Aftermath of an Oil Spill

In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon-Valdez ran aground on a reef in Prince William Sound in
Alaska spilling 11 million gallons of oil. The spill fouled up about 1300 miles of shoreline
and caused the death of some 300,000 birds. One of the most vibrant ecosystems on planet
Earth was gravely affected by this horrendous disaster.

Now, about twelve years later. journalists and television news reporters have returned to the
scene to look for signs of lingering damage or alternatively of positive healing. It comes as no
surprise that they report they have found both, although the balance still tips heavily in favor
of damage.

On the damage side, oily residues still continue to mar the beaches while traces of oil are still
staining the waters off the coast. The once bountiful herring population is now drastically
reduced, thus affecting the entire food web. Earlier, 2600 sea otters had perished and there are
no signs that the sea otter will ever recover from this initial blow. Many bird species have
also similarly not quite recovered and this includes species such as the cormorant, the
guillemot, and the marbled murelet.

Equally serious, if not more so, reporters have discovered the presence of polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons in stream beds at concentration levels exceeding the maximum allowed by the
state. If prompt action is not taken, these hydrocarbons will continue to harm and possibly
kill young salmon for years to come.

Human destinies have also been affected. The livelihood of fishermen has been seriously
threatened and although in the days following the spill, they have successfully sued Exxon
company for damages, they have yet to see a penny of the award. This is because Exxon is
appealing against the award of US$5 billion. While waiting for the appeal to come through,
bitterness continues to be rife among the fishermen.

On the healing side, reporters have noted that the bald eagle has made complete recovery.
The outlook also seems good for inter-tidal and sub-tidal communities.

1.In general, an oil spill

(A)causes the death of thousands of birds

(B) causes the death of thousands of animals
(C) affects the entire planet Earth
(D)affects the ecosystem

2.What inference can you draw about an oil spill from paragraph 2 ?

(A)The effects of an oil spill takes years to overcome.

(B) Healing always takes place after an oil spill.
(C) Journalists want to report the truth.
(D)Televising the actual evidence is the best proof.

The author says that some bird species have not quite recovered. What does he mean by
3.
this ?
 (A)Their feathers are still covered with oil.
(B) Their habitat is completely destroyed.
(C) Their numbers are still very small.
(D)Their sources of food are destroyed.

The concentration levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are very high in stream
4.
beds. What inference can be drawn from this about the nature of pollution ?

(A)Pollution levels are getting higher.

(B) Pollution from the sea is filtering into the rivers.
(C) The outcome of an oil spill is hydrocarbons.
(D)The outcome of an oil spill must be constantly monitored.

5.In paragraph 4, what inference can one draw about the life-cycle of salmon ?

(A)Young salmon are hatched from eggs.

(B) Young salmon are born alive.
(C) Salmon produce their young in upstream river.
(D)Salmon like rivers for safety.

6.Why are the fishermen very bitter ?

(A)They did not receive any money from the award.

(B) Since Exxon is appealing, they are afraid they might lose their money.
(C) There is no more fish to catch.
(D)Their environment is destroyed.

7.What do inter-tidal and sub-tidal communities refer to ?

(A)The fishermen
(B) The people who live along coast
(C) Swimmers who frequent the beach
(D)Marine life

Answers : 1) D 2) A 3) C 4) B 5) C 6) A 7) D
Comprehension
Do you know that blocks of ice can become beautiful pieces of art? These pieces of art of ice
sculptures are the work of artists called ice sculptors. Ice sculptures capture our imagination.
They glisten at every grand function and wedding and appear in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Depending on the occasion, they can resemble anything from kissing swans and love birds to
Santa Claus and glittering palaces.

But do we ever wonder about the artist behind these magnificent works? All we see are the
results of their creativity, skill, vivid imagination and hard work. One of these artists is Harun
Jalil, a Malaysian ice sculptor who is noted for his outstanding work. He has developed his
own distinctive style over the years. Ice is extremely difficult to carve and is a real challenge
to work on. But in Harun’s hands, it can be transformed into art to reveal its hidden beauty.
Before Harun can begin sculpting, he prepares tools like chisels and hammers of different
lengths and sizes.

Harun usually imagines the picture before he starts his work on ice. After that, he makes an
outline of his chosen subject onto the block of ice with small chisels. He stresses that if a
sculptor has not fully mastered the technique of carving and sculpting, the ice an added
bonus.

Then he chips away. As small parts of the ice slowly flake off with each hit, the object takes
on a three-dimensional appearance. It takes 20 to 45 minutes to complete a sculpture,
depending on the complexity of the design. An aeroplane carved in ice took him almost two
hours to complete.

Chainsaws are used to saw off huge chunks of ice. This step is the longest and most
exhausting of all. The chainsaws are rather heavy and difficult to handle. Gradually, the ice
block begins to take on the desired shape. The edges are rough and jagged from the sawing
and chipping, hence the next step is to make the sculpture smooth, using a flat chisel.

Using his bare hands, Harun holds and moves the ice. To fine-tune the piece, he uses his
chisels to create eyes, swings, feathers and other unique features. From a mere block of ice,
Harun makes a majestic eagle. The sculpture is then placed on a small flat tray.

It takes more than just talent to do ice carving. One must concentrate on what one is doing
and work tirelessly without any break. Dedication and experience in ice carving goes a long
way in gaining respect from fellow ice artists. It also pays to be strong, for lifting ice blocks
is not easy.

It may look simple but there is a great deal of work that goes into ice carving. Harun values
the satisfaction he feels when a piece is completed and admired by others. His knowledge,
creativity and experience make Harun different from other ice sculptors.
From paragraph 1
1. (a) When can you usually see a display of ice sculptures ?
From paragraph 2
(b) Which word in this paragraph means "unique" ?
From paragraph 3
 2. (a) Why is ice a challenge to work on ?
(b) The word it refers to ____.
From paragraph 6
3. Why is sawing the most tiring activity in ice sculpting ?
From paragraph 5 and 7
4. Name two objects which Harun has carved out of ice.
From paragraph 8
5. (a) Why is it an advantage for an ice sculptor to be strong ?
From paragraph 9
(b) What two things give Harun a sense of satisfaction ? Answer in your own words.
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Answers
1. (a) Grand function and weddings
(b) Distinctive
2. (a) Ice is extremely difficult to carve.
(b) Ice
3. This is because the chainsaws are heavy and difficult to handle.
4. (i) Aeroplane
(ii) Eagle
5. (a) It is because lifting ice blocks i not easy.
(b) Harun feels a sense of satisfaction by the admiration of his work by others and by
the completion of his won work.