Galapagos tortoises out of danger
Giant Galapagos tortoises used to be a symbol for endangered animals. In
the 1960s, there were just 15 of the animals in existence. They were dying out
because wild goats were eating their food and damaging their habitat. This
caused conservationists to take action to help them. Forty years later, the
tortoises are doing well. There are over 1,000 of them living and breeding in
the wild. Scientists say it is a conservation success story. Conservationist
James Gibb said: "What we basically found over time is that about half of
the tortoises that were released have survived." Mr Gibbs added:
"That's actually pretty amazing." Gibbs said the tortoises can now
survive without human help.
Giant tortoises used to live all over the world. People hunted them and
destroyed their habitat, so they almost became extinct. Giant tortoise numbers
fell from over 250,000 in the 16th century to just a few thousand in the 1970s.
Giant tortoises can weigh up to 250 kg and can live in the wild for over 100
years. One tortoise lived in captivity for more than 170 years. Wikipedia says:
"Tortoises also live very uncomplicated lives, and can nap up to 16 hours
a day." Mr Gibbs said the conservation story in the Galapagos Islands
would continue. Next year, a small island that lost all of its tortoises a few
years ago will get 200 tortoises. Gibbs is looking forward to "another
success".
1. TRUE / FALSE:Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false
(F).
|
a.
|
The article says tortoises were a symbol of
the World Wildlife Fund.
|
T / F
|
|
b.
|
There were just 15 giant Galapagos
tortoises in the 1960s.
|
T / F
|
|
c.
|
There are over 1,000 of the giant tortoises
in the wild today.
|
T / F
|
|
d.
|
A conservationist said the tortoises still
need our help to survive.
|
T / F
|
|
e.
|
There were a quarter of a million giant
tortoises in the 1500s.
|
T / F
|
|
f.
|
Giant tortoises often weigh over 300kg.
|
T / F
|
|
g.
|
Giant tortoises can sleep for up to 16
hours a day.
|
T / F
|
|
h.
|
A Galapagos island will soon get 400
tortoises.
|
T / F
|
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
|
1.
|
What did Galapagos tortoises used to be a
symbol for?
|
6.
|
What
did people destroy?
|
|
|
a) endangered animals
b) a long life c) the World Wildlife Fund d) peace on Earth |
|
a) historic records
b) an island c) evidence d) the turtles' habitat |
|
2.
|
How many Galapagos turtles were there on
Earth in the 1960s?
|
7.
|
When were there 250,000 giant tortoises on
Earth?
|
|
|
a) 13
b) 14 c) 15 d) 16 |
|
a) in the 1800s
b) in the 16th century c) several thousand years ago d) in the days of the dinosaurs |
|
3.
|
How many Galapagos turtles are there on
Earth today?
|
8.
|
For how long each day can tortoises nap?
|
|
|
a) over 10,000
b) over 1,000 c) 832 d) about 160 |
|
a) 4 hours
b) 8 hours c) 12 hours d) 16 hours |
|
4.
|
How many of the tortoises survived after
they were released?
|
9.
|
What did Gibbs say about the Galapagos
Islands success story?
|
|
|
a) all of them
b) around 90% of them c) 372 d) over half |
|
a) very little
b) it's like a fairy tale c) it would continue d) it should be a movie |
|
5.
|
What did Gibb say the tortoises could do
without human help?
|
10.
|
What is James Gibb looking forward to?
|
|
|
a) survive
b) hunt c) find food d) breed |
|
a) a project with frogs
b) more success c) the opening of a tortoise museum d) lunch |
SOLO PARA PRIMERO BACHILLERATO “C”:
600 students expelled for cheating
Authorities in India's Bihar state have expelled around 600 high school
students for cheating in their 10th grade examinations. The pupils used a novel
but somewhat dangerous way to get help with their exam papers – their parents
scaled the walls of the school building and provided the answers to questions
through the windows. Photographs and video footage of this illegitimate
technique have gone viral. They show dozens of parents clinging on to whatever
they can on the walls to feed information to their children. Some of the
parents were three stories up. Teachers found many cheat sheets inside the
classroom. Some had been folded up into paper airplanes and thrown through the
window.
Over 1.4 million 10th graders are taking the tests this week at more
than 1,200 high schools across the state. Bihar's education minister P.K. Shahi
told reporters that schools faced a difficult job to ensure exams took place
under the strictest of conditions. He said: "It's virtually impossible to
conduct fair examinations without the cooperation of parents." He added
that it was not possible to monitor all parents who accompany their children to
schools and other test centres. The situation regarding parents helping their
children cheat has become so prevalent that police officers are posted to each
school. However, an official said, "we can't use force to drive away the
parents".
1. TRUE / FALSE:Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false
(F).
|
a.
|
Over 600 university students in India were
expelled for cheating.
|
T / F
|
|
b.
|
The students used a technique using novels
to help them cheat.
|
T / F
|
|
c.
|
Dozens of parents climbed up to classroom
windows to help kids cheat.
|
T / F
|
|
d.
|
Some of the cheat sheets were folded into
origami paper cranes.
|
T / F
|
|
e.
|
The education minister said it was easy to
keep exams secure.
|
T / F
|
|
f.
|
The minister said parental cooperation was
pretty much essential.
|
T / F
|
|
g.
|
Police officers are posted at many schools
to try and reduce cheating.
|
T / F
|
|
h.
|
A school official said the schools could
not use force to rid the parents.
|
T / F
|
MULTIPLE CHOICE -
QUIZ
|
1.
|
In which Indian state did this story take
place?
|
6.
|
At how many schools across the state were
exams taking place?
|
|
|
a)
Gujarat
b) Bihar c) Tamil Nadu d) Punjab |
|
a)
1,200
b) 2,400 c) 3,600 d) 4,800 |
|
2.
|
In what grade were the cheating students?
|
7.
|
Who is P.K. Shahi?
|
|
|
a) 7th
b) 8th c) 9th d) 10th |
|
a) a student
b) the school's head teacher c) the education minister d) a parent's leader |
|
3.
|
What has happened to the videos and photos
of this incident?
|
8.
|
Whose cooperation is needed to make sure
exams take place fairly?
|
|
|
a) they have gone viral
b) they disappeared c) the were stolen d) they have been made into a movie |
|
a) the parents
b) the government c) the media d) the police |
|
4.
|
What were the parents clinging on to?
|
9.
|
Who has been posted to each school?
|
|
|
a) hopes
b) each other c) the school walls d) exam papers |
|
a) police officers
b) anti-cheating officers c) postal workers d) the army |
|
5.
|
What were the cheat sheets folded into?
|
10.
|
What can schools not use to make parents go
away?
|
|
|
a) children's lunch boxes
b) paper planes c) the trousers of parents d) cracks in school walls |
|
a) legal prosecutions
b) shock tactics c) electric fences d) force |
