Page 40 - index

2022 ‫מועד חורף‬ - 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) The whale, a warm-blooded, oxygen-breathing marine mammal, has a unique
respiratory system, which enables it to remain submerged for long periods of time
without coming up for air. The whale's lungs basically function like those of other
mammals, including humans, yet this enormous beast breathes far more efficiently.

(5) Whereas humans absorb only 15 percent of the oxygen they inhale, whales absorb as
much as 90 percent. Essentially, a whale's specialized physiology gives it better "gas
mileage": each breath goes a long way. Some whales' respiratory systems are so
efficient that the animals can remain underwater for as long as 90 minutes between
breaths.

(10) Evolution has provided the whale with one of its most interesting features: its
"nose". Known as the blowhole, this orifice located on the top of its head allows the
whale to take in air without surfacing completely. The whale approaches the surface of
the water, flexes a muscle in order to open the blowhole, and then inhales.

Unlike most mammals, whales do not breathe automatically but must make a
(15) deliberate effort to do so. The question then arises: how can they breathe while they

are asleep? Marine biologists have determined that whales have the extraordinary
ability to let only half of the brain sleep at any given time. In this way, the whale is
never completely unconscious and thus obtains both an adequate supply of oxygen and
an adequate amount of rest.

Questions

13. An appropriate title for this text would be -

(1) How Warm-Blooded Marine Mammals Breathe
(2) The Evolution of the Whale: A Study in Marine Biology
(3) Coming Up for Air: The Whale's Lung Capacity
(4) The Extraordinary Respiratory System of the Whale

)‫© 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