Page 48 - index

2024 ‫מועד סתיו‬ - 47 - ‫ פרק שני‬- ‫חשיבה כמותית‬

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) One of the best ways to help the environment is also one of the simplest. Each year,
the average family produces more than 350 kilograms of biodegradable waste – waste
which can be broken down naturally into nutrients and used by other organisms.
Usually, this "green" waste is hauled away along with other household garbage and

(5) buried in huge dumps and landfills. At best, these sites occupy valuable land and
generate unpleasant odors; at worst, they create serious environmental hazards.
Because buried biodegradable waste is not exposed to air, it rots, producing methane gas
and acids which pollute the air, soil, and underground water sources. There is, however,
a better way to deal with green waste. With very little effort, our eggshells, coffee

(10) grounds, and wilted lettuce leaves can be turned into wonderful fertilizer for our
gardens and houseplants.

Composting, turning green waste into fertilizer, dates back to ancient times. It
requires no agronomic skill: anyone can learn how to compost in a matter of minutes.
Biodegradable waste is placed in an open container, where it is kept damp and mixed

(15) regularly. The waste decomposes with the help of bacteria, earthworms, insects, and
fungi. And because it is exposed to air – unlike waste buried in landfills – it does not
rot.

Composting has grown in popularity as people have become more environmentally

aware. It not only creates a useful product, but also decreases the need for landfills,
(20) lessens reliance on chemical fertilizers, and reduces the number of garbage trucks

polluting the air. Moreover, composting entails very little expense and can be done by
individuals or groups of concerned citizens.

Questions

13. An appropriate title for this text would be -

(1) The Advantages and Disadvantages of Composting
(2) Composting: An Easy Way to Help the Environment
(3) A Short History of Composting
(4) Buried Waste: The Dangers of Landfills

)‫© 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