Name: -------------------------------

Part One: Reading Comprehension (score: 24/40)

Read the following text in which the writer tells about blue whales, the largest
creatures on earth, and then answer the questions that follow.

Blue Whales
1-The whale is an extremely huge sea animal. The blue whale is considered
the largest creature on Earth today. In fact, the blue whale is much bigger than the
prehistoric dinosaurs. The estimated weight of the blue whale is twice that of the
dinosaurs and it can grow to lengths of 100 feet or more.

2-The whale looks very much like a huge fish. Contrary to popular belief, the
whale is not a fish but a mammal living in water. All whales can be divided into two
groups: the baleen whales and the toothed whales.

3-The baleen whales do not have teeth. Instead they have enormous
whalebone sieves known as baleens in their mouths to strain the tiny organisms that
they swallow when they close their mouths. The blue whale is an example of a baleen
whale. The huge blue whale feeds on tiny sea creatures such as small fish and
shrimps. Female baleen whales are always larger than the males.

4-On the other hand, the toothed whales have teeth in their mouths. Examples
of toothed whales are the sperm whales and the killer whales. The sperm whale is the
largest member of the toothed whale family. It is called such due to the valuable oil
deposit found in its head. At one times, the sperm whale was hunted for this oil which
was used to make candles. The sperm whale feeds on giant squids, fish and even other
sharks. It is not as fierce as the killer whale. Killer whales have been known to charge
at boats. They feed on seals, porpoises and polar bears. When there is a shortage of
food, the killer whales will even attack much larger whales. In terms of size, the
toothed whales are opposite to the baleen whales, with the males being larger.

5- Although whales live in water, these mammals breathe in air through their
lungs. A whale takes in oxygen when it is at the surface of the water. With this supply
of oxygen, it can remain under water for more than an hour.

6- All species of whales give birth to their young usually one at a time. A blue
whale at birth weighs something like four tons. Whales suckle their young. A baby
blue whale is capable of drinking half a ton of its mother's rich milk.

7- Unfortunately, like many animals on earth, whales are in danger of

extinction. In an effort to curb extinction, many governments have banned whaling
and have taken positive steps towards the conservation of whales. The United
States National Marine Fisheries Service currently lists them under the Endangered
Species Act, ensuring their protection under law. Additionally, wildlife protection
charities such as Save The Whales serve as watchdogs for the species, helping to
fund conservation efforts and confronting illegal whaling activities.

A. Answer the following questions in complete sentences using your own

words.
 1. Scan paragraph one and list two differences between a blue whale and a
prehistoric dinosaur. ( 2 pt)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. What do baleen whales have instead of teeth? /What are the whalebone sieves
of the baleen whale used for?(2 pts)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Scan paragraphs 5 & 6 and explain why whales are considered mammals.( 3
pts)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. What practical measures/solutions have been taken to protect whales from
extinction?( 3 pts)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Identify the author's purpose in the text above. Justify your answer. (2.5 pts.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Scan paragraphs 3 & 4, and then fill in the Venn diagram with 2
differences and 2 similarities between the baleen whale and toothed
whale. ( 3 pts)

C. The following statements are false because they misinterpret information

given in the text. Rewrite them correctly. (3 pts)

1. Seals, porpoises and polar bears are what the sperm whale feeds on.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. A female whale can give birth to two whales at a time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Whales can stay under water for five hours without going to the surface of the
water.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D. Complete each of the following sentences with one of the bold-typed words
from the text above: (3 pts.)
1. The practice of shooting animals as a sport can quickly bring the animals to ------------
2. The polar bear is the first animal that has been classified as ---------------------due
primarily to global warming.
3. Bongos are --------------------of ape which look like small chimpanzees.
4. The blue whale is an ------------------------- animal, the biggest animal ever to have
lived on our planet.
E. Complete the following paragraph by providing the correct form of the verbs in
parentheses. Use simple present and present continuous. (2.5) pts.)

There (be) --------------- still hope for animals which (be) ---------------- already on
the endangered species list. Nowadays, some organizations (work) ---------------------
hard to recreate habitats for them. Breeding programs (help) ---------------------------
animal population's increase.We all (have) ------------------------ to be aware and think
before we act. The things we do can affect more than just ourselves.
 Answer key
Reading

A) 1. the blue whale is much bigger then the prehistoric dinosaurs. The
estimated weight of the blue whale is twice that of the dinosaurs and it can grow to
lengths of 100 feet or more. (Score; 1 pt)

2. whales are mammals because breathe in air through their lungs. A whale takes in
oxygen when it is at the surface of the water and give birth to their young usually one
at a time. ( score: 2 pts)
3. In an effort to curb extinction, many governments have banned whaling and have
taken positive steps towards the conservation of whales. ( score ;1.5 pts)

4. . Instead of teeth they have enormous whalebone sieves known as baleens in their
mouths to strain the tiny organisms that they swallow when they close their mouths.
(1.5 pts)
5. They feeds on seals ,porpoises and polar bears. (1.5 pts)
B. Score 4.5 pts; 0.5 on each
 .; C. score 3 pts; 1 pt on each sentence.
1. False …A female whale can give birth to one whales at a time.
2. whales can stay under water for more than an hour without going to the surface of
the water.
3. In Japan, whales are hunted not only for the oil deposit in their heads but also
because it tastes more like beef than fish.

Vocabulary:
A) score; 3 pts ; 0.75 on each

1. survive
2. defense
3. habitat
4. camouflage

B. Score 2 pts

1---------d 2------------c 3---------a 4----------b