9° ANO – Atividade Avaliativa Bimestral – 2º Bimestre
1. Read the text and answer the
GM FOODS
The Debate over Genetically Modified
Foods
A tomato that softens more slowly,
allowing it to keep longer on the shelf;
Potatoes that absorb less fat when fried;
changing French fries from junk food into a
more nutritional one;
Strawberry crops that can survive frost.
These are just some of the benefits
promised by biotechnology. The debate
over its advantages and safety, however,
continues.
Benefits: one side of the debate
Economical GM supporters tell farmers
that they stand to reap enormous profits
from growing GM crops. Initially
Environmental impact
Little is known about the impact that GM
crops will have on the environment. The
genetic structure of any living organism is
complex and GM crop tests focus on short-
term effects only. There is not enough
research yet into their long-term risks or
impact on biodiversity.
Dangers of herbicide resistance
questions: (1,5)
considerable investments are needed since
to produce them, modern biotechnology is
used which requires highly skilled people
and sophisticated equipment. This is why
GM crops are more expensive for farmers
than traditional crops. However, GM crops,
farmers are told, are a far better option
since it takes a shorter time to produce the
desired product.
Herbicide-resistant GM crops can be
produced to resist herbicide. This means
that farmers could spray these crops with
herbicide and kill the weeds, without
affecting the crop. In effect, the amount of
herbicide used would be reduced.
[…] However, the claims of less herbicide
usage with GM crops have till no/w not
been independently supported by facts.
Better quality foods
Even animals can be genetically modified
to grow faster and need less food. They
could be modified to have special traits,
such as greater milk production in cows.
Risks: the other side of the debate
In Europe, a strain of sugar beet that was
genetically modified to be resistant to a
particular herbicide has inadvertently
acquired the genes to resist another. This
was discovered when farmers attempted to
destroy the crop in Britain, France and the
Netherlands, where it was being tested, and
0.5% of the crop survived. Farmers had to
use more noxious herbicides to remove the
remainder of the plantation.
1
 Allergies and toxins
Very little scientific information exists about the risk of
GM food on human health. One major report explains
how GM foods could trigger new allergies and contain
toxins that may be harmful. Another concern is disease.
Since some crops are modified using the DNA from
viruses and bacteria, will we see new diseases emerge?
I. The text is about...
by Kerryn Sakko (Abridged and freely adapted) SOURCE:
http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotechn ology/sakko.html
a) traditional crops and how the farmers use
them;

b) GM foods that are herbicide which affect

3. We can say that the fake news
the crops;
according to the text are: (1,5)
c) GM foods and modified animals that are
used only in Europe;

d) Genetically Modified Food and some

characterists about it.

II. Why are GM foods still a

controversial issue?

_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
a)
III. Which dangers can GM foods cause to
people’s health? b)

_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________

2. Read the old habits of John and his friends and

complete the sentence with Used to or Didn´t use to:
(1,5)

a) I ____________________( spray) herbicide in my

crops but now, I don´t.

b)The farmers in my region __________________

_______________(ignore) the consequences of on the
environment.

c) I__________________(see) only the advantages of

GM crops. 2

d) My friends___________________(not/ have) any

allergies.
e) I _____________________(travel) to another city

c) a)

BEFORE
AFTER
4. Look at the chart of Mike´s early ____________________________
memories and answer the question: (1,5) ____________________________
__________________

2006 2018
a) Did Mike use to drive a car in 2006? - shy - outgoing
- ride a bike - drive a car
- go to school - go to work

___________________________________
___________________________________

b) Did Mike use to be shy in 2006?

___________________________________
___________________________________

c) Did Mike use to ride a bike in 2018?

___________________________________
___________________________________

b)

5. Compare them before and after. Then, BEFORE AFTER

make sentences using the structures Used
to or Didn’t use to: (1,5) was a janitor rock star

3
 e)
c)
I sometimes talk to_______________.
BEFORE AFTER

________________________________ 7. Choose the correct alternative: (1,0)

________________________________
________________ It’s too hot in here. Let’s refresh
_________ with a drink of cold water.

a) myself
6. Look at the pictures and use the b) yourself
appropriate Reflexive Pronoun. (1,5) c) yourselves
d) ourselves
e) themselves7. Choose the correct
alternative: (1,0)

It’s too hot in here. Let’s refresh

_________ with a drink of cold water.
a) Sarah has
cooked by ____________________ a) myself
b) yourself
c) yourselves
d) ourselves
e) themselves
b)

They don´t care

about_______________only about
the videogame.

c)

Do you believe in________________?

“F AILURE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN
AGAIN MORE INTELLIGENTLY .” – H ENRY
FORD

d) My mother was
feeling sorry
for____________________________. HAVE A NICE TEST!

4
5