Wild animals (and wild plants) and the wild places where they live are seriously threatened almost everywhere. One species has become extinct in each year of this century. But many hundreds are now in danger. Lack of attention would lead to the rapid advance of the process of extinction.

Already many kinds of wild animals have been so reduced in number that their role in the ecosystem is forgotten. Animals like the great apes, the whales, seals etc. thought to be in danger of extinction.

But even more important, perhaps than individual kinds of animals and plants, whole habitats are in danger of vanishing: marshes are being drained, and the world forests, especially tropical forests are being cut down to satisfy man’s needs of timber and paper.

What would our world be like if all the wild animals and wild plants vanished? - Would our life still exist then?

1. What would happen to the human beings if the wild life vanished?

A. Many species would quickly become extinct.

B. The human life would be seriously threatened.

C. Species would go on dying out.

D. Tropical forests would be cut down.

2. What is more important than individual kinds of animals and plants?

A. the vanishing of whole habitats. B. the extinction of many species.

D. man’s need of timber and paper. C. the rapid advance of the process of extinction.

3. What does the writer caution us against?

A. cutting down the tropical forests. B. hunting wild animals.

C. draining marshes. D. destroying our environment.

4. What would happen if we cut down forests?

Cutting down forests would cause ……………..

A. the changes of temperature. B. the flood

C. both A and B are correct. D. none are correct.

5. “To threaten” in the passage means …………..

A. to pollute B. to give fear to C. to vanish D. to poison

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks

Count  wild       forest       decrease        goals      protect          discover       danger

1. It can be difficult to find your way through a Answer.

2. Some kinds of Answer  animals are not afraid of people.

3. Conservationists often need to  Answer the number of animals in certain areas.

4. If we don't do something about it, the elephant population will continue to Answer  .

5. Many wild animals are in  Answer because of the activities of people.

6. Conservationists always hope to Answer  new animal populations.

7. Most people are afraid of crocodiles, but it is still important to  Answer them.

8. One of the Answer  of an explorer is to learn about new places.

I. Read the passage, make questions and answer them.

Wild animals and wild places where they live are seriously threatened almost everywhere. One species has become extinct in each year of this century; but many hundreds are now in danger. Lack of attention would lead to the rapid advance of the process of extinction.

Already many kinds of wild animals have been so reduced in number that their role in the ecosystem is forgotten.

          But even more important, perhaps, than individual kinds of animals and plants, whole habitats are in danger of vanishing : marshes are being drained, and the world forests, especially the tropical forests are being cut down to satisfy man’s need of timber and paper.

          1. Where / wild animals / live ?

          - _____________________________________________

          - _____________________________________________

          2. Why / forests  /  be cut ?

          - _____________________________________________

          - _____________________________________________

          3. What / happen / wild animals / if / forests / disappear?

          - _____________________________________________

          -______________________________________________

II. Use the correct word forms.

          1. Conservation is the _____________ and preservation of natural resources. (safeguard)

          2. Salt has a ______________ effect on food. (preserve)

          3. The fight against ___________ is an important part of conservation. (pollute)

          4. Carbon monoxide is a ______________ gas. (poison)

          5.  ______________ pollution is one of serious problems facing the mankind today. (environment)

6.  ______________ land consists of irrigating deserts, draining swamps and pushing back the sea. (reclaim)

          7. We can conserve our environment by ______________ of waste. (prevent)

          8. Farmers can protect their land by ______________ rotation of crops. (year)

          9. Farmers can help enrich the soil by adding ______________ (fertilize)

          10. Preserving natural resources is a great ______________. (important)

IV. Choose the best answer A, B, C or D.

1. ………….. loss can be caused by noise pollution.

A. Sound B. Hearing C. Listening D. Audio

2. Ships spill oil in oceans and rivers. This leads …….. the death of many aquatic animals and plants. A. to B. in C. from D. at

3. Households pollute water sources by ……….. waste into ponds, lakes, and rivers. A. damaging B. dumping C. losing D. leading

4. This month’s electricity bill is too high …….. the air conditioner is turned on all the time. A. since B. due to C. although D. because of

5. The government has come ………….. a solution to the water problems of the city. A. up to B. up with C. to with D. on to

6. All the aquatic plants and animals will die if the factory …….. dumping poison into the lake. A. will keep B. to keep C. kept D. keeps

7. A lot of fish has died recently because of the ………….. water in this lake. A. contaminating B. contaminated C. contaminate D. contaminant

8. If the air was clean, we ………….. have to wear masks when going out. A. wouldn’t B. won’t C. would D. will

9. If I ………….. you, I ………….. water from that dirty tap. A. am - will drink B. am - won’t drink C. were - would drink D. were - wouldn’t drink

10. If he ………….. trash around his garden, the garden would look very nice now. A. will throw B. would throw C. didn’t throw D. doesn’t throw

Choose the best answer amongA, B, C, D to complete each sentence below:
Many species of plants and animals axe in_________of extinction.

A. dangerous

B. endangered

C. danger

D. dangerously

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 28 to 34.

Therapeutic cloning

Reproductive cloning involves implanting a cloned embryo into a uterus in the hope of producing a healthy foetus. A company called Clonaid claims to have successfully cloned thirteen human babies. They say that all  of the babies are healthy and are in various location including Hong Kong, UK, Spain and Brazil. Clonaid states that they are using human cloning to assist infertile couples, homosexual couples and families who have lost a beloved relative.

The same technology can be used for animal cloning. If endangered species such as the giant panda and Sumatran tiger could be cloned, they could be saved from extinction. Livestock such as cows could also be cloned to allow farmers to reproduce cattle that produce the best meat and most milk. This could greatly help developing countries where cows produce significantly less meat and milk.

According to paragraph 4, what animals are in danger of extinction?

A. cows

B. giant pandas

C. all breeds of tiger

D. livestock

 Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 28 to 34.

  Humans are consuming hundreds of wild animals “to extinction” for meat, ornaments, medicines and pets, according to scientists. A global crisis sparked by unregulated or illegal hunting and trapping means 301 different species - from monkeys to bats - are now in danger, a new study claims. Experts at Oregon State University in the US, who conducted the research, have warned the decline is having a significant environmental impact and undermining the food security of millions of people in Asia, Africa and South America. “Our goal is to raise awareness of this global crisis. Many of these animals are at the brink of extinction. The illegal smuggling in wildlife and wildlife products is run by dangerous international networks and ranks among trafficking in arms, human beings and drugs in terms of profits,” said study leader Professor William Ripple.

  Researchers concluded that bold changes and political will were needed to diminish the possibility of humans consuming many of the world’s wild mammals to the point of extinction. Of the species affected, 126 were primates, more than any other group, according to a team of researchers writing in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Animal rights activists said the study should serve as a wake-up call to protect endangered species from extinction. “This research should be heart-stopping news for anyone who cares about wild animal welfare and the health of our planet. Urgent action needs to be taken by governments across the globe to protect these hundreds of threatened species from extinction,” Dr Neil D’Cruze, Head of Wildlife Research and Policy at World Animal Protection told The Independent.

  The authors found that wild meat made up a crucial part of global diets, with an estimated 89,000 tonnes harvested annually in the Brazilian Amazon alone. They also found overhunting to be mainly associated with poorer countries, where hunters might find it harder to feed their families. The research also showed much of the wild animal meat was sold in street markets and destined to become urban restaurant delicacies.

  In 2010, another study found that about five tonnes of bushmeat was smuggled weekly in tourist luggage through Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France. Dr D’Cruze said: “There are also the too often forgotten welfare impacts and high levels of suffering that animals, like primates, endure when captured and slaughtered for bush meat or the illegal wildlife trade. We must prevent the extinction of these incredible species, but we must also eradicate the pain and suffering being inflicted on millions of animals as we speak.” Large carnivores and herbivores over 10 kg comprised a small percentage of the animals listed but were hit more severely by overhunting, it was claimed. Scientists also warned the loss of large mammals could result in population explosions of prey animals, greater risk of disease and economic impact on humans. The study found that 57 large species of even-toed ungulates, including hippopotamus, wild yak, camel and marsh deer, were threatened by hunting. Smaller mammals were said to play crucial roles in dispersing seeds, pollinating plants and controlling insects. Wild ox, camels, pigs, fruit bats, rhinoceroses, tapirs, deer, tree kangaroos, armadillos, pangolins, rodents and big cats, were all said to be affected.

(Soure: https://www.independent.co.uk)

According to paragraph 4, all of the following are the essential roles that small animals play EXCEPT?

A. scattering seeds

B. pollinating plants

C. limiting insects 

D. improving soil