relating to the purpose of la Pyramide was required. It allows space was not sufficient Ð the qualifier more was also required. The numbers for the height and weight had to be accompanied by the appropriate information. Students often confused haut with eau or or and 105 with 500. Item 6 (a) (✔) (b) (✔✔) It was necessary to understand the context in order to arrive at the correct answer. PrŽvenir caused some problems. Attention to qualifiers was necessary: some /certain diseases. Excellent response: (a) Ð Beneficial to our bodies and can prevent certain diseases. OR Ð Good for us and prevents some illnesses. Item 7 (a) (✔✔) (b) (✔✔) Some students did not know the vocabulary items quotidienne and ch™mage and confused the singular une question with the plural. Some students did not give sufficient detail Ð both phone and Minitel were required in part (b). Item 8 (a) (✔) (b) (✔✔) The question asked for a description of the service. It was not sufficient simply to name it. Some students had trouble with vocabulary aspirateur and mauvais Žtat, others did not distinguish between late and later. 5 1997 HSC French Enhanced Examination Report Item 10 (✔✔) Students needed to understand the whole item and sort through all the information provided to arrive at the correct answer. An understanding of the comparative plus intensŽment was necessary. Excellent response: A lamp intensifies over 1/2 hour. An alarm bell is also in the clock for heavy sleepers. OR Ð A light shines progressively, more and more brightly for 1/2 hour at the desired time. There is also a ringing alarm possible for heavy sleepers. Poor response: It radiates a beam of light for 1/2 hour. OR Ð You set the lamp to go on when you want to wake up and the light goes on for 1/2 hour. An alarm wakes you up progressively. Item 11 (a) (✔) (b) (✔) Some students confused the tenses and did not distinguish between fils and petit fils. Some students thought that Žl•ve seule means lives alone, which is incorrect. Excellent response: (a) Ð She likes it very much and would play it again immediately if asked. OR Ð She is extremely attached to that role. If she were asked to play it again she would say yes immediately. (b) Ð The role of a grandmother bringing up her grandson alone. OR Ð She plays a grandmother who raises her grandson alone. Poor response: (a) Ð ItÕs a demanding role which requires her to be very attached to it. OR Ð She said yes to the role immediately because she was very interested in it. (b) Ð She plays a grandmother who raises her young son alone. OR Ð A grandmother who lives alone with her son. Item 12 (a) (✔) (b) (✔) Students should be aware that manifestation means demonstration not strike. They also had trouble with the word beautŽ although the word cosmŽtiques later in the item provided them with some support. Item 13 (✔) The word tranquillisants caused problems for some students, although most seemed to know the cognate ÔtranquillisersÕ. Item 14 (a) (✔✔) (b) (✔) The details in this item were often completely misunderstood and students made free associations around the vocabulary items they recognised, such as genoux. Other vocabulary items such as boucle dÕoreilles were often not known. 6 1997 HSC French Enhanced Examination Report Item 15 (a) (✔) (b) (✔) Students were expected to give an appropriate equivalent for variŽtŽs. They were expected to distinguish between what was watched and what was heard. Evening news was not sufficient Ð the time detail was necessary. Item 16 (✔) Some students had problems with the vocabulary items tartine and appareil. Listening to the description and the phrasing of the English question made it clear that le tartineur referred to an appliance not a person. Item 18 (a) (✔✔✔) Global comprehension of this item was necessary so that details could be understood in context. All correct details were accepted no matter in what part of the answer they were written. These details had to include the fact that the car was rented, as this was important to correct understanding of the item. FRENCH 2/3 UNIT (COMMON) SPEAKING SKILLS SECTION I Ñ Traveller Abroad General Comments As in preceding years, this section was generally quite well handled, with the better students being able to use a variety of structures to render their ideas more interesting. As stated in previous reports, students need to use their 15 minutes preparation