English written test

11st grade
SAVING THE EARTH

Name: _________________________________________________

Mark: ____________

Date: __________________________________________________

Teacher: __________

Respect the Land

When we consider a subject as sweeping as the environment, we
often focus on its most tangible aspects the air we breathe, the
water we drink, the food we put on the table. Those things are
critically important. But to me the environment is also about
something less tangible, though no less important. It is about our
sense of community the obligation we have to each other, and to
future generations, to safeguard Gods earth. It is about our sense
of responsibility, and the realization that natural beauty and
resources that took millions of years to develop could be damaged
and depleted in a matter of decades.
L. 10
Those are values I learned firsthand as a young boy on my familys
farm in Tennessee. We didnt call it environmentalism back then; it
was simply common sense.
L.13
Today the threats to our environment are even clearer to see and much greater in scope and number. We live
in a world where climate change, deforestation, holes in the ozone layer and air pollution are growing sources of
concern. Our challenge is to find new ways to address those problems by reaching back to our oldest values of
community and responsibility by inspiring a greater respect for the land and the resources we share even as
economies and societies advance and develop around the world.
L. 18
Fortunately, as I have raised a family of my own, I have learned that we have
millions of powerful allies in this cause: our children. It is often children who
remind their parents to recycle their cans or to bundle their newspapers. It is
often children who remind their parents of the simple miracles of nature the
crops that come from our farms, the parks and lakes and campsites where
families and communities gather.
L. 24
If we are to protect and preserve our environment on a global scale, we all must
do our part, as nations, as families and as individuals. The need for awareness
has never been greater, and the opportunity for us to make a difference is just
as great. If we practise and teach the right kind of care and commitment for our
environment, it will continue not only to bring us its natural gifts, but also to bring us together.
L. 30
Source: Al Gore, TIME, November 1997 (abridged)

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English written test

11st grade
SAVING THE EARTH
I READING COMPREHENSION

1. (16 val.) Match the words on the left with their equivalent meaning on the right
1. sweeping (line 1)

a. a new or difficult task

2. tangible (line 2)

b. awareness

3. to safeguard (line 7)

c. reason for worrying

4. realization (line 8)

d. to deal with

5. to deplete (line 10)

e. having an important effect

6. source of concern (line 15-16)

f. to reduce something by a large amount so

that there is not enough left

7. challenge (line 16)

g. that can be clearly seen or felt

8. to address (line 16)

h. to preserve

2. (12 val.) Say what the following words (underlined in the text) refer to.
its (l.2) ____________________________________________
that (l. 9) __________________________________________
back then (l. 12) ___________________________________
I (l. 19) ____________________________________________
their (l. 21)

______________________________________

it (l. 30) ___________________________________________

3. (20 val.) Complete according to the text.

a) The topic environment is commonly associated with__________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
b) However, Al Gore thinks differently. Most important for him is not only ______________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

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English written test

11st grade
SAVING THE EARTH
c) Nowadays the greatest threats to our planet are: _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
d) Today children _________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
e) The environment will be clean and beautiful again if_____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

4. (10 val.) Answer the question using your own words. Justify.
What does Al Gore mean by sense of community?
___________________________________________________________________________________
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English written test

11st grade
SAVING THE EARTH
II VOCABULARY
1. (12 val.) Fill in the gaps with words from the box below.

rise

melt

heat

biodiversity

higher

Earth

water

greenhouse

sustainable

extinct

takes up

glaciers

Rising Sea Level:

Scientists tell us that the 1
's temperature will probably
continue to 2 as long as we
continue increasing the
amount of 3 . gases in the
atmosphere.

The 4 goes higher up the beach when a tide comes in. At most shores
throughout the world, two high tides and two low tides occur every day.
But now the level of the sea is rising, so high tides are 5 than they
were before. Over the last 100 years, the level of the sea has risen about
6-8 inches worldwide. When the sea level rises, the tide goes farther up
the beach . Scientists think the sea has risen partly because of melting 6
and sea ice. When some glaciers 7 , they release water into the sea

and make it higher than it was before. Scientists also think that warmer temperatures in the sea make it rise even
more. 8 . makes water expand. When the ocean expands, it 9 more space. If careful action is not taken 10
might become 11 . So, what is at stake is our 12 . life on the planet.

2. (10 val.) Use the words in the box to complete the sentences.

habitats

global warming

extinction

deforestation

oil spills

pollution

drought

acid rain

ozone layer

rainforests

a) ___________________ are the lungs of the Earth.

b) ___________________ contains harmful chemicals that damage trees, crops and buildings
c)

The _________________ protects all life from the suns harmful radiation.

d) Climate change is a tremendous threat to wildlife _______________ and to their survival.

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English written test

11st grade
SAVING THE EARTH
e)

March 24, 2009 is the 20th anniversary of one of historys worst man-made environmental disasters: the
oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck a reef in Alaska and caused one of the most devastating
_____________________ ever.

f)

If ______________________________ continues on this scale, the icecaps will melt and the sea level
will rise.

g)

People who live in industrialized areas face a higher risk of developing serious diseases due to the high
level of ___________________.

h) ___________________ in the Amazon rainforest region has led to the __________________ of 26

animal and plant species, a UN report said.

Millions of people in Africa face starvation as a result of the long periods of _____________.

i)

3. (20 val.) Fill in with the correct preposition. You can only use each preposition once.
against

on

about

with

of

to

from

for

in

a) The future of our planets relies .. our actions.

b) We must all fight the destruction of our environment.
c) Many people dont care .. the environment.
d) Al Gore belongs Earth First!, an environmental NGO.
e) We must invest more renewable energies.
f)

I believe .. environment-friendly technology.

g) We are looking .. more alternative policies.

h) In his speech Al Gore referred .. politicians and their responsibilities.
i)

Most politicians agree . . environmentalists but dont take real action.

j)

We all aim .a better environment.

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at

English written test

11st grade
SAVING THE EARTH
III GRAMMAR

1. (30 val.) Rewrite the following sentences using the given connector.
a)

Although it was raining heavily, he didnt open his umbrella.

In spite of ______________________________________________________________________

b)

Eco-volunteering is very rewarding; however some teenagers dont consider it a good experience.
Although _______________________________________________________________________

c)

Al Gore prepared a web conference. He wanted to present an ozone friendly campaign.

(in order to) ____________________________________________________________________

d) New eco-buildings use solar energy and rechargeable battery devices as well.

(not onlybut also) _______________________________________________________________

e) Schools teach about environmental awareness, but teenagers still use pollutant materials.

(nevertheless) ____________________________________________________________________
f)

Governments encourage the use of non-pollutant energies. They want companies to preserve the
environment.
( so that) __________________________________________________________________________

2.

(20 val.) Fill in the gaps with the right verb form. Check the verb tense correctly.
a)

After Al Gore left the White House he _______________(choose) part of his work to help environmental
causes.

b) Many activists __________________ (already write) a lot about environmental damage when they

decided to plan this campaign.

c)

Greenpeace activists _____________________ (plan) the campaign in the headquarters, when they got
the news about the oil spill in Mexico.

d) Human carelessness _______________ (damage) the weather system over the years, making natural

disasters more frequent.

e) Yesterday the EU Parliament ________________ (keep) its promise about climate change prevention to

force member states into general adjustments.

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English written test

11st grade
SAVING THE EARTH
V ESSAY WRITING - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (write about 150-200 words)
Climate change is having a real impact on the lives of the individuals and communities around the world. We
must do something about it
Kofi Annan
 Do you worry about the environment and the future of planet Earth?
 What are some of the world environmental problems? Refer to major threats on the planet.
 In your opinion, what are the possible solutions to solve some of the environmental problems we have to face
nowadays? Do you think teenagers nowadays are more aware of the state of the planet? What are they willing to
do to protect it?
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