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2013 ‫מועד יולי‬ - 39 - ‫ 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) As she ambles around the Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, North Carolina, Twinkie
is creating quite a stir. Harried shoppers stop in their tracks. Kids stare open-mouthed.
After all, you don't get to see a 61-centimeter-tall miniature horse wearing sneakers
(two pairs, for traction) and adult diapers (just in case) every time you go to the mall.

(5) The green blanket on Twinkie's back explains her presence. It reads: Assistance
Animal in Training.

Twinkie is learning the skills – such as navigating elevators and escalators – that she
will need to help a blind person around a crowded mall. She is one of ten tiny horses
being trained at Janet and Don Burleson's farm outside Raleigh. Within six months, the

(10) Burlesons hope to place the horses, which will serve as equine versions of guide dogs,
with blind and vision-impaired people around the United States. But acquiring and
training the animals is very expensive – roughly $25,000 per horse – so the couple has
established the nonprofit Guide Horse Foundation to raise money to help cover the
costs. Eventually, they hope to make guide horses available to recipients free of charge.

(15) According to Janet Burleson, "Horses are natural guides. They are extremely
serene and they have phenomenal memories. Furthermore, miniature horses live 30 to
40 years, whereas a dog's lifespan is only 10 to 12 years." For Karen Clark, who lost
her eyesight as a child and is helping to train Twinkie, this is a great advantage: Clark
has already outlived three guide dogs. She points out that mini-horses are also less

(20) costly to maintain. "They eat grass, and maybe a few dollars worth of oats a year.
Another good thing about horses is their patience. When we have to wait in line,
Twinkie stands quietly, while my dogs always had to sniff everything."

Nevertheless, training Twinkie hasn't been completely without hitches. "The first
time we took her to a grocery store," says Janet Burleson, "she snapped up a chocolate

(25) bar." Fortunately, the Burlesons persevered in their efforts, and soon, Twinkie and the
other equine guides will be going to new homes and assuming new responsibilities.

Questions

13. The main purpose of the text is to -

(1) compare guide dogs and guide horses
(2) describe how the Burlesons train guide animals
(3) discuss an alternative to guide dogs
(4) explain the goals of the Guide Horse Foundation

)‫© 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