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2015 ‫מועד פברואר‬ - 47 - ‫ פרק שני‬- ‫ 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) Speech is a uniquely human activity, but many animals have their own ways of
communicating. Bees indicate the locations of food sources by performing elaborate
dances. Ants leave trails of chemicals for other ants to follow.

Certain qualities distinguish animal from human communication. Unlike human
(5) language, animal communication is not abstract; it conveys information about specific

events or physical objects. This concrete mode of communication can be used neither
to think about time – past, present, or future – nor to communicate new ideas.

Many animals use sounds to communicate. Recordings of animal sounds made
under natural conditions suggest that birds and mammals have "vocabularies" ranging
(10) from five to thirty distinct calls. The small number of animal calls contrasts sharply

with the thousands of words used in human speech. Most scientists believe that animal
calls are primarily instinctive, automatic responses to certain situations – expressions of
pleasure, alarm, warning, and so on. With rare exceptions, animal calls, unlike human
vocabularies, are not learned, nor can they be applied to novel situations.

(15) Extensive research has been conducted in order to find out if apes can be taught
symbolic language. Some studies indicate that this may be possible, but their conclusions
are still subject to debate. In general, scientists agree that animal communication lacks
the infinite flexibility and creativity of human language.

Questions

13. The examples of animal communication presented in the first paragraph -

(1) are not concrete
(2) are also used by humans
(3) are flexible and creative
(4) do not involve sound

14. The main purpose of the third paragraph is to compare -

(1) how humans and animals communicate with each other
(2) sounds made by different kinds of animals
(3) animal calls and human vocabulary
(4) expressions of pleasure, alarm, and warning

)‫© 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