SEKOLAH TINGGI KOTA KINABALU

UJIAN PERTENGAHAN PENGGAL 2 2008

FORM 4
ENGLISH FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
( ONE HOUR )

NAME :_______________________ CLASS:____________________

A. Text Completion: Rational Cloze

Read the following passages and then choose the best answer from the options given.

Passage 1

The 1_______ of ecology relies on the perfect yet delicate balance of the relationship
between the different species and the specific local ecosystem that they live in. an
ecosystem is 2_______ a ‘home’ to all living organism from the tiniest to the 3_______
cohabiting together in a specific region. These organisms are connected to each other
through the daily activities that are 4_______ to the ecosystem that they live in.
In essence, these living organisms 5_________ on each other to survive and the
ecosystem relies on the way the organisms maintain and protect it in order for it to be a
conducive environment.

1 A diversity 4. A special
B variety B exclusive
C complexity C specific
D majority D exceptional

2 A definitely 5. A rely
B basically B relied
C obviously C relies

3. A greatest
B biggest
C largest
D strongest

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Passage 2

The rainforests are man’s most prized treasure. 1_____, this discovery was only made
rather recently and with it came actions to conserve and 2_______ this precious resource
which had everything that man needed to survive.
From rich natural resources and commodities such as timber and minerals to exotic
species of flora and fauna, the rainforests 3________ a host of wealth to the world.
The rainforests are home to the indigenous tribes who know how to survive in these
forests. The plants of specific species are used for medicine while some are 4________
for food. These indigenous tribes have lived in the forests for generations and have
survived without the aid of any modern technology. Thus, preserving the forests is not
only 5_______ for the people who rely on its resources but also for the people who live
in it.

1. A Lately B Unfortunately C Consequently D Similarly

2. A preserve B persevere C save D keep

3. A give B contribute C offer

4. A planted B grown C kept D cultivated

5. A vital B good C serious

Passage 3

Since the early days, people have been using the power of wind to pump water,
grind grains and even sail huge ships across the oceans. Today, wind energy is also used
to 1_______ electricity. To harness this energy, generators driven by wind turbines, or
windmills, are used.
Today’s wind turbines are highly efficient and more sophisticated power systems that
capture the 2_______ from the wind using new blade designs or aerofoils. There are also
design in such a way that they can automatically turn if the wind direction changes. Wind
energy is converted into electricity using modern mechanical drive systems, together with
advanced generators. A small wind generator can produce enough electricity for a single
house while a huge generator, whose blades turn a circle of 50 metres in diameter, can
produce one megawatt of electricity. In order to supply enough electricity for a town,
hundreds or even thousands of wind 3_______ are used together in groups known as
wind farms.
Since 1990, wind energy has become one of the fastest growing 4_______ of
renewable energy in the world. It is increasing at an average rate of over 25 per cent per
year. Power schemes like these have no fuel costs, and give off no polluting gases.

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However, they can be expensive to build and they need large, 5________, windy areas of
land. The wind turbines spoil the landscape and are noisy. The speed of winds is also
variable.

1. A drive C contain 4. A causes C sources

B convert D generate B powers D suppliers

2. A gases C velocity 5. A remote C populated

B energy D electricity B modern D mountainous

3. A blades C aerofoils
B turbines D generators

Passage 4

Fossil fuels are the main source of energy at present. However, their use has been
1______ to emit and increase the percentage of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s
atmosphere. This is the cause of 2______. Thus, another alternative source of natural
energy needs to be utilized. Geothermal energy is one such 3______.
Geothermal energy is generated by the intense heat that is continuously flowing
outward from deep within the Earth. The origin of this heat is 4______ from the Earth’s
core. The decay of radioactive elements found in the rocks which form the Earth’s crust
also contribute to the generation of the heat. As the heat moves upwards towards any
opening on the surface of the Earth, its intense 5______ can be used as a source of
energy.

1. A assessed B found C calculated D indicated

2. A global warming B global meltdown C global melting

3. A remedy B preference C alternative D choice

4. A essentially B primarily C mostly D exclusively

5. A concentration B combination C extension

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B. Questions based on stimulus
For each of the questions in this section, read the information carefully and then answer
the questions. Circle the best answer from the options A, B, C or D.

Question 1
The homosphere includes the troposphere (up to 9 – 16 km), stratosphere (up to about
50 km) and mesosphere (up to about 100 km). the ozone layer is about 15 – 40 km
above the surface of the Earth and protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the
sun.

1. At which atmospheric level do we find the ozone layer?

A. In the troposphere
B. In the stratosphere
C. In the mesosphere

Question 2
The sky is blue because millions of air molecules in the atmosphere scatter more blue
light (which has a short wavelength) from the sunlight towards our eyes than any other
colour. This is called Rayleigh scattering.

2. What is the technical word for scatter?

A. Reflect B. Deflect C. Shine

Question 3
Global warming is a result of heavy gases concentrating in the air and car fumes are
also part of this situation. Global warming sees a rise in temperature and this results in
a greater amount of evaporation causing very heavy rains. As a result, sea levels can
rise causing terrible destruction along coastlines.

3. The following are reasons for the rise in sea level EXCEPT
A. global warming C. rise in temperature
B. heavy rains D. destruction along coastlines

Questions 4 – 5
Trees can be raised on managed timberlands, sometimes called “tree farms.” For
example, there is a piece of land made up of four different areas. The trees in each
area are five years older than the trees in the area next to it. The trees in plot D are 15
years old, the trees in plot C are 10 years old, the trees in plot B are 5 years old, and the
trees in plot A have just been planted. After the trees have matured, they are cut down.
Then new trees are planted in their place. This is called a sustainable rate of harvest.

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4. We can say that “tree farms” are
A maintained by human beings
B managed on natural timberlands
C forests which have only one area
D areas whose trees are the same age

5. The phrase “sustainable rate of harvest” as it is used in the text, refers to the
A. temporary of cutting trees
B. consistency of cutting trees
C. continuing felling of trees

Question 6
Agroecosystems are the living communities of soil, plants, and animals that constitute
our farms, croplands, orchards, pastures, and rangelands. More than 90% of all the
crops and livestock we consume as well as livestock feed is produced by
agroecosystems. They also contribute fiber crops such as cotton, flax, hemp, and jute,
which we use for clothing and textile manufacturing.

6. Agroecosystems include
A. infrastructures in the farm areas
B. the food consumed by us
C. animals living in the wild
D. plants growing in the forest

Questions 7 – 8
Plastics are made from synthetic resins, which come primarily from petroleum. Resin
manufacturers make polymers in plastic by combining chemical compounds, including
ammonia and benzene. The polymers are made up of small molecules call monomers,
which can be composed of chlorine, fluorine, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, or
sulfur atoms.

7. Resins are
A. the only component of plastics
B. extracted from petroleum
C. used in producing ammonia

8. According to the text, which statement about polymers is true?

A. Ammonia and benzene are not one of the components in polymers
B. Polymers are primarily from raw petroleum
C. Monomers are the smallest unit of polymers
D. Different atoms make up synthetic resins

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Questions 9 – 10
Noise is difficult to define. One measure of pollution is the danger it poses to
health. Noise causes stress, and stress is a leading cause of illness and suicide.
Therefore any form of noise can be considered pollution if it causes annoyance,
sleeplessness, fright, or any other stress reaction. The actual loudness of a sound is
only one component of the effect it has on human beings. Other factors that have to be
considered are the time and place, the duration, the source of the sound, and whether
the listener has any control over it.

9. Noise can be considered as pollution when it

A. creates discomfort among listeners
B. soothes the emotion of listeners
C. is only heard by all listeners

10. Which of the following statements best describe noise pollution?

A. Noise pollution happens only when majority listeners find the noise unbearable.
B. The loudness is not the only guideline to decide is a noise is pollution or not.
C. Noise pollution is not difficult to define as everyone has the same yardstick.

END OF QUESTION PAPER Good Luck Folks…..  

Prepared by, Checked by,

(Victoria Catherine Kongi) ( Suchitra S.)

Vck/EST/f4-01