CHcCHUNG CHENG HIGH SCHOOL

YISHUN

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2006

SECONDARY 4 EXPRESS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1127/02

Comprehension Paper 2

Date : 27 September 2006 Max. mark : 50

Duration: 1h 40 min
Name: _________________________ ( )

Class: Secondary 4 ( )

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. Read the passages carefully before you attempt any questions.

2. Answer all questions. You are recommended to answer them in the order
set.

3. Number your questions fully in the left hand margin e.g. 1 (a).

4. Leave a space of 2 lines between your answers to each part of the question
e.g. between 1 (a) and 1 (b) and a space of 3 lines after your completed
answer to each whole question.

5. Mistakes in spelling, punctuation and grammar may be penalised in any part

of the paper.

6. Hand in your question paper (including the Insert) and answer sheets
separately. Remember to write your name on all your answer sheets.

7. Start the Summary Question on a fresh sheet of paper.

8. Submit the Comprehension Section and Summary Section

SEPARATELY.

The Question Paper consists of _8_ printed pages, INCLUDING the cover page,
.

Setters: Ms Teng M H & Ms Wendy Ang 1

 [ Turn over

Passage A

(1 I have always believed that agriculture should proceed in harmony with nature,
) recognizing that there are natural limits to our ambitions. That is why, some
twelve years ago, I decided to farm organically – without artificial pesticides or
fertilisers. From my own experience I am clear that the organic system can be
economically viable, that it provides a wide range of environmental and social 5
benefits, and, most important, that it enables consumers to make a choice about
the food they eat.

But at a time when sales of organic food are soaring, a development in

(2 intensive agriculture is actually removing a fundamental choice about the food
) we eat, and raising crucial questions about the future of our food and of our 10
environment which are still to be answered. This development is called
genetically modified plant breeding. The fundamental difference between
traditional and genetically modified plant breeding is that, in the latter, genetic
material from one species of plant, bacteria, virus, animal or fish is literally
inserted into another species, with which they could never naturally breed. The 15
use of these techniques raises, it seems to me, crucial ethical and practical
considerations. Genetically modified crops are presented as an essentially
straightforward development that will increase yields through techniques which
are merely an extension of traditional methods of plant breeding. I am afraid I
cannot accept this. 20

I happen to believe that this kind of genetic modification takes mankind into
realms that belong to God, and to God alone. Apart from certain highly
(3 beneficial and specific medical applications, do we have the right to experiment
) with, and commercialise, the building blocks of life? We live in an age of
rights – it seems to me that it is time our Creator had some rights, too. 25

We simply do not know the long-term consequences for human health and the
wider environment of releasing plants bred in this way. We are assured that
these new plants are rigorously tested and regulated, but the evaluation
(4 procedure seems to presume that unless a genetically modified crop can be
) shown to be unsafe, there is no reason to stop its use. The lesson of BSE 1 and 30
other entirely man-made disasters in the cause of “cheap food” is surely that it
is the unforeseen consequences which present the greatest cause for concern.

We are told that genetically modified crops will require less use of agro-
chemicals. Even if this is true, it is certainly not the whole story. What it fails
to take into account is the total ecological and social impact of the farming 35
system.
(5
) Genetically modified crop plants are also being developed to produce their own
pesticide. This is predicted to cause the rapid appearance of resistant insects.

Setters: Ms Teng M H & Ms Wendy Ang 2

 Worse still, such pesticide-producing plants have already been shown to kill
some beneficial predator insects as well as pests. For example, inserting a gene 40
from a snowdrop into a potato made the potato resistant to greenfly but also
(6 killed the ladybirds feeding on the greenfly. Similarly, lacewings, a natural
) predator of the corn borer and food for farmland birds, died when they fed on
pest insects raised on genetically modified maize.

We are also told that genetic modification techniques will help to 'feed the 45
world.' This is a fundamental concern to all of us. But will the companies
controlling these techniques ever be able to achieve what they regard as a
sufficient return from selling their products to the world's poorest people? Nor
do I believe that the basic problem is always so simple. Where the problem is
lack of food, rather than lack of money to buy food, there may be better ways 50
(7 of achieving the same ends. Recent research has shown, for example, that
) yields from some traditional farming systems can be doubled, and even trebled,
through techniques that conserve natural resources while making the best use of
labour and management skills.

1
Mad Cow Disease

Adapted from ‘Seeds of Disaster’ by HRH the Prince of Wales.

Setters: Ms Teng M H & Ms Wendy Ang 3

Passage B

(1 The myths of industrial agriculture share one underlying and interwoven

) concept. They demand that we accept that technology always equals progress.
This belief has often blinded us to the consequences of many farming
technologies. Now, however, many people are asking some very logical
questions. A given technology may be progress, but progress towards what? 5
What future will that technology bring us?

As a growing portion of society realises that pesticides, fertilisers,

(2 monoculturing and factory farming are little more than a fatal harvest, even
) the major agribusiness corporations are starting to admit that some problems
exist. Yet their solution to the damage caused by the previous generation of 10
agricultural technologies is more technology. ‘Better’ technology,
biotechnology, a technology that will fix the problems caused by chemically
intensive agriculture. In short, the myth makers are back at work. But a
careful examination of their arguments shows their claims to be untrue:
biotechnology will not ease the situation but will merely aggravate it. 15

The biotechnology industry has relentlessly pushed the myth that it will
conquer world hunger. This claim rests on the fallacy that genetic engineering
(3 increases food productivity. Independent research shows that genetically
) engineered types of seed do not actually increase overall crop yields. Far
from being an answer to world hunger, genetic engineering could be a major 20
contributor to starvation. There are currently more than a dozen patents on
genetically engineered ‘terminator’ technology. These seeds are engineered
by biotechnology companies to produce a sterile seed after a single growing
season. This ensures that farmers cannot save their seed and that they will
have to buy from corporations every season instead. Imagine the mass 25
starvation that would result should the sterility genes escape from the
engineered crops and contaminate non-genetically engineered local crops,
unintentionally sterilising them.

Another myth of biotechnology is that it is beneficial to the environment. It

claims that it will reduce pesticide use by creating plants resistant to insects 30
and other pests. Research by the U.S. government has already disproved this
(4 claim. Even as it does nothing to alleviate the chemical pollution crisis,
) biotechnological food brings its own very different pollution hazard:
biological and genetic pollution. Genetically engineered crops are notoriously
difficult to control. They can migrate, mutate and cross-pollinate with other 35
plants. If a pest or herbicide-resistant strain were to spread from crops to
weeds a ‘super-weed’ could result. Overall, the environmental threat of
biotechnology caused 100 top scientists to warn that its careless use could
lead to irreversible, devastating damage to the environment.

The biotechnology industry claims that it is bringing a whole new generation 40

of healthier and safer foods to the market. Yet scientists say that genetically
engineered foods may contain allergens that could create serious reactions in
millions of customers. Biotechnological foods can also have lower nutritional
(5 values. What makes these risks all the more alarming is that the U.S.

Setters: Ms Teng M H & Ms Wendy Ang 4

) government requires no mandatory safety testing or labelling of any 45
genetically engineered foods. As a result we have no assurance on the safety
of these foods and no way to trace adverse reactions. Far from improving the
safety of our food supply, biotechnology is creating new, unique health risks.

The biotechnology industry continues to promote itself as the ultimate

panacea for all the problems of industrial agriculture. A review of its real 50
impact reveals that it is not an antidote to modern agriculture but rather simply
a continuation and exacerbation of today’s food production crisis.
Biotechnology increases environmental degradation, causes new food safety
(6 risks and threatens to increase world hunger. It is not the solution, but a major
) part of the problem. 55

Adapted from “Engineering Hunger” by Andrew Kimbrell.

Setters: Ms Teng M H & Ms Wendy Ang 5

Read Passage A and Passage B in the Insert and then answer all the questions.
NOTE: When a question asks you to answer in your own words, YOU MUST NOT
COPY THE WORDS IN THE PASSAGE IN YOUR ANSWER.

FROM PASSAGE A

From Paragraph 1:

1 (a) What is a distinctive feature of organic farming? [1]

(b Explain in your own words two advantages given by the writer in [2]
) support of organic farming.

From Paragraphs 2 & 3

2 (a) In your own words as far as possible explain the fundamental [1]
difference between traditional and genetically modified plant
breeding.

(b What is the 'ethical' reason given by the writer against genetically [1]
) modified plant breeding?

From Paragraph 4

3 Quote an expression of five consecutive words which reinforces the [1]

idea that the consequences of genetically modified plant breeding are
'unforeseen'.

From Paragraphs 5 & 6

4 According to the writer, ' genetically modified crops will require less [2]
use of agro-chemicals'. Give an example of an agro-chemical and
explain fully why there will be less use of it in genetically modified
farming.

From Paragraph 7

5 Suggest a technique in a traditional farming system that can increase [2]

yields and explain how it can 'conserve natural resources while
making the best use of labour and management skills'.

FROM PASSAGE B:

From Paragraphs 1& 2

6 (a) What does the word 'myths' suggest about the concept that [2]
'technology always equals progress' and write down the word in
Paragraph 3 which carries the same idea.

Setters: Ms Teng M H & Ms Wendy Ang 6

 (b According to the writer, biotechnology 'will not ease the situation but [2]
) will merely aggravate it.' Show your understanding of this statement
by replacing each underlined word with a word of a similar meaning.

From Paragraph 3

7 Explain, in your own words as far as possible, how genetically [2]

engineered 'terminator' technology could be a major contributor to
starvation.

From Paragraph 4
8 Genetically engineered crops can 'migrate, mutate and cross-pollinate [1]
with other plants'. Quote a word from Paragraph 3 which describes
the process by which this is done.

9 Explain the difference between an ordinary weed and a 'super-weed'. [1]

From Paragraph 6

10 Show your understanding of the text by filling each of the following [2]
blanks with a word of your own.

A review of the real impact of biotechnology reveals that it is not a

__________ for all the problems of industrial agriculture; rather, it
is a continuation and _____________ of today's food production
crisis.

From both Passage A and Passage B

11 For each of the following words, give ONE word or a phrase (of not [5]
more than SEVEN words) which has the same meaning that the word
has in the passage.

From Passage A

(a) viable (line 5)

(b fundamental (line 12)

)

(c) rigorously (line 28)

From Passage B

(d irreversible (line 39)

)

(e) mandatory (line 45)

Setters: Ms Teng M H & Ms Wendy Ang 7

12 From Passage B:
START ON A FRESH SHEET OF PAPER AND HAND IN YOUR [25]
SUMMARY SEPARATELY.

Using your own words as far as possible, summarise the myths related to
biotechnology and the writer's arguments against relying on the technology
to solve food production problems.

USE THE MATERIAL IN PASSAGE B FROM LINE 16 TO LINE

55.

Your summary which must be in continuous writing (not note form), must
not be longer than 150 words (not counting the words given to help you
begin).

Begin your summary as follows:

One of the myths of the biotechnology industry is that......

********** END OF PAPER**********

Setters: Ms Teng M H & Ms Wendy Ang 8