Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.

In many countries woodland are under threat from continued house and road building, but the biggest problem is neglect. Seven thousand years ago, most of Britain, for example, was covered with trees. Since then, these forests have been systematically cleared to provide land for agriculture and housing and to use as fuel. Around 1900 only 4% of the country was woodland; measures have since been taken to enlarge forests which now make up 10% of the British landscape. Even so, this compares poorly with the European Union average of 25%.

Many of us take trees for granted, yet they make significant contributions to many areas of our daily life. They provide areas for recreation and relaxation. A US survey indicates that hospital patients recover more quickly and require less powerful medicine if they have a view of trees.

Trees can give an important insight into the history of an area. Rows of trees crossing an open field may have once marked where a hedgerow used to be, and single trees may have been used as a local landmark.

Trees also convert carbon dioxide and water in the atmosphere into oxygen. The oxygen produced from 30 to 40 square meters of leaves is sufficient for one person per day. They provide vital habitats and wood stuffs for birds, animals, insects and other plants. They supply timber for building as well as wood pulp for paper production.

Trees in towns help to reduce pollution level by moving dust, smoke and fume particles from the air and trapping them in their leaves, branches and stems. They can also reduce wind speeds by 85% and noise by 40%.

myenglishpages.com

I/ READING COMPREHENSION (08pts)

A. Find in the text words or expressions that mean the same as: (2 points)

1. Carelessness (paragraph 1) =……………………………………………

2. Understanding (paragraph 3) =………………………………………….

B. Are these sentences true or false? Justify by quoting from the text: (2 points)

1. Trees increase the effect of pollution.

………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. Patients with a view of trees spend less time in hospitals.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

C. Complete these sentences from the text: (2 points)

1. Housing and road building…………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………….

2. Forests in the European Union…………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………

D. Answer these questions from the text: (2 points)

1. What industrial elements do trees provide?

……………………………………………………………………………………………... ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. What would happen to animals and birds if there were no trees?

…………………………………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………..

II/ LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE: (07pts)

E. Word-building: Complete with the correct words in brackets. (0,5x4) = 2pt

In many areas, there used to be trees, but now they have been………………………… (complete) devastated. However there are many non-……………………..….. (government) organizations that are fighting against……….………..………(to deforest). And what is most….…………..….…....(to regret) is they are lonely in this fight.

F. Ask or answer the following questions. (0,5x6) = 3pts

A: ………………………………(you/to know) it is hotter and hotter these days?

B: Well, I hope it’s due to the destruction of the ozone layer,…………………?

A: Yes,………………

B: But…………………………….………………………………..?

B: It can be caused by the smoke of industries and vehicles, oil exploitation….etc.

A: So, I think the ozone layer diminishes the sunbeams,……………………..?

B: Of course,……………….

G. Put the verbs between brackets in the right form or tense. (0,5x4) = 2pt

From mid may till now, farmers………………………(to wait) for the first rain. This rarity of the rain………………….(to know) in the 1980s. Due to desertification caused by climate change, the rain………………………….(to become) more and more rare. Let’s hope that solutions…………………….. (to take) in the future

III. Essay writing (05pts) choose one topic and deal with it. (Max.15 lines)

Topic1: According to you, what are the causes and consequences of climate change? Try and propose solutions to this alarming phenomenon.

Topic 2: Two students are worried about the terrible heat people are living nowadays. Try and write down their conversion.