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Mammon the Leader (From Emile KAHOUN, Yadéga High School, Ouahigouya)

Once, there live a beautiful young woman and a handsome young man. They were very poor but as they were deeply in love, they wanted to get married. The young people's parents objected and pretended that they had to wait until they found good jobs with good prospects before they got married. So the young man waited until the got good job and good prospects. Large organisations lent him the money he needed to buy a house, some furniture, and the latest electrical appliances and a car. The couple lived happily even after paying off debts for the rest of their lives. And so ends this modern romantic fable.
We live in a materialistic society and we are trained from our earliest years to be acquisitive. Our possessions, "mine" and "your" are clearly labelled from early childhood. When we grow old enough we discover that success is measured in terms of the money you earn. If we buy a new television set, be sure that the neighbour is bound to buy a bigger and a better one. If we buy a new car be sure that the neighbour will get one better or two new cars: one for his wife and one for himself.
It is not only in affluent societies that people are obsessed with the idea of making more money. Desirable new things and markets are deliberately created everywhere. You no sooner acquire this year's model than you are thinking about is replacement.
This materialistic outlook has infested and influenced education. Fewer young people these days acquire knowledge only of its own sake. Every course of studies must lead somewhere: E.g. : to a bigger packet. Only tempting salaries and benefits are people interested in. While Mammon is worshipped as never before, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer Undeniably, Mammon is leading us today and by so doing it has become and is the main catalyst of life. With evidence it is an obedient servant but it is a crual master as well?

Extracted from : FOR AND AGAINST

Mammon = money

QUESTIONS

1. Is there any hope of happiness in the couple's conjugal life in the text? ( 5 – 6 lines ) ( 2 pts )
2. How is selfishness part of our education in the text ? ( 5 – 8 lines ) ( 3 pts )
3. Modern societies seem material centered ones: Explain this and give concrete examples from the text. (5 – 8 ) ( 4 pts )
4. Money is an obedient servant but it's a crual master as well. Comment on this assertion. ( 10 – 12 lines ) ( 5 pts )

5. Translate the last paragraph into French. ( 6 pts )