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2015 ‫מועד אפריל‬ - 32 - ‫ פרק ראשון‬- ‫ אנגלית‬

Reading Comprehension

This part consists of two passages, each followed by several related questions. For each
question, choose the most appropriate answer based on the text.

Text I (Questions 13-17)

(1) Turtles, along with snakes, lizards and alligators, belong to the reptile family. The
turtle, however, is different from other reptiles in that it is the only one that has a shell.
Most turtles can pull their head, legs and tail into their shell when they are threatened or
attacked. Few other animals have such excellent natural protection.

(5) Turtles, like all reptiles, are cold-blooded; their body temperature changes
according to changes in the temperature of the surrounding air or water. All cold-
blooded animals need periods of warm weather in order to be active; therefore, turtles
cannot live in regions that are cold throughout the year.

Turtles live almost everywhere else – in deserts, forests, grasslands, lakes, rivers and
(10) the sea. Some turtles live only on land, but others spend most of their lives in the water.

Of those species that live in the water, some live mainly in fresh water, while others live
in the sea. Most turtles live their entire lives within a few kilometers of where they
hatched from their eggs.

Sea turtles are the fastest of all turtles. One type, the green turtle, can swim at a
(15) speed of nearly 32 kilometers per hour. In contrast, most land turtles move slowly, and

this is why they have a reputation for being the slowest of all animals. Some land
turtles, however, can move with surprising speed. For example, the smooth soft-shelled
turtle can run faster than a man.

Although turtles have existed for more than 185 million years, many species of
(20) turtle may no longer exist in the future. This is because people hunt them for food and

for their shells. In addition, the places where turtles live are often destroyed when cities
expand into the surrounding countryside.

Questions

13. How are turtles different from other reptiles?

(1) They are often threatened and attacked.
(2) They can live anywhere.
(3) They are cold-blooded.
(4) They have a shell.

)‫© כל הזכויות שמורות למרכז ארצי לבחינות ולהערכה (ע"ר‬

.‫ בלא אישור בכתב מהמרכז הארצי לבחינות ולהערכה‬- ‫ כולה או חלקים ממנה‬- ‫ או ללמדה‬,‫אין להעתיק או להפיץ בחינה זו או קטעים ממנה בכל צורה ובכל אמצעי‬