Escola Secundria de Gondomar English Written Test (3) Name No Class 11 Date

A. Answer the following question in about 40 words: What is genetic engineering?

Agriculture has come a long way, and now, with the new millennium,
corporate seed companies claim that the only way to feed the world is with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). I believe GMOs are a major problem, and more people need to be informed about them. Genetic engineering may be extremely harmful to the environment and needs to be more strictly regulated. I question if genetic engineering is as necessary to the future of agriculture as companies claim. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has no labeling requirements for food containing GMOs. It doesn't make sense that it is legally required to state on a label if a product has a salt additive or preservative, yet it is not mandatory to inform consumers of unnatural, alien genes being spliced into the food they're eating. Along with being unaware of everything that is in food, the public also doesn't know of the negative effects GMOs may have on the environment. With the high levels of BT, (Bacillus thuringiensis) pesticide found in every genetically engineered plant, it won't be long before strains of resistant bugs and weeds emerge. This will only cause farmers to use more pesticides, and the weeds to become extremely invasive and choke out natural habitats. Cornell University researchers found that after eating milkweed dusted with corn pollen from genetically engineered crops, monarch butterflies died. Since GMOs are a relatively new discovery, no one is entirely sure what their effects might be. Despite this, corporate giants like Monsanto and DuPont continue in their "mission to feed the world," claiming that genetically engineered seeds will use less land to produce higher yields. I, however, believe that they are more concerned with making a buck than the future and wellbeing of mankind. Today, enough food is produced to feed eight billion people, and the current population is only six billion. Actually, hunger is not caused by a low supply of food, but rather the inability to transport it to where it is most needed. Instead of trying to brainwash farmers, seed companies, as well as government agencies, should spend the money on something more useful. Why not teach sustainable agricultural practices to residents of third-world countries, where 24,000 people die each day of hunger? By Janet Preston in http://teenink.com/Opinion/article/10248/Genetic-Engineering/

B. Quote the text to say whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The author of the text says that GMOs are necessary to stop hunger worldwide. In the US it is compulsory to inform consumers of any food containing GMOs There are no scientific proofs of negative effects of GMFs. Corporate companies state that GMFs are beneficial to the environment. Many people die of hunger because of a shortage of food. Janet believes there is an alternative to genetically modified organisms.

C. Find words in the text that mean the following: 1. say that something is true 2. to provide food 3. causing damage or injury

4. rigorously 5. strange 6. particular types

D. Complete the following sentences according to the ideas of the text: 1. American consumers should be informed not only . 2. If resistant bugs and weeds emerge, .. 3. Corporate seed companies are more interested. 4. To feed the starving people from developing countries, the government. E. Rewrite these sentences beginning them as suggested : 1. Genetically engineered seeds will use less land to produce higher yields.
Less land_________________________________________________ 2. Seed companies should spend the money on something more useful. The money_______________________________________________

3. A responsible consumer cant do much to avoid eating GMOs. Not much ________________________________________________________ 4. Scientists mustnt include antibiotic-resistant marker genes into GM crops. Antibiotic-resistant_________________________________________________ F. Fill in the blanks with the most adequate future form A: Just think, next week at this time, I ___________(1-lie) on a tropical beach drinking fresh juice and eating organic food. B: While you are luxuriating on the beach, I ______________(2-stress) out over this genetic engineering project. How _________ (3- enjoy) yourself knowing that I am working so hard? A: I ___________ (4-manage) somehow. B: You're terrible. Can't you take me with you? A: No. But I ___________(5-send) you a postcard of a beautiful beach and if you need to contact me , I _________________ (6-stay) at the Hoffman Hotel. B: Great, that ____________(7-make) me feel much better. A: Do you think you__________ (8-finish) your project by the time I get back? B: Definitely! I hope you ____________ (9-not be) tired when you get here because you _____________ (10-fly) over 12 hours. G. Complete with the suitable comparative or superlative Defenders of GMOs say that this technology produces ________(1-good) quality food, is ________(2-expensive)and the crops require ________(3-little) chemical application. In addition, foods have a ___________ (4-great) shelf life, last __________ (5-long) and are _______(6-nutritious). They also say that these foods can be ___________(7-efficient ) way to end starvation. Well, for me ___________ (8- important) thing to do until _________ (8-far) news is to avoid eating GMOs H. Choose one of the following topics and write 100-120 words on it: 1. Imagine you are responsible for creating a website called www.nevereatgmfs.com/. Explain how/what you would present on the front page and/or the text you could write as main information. 2. The Portuguese and GMOs