Name : Keishia Awina

Class : XI Social 2

Hard

Pakistan's houbara bird facing extinction

The indiscriminate hunting of endangered houbara bustard birds in Pakistan by rich hunting parties from
the Gulf nations have pushed the species toward extinction. The hunting was initially banned by the
Pakistani courts, but under continuous pressure from the provincial governments of Sind, Baluchistan,
and Punjab, as well as the federal government, recently the courts lifted the ban on the hunting of this
vulnerable species.

Some people in Pakistan have been advocating for sustainable hunting of the species instead of a
complete ban, but this is highly debatable. Reckless hunting for decades has pushed this beautiful
species toward extinction and it is now critically endangered in Pakistan.

No reliable or credible statistics on the population dynamics of the species are available either. Unless
specially protected by the law, the species runs the risk of becoming extinct in the wild in the next few
decades.

Under these circumstances, the only logical approach to save the species from extinction in the not-so-
distant future is to immediately start comprehensive captive breeding program for the species across
the nation.

If the captive breeding program runs successfully and produces an appreciable number of chicks, then
reintroduction programs could be initiated in their wild habitats.

Only after rebuilding population for some time in the wild and allowing them to breed naturally to reach
a sustainable population could some restricted hunting be planned. Currently, the low numbers have
made this species vulnerable and with zero or poor monitoring, sustainable hunting practices in Pakistan
for this dwindling species will not work.

Game hunting works only when a stable population is achieved with strict monitoring on the ratio of
males to females hunted per season. If the females (no true statistics available) are being taken out of
the population through random hunting, the population is sure to pass through a bottleneck in the wild
habitat, with high vulnerability to eventual extinction.

The people of Pakistan need to decide what is more important-a few petrodollars or protecting the
biodiversity of the nation.

Saikat Kumar Basu

Lethbridge, Canada
1. What is the subject of the text?
A. The extinction of Pakistan's houbara bird.
B. The hunting of Pakistan's houbara bird.
C. The conservation of Pakistan's houbara bird.
D. The rehabilitation of Pakistan's biodiversity.
E. The protection of Pakistan's biodiversity.
ANSWER : B

2. From the text, we know that the writer ...

A. Enjoys hunting the houbara bird.
B. Advocates for sustainable houbara bird hunting.
C. Approves all kinds of houbara bird hunting.
D. Tries to persuade people to conserve houbara bird .
E. Breeds houbara bird in captivation.
ANSWER : D

3. According to the text, why does the writer want all kinds of houbara bird hunting be banned?
A. The population of houbara bird is getting smaller and smaller.
B. The captivation of houbara bird has been unsuccessful.
C. The houbara bird is difficult to catch.
D. The houbara bird is beautiful.
E. The hunters are reckless.
ANSWER : A

4. From the passage, we can conclude that people can resume hunting the houbara bird only ... a
sustainable population is reached.
A. After
B. When
C. Because
D. If
E. Before
ANSWER : A

Should Americans be forced to Public Transportation?

First, let me define what the question is and isn’t asking. It isn’t asking if we should we all abandon cars
right now, nor is it asking if we should abandon them completely, nor is it asking if every American
should do so. It is asking weather some Americans should have to take public transit some of the time,
and I would say yes.

Oil use and pollution aside, in some cities like Los Angeles and New York there just isn’t room for any
more roads, so in order for large cities to grow, they need more people to take public transit or risk
permanent traffic jam. One bus can safely hold 40 people so even at half capacity that’s nearly 20 cars’
worth of space in traffic cleared up, and nearly 20 parking spaces that don’t need to built.

There are a lot of people that can take with transit little inconvenience but simply don’t because they
never have in the past. If residents in areas with plenty of transit had to buy transit passes as part of
their property taxes then they would have little excuse not to bus occasionally. QA number of
universities already bundle a ‘U-Pass’ with their tuition feeds, forcing their students to take the bus.
When given the change the majority of those students have voted to keep these programs.

A similar system in apartments where a portion of the tenants are not issued parking spaces in exchange
for a discount on their rent would also be community car to several apartment tenants that arrange a
schedule for the car, and this program gets many positive reviews.

So yes, I would say that Americans should be forced to use public transit, as Americans whom are
already forced to do so find that it works well for them.

5. What does writer suggest?

A. Americans should learn to use public transportation
B. Americans should give up their car
C. Americans should be forced to use public transportation
D. The government should limit the number cars
E. The government should charge extra taxes for those who uses cars
Answer: C

6. The following is one of the writer’s suggestions in forcing people to use Public Transportation ….
A. Make people buy transit passes as part of their property taxes
B. Banning the use of cars
C. Stop automobile productions
D. Fine people who do not use public transportation
E. Limit the number of gasoline
Answer: A

7. What is the purpose of the article?

A. Defining the functions of public transportation
B. Arguing that Americans should not use public transportation
C. Suggesting American the ways to use public transportation
D. Asking for more public transportation
E. Suggesting that Americans should be forced to use public transportation
Answer: E

8. What is the function of the first paragraph?

A. Repeating the thesis or proposal
B. Stating the proposal
C. Stating the reasons behind the thesis
D. Describing the problem
E. Giving argument
Answer : B

9. In the article you find the word transit a few times. What does the underlined word means?
A. Stop
B. Transportation
C. Exit
D. Entrance
 E. Bus Stop
Answer: A

10. What the function of the last paragraph?

A. Describing the problem
B. Stating the reasons behind the thesis
C. Giving arguments
D. Stating the proposal
E. Giving recommendation .
ANSWER : E

Easy

Continued progress in advanced technology is not necessary. Already the technical progress in our world
has caused severe pollution in the air and in the water. Although the technical progress in previous years
has been helpful, recent technology has significantly increased pollution. Another reason to stop
technical progress is that many inventions which were developed for good causes are now also used for
powerful weapons to have been found have serious side effects. For example, pesticide put inside
particle boards to prevent termites has now be found to be toxic to human life. Technology does not
always bring good effects; for example, computers do much work faster than man, but then man loses
his job to a machine. Because no man can guarantee that technology will have only good effects and will
be used only for the benefit of man, we should delay the continued development of technology.

11. The text mainly tells us about ….

A. The advantage of technical progress in our world
B. The necessity to delay technical progress
C. The development of technical progress to fulfill human’s needs
D. The examples of negative impacts caused by technical progress
E. The postponement of technical progress due to negative impacts
ANSWER : B

12. Why should we postpone continuing development of technology?

A. Because it brings good effects and bad effects for us
B. Because human does not need it anymore
C. Because no one can promise that technology will be only used for prosperity
D. Because technology will create new innovation that gives benefit to us
E. Because technical progress helps our job
ANSWER : C

13. “For example, pesticide put inside particle boards to proscribe termites has now be found to be toxic
to human life” What does the word "PROSCRIBE" mean?
A. prevent
B. authorize
C. allow
D. accept
E. enroll
ANSWER : A
The number of damaged roads linking Jakarta with West Java has certainly provoked complaints from
locals and road users. Take for an example, the roads in Bekasi and Tangerang, which have been the
focus of the media.
The poor condition of these roads not only jeopardizes road safety but also gives a squalid impression.
Moreover, the condition will get worse when it rains. The roads are transformed into water pools or
puddles, which can easily cause accidents if motorists are not careful. No wonder if some people
question why there are so many damaged roads and why repairs do not seem to last long. The
government should pay special attention to these problems.
In my opinion, the road should be repaired using the right sort of asphalt, stones an sand. Repairs should
be done carefully so that the roads can be prevented from constant damage. Otherwise, the repairs
would be useless.
Taken from : Jakarta Post, 2005

14. The main reason why local and road users complain about the poor condition of roads in Jakarta is
….
A. the roads become into water pools or puddles in rainy season
B. there is no attention from the government about the problem
C. it endangers road users when they pass into these roads
D. the damaged roads are repaired by the Government carelessly so they are easily broken
E. the repairs of the roads need more time to do
ANSWER : C

15. “The government should pay special attention to these problems.” What does the word "THESE"
refer to?
A. The accidents occurred during rainy season
B. The worse conditions during the rainy season
C. The poor condition of the roads
D. The repair of the damaged roads
E. Complaints from locals and road users
ANSWER : C

16. What is the main idea of paragraph four?

A. Locals and road users complain to local government about damaged roads in Jakarta
B. Damaged roads endanger the road users
C. The writer suggests the government to repair the damaged roads carefully
D. There are some questions from people about action to repair the roads
E. Repair of the roads is useless
ANSWER : C

Nowadays, computers are widespread. They are useful, especially for children. As a computer
application, the internet is very useful. There is more information on the internet than in the world’s
biggest library.
Through the internet people can get friends all over the world. Although they have never seen each
other, they get to know each other well. They can send e-mails to each other. The computer is like a
door to the world! Computer gamers are also great fun! They’re better than TV. On TV you can watch a
space ship, but in a computer game you fly it!
In my opinion it is necessary to equip children with computer to help them learning and having fun.
17. The text mainly tells about….
A. the use of the computers in the world
B. the benefits in using computers
C. the benefits in using computers to children
D. the advantage of the internet to children
E. the effort in overcoming computer problems
ANSWER : C

18. Why parents should provide children with computers?

A. They can train children with games
B. They give a lot of advantages
C. They are good invention
D. They acquire dozens of friends all over the world
E. They hardly look at computers for hours and hours
ANSWER : B

19. Based on the text, what is the writer’s purpose in writing the text?
A. The writer persuades parents to provide children with computers
B. The writer suggests the parents to give children computers
C. The writer doesn’t care about the using of computers
D. The writer thinks that computers are good innovation
E. The writer asks parents not to use computers
ANSWER : A

20.How is the computer very useful to the society?

A. Children spend less time to play with friends.
B. People can acquire more information easily.
C. Children can play many games in the computer.
D. They develop children characters through games
E. Computers gamers are very bad for children
ANSWER : B