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2013 ‫מועד פברואר‬ - 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) "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance," says Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet.
For hundreds of years, the rosemary plant has been a symbol of remembrance. In

19th-century England, lovers sometimes gave each other twigs of rosemary as a
reminder of their love. Rosemary has also been used at funerals and at ceremonies

(5) commemorating the dead. For example, a sprig of rosemary placed in a coffin was a
way of saying "I will never forget you." Today, rosemary is worn by many people in
Australia and New Zealand on ANZAC Day, in memory of soldiers who died in battle.

The connection between rosemary and remembering dates back to ancient Greece.
Ancient Greek scholars wore rosemary in their hair because they believed that it
(10) would help them remember what they learned. Similarly, students in ancient Rome

rubbed rosemary oil on their foreheads before taking examinations. Present-day
research has found that rosemary actually does improve long-term memory. This is

because rosemary oil contains a chemical called ursolic acid, which helps the nerves in
the brain function better. Modern science, it seems, has proved Ophelia right.

Questions

13. The first paragraph mainly describes -

(1) rosemary as a symbol
(2) Shakespeare's Hamlet
(3) ceremonies for the dead
(4) the history of the rosemary plant

14. According to the first paragraph, rosemary was placed in coffins -

(1) by family members
(2) because it had a pleasant smell
(3) at funerals of soldiers who had died
(4) as a sign that the person who died would be remembered

)‫© 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