2.3 pared pura? 0 5 » pres 2.4 SKIMMING: Read the text once for the gist (overall idea) and then in detail: ‘When was the last time you saw a frog? Chances are, if you live in a city, you have not seen one for some time. Even in wet areas once teeming with frogs and toads, it is becoming less and less easy to find those slimy, hopping and sometimes poisonous members of the animal kingdom. All over the world, even in remote jungles on the far side of the globe, frogs are losing the ecological battle for survival, and biologists are at a loss to explain their demise. Are amphibians simply over-sensitive to changes in the ecosystem? Could their rapid dectine in numbers be signalling some coming environmental disaster for us all? ‘This frightening scenario is in part the consequence of a dramatic increase over the last quarter century in the development of once natural areas of wet marshland; home not only to frogs but to all manner of wildlife. Yet, there are no obvious reasons why certain frog species are disappearing from rainforests in the Southern Hemisphere which are barely touched by human hand. ‘The mystery is unsettling to say the least, for it is known that amphibian species are extremely sensitive to environmental variations in temperature and moisture levels. The danger is that planet Earth might not only lose a vital link in the ecological food chain (frogs keep populations of otherwise pestilent insects at manageable levels), but we might be increasing our output of air pollutants to levels that may have already become irreversible. Frogs could be inadvertently warning us of a catastrophe. ‘An example of a bizarre occurrence regarding a species of frog dates from the summer of 1995, when 'an explosion’ of multi-coloured frogs of the species Rana klepton esculenta ‘occurred in the Netherlands. Normally these frogs are brown and greenish-brown, but some unknown contributory factor is turning these frogs yellow and/or orange. Nonetheless, so far, the unusual bi- and even tri-coloured frogs are functioning similarly to their normal-skinned contemporaries. It is thought that frogs with lighter coloured skins might ‘be more likely to survive in an increasingly warm climate due to global warming. One theory put forward to explain extinct amphibian species that seems to fit the facts concerns the depletion of the ozone layer, a well-documented phenomenon which has led toa sharp increase in ultraviolet radiation levels. The ozone layer is meant to shield the Earth from UV rays, but increased radiation may be having a greater effect upon frog populations than previously believed. Another theory is that worldwide temperature increases are upsetting the breeding cycles of frogs. ‘WORD DEFINITIONS: Find the single words in paragraphs 1 and 2 which mean the following: i, appearing in great numbers ... disturbing iv. death v. deterioration vi, branch of biology (ad iii, unintentionally Next, find the single words in paragraphs 3 and 4 which mean the following: iv. (beings) existing at the same time strange, weird, odd i. no longer in existence ii. remarkable occurrence25 2.6 TEXT ANALYSIS: i, Choose the best heading for each paragraph in the passage from Exercise 2.3: a) The mystery of amphibian dectine. b) Frogs making changes to the ecosystem. A, ©) Multi-coloured frog species cause problems AL ¢) Frogs declining in number. Nae ©) Theories concerning the demise of frogs. Koo f) Possible adaption of frogs to the environment. g) Proof that global warming is harmful. h) Fewer frogs in wet marshland. i) An example of the extinction of a frog species. Paragraph 1 Paragraph 3 Patagraph 2 Paragraph 4 ii, What would the next paragraph to follow the passage probably be about? a) Searching for other multi-coloured ¢)_ What is being done to reduce the frogs. problem. b) Feeding habits of frogs. d) Other forms of wildlife at risk. iii. ‘To what do the following pronouns in the passage refer? ©) these tine 20 @) their dine 20 a) one ine 2) b) their ine 7 GAPFILL: _ Below is a summary of part of the passage in Exercise 2.3. Choose words from the box below and refer to the passage to fill the gaps. First, name the parts of speech of the missing words: The decline in the numbers of frogs worldwide may be «. us of a coming ecological 2). « Itmight already be too late to the trend. Frogs are becoming increasingly w . to find partly because their natural habitat is being lost tow. Yee this does not explain why frogs are also «) . from areas of unspoilt « .. . Frogs are highly @... .. to temperature ©. .. and might adversely react to co) ....2+ Changes long before we become aware of the threat. Parts of speech: «...06vb, fonu.(= tag... 0. o Oe se © - @. os OD evseee mystery due to found reverse irreversible warn development slimy dangerous teeming rainforest amphibians numbers warning develop chain_—_trend sensitive difficult cities easy increase signal environmental2.7 WORDS & PHRASES WITH SIMILAR MEANINGS: Refer to the passage in Exercise 2.3, and see page 126 for advice on recognising pattern types. Circle the appropriate pattern type in each case. i, worldwide er sense . (Patter Type: 1 2 3) i. unable to explain = + para) (Pattern Type: 1 2. 3) iii, amhibian species + para (Patter Type: 1 2.3) iv. all kinds of wildlife + Gra.2) «+ (Pattern Type: 1 2. 3) v. extremely unusual = (pam 3) (Pattern Type: 1 2 3) i. suggested ipo a (Pattern Type: 1 2 3) agree with what is known (part 9) sssseesee (Pattern Type: 1 2 3) 3 2.8 SPEED READING: Look below at the first few sentences of the passage on frogs. The text has been divided up into naturally forming phrases, and the stressed syllables have been marked. Practice speaking the text out loud, paying attention to the meaning of each phrase, grouping the words in the phrase words together, and regulating the ‘beat’ of the stresses within the phrase. Now mark the natural phrases and stresses in the rest of the passage in Exercise 2.3 and practice accordingly. When was the last time you saw a frog? / Chances are, / if you live in a city, / you haven't seen a frog for some time. / Even in wet areas / once teeming with frogs and toads, / it is becoming less and less easy / to find those slimy, hopping and sometimes poisonous / mémbers of the Snimal Kingdom. / Ail over the world, / Even in remote jingles on the far side of the globe, / frogs are losing the écological bartle for survival,/ and logical scientists / are at a loss to explain their demise. 2.9 TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN: Refer to the text in Exercise 2.3. a, Frogs are disappearing only from city areas. T F NG b. Frogs and toads are usually poisonous. T F NG c. Biologists are unable to explain why frogs are dying. T F NG d. The frogs’ natural habitat is becoming more and more developed. T F NG e. Attempts are being made to halt the development of wet marshland. T F NG £, Frogs are important in the ecosystem because they controlpests. TF NG g. It is not known why the Netherlands frogs are changing colour. T F NG h. Highly-coloured frogs are an unusual phenomenon in nature. T F NG i, The multi-coloured frogs are exhibiting abnormal behaviour. T F NG j. There is convincing evidence.that the ozone layer is being depleted. T F NG k, It is a fact that frogs’ breeding cycles are upset by worldwide T F NG increases in temperature. ap2.10 SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions with words and phrases taken from the passage in Exercise 2.3. i. From paragraph 1, name THREE places from which frogs are disappearing: ii, Namethe TWO mentioned dangers to the Earth because of decreasing frog numbers: 1 2 iii, What might frogs require to be more likely to survive global warming? (MAXIMUM OF THREE WORDS) iv. What has led to an increase in UV radiation? (MAXIMUM OF THREE WORDS) vv, What is the total number of reasons and theories given to explain n dsappearing frogs? 2.11 CROSSWORD: Refer to the Part 2 Listening Passages and the Reading Passage (and questions) for all answers. Across: 1. biologically interaetive system (n) 5. (fo) suit, be in agreement with (v) Cc F F i 8. not desttoyed. pure (ad) 9. a ‘nmud -—’ js'an area of wasteland (n) J 10. td tad 3. an an (n) 16, planes =~ diving into the sea” (n) 17, waste material in @ sewer (n) 19, mean \prefi M2. Etre ange tac agin (a 31 Teas reans nininally: (prep ? ro 23. not the whole (a) ae 25. not close, very far away (adi) 2 (to) put in danger (v) |_| 30 full form of “n't” aay a 33, (and 6 and 29 down) explosion of flammable Substance (3 words) (a) F | 35, wheel driven by water or gas (a) 38, (see 3 down) Bevery eal affected by sorshing (a) ee i ‘ery easily affected by something (adj) 3. (and 38 across) movement of water ‘caused by a heavenly body i ‘of Various pars for Project (a) 10) move slowly, gracefully (0) (ee 33 across) 26. (and 28 down) 7 disaster (n) to) depend on hs S 1. large plant (n)_ 28. see 26 down) po pr pe ps P* | 12 surroundings (n) 29. (20 33 across) 14, ‘as well ~' or also 31. not in (adj) fF 6 15 deh vs 32 thee (rei) Fr |} 18 very targe (adj) 34. a couple (n : | 2. number (ad) 36. Biology Dept. 24, (to) catch (v) (initials) 25, platforms for 37. that is (abbrev.) deiline oil in the sea (n) 4 7 a 4, 6