Thème : Development · Reading + Language + Writing
Reading /10Language /5Writing /5
#Development#RuralElectrification#Congo#Cuvette
Text — Bringing Light to Ngo
In the small village of Ngo, about eighty kilometres from Owando, life used to stop when the sun went down. There was no electricity, so children did their homework by the light of oil lamps, and the village clinic could not keep vaccines cold enough. Everything changed in 2023, when a solar energy project reached Ngo. Thanks to the National Programme for Rural Electrification, engineers installed solar panels on the roof of the school and the health centre. Now, more than three hundred families use small solar kits to light their homes.
Adèle Loubaki, a shopkeeper in Ngo, says the solar panels have already changed her business. "Before, I closed my shop at six o'clock because it became too dark to see the goods," she explains. "Now I stay open until nine, and I sell much more." The clinic nurse, Jean-Pierre Mabiala, is equally happy: vaccines are stored properly, and mothers no longer have to travel forty kilometres to the nearest hospital at night.
Local authorities hope that other villages in the Cuvette region will soon benefit from similar projects, so that development does not remain a privilege of the big cities.
Part A — Reading Comprehension10 points
1. Where is the village of Ngo located? (2 pts)
2. Why did the solar project matter so much to the village clinic? (2 pts)
3. According to the text, what has changed for Adèle Loubaki since the solar panels were installed? (2 pts)
4. What does the phrase "development does not remain a privilege of the big cities" suggest about the writer's opinion? (2 pts)
5. Find a word in the text that means "a person who owns and runs a small shop." (2 pts)
Part B — Language5 points
1. Turn into the passive: "Engineers installed solar panels on the roof of the school." (1 pt)
2. Give the noun formed from the verb "electrify" (the text uses it about the countryside). (1 pt)
3. Report Adèle's words: Adèle said, "Before, I closed my shop at six o'clock." (1 pt)
4. Fill in the correct preposition: "Mothers no longer have to travel ___ night to reach the hospital." (1 pt)
5. Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense: "Life used to stop when the sun (go) down." (1 pt)
Part C — Written Expression5 points
Write an essay of about 200 words on the following topic: "Access to electricity is essential for the development of rural areas in Congo." Do you agree? Give reasons and examples.
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Corrigé complet — Sujet 1
Part A — Reading Comprehension
Q1.Ngo is located about eighty kilometres from Owando, in the Cuvette region.
Q2.Because without electricity the clinic could not keep vaccines cold enough; the solar panels now allow vaccines to be stored properly, which protects babies and mothers.
Q3.She can now stay open later (until nine o'clock instead of six) and she sells much more than before.
Q4.It suggests that the writer believes development should not be limited to big cities — rural villages deserve the same chances and progress as urban areas.
Q5."shopkeeper"
Part B — Language
1. Solar panels were installed on the roof of the school (by engineers).
2. electrification
3. Adèle said that before, she had closed her shop at six o'clock.
4. at (night)
5. went (down)
Part C — Modèle de rédaction (Model Essay, ~210 words)
Access to electricity is one of the most important keys to development in rural areas of Congo, and I completely agree with this statement.
First, electricity allows children to study in the evening instead of relying on oil lamps, which give poor light and can be dangerous. Pupils who can read and do their homework properly have a much better chance of succeeding at school.
Secondly, health centres need electricity to store vaccines and medicines correctly. As we saw in the village of Ngo, a solar project allowed the clinic to keep vaccines cold, which protects babies and mothers from serious diseases.
In addition, electricity helps small businesses grow. Shopkeepers like Adèle Loubaki can stay open later and increase their income, which reduces poverty in the whole community.
However, some people argue that other needs, such as clean water or good roads, are more urgent. This may be true, but without electricity, none of these improvements can really be sustainable in the long run.
In conclusion, I believe that bringing electricity to villages such as Ngo is not a luxury but a necessity. It is the foundation on which education, health and the local economy can finally develop.
Méthode : introduction qui reformule le sujet et annonce la thèse ; 2 à 3 arguments illustrés par des exemples tirés du texte ou de la réalité congolaise ; une nuance ou un contre-argument ; une conclusion qui répond clairement à la question posée.
Divine Nkounkou finished her computer science degree at the Université Marien Ngouabi two years ago. Like thousands of young Congolese graduates, she spent months sending application letters to companies in Brazzaville, but she never received a single positive answer. "Every job advertisement asked for at least three years of experience," she remembers, "but how can we get experience if nobody gives us a first chance?"
Instead of waiting, Divine decided to create her own small business. With a loan from her aunt and a laptop she had used since university, she opened a computer-repair and training service for shopkeepers in the Poto-Poto district. Within a year, she was training more than twenty small business owners to use computers for their accounts, and she had employed two young assistants.
Divine's story has become an example for other unemployed graduates. Local youth organisations now invite her to speak about entrepreneurship, and she always gives the same advice: "Do not only look for a job. Sometimes, you have to create one."
Youth unemployment remains a serious problem in Congo, but stories like Divine's show that determination can open new doors.
Part A — Reading Comprehension10 points
1. What degree did Divine Nkounkou obtain, and where did she study? (2 pts)
2. Why couldn't Divine find a job easily, according to the text? (2 pts)
3. What did Divine do instead of continuing to wait for a job offer? (2 pts)
4. What has Divine's business achieved after one year? (2 pts)
5. What does Divine mean when she says "sometimes, you have to create one"? (2 pts)
Part B — Language5 points
1. Report Divine's advice: Divine said, "Do not only look for a job." (1 pt)
2. Give the adjective used in the text that is formed from the verb "employ" with a negative prefix. (1 pt)
3. Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense: "By the time she started her business, she (already/send) dozens of application letters." (1 pt)
4. Turn into the passive: "Local youth organisations now invite her to speak about entrepreneurship." (1 pt)
5. Fill in the correct preposition: "She had used the same laptop ___ university." (1 pt)
Part C — Written Expression5 points
You have just finished your studies and you are looking for your first job. Write a letter of about 150 words to the manager of a company in Pointe-Noire, applying for a position and explaining why you should be given a chance despite your lack of experience.
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Corrigé complet — Sujet 2
Part A — Reading Comprehension
Q1.She obtained a degree in computer science at the Université Marien Ngouabi.
Q2.Because every job advertisement required at least three years of experience, which she did not have, and companies never gave young graduates a first chance.
Q3.She used a loan from her aunt and her own laptop to open her own computer-repair and training business in Poto-Poto instead of waiting for a job offer.
Q4.She has trained more than twenty small business owners and has employed two young assistants.
Q5.She means that instead of only searching for an existing job, young people should sometimes start their own business and create employment for themselves and others.
Part B — Language
1. Divine said not to only look for a job. / Divine advised (people) not to only look for a job.
2. unemployed
3. had already sent
4. She is now invited by local youth organisations to speak about entrepreneurship.
5. since (university)
Part C — Modèle de rédaction (Model Formal Letter, ~170 words)
Brazzaville, 14 July 2026
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to apply for a position within your company in Pointe-Noire, which I saw advertised last week. I have just completed my studies and I am eager to begin my professional career with a serious and dynamic company such as yours.
I am aware that I do not yet have three years of experience, as many advertisements require. However, I am a fast learner, highly motivated, and ready to work hard to prove myself. During my studies, I completed several practical projects that gave me useful skills, and I believe that with proper training, I could quickly become a valuable member of your team.
I would be very grateful if you could give me the opportunity to show what I am capable of. I am available for an interview at any time that suits you.
Yours faithfully,
Divine Nkounkou
Méthode : lieu + date en haut, formule d'appel (Dear Sir or Madam,), un paragraphe pour se présenter et dire pourquoi on écrit, un paragraphe pour convaincre malgré le manque d'expérience, une demande claire, puis une formule de politesse finale (Yours faithfully,) suivie de la signature.
3
Joseph Kimbembe — Running Further
Thème : Famous Lives · Reading + Language + Writing
Reading /10Language /5Writing /5
#FamousLives#Sport#Dolisie#RoleModel
Text — Joseph Kimbembe, Running Further
Joseph Kimbembe was born in 1988 in Dolisie, in the south of Congo. As a boy, he used to run more than ten kilometres every day to reach his school, because his family could not afford transport. His teachers soon noticed that he was faster than anyone else in the district.
At the age of nineteen, Joseph was selected for the national athletics team and began training seriously for long-distance races. Life was not easy: he trained on dusty roads, with no proper shoes, and he ate little more than cassava and fish. Despite these difficulties, he won his first international medal at a regional marathon in 2012, which surprised many experts.
Since then, Joseph has represented Congo in several African competitions, and he has never forgotten where he came from. He built a small sports centre in Dolisie so that young athletes would not have to run to school without shoes, as he once did.
Today, Joseph Kimbembe is admired not only for his medals, but also for having given hope to a whole generation of Congolese athletes who dream of running further than their circumstances.
Part A — Reading Comprehension10 points
1. Where and when was Joseph Kimbembe born? (2 pts)
2. Why did young Joseph run every day, according to the text? (2 pts)
3. What difficulties did Joseph face during his training? (2 pts)
4. What did Joseph do to help other young athletes in Dolisie? (2 pts)
5. What does the phrase "running further than their circumstances" suggest about Joseph's example? (2 pts)
Part B — Language5 points
1. Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense: "His teachers soon (notice) that he was faster than anyone else." (1 pt)
2. Turn into the passive: "He built a small sports centre in Dolisie." (1 pt)
3. Give the noun formed from the verb "admire" (the text says Joseph "is admired"). (1 pt)
4. Report the question: A journalist asked Joseph, "Where did you find the courage to continue?" (1 pt)
5. Fill in the correct connector: "___ these difficulties, he won his first international medal." (1 pt)
Part C — Written Expression5 points
Your school magazine is preparing a special issue on "Congolese Role Models". Write a report of about 150 words presenting the life and achievements of a person (real or imagined) who inspires young people in your community.
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Corrigé complet — Sujet 3
Part A — Reading Comprehension
Q1.He was born in 1988 in Dolisie, in the south of Congo.
Q2.He ran every day because his family could not afford transport to school, so running was his only way of getting there.
Q3.He trained on dusty roads, had no proper shoes, and ate little more than cassava and fish.
Q4.He built a small sports centre in Dolisie so that young athletes would not have to run to school without shoes, as he once did.
Q5.It suggests that, despite difficult personal or social conditions, a determined person can achieve much more than their situation seems to allow — Joseph is presented as proof that hard work can overcome hardship.
Part B — Language
1. noticed
2. A small sports centre was built in Dolisie (by him).
3. admiration
4. A journalist asked Joseph where he had found the courage to continue.
5. Despite (these difficulties)
Part C — Modèle de rédaction (Model Report, ~180 words)
Report: A Congolese Role Model — Joseph Kimbembe
This report presents Joseph Kimbembe, a long-distance runner from Dolisie who is a true role model for young people in our community.
As a child, Joseph came from a poor family and had to run more than ten kilometres every day just to reach his school. Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, he used it to become one of the fastest runners in the district, and later in the whole country.
Despite years of difficult training, with no proper shoes and a very simple diet, Joseph never gave up. In 2012, he won his first international medal, which brought pride to his region and to Congo.
What makes Joseph even more inspiring is that he did not forget his roots. He built a sports centre in Dolisie to support the next generation of athletes.
In conclusion, Joseph Kimbembe shows young Congolese that determination and hard work can turn even the most difficult circumstances into a path towards success.
Méthode du report : un titre clair, une courte introduction qui présente la personne, des paragraphes organisés par étapes de la vie (enfance/difficultés, réussite, engagement pour les autres), et une conclusion qui tire une leçon générale de l'exemple choisi.
4
Cocoa from Sibiti
Thème : The North/South Divide · Reading + Language + Writing
Reading /10Language /5Writing /5
#NorthSouthDivide#FairTrade#Sibiti#GlobalTrade
Text — Cocoa from Sibiti
Bernard Massamba grows cocoa on a small farm near Sibiti, in the Lékoumou region. Every year, he and his family work for months under the sun to produce cocoa beans of excellent quality. Yet, when the beans are exported to Europe and transformed into chocolate bars, Bernard earns only a tiny share of the final price.
This situation is common across many countries of the South. Raw materials such as cocoa, coffee or cotton are grown in Africa, Asia or Latin America, but most of the profit is made in the wealthy countries of the North, where the products are processed, packaged and sold. Economists call this imbalance the "North-South divide": a gap between rich, industrialised nations and poorer, developing ones.
Some organisations are now trying to change this system. Fair-trade cooperatives, for example, pay farmers like Bernard a better price and help them build small local factories, so that more of the value stays in Congo.
Bernard remains hopeful. "If we can transform our own cocoa here in Sibiti," he says, "we will finally receive a fair price for our hard work, instead of watching others get rich from it."
Part A — Reading Comprehension10 points
1. Where does Bernard Massamba live and what does he grow? (2 pts)
2. According to the text, why does Bernard earn only a small share of the final price of chocolate? (2 pts)
3. What does the expression "North-South divide" mean, according to the passage? (2 pts)
4. How are fair-trade cooperatives trying to help farmers like Bernard? (2 pts)
5. Find a word in the text that means "a lack of balance or fairness between two things." (2 pts)
Part B — Language5 points
1. Turn into the passive: "Fair-trade cooperatives pay farmers like Bernard a better price." (1 pt)
2. Give the noun formed from the adjective "industrialised" used in the text. (1 pt)
3. Report Bernard's words: Bernard says, "If we can transform our own cocoa here in Sibiti, we will finally receive a fair price." (1 pt)
4. Fill in the correct preposition: "The cocoa beans are exported ___ Europe." (1 pt)
5. Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense: "Every year, he and his family (work) for months under the sun." (1 pt)
Part C — Written Expression5 points
Write a letter of about 150 words to a foreign pen-friend explaining the problem of the North-South divide, using the example of cocoa farmers in Congo, and suggesting what could be done to make trade fairer.
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Corrigé complet — Sujet 4
Part A — Reading Comprehension
Q1.He lives near Sibiti, in the Lékoumou region, and he grows cocoa.
Q2.Because the cocoa beans are exported and transformed into chocolate in Europe, where most of the profit is made, instead of in Congo where the beans are grown.
Q3.It means the gap between rich, industrialised countries of the North and poorer, developing countries of the South, where raw materials are grown but the profit is made elsewhere.
Q4.They pay farmers a better price for their cocoa and help them build small local factories so that more value stays in Congo.
Q5."imbalance"
Part B — Language
1. Farmers like Bernard are paid a better price by fair-trade cooperatives.
2. industrialisation
3. Bernard says that if they can transform their own cocoa there in Sibiti, they will finally receive a fair price.
4. to (Europe)
5. work
Part C — Modèle de rédaction (Model Informal Letter, ~180 words)
Brazzaville, 14 July 2026
Dear Sam,
How are you? I wanted to tell you about something I learnt at school that really made me think about fairness in world trade.
Near Sibiti, in my country, a farmer named Bernard grows excellent cocoa. But once his beans are exported to Europe and turned into chocolate, he only gets a tiny part of the final price. Most of the money stays in rich countries, while the people who actually grow the crops remain poor. We call this the "North-South divide".
I think this is unfair, because Bernard and his family work so hard under the sun every year. I believe fair-trade organisations are a good solution: they pay farmers better prices and help them build small factories so that chocolate can be made here in Congo, not only abroad.
What do you think? Do people in your country know where their chocolate really comes from?
Write back soon!
Best wishes,
Grâce
Méthode de la lettre informelle : lieu + date, formule d'appel amicale (Dear + prénom), un ton personnel et des questions posées au correspondant, une formule de clôture chaleureuse (Best wishes,) suivie du prénom seulement.