Part one/ Reading (15 points) Name: …………………………………………
A/ Comprehension (8 points) Class: ……….
Read the text carefully, the do the activities.
The Amazon forest covers five million square kilometers, an area as big as the whole Europe, excluding Russia. It contains one third of the world trees. However, these trees are disappearing at a high rate.
Scientists say that the disappearance of the trees of the Amazon forest is causing changes in the climate. In Peru, there is less snow that before on the high peaks of the Andes mountains. In Bolivia, there is less rain than before and more wind. On some parts of north-east Brazil, there is now very little rain.
What will happen if more of the Amazon forest is cut down? According to climatologist, two things are likely to happen: there will be serious effects on the world’s climate and the air we breathe will lose some of its oxygen. Why is this?
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and give out oxygen into the air. The trees of the Amazon forest are chemically very active and some scientists believe that they provide 50% of the world’s annual production of oxygen. If we lose this forest, the air will contain less oxygen and much more carbon dioxide, it will become difficult – perhaps impossible to breathe.
With more carbon dioxide in the air, the temperature will rise, the ice caps at the North and South Pole will melt, the sea level will rise and hundreds of seaside towns will be flooded.
Scientists do not agree about the calculations which can be done in different ways with different results. But all the scientists agree that if we destroy the Amazon forest, it will be an environmental suicide. Life on earth will become difficult, and it may become impossible.
Activity one: Are the statements below true or false according to the text? ( 2 pts)
a- The Amazon forest is as big as the whole Europe including Russia.→ ……..
b- The Amazon forest contains most of the world’s trees.→ ……..
c- Half of the world’s production of oxygen is provided by the Amazon forest.→ …..
d- Some scientists regard the destruction of the Amazon forest as an environmental suicide. →..
Activity two: Answer the following questions. (4 pts)
1. Is the Amazon forest necessary to man? Justify your answer. → ………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
2. What are the consequences of the rise of carbon dioxide in the air? → …………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Activity three: a- Synonyms: Find in the text words closest in meaning to the following. (1 pt)
Summits (2§) = ………………. Give (4§) = …………………
b- Opposites: Find in the text words opposite in meaning to the following. (1 pt)
much (2§) ≠ ……………………. Fall (5§) ≠ ……………………..
Activity four: a- What or who do the underlined words refer to in the text?
It (2§) = …………………… their (4§) =……………………. It (4§)=…………………….
Section two: Mastery of Language. (7 points)
Activity one: Complete sentence ‘b’ so that it means the same as sentence ‘a’.
a- The government has taken special measures to protect the environment.
b- Special measures…………………………………………………………
a- We must find urgent solutions to cut down pollution.
b- Urgent solutions …………………………………………………………
a- It is forbidden to fell forest trees. b- You ……………………………… forest trees.
Activity two: Fill in the gaps so that the text makes sense.
David Attenborough is a British naturalist who is famous…………………….his TV documentaries “ The Living Planet”. This scientist is worried about what man is ………………….to nature. He thinks …………………man are cutting too many trees which are ……………………..replaced and a day will come when ………………………won’t be enough trees to protect the soils …………………….. generate oxygen.
Activity three: Imagine what ‘b’ says and complete the dialogue.
A: Did you watch yesterday’s documentary on TV?
B: ……………………………………………………………………
A: It was about the consequences of the atmospheric pollution.
B: ……………………………………………………………………
A: Well, one of them is the reduction of the ozone in the atmosphere.
B: ……………………………………………………………………
A: If the ozone disappeared, the sun rays would put our life in danger.
Activity four: Complete the table.
Verb Noun Adjective
……………………….. Production ……………………….
To destroy ……………………………. ……………………….
………………………….. ……………………………. active
Activity five: Classify the following words according to the pronunciation of their final ‘s’.
Contains - changes - caps - hundreds - results - peaks
/z/ /s/ /iz/
A/ Comprehension (8 points) Class: ……….
Read the text carefully, the do the activities.
The Amazon forest covers five million square kilometers, an area as big as the whole Europe, excluding Russia. It contains one third of the world trees. However, these trees are disappearing at a high rate.
Scientists say that the disappearance of the trees of the Amazon forest is causing changes in the climate. In Peru, there is less snow that before on the high peaks of the Andes mountains. In Bolivia, there is less rain than before and more wind. On some parts of north-east Brazil, there is now very little rain.
What will happen if more of the Amazon forest is cut down? According to climatologist, two things are likely to happen: there will be serious effects on the world’s climate and the air we breathe will lose some of its oxygen. Why is this?
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and give out oxygen into the air. The trees of the Amazon forest are chemically very active and some scientists believe that they provide 50% of the world’s annual production of oxygen. If we lose this forest, the air will contain less oxygen and much more carbon dioxide, it will become difficult – perhaps impossible to breathe.
With more carbon dioxide in the air, the temperature will rise, the ice caps at the North and South Pole will melt, the sea level will rise and hundreds of seaside towns will be flooded.
Scientists do not agree about the calculations which can be done in different ways with different results. But all the scientists agree that if we destroy the Amazon forest, it will be an environmental suicide. Life on earth will become difficult, and it may become impossible.
Activity one: Are the statements below true or false according to the text? ( 2 pts)
a- The Amazon forest is as big as the whole Europe including Russia.→ ……..
b- The Amazon forest contains most of the world’s trees.→ ……..
c- Half of the world’s production of oxygen is provided by the Amazon forest.→ …..
d- Some scientists regard the destruction of the Amazon forest as an environmental suicide. →..
Activity two: Answer the following questions. (4 pts)
1. Is the Amazon forest necessary to man? Justify your answer. → ………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
2. What are the consequences of the rise of carbon dioxide in the air? → …………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Activity three: a- Synonyms: Find in the text words closest in meaning to the following. (1 pt)
Summits (2§) = ………………. Give (4§) = …………………
b- Opposites: Find in the text words opposite in meaning to the following. (1 pt)
much (2§) ≠ ……………………. Fall (5§) ≠ ……………………..
Activity four: a- What or who do the underlined words refer to in the text?
It (2§) = …………………… their (4§) =……………………. It (4§)=…………………….
Section two: Mastery of Language. (7 points)
Activity one: Complete sentence ‘b’ so that it means the same as sentence ‘a’.
a- The government has taken special measures to protect the environment.
b- Special measures…………………………………………………………
a- We must find urgent solutions to cut down pollution.
b- Urgent solutions …………………………………………………………
a- It is forbidden to fell forest trees. b- You ……………………………… forest trees.
Activity two: Fill in the gaps so that the text makes sense.
David Attenborough is a British naturalist who is famous…………………….his TV documentaries “ The Living Planet”. This scientist is worried about what man is ………………….to nature. He thinks …………………man are cutting too many trees which are ……………………..replaced and a day will come when ………………………won’t be enough trees to protect the soils …………………….. generate oxygen.
Activity three: Imagine what ‘b’ says and complete the dialogue.
A: Did you watch yesterday’s documentary on TV?
B: ……………………………………………………………………
A: It was about the consequences of the atmospheric pollution.
B: ……………………………………………………………………
A: Well, one of them is the reduction of the ozone in the atmosphere.
B: ……………………………………………………………………
A: If the ozone disappeared, the sun rays would put our life in danger.
Activity four: Complete the table.
Verb Noun Adjective
……………………….. Production ……………………….
To destroy ……………………………. ……………………….
………………………….. ……………………………. active
Activity five: Classify the following words according to the pronunciation of their final ‘s’.
Contains - changes - caps - hundreds - results - peaks
/z/ /s/ /iz/