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Elementary Group Pop-Quiz 115 Reading

The document summarizes the threats facing the world's oceans from overfishing and pollution. It states that overfishing may be more destructive than pollution in the next few years, as 13 of 17 main fishing areas were already destroyed by the early 1990s. Now, large fishing trawlers drag nets along the ocean floor, catching all sizes of fish, including species like squid and eels that were previously unwanted. Many scientists believe this will destroy all large fishing areas unless action is taken. Some propose banning certain technologies or creating protected "no-fishing" zones, but the fishing industry lobbies governments against restrictions. Over 1,600 scientists now urge protecting 20% of oceans by 2020 to save marine life.

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Christophe Kodjo Charlec
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89 views3 pages

Elementary Group Pop-Quiz 115 Reading

The document summarizes the threats facing the world's oceans from overfishing and pollution. It states that overfishing may be more destructive than pollution in the next few years, as 13 of 17 main fishing areas were already destroyed by the early 1990s. Now, large fishing trawlers drag nets along the ocean floor, catching all sizes of fish, including species like squid and eels that were previously unwanted. Many scientists believe this will destroy all large fishing areas unless action is taken. Some propose banning certain technologies or creating protected "no-fishing" zones, but the fishing industry lobbies governments against restrictions. Over 1,600 scientists now urge protecting 20% of oceans by 2020 to save marine life.

Uploaded by

Christophe Kodjo Charlec
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ELEMENTARY GROUP

Pop-Quiz 115
Reading
December, 2006
Time: 20 mins.

The Ocean in Trouble

1 Many environmental groups are warning that the oceans of the world are in immense danger. The
two main dangers for the oceans are pollution and overfishing. Pollution receives more publicity, but
overfishing may be the most destructive in the next few years. By the early 1990s, 13 of the world’s
17 main fishing areas were already destroyed by overfishing. For example, the Grand Banks in the
north Atlantic was officially closed to fishing a few years ago.

2 Today, fishermen are finding fewer and fewer fish everywhere around the world. Unfortunately, this
does not mean that they don’t fish anymore. Instead, many are using trawlers (large fishing boats)
and new technology to fish as deep as a mile. Trawlers have special nets fitted with wheels and
rollers. They drag these across the bottom of the deep oceans, and pick up any species of all sizes.
These nets take species like squid, skate, red crabs, eels, dogfish, and orange roughy. A few years
ago people didn’t want to eat these species. Now, they can be found in fish stores, in “fish
sandwiches” at McDonald’s, or in fake “crab meat” for seafood salads.

3 Many scientists believe that present fishing methods will destroy all the large fishing areas of the
world. What can be done to cease this? Some scientists think that governments should stop the
fishing industry from using some kinds of technology. However, this will be difficult. Many of the
big fishing companies have a lot of money, and they use that money to influence politicians all
around the world. Others believe that governments should create no-fishing zones; that is, areas
where no one can fish. Governments can patrol these areas throughout the fishing season. By this
way, they can stop and maybe even punish anyone who fishes there.

4 Today, around 1600 leading marine scientists and conservation biologists from 65 countries are
urging the world to create more no-fishing areas than there are now. Their goal is to protect 20
percent of the world’s oceans by 2020. This is already happening in some places. For example, the
fishing industry in Britain is beginning to accept no-fishing zones because the amount of fish that
the industry catches is getting smaller and smaller. The fishing industry often argues that the
scientific evidence is not complete. People just don’t know what is going on in the oceans. Now,
scientists and environmentalists have to prove that the fishing industry is doing damage before the
government passes laws protecting the ocean. On the other hand, the Science magazine argues that
big fishing companies have to prove that they are not destroying the oceans before they are allowed
to fish.

5 Environmentalists say that people need to get together and oblige their governments to do
something. Otherwise, the large fishing companies who own the big trawlers are not going to stop
fishing by themselves. They say that if people don’t demonstrate against the governments, there will
be nothing left in the oceans but water.
A. What do the following refer to?

1. many (para. 2) : many_________________________


2. others (para. 3) : other _________________________
3. there (para. 3) : _____________________________
4. They (para. 5) : _____________________________
B. Find words in the text that mean the following. Use ONE word only and DO NOT change the
form of the words.

1. harmful (para. 1) (adj) :___________________


2. stop (para. 3) (v) :___________________
3. guard / protect (para. 3) (v) :___________________
4. advising strongly (para. 4) (v) :___________________
5. pressurize (para. 5) (v) :___________________
C. Circle the following statements True or False.

T F 1. More than half of the world’s main fishing areas have now disappeared.
T F 2. As the number of fish has decreased in some areas, fishermen have stopped fishing there.
T F 3. Until recently, people didn’t use to eat eels or red crabs.
T F 4. 20% of the oceans have already been saved by scientists and biologists.
T F 5. Over the few years, the size of some fish in Britain has become smaller.
D. Mark the best choice.

1. Which of the following is FALSE about trawlers?


a. They are not only used for fishing.
b. They do not have ordinary fishing nets.
c. They are used for fishing in deep waters.
d. They catch fish of many sizes and types.

2. It will be difficult to stop the fishing industry from using some technological equipments___:
a. when there is so much demand for certain species of fish.
b. because there are too many fishing companies around the world.
c. when some marine scientists are also using the same technology.
d. since some fishing companies have good relations with politicians

3. What is needed for governments to pass laws against the fishing industry?
a. More evidence of the damage in the oceans
b. More research on the living environment of fish
c. More financial support from different industries
d. More political meetings with the fishing industry
December, 2006

ELEMENTARY GROUP
Pop-Quiz 115
Reading
ANSWER KEY

A. C.
1. fishermen
2. scientists 1. T 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. F
3. in the no-fishing zones / areas
(Or) in areas where no one can fish D.
4. environmentalists
1. a 2. d 3. a
B.
1. destructive
2. cease
3. patrol
4. urging
5. oblige

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