1 Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: A lot of people are involved with nature conservation, taking care of the plants and animals which share the planet. Until the beginning of the 20th century, people thought we could conserve nature by looking after individual species by putting wild animals in zoos, or plants in botanical gardens. Now we understand that we need to conserve whole habitats, the places where these plants and animals live. Polar bears may be able to survive as individual animals in concrete pools in Zoos. But to conserve the species properly they each need hundreds of square kilometers of Arctic landscape where they can hunt in seas free from pollution and roam across snowfields that are not disturbed by people. Nearer home, hedgehogs need a whole neighbourhood to live in, with quiet leafy corners for hibernation, and plenty of undergrowth where they can hunt for slugs and worms, without any danger of eating poisonous chemicals. We can grow primroses in plant pots, but to conserve these wildflowers properly, we need to conserve the woodlands where they grow naturally. Nature reserves are important for providing a safe environment for wildlife, but nature conservation can take place anywhere. Lots of people are creating new habitats such as ponds and wildflower meadows, in gardens and school grounds. In fact some species thrive best in special artificial habitats. Many starlings, for instance, spend the cold winter nights roosting on the windowsills of centrally heated office blocks in towns, and then feed all day on the grubs and worms that live in the soil beneath school playing fields, sports pitches and parks. Most of the wildflowers we call weeds can survive only if a farmer or a gardener cultivates the soil and accidentally makes a new seed bed for them each year. 1a What do you think is meant by nature conservation? 2 1b A zoo or a botanical garden is not a suitable place for many species to survive. Which are these species? Say why it is difficult for them to survive. 4 1c Name some species that survive most successfully in artificial habitats. How do they survive? 3 1d Find out the words that mean the following: 3 i the plants’ or animals’ natural environment in which it normally lives. ii bushes and plants growing together under the trees in forests. 4 iii an area of land that is kept separate or private in order to protect the animals or birds or people living there. 1e Give a suitable title to the passage. 1 1f Make sentences of your own with the following words/phrases from the passage: 4 i share the planet ii conserve iii survive iv roam across 1g Give opposites of the following words from the text: 3 i conserve ii danger iii naturally 2a Make passives of the following sentences: 2 i Renu spoke sharply to the Manager. ii Australia lost the cricket match by an inning. 2b Fill in the blanks with appropriate gerunds: 2 i ___________ clothes and shoes is her hobby. ii ___________ letters is a lost art now. 2c Rewrite the sentences using a polite structure 2 i Close the door when you leave. ii Do not park your car here. 2d Complete the sentences with the correct similes: 2 (as cunning as a fox, as fresh as a lily) i Her radiant face looked _____________ even after long hours of work. ii The detective could solve the case although the culprit was _____________. 2e Pick out the Main and Subordinate clause in the following sentences 2 i Had she been honest, she wouldn't have faced this humiliation. ii The teacher, who motivates students, is always remembered.
Answers
1a What do you think is meant by nature conservation?
Answer: conserving whole habitats the places where these plants and animals live is the real conservation.
2 1b A zoo or a botanical garden is not a suitable place for many species to survive. Which are these species? Say why it is difficult for them to survive.
Answer: Polar bears, hedgehogs, primroses; It is difficult to survive for these species because inside zoos and botanical gardens they become exposed to pollution, chemicals, etc. that affect them adversely.
4 1c Name some species that survive most successfully in artificial habitats. How do they survive?
Answer: species that survive successfully in artificial habitats are: starlings, wild flowers, etc. They survive because they get food and conducive environment to grow and thrive.
3 1d Find out the words that mean the following:
3 i the plants’ or animals’ natural environment in which it normally lives.
Answer: habitat
ii bushes and plants growing together under the trees in forests.
Answer: Undergrowth
4 iii an area of land that is kept separate or private in order to protect the animals or birds or people living there.
Answer: reserve
1e Give a suitable title to the passage.
Real Conservation
1 1f Make sentences of your own with the following words/phrases from the passage:
4 i share the planet
Answer: Human beings share planet earth with millions of other species of animals and plants.
ii conserve
Answer: We must conserve all the species of animals and plants.
iii survive
Answer: Human beings can only survive if other species of flora and fauna are conserved.
iv roam across
Answer: Beautiful animals roam freely in woods.
1g Give opposites of the following words from the text:
3. i conserve
Answer: hunt
ii danger
Answer: safe
iii naturally
Answer: artificially
2a Make passives of the following sentences:
2 i Renu spoke sharply to the Manager.
Answer: The manager was spoken to sharply by Renu.
ii Australia lost the cricket match by an inning.
The cricket match was lost by Australia by an inning.
2b Fill in the blanks with appropriate gerunds:
2 i Collecting clothes and shoes is her hobby.
ii Writing letters is a lost art now.
2c Rewrite the sentences using a polite structure
2 i Close the door when you leave.
Answer: Might you close the door?
ii Do not park your car here.
Answer: You are requested not to park your car here.
2d Complete the sentences with the correct similes:
2 (as cunning as a fox, as fresh as a lily)
i Her radiant face looked as fresh as a lilly even after long hours of work.
ii The detective could solve the case although the culprit was as cunning as fox.
2e Pick out the Main and Subordinate clause in the following sentences
2 i Had she been honest, she wouldn't have faced this humiliation.
she wouldn't have faced this humiliation. (Main Clause)
Had she been honest (subordinate clause)
ii The teacher, who motivates students, is always remembered.
The teacher is always remembered. (Main Clause)
, who motivates students, (subordinate clause)
Explanation: