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2012 ‫מועד יולי‬ - 39 - ‫ פרק ראשו ן‬- ‫ אנגלית‬

Text II (Questions 25-29)

(1) India has an estimated 180 million cows – approximately one third of the world's
cattle population. Hindus believe that cows are sacred; these animals are considered
a symbol of motherhood and fertility, and killing them is forbidden. Flowers are hung
around the necks of cows on Hindu festival days, and prayers are offered for those

(5) that are sick. There are even government-run homes for aged cows. In many states
with Hindu majorities, killing cows is against the law, and heavy fines are imposed on
anyone who slaughters them. While people starve to death on the streets, cattle are
lovingly cared for.

The Hindu taboo on killing cows is viewed by some Indians as highly irrational.
(10) Some groups, the Muslims for example, feel it is their right to slaughter cows for food.

In addition, some economists believe that the love of "mother cow" is damaging the
country's economy.

The origin of this taboo is the subject of an ongoing debate. Some believe that it is
religious because, according to early Hindu sacred texts, the cow played a part in certain

(15) religious rituals. It has been suggested that, as a result, the killing of cattle became
prohibited over the course of time. However, the slaughter of cattle is not expressly
forbidden in any religious text; in fact, it is known that cows were once killed and eaten
at Hindu festivals.

An alternative view of the development of the taboo has been advanced by
(20) anthropologists who believe that the prohibition may have had some practical function.

They point to the sudden population increase that occurred in India two centuries ago.
At that time, forests were cut down to provide land for growing crops. Because of the
resulting shortage of wood, cow droppings – which burn slowly and cleanly – became
an important fuel. Even today, between 40 and 70 percent of all cow manure is used for
(25) fuel; the rest is used as fertilizer.

Questions

25. The main purpose of the second paragraph is to present -

(1) a short description of different religious groups in India
(2) reasons why Muslims allow cows to be killed for food
(3) evidence of the cow's importance to the Indian economy
(4) some criticisms of the Hindu taboo on slaughtering cattle

)‫© 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