English 12

UNIT 6: ENDANGERED SPECIES

Exercise 1. Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently.
1. A. endangered B. evolution C. extinct D. extinguish
2. A. habitat B. survival C. vulnerable D. traditional
3. A. campaign B. horn C. rhino D. extinct
Exercise 2. Choose the word whose main stress is placed differently.
4. A. overfishing B. vulnerable C. ecology D. authority
5. A. deforestation B. conservationist C. environmental D. biological
Exercise 3. Choose the best answer A, B, C or D to complete the sentences.
6. Many _________ groups now support putting a value on ecosystem.
A. conserve B. conservative C. conservation D. conservatism
7. Saving _________species from becoming extinct is crucial for our health and the future of our children.
A. dangerous B. endanger C. endangering D. endangered
8. Cheetah’s tail is _________ during fast running because it balances the animal and allows fast and sudden
turns which happen often when the prey tries to escape.
A. essential B. basic C. adequate D. sufficient
9. Loss of habitat and increased commercial hunt _________the number of chimpanzees from 2 million to
300,000 individuals.
A. reduced B. lessened C. weakened D. limited
10. Illegal hunting in Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, puts African elephants _________of extinction.
A. in the verge B. on the verge C. on brink D. in brink
11. People should be told about the things that threaten the safety of _________so that they can avoid doing
them.
A. the wild B. wilderness C. wild life D. wildlife
12. They _________ the new bridge by the end of the year.
A. will complete B. will have completed
C. have completed D. had been completing
13. By the time you finish cooking they _________their homework.
A. will have done B. are doing C. have been doing D. have done
14. The older you are, _________.
A. the more you may become worried B. the more worried you may become
C. the more worry you may become D. you may become more worried
15. The better the weather is, _________.
A. the beaches get the more crowded B. the beaches get the most crowded
C. the most crowded the beaches get D. the more crowded the beaches get
Exercise 4. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the
following passage.
Staying alive
Some animals don’t have worry very much about other animals. For example, lions, tigers, and bears don’t
usually have to (16.)_________ other animals. Most animals don’t dare attack them, because they’re big,
strong and (17.) _________. Instead, the other animals have to be afraid of them.
Other animals aren’t as strong, so they have to worry about predators. A predator is an animal that hunts and
kills other animals. The weaker animals have other ways to (18.) _________. Some of them hid, some of
them stay in big groups, and some of them have other methods.
Some animals use camouflage. Camouflage is a way of blending (19.) _________with the environment and
becoming hard to see. For example, one lizard called the flat-tail homed lizard uses camouflage. It lives in
the desert, (20.) _________the ground is light brown. Therefore, the lizard has light brown skin. If you were
walking by, you probably wouldn’t (21.) _________it. Then, of course, there’s the world’s number one
camouflage master; the chameleon. The chameleon can change its color to (22.) _________whatever surface
it’s on.
Other animals have different (23.) _________. Gazelles always jump very high. Scientists believe that they
do this to show lions that they are very fast. They want the lions to (24.) _________them alone and chase
slower animals.
The animal world is a(n) (25.) _________and dangerous place. That is why every animal has developed its
own special ways to stay alive.
16. A. frighten B. worry C. dare D. fear
17. A. dangerous B. unharmed C. endangered D. harmful

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18. A. evolve B. attack C. survive D. adopt
19. A. in B. with C. for D. at
20. A. that B. where C. which D. when
21. A. realize B. hear C. notice D. feel
22. A. match B. suit C. blend D. go
23. A. successes B. plans C. processes D. strategies
24. A. remain B. leave C. stop D. start
25. A. unlucky B. strong C. tough D. demanding
Exercise 5. Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
Endangered Species
No animal species can survive indefinitely on the Earth. Centuries ago, species went extinct from natural
causes, for example, they were unable to adapt to bad weather and other difficult conditions. However,
animals are now dying faster than ever because of human activity. It is estimated that until the 18th century,
one species disappeared from the Earth every four years. By the 19th century, this had increased to one
species per year. By 1975, it was 1,000 species per year, and today animals are disappearing at the alarming
rate of more than 40,000 species per year.
There are many factors that can cause an animal or plant species to become endangered, and one big one is
the destruction of their habitats. Deforestation and soil, air, and water pollution are usually the main culprits.
For example, the population of critically Sumatran orangutans is now less than 10,000 on their home island
of Sumatra, Indonesia, due to deforestation and farming.
Another cause of endangerment is from humans exploiting wild animals. Uncontrolled hunting of whales in
the last century, for example, resulted in many whale species becoming critically endangered. The high
demands for animal parts stems from their use in foods or medicines or their values as decorative objects.
For example, the ivory tusks of elephants are used to make jewelery, and the price is high enough that
people risk being arrested and jailed to go after these animals.
Introducing a non-native species to an environment by humans, either intentionally or by accident can also
cause species endangerment. In Florida, large pet snakes such as the anconda and the python have been
released into the large Everglades swamp. The snakes have thrived in their new environment, and now
compete with and may soon overwhelm the swamp’s alligators.
Organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (JUCN) try to raise awareness of threatened animals and plants. These organizations collaborate with
government agencies to save threatened or endangered species and to make new laws that will protect them.
But to really protect plant and animal species now and in the future, the public needs to be educated on the
value of keeping these species alive.
26. According to the passage, what happened between the 18th century and now?
A. The amount of human activity increased.
B. Animals were less able to adapt to the weather.
C. More animals started dying from natural causes.
D. The weather conditions become more disadvantageous to animals.
27. Why have many whale species become endangered?
A. Their habitat is being destroyed.
B. The high demand for decorative objects and jewelry.
C. They have been hunted in great numbers.
D. A non-native species has been introduced to their environment.
28. Which is NOT mentioned as a cause of species endangerment?
A. introduction of non-native species B. spread of diseases
C. unrestricted hunting D. habitat destruction
29. Which animal is native to the Everglade swamp?
A. anacondas B. pythons C. large snakes D. alligators
30. What is the main idea of the final paragraph?
A. Government and organizations must work together to be effective.
B. The most important thing is to raise awareness and educate people.
C. Laws are needed to protect these endangered species.
D. The public should know the value of animal parts in foods, medicines and decoration.
TEST 2
Exercise 1. Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently.
1. A. nesting B. shellfish C. reserve D. elephant
2. A. habitat B. dragon C. mammal D. danger
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3. A. enclosure B. conservation C. species D. nest
Exercise 2. Choose the word whose main stress is placed differently.
4. A. endangered B. habitat C. survival D. extinction
5. A. biodiversity B. evolutionary C. ecologically D. biologically
Exercise 3. Choose the best answer A, B, C or D to complete the sentences.
6. The saola is also indirectly threatened by insufficient __________ to and investment in its conservation.
A. interest B. attention C. care D. treatment
7. It’s high time we had to __________some measures to protect endangered animals.
A. take B. bring C. hold D. use
8. Besides, several programs should be __________the spreads the word of the conservation of the elephants
in the public.
A. told B. used C. operated D. introduced
9. Chimpanzees __________kisses, hugs, touches in their community and use complicated system of sounds
to communicate.
A. transfer B. transmit C. exchange D. perform
10. The saola is threatened primarily by hunting, rather than __________.
A. habitual loss B. loss of life C. habitation loss D. habitat loss
11. Baby Komod dragons will live on the trees from the moment they are born __________adult ones can’t
climb and eat them.
A. so B. therefore C. although D. because
12. By the year 2050, many people currently employed __________their jobs.
A. have lost B. will be losing C. will have lost D. are losing
13. At the end of this month, we __________here for ten years.
A. will have been living B. are living C. live D. will be living
14. The more she practices, __________she becomes.
A. the greater confidence B. more confidently C. the more confident D. the most confident
15. The more you talk about the situation, __________.
A. it seems worse B. the worse it seems C. the worse does it seem D. it seems the worse
Exercise 4. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the
following passage.
WHALES
How far would you travel for a good meal? If you were a humpback whale, the answer would be five
thousand miles. These large sea animals travel at least that far from their winter home off the (16.)________
of Columbia to their summer (17.)________ areas off Antarctica. The distance covered by some types of
whale is amazing, especially when you (18.)________ their enormous size. The blue whale is the largest
animal that has ever lived. And it can weigh as much as thirty elephants. It (19.)________ as no surprise,
therefore, to hear the ancient folk legends tell of sailors (20.)________These creatures for islands.
The more we find out about whales, the more wonderful they seem. Some species can hold
(21.)________breath for more than an hour and dive to a depth of over 2, 000 meters. They use a system of
sounds (22.)________ as acho-location to find the fish they eat and they have further sounds to keep in
(23.)________ with each other. The noises they produce can travel hundreds of miles under water. Some
species seem to sing complicated songs which (24.)________ of number of separate themes, sung in a
specific which can (25.)________up to half an hour or more. If you ever get the chance .To see one of these
great creatures in the wild, you will understand why they have inspired so many legends
16. A. seaside B. coast C. ground D. beach
17. A. chewing B. eating C. feeding D. dining
18. A. consider B. think C. view D. believe
19. A. seems B. comes C. gets D. goes
20. A. confusing B. supposing C. mistaking D. mixing
21. A. hold B. keep C. store D. save
22. A. known B. named C. called D. referred
23. A. touch B. reach C. call D. range
24. A. compose B. consist C. involve D. include
25. A. give B. last C. long D. play
Exercise 5. Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
Gone Forever
An extinct species is a species whose animals are all dead. For example, there are no more living dinosaurs.
We’re looking at some extinct species, and we’re going to learn why they vanished.
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The dodo bird lived on Mauritius, which is a small island near the east coast of Africa. The dodo was about
one meter tall, it weighed 10 to 18 kilograms and it could not fly. When Europeans arrived on Mauritius,
they noticed something odd: Dodo birds weren’t afraid of humans at all. That’s because no animals hunted
dodos, so they never learned to be afraid. That made dodos very easy to hunt. Europeans hunted far too
many of them. Also, Europeans brought other animals, like dogs and pigs to Mauritius. Those animals
attacked dodos and destroyed their nests. About 100 years after Europeans arrived on Mauritius, dodos were
extinct.
Tasmanian tigers lived in Australia. The aboriginals hunted and killed almost all of them. The only ones left
were on Tasmania, which is an island in the south of Australia. When Europeans arrived, they hunted and
killed the rest of them. Sometimes people claim that they’ve seen these animals in Tasmania, but most
people agree that they are almost certainly extinct.
Human beings are not responsible for the extinction of every animal. Take saber-toothed cats, for example.
These animals were about the size of lions, and they had two long, curved teeth. These teeth were about 50
centimeters long. Saber-toothed cats probably went extinct about 11,000 years ago. Saber- toothed cats
probably went extinct because their prey went extinct. They hunted large animals. When there weren’t
enough large animals for them to hunt, they couldn’t adapt and look for smaller animals. Eventually, they
went extinct.
Today, quite a few animals are close to extinction. If an animal is close to becoming extinct, it’s called an
endangered species. More than 3,000 species are endangered. Some endangered animals are African
elephants, snow leopards, mountain gorillas, and blue whales.
26. Which of the following is NOT true about dodo birds?
A. They were about one meter tall. B. They lived on an island near Africa.
C. They couldn’t fly so they become extinct. D. Before Europeans came, they had had no enemies.
27. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true about Tasmanian tigers.
A. the Australian aboriginals killed and made Tasmanian tigers extinct.
B. European hunted and killed the last Tasmanian tigers.
C. Most people don’t think that Tasmanian tigers have become extinct.
D. The Australian aboriginals hunted Tasmanian tigers mostly in Tasmania.
28. Why did saber-toothed cats go extinct?
A. The world got too cold. B. Humans hunted them all.
C. Other animals hunted them all. D. Their prey went extinct.
29. What is an endangered species?
A. A species that might go extinct soon. B. A species that probably won’t go extinct.
C. A very dangerous species. D. A species that has already gone extinct.
30. Which of the following statements is the author likely to support most?
A. Human activities are the only cause to make many species become extinct.
B. Only weak species became extinct because they couldn’t protect themselves.
C. Many factors, natural and human, affect the process of extinction.
D. Only species which hunted large animals became extinct.
Exercise 6. Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
No more Polar Bears?
We all know that the Earth is getting warmer and warmer. This problem is called “global warming”.
We also know that global warming is causing a lot of problems. Oceans levels are getting higher and higher.
Because ocean levels are getting higher, storm are getting stronger and stronger. This list of problems goes
on and on.
Animals are suffering a lot because of global warming. Polar bears are suffering more than most
animals. This is because polar bears live in the North Pole. In the North Pole, global warming is making ice
melt. Polar bears hunt from large pieces of floating ice. They jumps off the ice and hunt for food. Polar bears
have to swim ad find these floating pieces of ice. These day, they have to swim farther to find the floating
ice. Many of them don’t have enough energy. They get too tired, and they die in the water.
Polar bears are suffering because of other problems, too. Pollution makes their water dirty. Many
countries go to the North Pole to look for oil and gas, and they damage the environment of the bears. In
addition, when ships sail through the North Pole, they cause a lot of damage. Finally, people hunt and kill
too many polar bears. However, melting ice is definitely the biggest problem.
Right now, there are about 25 000 polar bears in the world. If global warming continues, there may
be only about 12 000 in the year 20150. By the year 2080, that number might be much smaller.

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It is important to study polar bears. When we learn about polar bears, we also learn about the health
of the North Pole. If polar bears are doing well, then the environment in the North Pole is probably healthy.
If polar bears are suffering, then there are probably serious problems in the North Pole.
Right now, governments around the world are working to help polar bears. There are new laws that
protect polar bears. However, if global warming continues to get worse, polar bears may disappear forever.
31. Which of the following has the same meaning as the last sentence of the first paragraph?
A. We should make a list of the problems that global warming causes.
B. We don’t know all of the problems that global warming causes.
C. Global warming doesn’t make any other problems.
D. Global warming makes many more problems.
32. Why do polar bears have to swim faster?
A. They have to look for other bears. B. They have to get away from people.
C. They have to find floating ice. D. They have to find cleaner water.
33. Why is it important to study polar bears?
A. Polar bears are the world’s most important animal.
B. Polar bears tell us whether the North Pole is healthy or not.
C. Polar bears tell us if there is oil nearby.
D. Polar bears help us stop ice from melting.
34. The word “dirty” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to _______.
A. salty B. polluted C. fresh D. melted
35. All of the following are threats to the survival of polar bears EXCEPT _______.
A. the rise of sea levels in recent years
B. increasing poaching in the North Pole
C. oil and gas exploitation in the North Pole by many countries
D. land pollution caused by ships through the North Pole
36. What is the biggest problem for polar bears?
A. Ships sailing through the North Pole B. People hunting polar bears
C. More countries looking for oil D. Melting ice
37. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Polar bears are regarded as an indicator of the North Pole’s environment.
B. According to studies, polar bears will become extinct soon.
C. Polar bears live on food from floating ice.
D. Polar bears can’t swim well.
38. How many polar bears are in the world right now?
A. About 25,000 B. About 12,000 C. About 2,080 D. About 2,050
39. What problem does global warming NOT cause?
A. Higher sea levels B. Melting ice
C. Too many ships in the North Pole D. Stronger storms
40. What is the tone of the author in the passage?
A. optimistic B. skeptical C. concerned D. negative
Exercise 7. Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
Hunting Down the Truth about Killer Whales
Hearing that killer whales are in the area is sure to strike fear in the heart of anyone at sea. The
thought of coming across a creature with a menacing name like that is a surefire sign you are on a path to
destruction. As it turns out, killer whales, orcas, are actually highly sophisticated creatures that are usually
harmless to humans.
The title “killer whale” may actually be a mistranslation of the Spanish term “ballena asesina”, which
means assassin whale. Orcas were nicknamed this due to their well-coordinated attacks on marine life, not
for the danger they pose to humans. At nearly five to seven metres in length and a weight of over six tons,
orcas are one of the largest creatures on the Earth. There are about 50,000 orcas worldwide that are spread
out in several oceans. Orcas are classified as an Apex predator, which means no other creature hunt them for
food.
Scientists believe that there are between three to five different types of orca and they are all quite
distinctive. The most frequently seen of these are Residents. They live in close-knit family units called pods,
which can contain over 50 members, and their diet consists mainly of fish. Transient whales, however,
prefer to travel in smaller groups of two to six whales. Meanwhile, Offshore whales were only recently
discovered in 1988. They prefer to swim farther away from land than the others and several pods may come
together to form groups as large as 200 whales. Although these orca groups may seem similar to the naked
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eye, they are extremely different in many ways, and scientists believe they haven’t interbred in thousands of
years. Researchers also acknowledge that their knowledge of orcas is limited, and even more groups may
exist.
Male orcas have an average lifespan of about 30 years, while the average age for females is 50.
However, there have been cases of females living up to 90 years. Yet when kept in captivity at marine
entertainment parks, their life expectancies drop dramatically. In fact, it seems that the biggest threat to
orcas these days is humans. Between the practices of hunting orcas, polluting their environments, and
capturing them for entertainment purposes, we are making it very difficult for them to survive. Perhaps the
killer whales aren’t the real killer after all.
41. Where did the name “killer whale” ‘come from?
A. The whales often killed each other. B. The whales planned their attacks skillfully .
C. The whales would often try to sink ships. D. The whales are one of a few fish that kill humans.
42. Which of the following describes killer whales?
A. Tiny B. Intelligent C. Frightened D. Invisible
43. What can be said about the different types of killer whales?
A. They behave in different manners. B. They are quite similar in every way.
C. They frequently mate with one another. D. They often have wars against each other.
44. All of the following are true about orcas EXCEPT that _________.
A. they are quite good at hunting B. no other creatures hunt them for food
C. they are the largest creatures on the Earth D. there may be other types of orcas that we don’t know
45. What of the following can be inferred from this passage?
A. The orca groups may have different behaviors.
B. There is nearly nothing that scientists don’t know about orcas.
C. the average lifespan of orcas is the same as that of humans.
D. Water pollution is the biggest threat to orcas.
46. Offshore whales_________.
A. stay close to the land B. like to stay in small groups
C. were unknown until recently D. aren’t really whales at all
47. Which type of orcas lives in groups with the largest number?
A. Residents B. Offshore whales C. Transients D. Assassin whales
48. What happens when whales are kept by humans?
A. They die sooner. B. They get stronger
C. They stop eating food. D. They live longer lives.
49. What does the sentence “Although these orca groups may seem similar to the naked eye, they are
extremely different in many ways” in the third paragraph mean?
A. They appear in various ways in front of naked eyes.
B. Their huge size makes it difficult to follow them.
C. We can recognize the differences between the groups without naked eyes.
D. The differences between these groups are not easy to recognize.
50. What does the last sentence of the passage mean?
A. Pollution is what makes these whales kill so much.
B. Whales will never be able to survive in the future.
C. The only way to help these creatures is to capture them.
D. Human might be more dangerous than whales.
Exercise 8. Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
Animal Success Stories
In 1973, The United States government passed into law the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Its three major
goals were: 1. To protect plants and animals from extinction by listing them as endangered; 2. To preserve
the habitat of these species; 3. To help populations of listed species recover. Because of these conservation
efforts, many animals have been brought back from near extinction. Here are three such success stories.
Bald Eagle
It is fitting that we begin with the story of the bald eagle, the American symbol. By 1963, its population had
dropped to fewer than 1,000. Hunting was certainly a major factor in this decline, as was the destruction of
habitat. But the biggest factor was DDT- a chemical widely used in insect sprays- which had a damaging
effect on the eagles’ eggs.
The 1972 ban on DDT was the single most important factor in the revival of the bald eagle. Bald eagle
populations are now carefully monitored, and baby eagles are raised under human protection later to be
released into the wild. Thanks to these efforts, the number of eagles in the United States has grown markedly
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and the birds can be seen in many national parks. In August 2007, bald eagles were removed from the ESA
list.
Grizzly bear
Another classic symbol of North American wildlife is the grizzly bear. Due to hunting and habitat
destruction, its present number is closer to 1,000. Furthermore, because grizzly bears have babies at a very
slow rate, it takes many years for the population to grow.
Most of grizzly bears in the United States live in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. As grizzlies are
still protected by the ESA, hunting them is illegal. As bear populations grows, it becomes very important to
prevent encounters between humans and bears. People living in grizzly bear habitats are encouraged not to
leave garbage lying around in case bears are attracted to the smell and parks put up signs warning people not
to stray off the path. Visitors are also warned not to alarm any bears they encounter.
Grey wolf
Finally, the grey wolf’s story is one of the most interesting tales of American wildlife. Traditionally avoided
because people fear them and consider them pests for killing livestock, grey wolves have been shot, trapped,
and poisoned, even in nature reserves. By the time the grey wolf was declared a protected species in 1973,
only a few hundred remained in small areas of the country. Today, the grey wolf populations has been
revived due to strong conservation efforts. The grey wolf is now listed as a species of Least Concern by
IUCN.
In 2006, the United States government declared May 11 to be Endangered Species Day- a day devoted to
raising awareness of endangered species. With such positive steps towards educating people on the
importance of conservation, there’s reason to be optimistic about the future of endangered animals in the
US.
51. What was the author’s main purpose in writing this article?
A. to celebrate government successes in helping endangered species
B. to instruct people in the United States about how to save animals
C. to point out the causes of animal endangerment
D. to encourage people to send money to help animals
52. What is NOT mentioned as a goal of the Endangered Species Act?
A. listing animals and plants as endangered B. preserving plant and animal habitat
C. helping endangered species populations to grow D. developing national parks
53. What was the most destructive factor for bald eagle populations?
A. hunting B. the slow birth rate C. the use of DDT D. loss of habitat
54. Which is NOT mentioned as a way to prevent unnecessary grizzly bear deaths?
A. better garbage management B. keeping people in safe and bear-free areas
C. restricting people from entering national parks D. advising people on what to do if they see a grizzly
55. Why were so many grey wolves killed before 1973?
A. they had a bad reputation. B. People hunted them for their fur.
C. Their habitats were destroyed D. There were too many in the nature reserves.
56. The phrase “stray off” is closest in meaning to _____________.
A. travel along a route
B. intend to move away from the place where you should be
C. travel along a route that was originally intended
D. move outside a limited area
57. Which is NOT true about the three animals highlighted in the article?
A. They were all affected by the new ESA in 1973.
B. They are all no longer protected by the ESA.
C. They are well-known animals in North America.
D. They can all be found in some national parks.
58. Which statement is the author most likely to agree with?
A. The US government is not doing enough for animal conservation.
B. Raising awareness of animal conservation is a very important step.
C. Endangered Species Day is more important than the Endangered Species Act.
D. The future of endangered animals is looking uncertain in the US.

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