Đề thi học kỳ II môn Tiếng Anh lớp 12 năm học 2015 - 2016 trường THPT Phạm Thái Bường - Trà Vinh

The threat of the environment

Nowadays, people are more aware that wildlife all over the world is in (33) _______. Many species of animals are threatened, and could easily become (34) ________ if we do not make an effort to protect them. There are many reasons for this. In some cases, animals are (35) _______ for their fur or for other valuable parts (36) _______ their bodies. Some birds, such as parrots, are caught (37) ________ and sold as pets. For many animals and birds, the problem is that their habitat _ the place where they live_ is (38) _______. More land is used for farms, for houses or industry, and there are fewer open (39) ______than there once were. Farmers use powerful chemicals to help them grow better (40) _________, but these chemicals pollute the environment and (41) ________ the wildlife. The most successful animals on earth – human beings – will soon be only ones left unless we can (42) ______this problem.

Animals share the earth with us. They fascinate us with their beauty, their grace, and their speed. However, animals are endangered. Many of them have died, and without special care, they may someday disappear from the Earth.

Is it important to care for animals? One reason is to protect the balance of life on Earth. Another reason is the beauty of the animals themselves. Each species of animal is special. Once it is gone, it is gone forever.

It is people who cause many of the problems that animals face. We alter and pollute their habitats. We hunt them for skins, tusks, furs, and horns. We destroy animals that get in the way of farming and building. We remove them from their natural habitats and take them home as pets.

What can you do to help endangered animals? Learn as much as you can about them. The more you know, the more you can help. Make an effort to support zoos and wildlife groups. Many zoos breed endangered animals, helping to ensure that they will continue to live on. You can also be a smart shopper and never buy a pet that has been raised in the wilderness.

It has been thought that women are the second class in citizen, and men are the first. There is not a real equality of opportunity for men and women. Years ago, people were living in a man-dominated society. Women had to obey their husbands and fathers absolutely. Women's place was in the kitchen and women's work was housework. In many places, women were not even allowed to go to school. Women had no rights, even the right to choose husband for themselves. Men usually occupied high positions in society so they thought they were more intelligent than women. Men often considered women as their property. Sometimes, they were mistreated by their husbands and suffered the problem as a fate. Many parents did not even want to daughters.

Despite the progress, there remain outdated beliefs about women's roles, traditionally passed down from generation to generation. Men are commonly seen as the strong bodies, bread-winners in the family and key leaders in society, while women are restricted to being housewives and childbearing and childrearing, as well as doing housework such as washing and cooking.

According to social surveys, many women in the 21st century still have to work over 12 hours a day including working in offices and doing countless household chores without any help from their husbands. In some regions, the labor of women is not recognized despite the hardships they endure to support the whole family. Moreover, women are the direct victims of family violence, especially in rural areas.

Thanks to the women's liberation movement, nowadays women have proved that they are equal to men in every aspect. An average woman has weaker muscles than an average man but she may be as intelligent as he is. Women can do everything that men can, and women can do one thing that no man can: they produce children.