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PRUEBA NACIONAL DE INGLES DE ADELANTO DE 2do BD

PERIODO - FEBRERO 2012

Liceo Nº: MARKS

Group: WRITTEN TEST: / 65 

Name: ORAL EXAM:

Date: FINAL MARK:

Reading Comprehension

I.  Read the article and write R (right), W (wrong) or NM (not mentioned).

1111 Some animals are becoming extinct and there’s

nothing that nature or humans can do to save them.

One of these animals is a tortoise who liveson Pinta Island off the coast of Ecuador. He is

5555 believed to be the only, last remaining descendant

of his species, the Geochelone abigdoni tortoise, in

the entire world. For this reason, scientists have named the fellow Lonesome George.

Pinta is an isolated northern island of the Galápagos. By the late 1960s, it was

noted that the tortoise population on the rarely visited island had dwindled close to

10101010 extinction. George, who was discovered in 1972, was immediately brought to

Charles Darwin research station on the island of Santa Cruz. He is estimated to bebetween 60 to 100 years of age and has been described by the Guinness book of world

records as the “rarest living creature”. Understandably, scientists have therefore been

trying to get him to mate so that his line does not die out.

15151515 In 1993, they introduced two female tortoises of a different subspecies from the

neighbouring island of Isabela into his pen, and crossed their fingers that some

worthwhile activity would follow.

Although George is an attractive fellow – he weighs 90 kg and despite his age is

said to be at his sexual peak – he hasn’t seemed to be in any hurry to procreate. Twice,

20202020 scientists have given him female companions of a similar but different species. The

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first who was kept with him laid five eggs in 2008, for the first time in 36 years since

George has been in captivity. But the eggs turned out to be infertile. Then just last year

George astounded conservationists by mating again.

The national park has said that the latest eggs, described as being in perfect condition,25252525 are being cared for in an incubation centre. After an incubation period of 120 days,

scientists will know whether the eggs are fertile.

0.  Extinction can be controlled. (W)

1.  Pinta Island is a part of Ecuador.

2.  Lonesome George is the only sample of the Geochelone abigdoni tortoise on

Earth.3.  There are no inhabitants on Pinta Island.

4.  George has been included in the Guinness book of world records.

5.  The tortoise has shown clear interest in procreating.

/ 5 marks

II.  Now, look for the corresponding synonyms of the words in the lines indicated in

the article.

0.  diminished - dwindled (line 9)

1.  investigation - (line 12)

2.  copulate (line 14)

3.  rewarding - (line 16)

4.  highest level - (line 19)

5.  amazed - (line 23)

/ 5 marks 

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III.  Continue reading and choose the right option to complete the following

sentences.

Tortoises on the Galápagos Islands were hunted as food bysailors and fishermen to the point of extinction. When

Charles Darwin arrived in Galápagos in 1835, he described

how he and the crew of the Beagle lived entirely on tortoise

meat. In addition, the habitat of the tortoises has been

eaten away by goats introduced from the mainland.

Once there were millions of giant tortoises which, in the age of the dinosaurs,

covered most of the Americas, Europe and Asia. Like dinosaurs they began to

die out when mammals evolved and they were neither clever enough nor fastenough to compete for food. However, the Galápagos turtles still exist. The best

hope for George’s species is that he contributes to its survival.

0.  Tortoises were used by sailors as

a) commerce b) pets c) food  

1.  Charles Darwin arrived in the Galápagos in

a) the 20th century b) the 19th century c) the 18th century

2.  The extinction of these tortoises has been a consequence of 

a) only human actions b) only animals’ actions c) both animal and

human actions.

3.  Millions of these giant animals inhabited

a) three continents b) all the continents c) two continents

a)  This kind of animal was

b)  as fast and intelligent as mammals.

c)  slower and less intelligent than mammals.

d)  faster and more intelligent than mammals.

4.  For this species to survive

a)  there is still some hope.

b)  there is no hope.

c)  there is a lot of hope.

/ 5 marks

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IV.  The words in this bubble appear in the previous text. Fill each blank with one of 

them to fit the definition. There’s an extra one.

0.  piece of land surrounded by water island

1.  To kill animals for food, for thin skin, etc. ___________________

2.  The people who work on a boat or ship ____________________

3.  The place where a particular animal lives in ____________________

4. 

The principal part of a country ____________________5.  To change or develop ____________________

6.  The fact of continuing to live or exist ____________________

/ 6 marks

Use of English

V. 

Tick the correct verb form in the grid to complete the passage.

The Galápagos Islands (0) __a__ in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The group (1) ____ of 

fifteen main islands that form the well known Galápagos Archipelago. These Islands (2)

 _____ one of the few places in the world without an indigenous population. The largest

ethnic group (3) _____ of Ecuadorian Mestizos, the mixed descendants of Spanish

colonists and indigenous Native Americans, who (4) _____ mainly in the last century

from the continental part of Ecuador. (5) _____ also a large number of whites, mostly

of Spanish descent. Some descendants of the early European and American colonists

on the islands also still (6)_____ on the islands.

hunt crew mainland food

habitat evolve survival island

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0 a. are located b. is located c. were located

1 a. consisted b. will consist c. consists

2 a. is b. are c. were

3 a. will be composed b. is composed c. were composed4 a. arrived b. arrive c. have arrived

5 a. There were b. There was c. There is

6 a. remains b. remain c. remained

/ 6 marks

VI.  Finish the sentences about the Galápagos Islands using the words provided in the

correct order.

0.  by/ pirates/ the Galapagos / were / introduced / to

Many species were introduced to the Galapagos by pirates.

1.  Pigs are _____________________________________________________

than/harmful/more/even/rats

2.  If humans continue ____________________________________________

will become/introducing/plants and animals/the native animals/ extinct

3.  Visitors can learn about _________________________________________

visiting/ national history/important/the / research centre “ Charles Darwin”

4.  Visitors can also get information ___________________________________

they read/scientific journals/if/reports/and

5.  Illegal fishing activities ____________________________________________

marine sanctuary/might/under threat/put/ 10 marks (2 each)

VII.  Fill each if the following blanks with a word

that suits the context.

Although located (0) __on __ the Equator, (1) ___

Humboldt Current brings cold water

(2) ____ the islands, causing frequent drizzles

during (3) ____ of the year. The weather (4) _____

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periodically influenced by the El Niño events, (5) _____ occur about every 3-7 years

and (6) _____ characterized by warm sea surface temperatures, (7) _____ rise in sea

level, greater wave action, (8) _____a depletion of nutrients in the water.

/ 8 marks

Writing (you must write both tasks)

VIII.  A) The Galápagos Islands were proposed as a candidate to be one of the new seven

wonders of nature by the new 7 Wonders of Nature Foundation, but it did not

qualify.

Write a paragraph of around 90 words giving your opinion about this issue

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B) Write an email (80 to 90 words) to the Charles Darwin Research Station asking them

•  What they do to protect the islands

•  How you can contribute to the project

•  What plans they have for the future / 8