יש לקרוא את הטקסט ולענות על השאלות באנגלית. אפשר לענות במילים שלך, אלא אם השאלה מבקשת להעתיק מהטקסט.
Read the text and answer the questions in English. Answer in your own words if the question does not ask for words from the text.
Imagine lying on your back in the water and reading a newspaper without
sinking. At the Dead Sea, you can do exactly that. Every year, visitors from
all over the world come to experience this strange and wonderful lake.
The first surprising fact is its location. The shore of the Dead Sea is
the lowest place on land on Earth, about 430 metres below sea level. As you
drive down the road from Jerusalem, you can feel the pressure change in your
ears. The air is very dry, and in summer the temperature is often above 40
degrees.
The second fact explains the name. The Dead Sea is almost ten times
saltier than the ocean. Because of all this salt, fish and plants cannot
live in it. Only tiny living things, such as some kinds of bacteria, can
survive there. The salt also makes the water very heavy, and that is why
people float so easily. However, visitors must be careful. If the water gets
into your eyes, it burns badly, so you should never put your head under the
water.
For thousands of years, people have believed that the Dead Sea is good
for health. Its mud and water are rich in minerals, and many people with
skin problems come for treatment. Today, factories also take minerals from
the water to make products such as fertilisers and cosmetics.
Sadly, the Dead Sea is in danger. Its water level is falling by about
one metre every year. The main reason is that very little water from the
Jordan River reaches it today, because people use most of that water for
farming and drinking. As the water goes down, large holes called sinkholes
appear suddenly in the ground near the shore. Some roads and beaches have
closed because of them.
Scientists and governments are discussing different plans to save the
lake. Nobody knows yet which plan will work. But one thing is clear: if we
want our children to float in the Dead Sea, we need to act soon.
Exercices
Part A — Understanding the text
Exercice 1
What unusual thing can you do at the Dead Sea? Choose the correct answer. (lines 1–2)
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : A read a newspaper while lying on the water
Exercice 2
Complete the sentence. (lines 4–5)
The shore of the Dead Sea is about ____ below sea level.
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : The shore of the Dead Sea is about 430 metres below sea level.
Exercice 3
Give TWO things that visitors may feel or notice on the way to the Dead Sea or when they get there. (lines 6–8)
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : {{en|Any two of: pressure change in the ears; very dry air; temperatures above 40 degrees in summer.}}
Exercice 4
Explain the name "the Dead Sea." (lines 9–11)
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : {{en|The water is so salty (almost ten times saltier than the ocean) that fish and plants cannot live in it.}}
Exercice 5
Nothing at all can live in the Dead Sea.
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : Faux · “Only tiny living things, such as some kinds of bacteria, can survive there”
Exercice 6
People float easily because the salt makes the water heavy.
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : Vrai · “The salt also makes the water very heavy, and that is why people float so easily”
Exercice 7
It is safe to put your head under the water.
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : Faux · “you should never put your head under the water”
Exercice 8
Give TWO ways people use the Dead Sea today. (lines 16–19)
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : {{en|People with skin problems come for treatment with its mud and water; Factories take minerals from the water to make fertilisers and cosmetics.}}
Exercice 9
Complete the cause-and-effect table. (lines 20–25)
Columns: Cause | Effect
People use most of the water of the Jordan River for farming and drinking. — ___
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : {{en|Very little water reaches the Dead Sea / its level falls about one metre every year}}
Exercice 10
Complete the cause-and-effect table. (lines 20–25)
Columns: Cause | Effect
The water level goes down. — ___
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : {{en|large holes (sinkholes) appear suddenly near the shore}}
Exercice 11
Complete the cause-and-effect table. (lines 20–25)
Columns: Cause | Effect
____ — Some roads and beaches have closed.
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : sinkholes — Some roads and beaches have closed.
Part B — Language
Exercice 12
What do the following words refer to?
“that” (line 2) refers to ___
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : {{en|reading a newspaper while lying on your back in the water without sinking}}
Exercice 13
What do the following words refer to?
“it” (line 11) refers to ___
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : {{en|the Dead Sea (its water)}}
Exercice 14
What do the following words refer to?
“them” (line 25) refers to ___
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : {{en|the sinkholes}}
Exercice 15
Choose the answer closest in meaning to the word in the text. “survive” (line 12)
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : D stay alive
Exercice 16
Choose the answer closest in meaning to the word in the text. “suddenly” (line 24)
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : D quickly and without warning
Part C — Thinking about the text
Exercice 17
Why does the writer begin the text with "Imagine lying on your back in the water…"? Choose the correct answer. (lines 1–3)
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : B to make the reader interested in the topic
Exercice 18
Think about the text.
At the end, the writer says "we need to act soon." Why?
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : {{en|Because the water level falls by about one metre a year and sinkholes are appearing; if nothing changes, the lake may disappear and our children will not be able to float in it.}}
Exercice 19
Think about the text.
Would you like to visit the Dead Sea? Give TWO reasons. Use information from the text.
Voir la réponse et le corrigé
Réponse : {{en|Personal answer: two reasons, at least one based on information from the text, for example floating, the lowest place on land, mud for the skin + clear English.}}