DEFORESTATION

READING AND INTERPRETING :(15pts)

Read the text carefully then 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’s trees. However, the trees are disappearing. By
1974, a quarter of the forest had already been cut down. In the following year, 1975, four per cent of
the remaining trees went. If the destruction of the forest continues at the same rate, there will be nothing
left in a few years.
Scientists say that the disappearance of trees is already causing changes in the climate. In Peru, there
is less snow than before on the high peaks of the Andes mountains. In Bolivia there is very little rain.
What will happen if more of the Amazon forest is cut down? According to climatologists if the
Amazon forest disappears, there will be less oxygen and it will be difficult for us to breathe, the
temperature will rise, the ice-caps at the North and the South poles will melt. Even the sea level will
rise. Therefore, seaside cities 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.

1-Give a title to the text. (0,5pt) b- Why is the Amazon forest so important?
2-Say whether the following statements are c- What will happen if it ever disappears?
true or false: (2pts) 4-Match words with their synonyms:(1pt )
a-The Amazon forest is bigger than Europe. 1-whole a- go up
b-It contains most of the world’s trees. 2-climate b-result
c-Deforestation leads to climate change. 3-rise c-complete
d-If the Amazon forest is destroyed, the 4-consequence d-weather
coastal towns will be under water. 5-Find in the text words that are opposite in
3-Answer the following according to the text: meaning to: (1pt)
(3pts ) -including §1 -low §2 -drop §3
a- How big is the Amazon forest? -easy §4
6-Write the correct form of the verbs in ( ): ( 2pts)
a- If humans respected the environment, they ( stop) polluting it.
b-At the current rate, the Amazon forest (disappear) by 2030.
c-If trees absorb CO2, there (be ) less air pollution.
d-if we (not stop) cutting trees, the Amazon forest will become a desert.
7- Join these pairs of sentences with: (2pts)
-therefore -though -because -so ……that
a- Paper is indispensable in our live. We must take care of how to use it.
b- We have to recycle wasted paper. Our earth has limited natural resources.
c- A lot of trees have been cut down. Millions of species have lost their habitat.
d- Deforestation is harmful to the earth. We continue to cut down trees.
8- Form adjectives from these words: (1pt)
-reduce - renew -radioactivity - danger

WRITTEN EXPRESSION: (5pts)

Choose ONE of the following topics:

Topic 1: Trees are essential for humans, animals and nature. Explain.
-Provide oxygen --provide wood and fruit
-Absorb CO2. –stop the desert …

Topic 2: Forests are very important. What must we do to protect them?

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