P5 ENGLISH
Comprehension
Answering questions based on an exposition
Read the exposition carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Protect the Sharks
Sharks are not the aggressive, dangerous and man-eating creatures that they are usually made out
to be. In fact, they are more in danger of being harmed by humans than harming them. There has been a
sharp decline in the number of sharks in recent years with some shark populations being reduced by ninety
percent. More than one hundred million sharks are caught annually.
Despite their appearance, sharks are being killed by humans. Shark’s fin soup, a delicacy, involves
the inhumane finning of these sharks. These sharks such as basking sharks and hammerhead sharks are
finned alive and then thrown back into the sea to bleed to death. As long as shark’s fin soup continues to be
considered a delicacy in Asia, sharks will continue to be killed for their fins. Besides their fins, sharks are
also in demand for their cartilage which is supposed to have healing purposes. However, this has not been
proved by research and it probably will never be. For the hammerhead sharks, even their teeth are sold as
souvenirs. The crux of the problem is human demand. Without this demand, sharks will not be killed.
Shark nurseries are also being destroyed by humans. Young sharks depend on these nurseries to survive
as they are ideal places for them to hide from larger fish and other sharks. Hence, when these mangroves
are destroyed by humans for recreational purposes such as resorts and golf courses, the young sharks will
be vulnerable to attacks by predators and many do not survive. Furthermore, sharks do not reproduce
frequently. Together with the loss of their nurseries, there will be a sharp decline in the shark population.
Many sharks also die when they are caught unintentionally. When nets are thrown to catch other fish,
some sharks become caught in the fishing nets. These sharks might be dead or dying by the time they
are hauled in and they will then be tossed back into the sea. Humans have a cruel way of dealing with
situations like this.
However, human action is not the only cause of the decrease in the shark population. Changes in
the sea climate also affect the shark’s ability to survive in places that it usually could.When temperature
changes, the shark might have to swim out of the places that it usually lives to search for food. If the shark
is unable to find food, it will eventually die. Human action therefore worsens the problems that sharks are
already facing.
Many of the shark species are already on the verge of extinction. However, if humans everywhere are
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P5 ENGLISH
Comprehension
Answering questions based on an exposition
made more aware of their actions and are willing to alter their lifestyle needs, the sharks will still be able
to benefit. This might prevent them from declining so rapidly. They might have the opportunity to breed
and this will help to increase their population.
1 What is one fact about the state of the shark population as mentioned in the exposition?
2 Why does the writer blame humans for the finning and killing of sharks?
3 What information does the writer provide about young sharks?
4 How does the writer feel about the way sharks are dealt with after they are caught unintentionally?
5 State which of the following is a fact ‘F’ and which is an opinion ‘O’.
(a) Humans are inconsiderate.
(b) Mangroves are being destroyed.
(c) Humans must change their lifestyle needs.
5. (a) O (b) F (c) O
be protected from bigger fish and other sharks and they are easily killed when they are in the open. 4. The writer feels that the way sharks are dealt with is very cruel.
killed annually. (suggested answers) 2. If there is no demand by humans, finning and killing will not take place. 3. Young sharks need to be in nurseries so that they can
Answers: 1. There has been a sharp decline in the shark population recently. / Some shark populations have fallen by ninety percent. / More than one hundred million sharks are
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P5 ENGLISH
Grammar
Adverbials of degree
Underline the adverbials of degree in the following sentences.
1 Vegetation in this forest has nearly disappeared.
2 Even the conservation group could not help at all.
3 The animals barely moved when the trekkers found them.
4 The tiger was somewhat limping when I saw it.
2. not … at all 3. barely 4. somewhat Answers: 1. nearly
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P5 ENGLISH
Grammar
Adverbials of degree
Underline the adverbials of degree in the following sentences.
1 The demand for forest land has scarcely disappeared.
2 The fish almost escaped, but it was caught in the end.
3 The animal rights’ group hardly has any opportunity to speak about the situation that is facing many
endangered animals today.
Answers: 1. scarcely 2. almost 3. hardly
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P5 ENGLISH
Grammar
Intensifiers
Fill in the blanks with suitable intensifiers.
1 It is necessary for man to understand the impact of his actions on wild animals.
2 The conservationists objected fiercely about overfishing in the Pacific Ocean.
3 When land is cleared frequently, the soil will be useful for
growing crops.
4 Animals that adapt slowly will not be able to survive when their habitats are
destroyed.
Suggested Answers: 1. extremely 2. rather 3. too, barely 4. quite
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