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- Pages: 10
Pets Pets and and Animals Animals
There are 51 questions in this paper.s
PRACTICE PAPER 9A — READING Text 1
Time allowed: 1 hour
Read the extracts from ‘Animal stories in brief’ below and then answer questions 1–13. Answer the following questions using information from the ‘Animal stories in brief’. (21 marks)
Animal stories in brief Year of the Dog The Year of the Dog is having a dramatic effect on the sales of dogs in pet shops. Chan Chin-tak, of Top One pet store, expected a 10 to 20 per cent growth in business, with more people buying dogs in the coming year, despite a rise of at least 20 per cent in prices. She said the most popular dog was the toy poodle, which reminded people of a teddy bear. It cost between $10,000 and $20,000, depending on the colour. Few homes for abandoned pets With abandoned dogs and cats being destroyed faster than they can be found new homes, people are being urged to think twice before buying pets. Government statistics show that in the last six months 5,325 stray dogs were caught and 6,208 dogs were destroyed. In the same period, 3,007 stray cats were caught and 2,514 destroyed. 394 lucky dogs and 129 cats were found new homes by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Puppies found at alleged dog meat factory Police rescued eight puppies, a rabbit and a bird from a hut alleged to be an illegal dog meat factory on a hillside opposite Hang Yee House, Cheung Hang Estate, Tsing Yi, at about 11am. No one was inside at the time. The raid was prompted by a Chinese-language newspaper report. The animals have been saved and given to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Fears Mid-Levels dog poisoner has resurfaced Several pieces of raw chicken coated with poison were found along a popular walking trail near Central yesterday, raising fears that the Mid-Levels dog poisoner has reappeared. A woman found the meat at about 8am and informed police, but fortunately no dogs have been poisoned this time. At least 20 dogs have been killed in the area since 1989 and up to 200 sickened after eating meat containing poison. Don’t kiss your parrot The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has some new advice for the public about avoiding bird flu: ‘Don’t kiss your pet parrot’. People should also wash their hands after touching birds, wear gloves while cleaning up droppings and keep pets away from human food. Officials added that they have tested more than 200 tests on imported pet birds in the past nine months, and none has been positive for bird flu. Long-lived pets Hong Kong’s pets are living longer. Dr Gray of The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said some 41 per cent of dogs it examined are over the age of seven – 44 to 50 human years – and just over a fifth of cats are over seven – 54 human years. Improved health care was prolonging the lives of pets, as well as better knowledge among pet owners. Glowing fish Glowing green and red zebra fish have been on sale in Hong Kong for some years now, but not everybody is impressed. “The tank must be really dark to see them,” said Maria Hung, “and it helps if you’ve got a fluorescent light. Also, they’re not cheap at over $100 each.” The glowing fish have been genetically developed in Taiwan using DNA from jellyfish.
149
Answer the following questions using information from ‘Animal stories in brief’. Write the letter(s) (A – G) next to each question. The first has been done for you as an example. (6 marks)
Which story is about stray animals?
a.
1. Which story is about a threat to human health?
1.
2. Which story is about trends in buying pets?
2.
3. Which story is about a scientific breakthrough?
3.
4. Which story is about pet food?
4.
5. Which is the latest episode in a long-running story?
5.
6. Which two stories are about criminal activities in relation to pets?
6.
B
and
Decide whether these statements are True, False or the information is Not Given. Put a tick in ONE box only for each statement. (5 marks) True
False
Not Given
7. People might possibly catch bird flu from sick parrots. 8. A large proportion of abandoned dogs and cats find new homes. 9. The price of dogs went up during the Year of the Dog. 10. The glowing fish do not glow very brightly. 11. Dogs, cats and rabbits are all living longer in Hong Kong. 12. Which stories contain positive information about pets? Fill in the table below. One has been done for you as an example. (8 marks) Few homes for abandoned pets
394 lucky dogs and 129 cats were found new homes…
13. You want to buy a dog. Which organisation or shop mentioned in these stories would you go to, and why? (2 marks)
150
Text 2
Read these two passages. The first is a newspaper article, and the second is a reader’s response to the article. Then answer questions 14-32. (23 marks)
Pet Park for West Kowloon? An animal welfare agency wants a pet park to be established near the proposed West Kowloon cultural hub, and it also says it will urge the government to make more parks open to pets. 5
10
The Society for Abandoned Animals chief executive officer Chan Suk-kuen said yesterday the West Kowloon reclamation area would make a perfect site – as it was easily accessible but away from residential areas, which would prevent complaints from residents. Ms Chan said the society would appeal to the government through the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. “Facilities for pets are not up to date in Hong Kong. We hope that the government can provide better facilities for pets here,” she said. “As people are having fewer children, they are keeping pets. The number of dogs is probably greater than the population of toddlers. But the government has failed to meet the needs of pets and their owners.” There are an estimated 150,000 cats and 120,000 dogs in Hong Kong.
15
The society will stage a signature campaign next month to appeal to the government to open more parks for pets. Ms Chan complained that there were only six public parks open to pets at present. “We are asking the government to designate a small area in each park for animals. We don’t want to open the whole area to them, as we understand that some people may not like animals,” Ms Chan said.
20
“Most families here live in small flats and there are not enough facilities for their pets. This gives many pet owners a serious headache when they try to take their pets out for exercise. Other people complain about dogs, and it can also be dangerous to take them outside because of the traffic. Many dogs have been hit by cars. So pets are often kept in small flats all day, which is not good for them.”
25
The Home Affairs Bureau said last night that it would welcome any public ideas about developing West Kowloon.
30
Pet Park talk-back I am not a pet lover and I have no need personally for a pet park. But whether I need one or not, I can see that pets and pet-owners certainly do. At the moment there are pets on the streets, and on the upper podium of the private estate where I live. The foul smell of their toilet is everywhere. I hate it when I am playing with my children and our ball or shuttlecock falls where these pets have just been to the toilet. But there is really nothing we can do about it. All I can do is say ‘hi’ to these dog owners, secretly hoping that they will take their dogs farther away from us.
35
How nice it would be if there was a large open space where dog owners could take their dogs for a stroll and to do their toilet. It would not only do them good, it would be good for the rest of us. It would improve the hygiene of where we live and there would be less chance of us getting allergies from dog hair.
151
40
45
We must not be miserly and think only of the money we will have to pay to build these pet parks, or the land that could be used for other more useful purposes. We must understand that money spent on building pet parks will also benefit us non-pet-owners. If the pet parks are convenient, beautiful and user-friendly, pet owners will love to take their pets there to meet other pet-owners and other pets. This will leave the estates clean and clear for the rest of us. Pet lovers will then have no excuse for selfishly letting their dogs foul the street or the estate. Cleaning-up will be easier and cheaper, as the problem will be concentrated in one place instead of being spread around. There will be fewer pet-related arguments between tenants from the same estate. And best of all, the children’s play area will really belong to the children again!
14. According to paragraph 1, you cannot take your dog into any park in Hong Kong. True
False
Not stated
15. According to paragraph 2, the West Kowloon site would be a good place for a pet park because
16. In line 10, ‘We’ refers to 17. Ms Chan’s main point in paragraph 4 is people are keeping pets instead of having children. True
False
Not stated
18. In line 12, ‘toddlers’ are .... A. parents. B. puppies. C. cats. D. young children.
18.
19. Look at the word ‘stage’ in line 15. Now look at the dictionary entry for ‘stage’ below. Which meaning corresponds to the meaning in line 15? Write the correct number in the box provided. stage n 1 a platform or area, usu in a theatre, on which plays are performed, e.g. He was on stage for most of the play. 2 a step in the development of sth, e.g. At this stage, it is difficult to know whether our plan will succeed. stage v 3 to present a play on a stage, e.g. We are staging a new production of ‘Cats’. 4 to arrange and take part in an event, e.g. The farmers staged a noisy protest. 20. According to paragraph 5, Ms Chan wants .... A. every park to be completely open for pets. B. every park to have a section for pets. C. six parks to be open for pets. D. everybody to be kind to animals.
152
19.
20.
21. In paragraph 5, which word means ‘identify’? 22. In line 21, ‘This’ refers to 23. According to paragraph 6, it is difficult for owners to exercise their pets because (two reasons): (2 marks)
a) b) 24. In line 22, ‘them’ refers to 25. In line 29, ‘do’ is short for 26. According to paragraph 9, the writer does not complain to the dog owners. True
False
Not stated
27. Which word in paragraph 10 means ‘walk in a relaxed way’? 28. In line 43, ‘This’ refers to 29. Which word in paragraph 11 means ‘ungenerous’? 30. According to paragraphs 10, 12 and 13, three benefits of pet parks might be ....
(3 marks)
a) b) c) 31. What does the writer think of dog-owners? Give a reason for your answer.
(2 marks)
32. Does the writer of the second passage agree with the writer of the first passage about the need to set up more pet parks? Give a reason for your answer.
153
Text 3
Read the following account and then answer questions 33 – 51.
(20 marks)
Japanese pets To be a dog or cat in a Japanese household today is to have won the pet lottery of life. Cuddly kittens and playful pups have always been regarded as extremely kawaii (cute). But with people’s salaries rising again after a long economic downturn, pet stores are doing a roaring trade. The industry is now estimated to be worth US$9 billion a year. 5
10
Entire industries are cropping up to cater to this outbreak of animal love. Along with the more traditional chew toys and balls, full ranges of fashionable outfits are available for everything from a Great Dane to a Chihuahua in the pet sections of department stores. The most trendy pets are even getting manicures and having their claws painted to match the fingernails of their owners. Unbelievably, one company has set up an urban onsen (hot spring bath) for pets of every shape and size. Late last year, a luxury hotel opened at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, charging up to 20,000 yen ($1,320) per night for the top-of-the-range pet penthouse suite. Pet owners can fly off on their holidays safe in the knowledge that the Pet Inn Royal is catering to their loved one’s needs 24 hours a day in an air-conditioned room.
15
Japan is currently home to about 19 million pets, which is more than the number of children under the age of 15 in the country. People seem happier to spend their money on pets — which they treat almost as lovingly as children — than taking the plunge of having a baby. Perhaps this explains why Japan has a population crisis, with fewer Japanese being born every year.
20
In Japan, the choice between having a baby and buying a pet is not completely straightforward. A baby, after all, will grow up into a child who needs to be fed and expensively schooled. It will then become a teenager who eats even more and will probably be rude and badly-behaved for at least five years. After that, the teenager will then possibly turn into a university student, with endless costs. When all these costs are totted up, Mr and Mrs Suzuki often choose to splash out on an expensive pet, which won’t live as long and will definitely provide them with plenty of loyalty and affection.
25
30
35
154
Even Japan’s ever-adaptable criminals have seen the business opportunities presented by so many valuable and much-loved pets being treated as if they were children. Instead of stealing money or jewellery from people’s houses, burglars are now walking off with prized pets such as dachshunds and miniature poodles. These can cost up to 1 million yen when sold over the internet or to pet shops that close their eyes to where these pedigree dogs came from. An alternative criminal approach is to demand a ransom from the owners of the kidnapped pet. Owners generally tend to pay up. They are reluctant to go to the police, because they know that the criminals would immediately kill the animal if they found out that the police were involved.
33. In lines 1 – 2, ‘to have won the pet lottery of life’ means .... A. to be the first prize in a lottery. B. to be a very lucky pet. C. to have a very uncertain future. D. to live a long time.
33.
34. According to paragraph 1, pet shops are doing good business again because
35. In paragraph 2, the writer lists some examples of how the Japanese are spending money on pets. He chooses these examples mainly because he thinks they are: A. expensive. B. sensible. C. fashionable. D. ridiculous. 35. 36. In paragraph 2, which word means ‘smart clothes’?
37. In paragraphs 1 and 2 ‘kawaii’ and ‘onsen’ are written in italics because
38. According to paragraph 3, the purpose of the new hotel at Narita Airport is to
39. The writer’s main point in paragraph 4 is that .... A there are more pets than children under 15 in Japan. B. the Japanese seem to prefer children to pets. C. the Japanese seem to prefer pets to children. D. the Japanese spend more money on children than pets.
39.
40. In line 18, ‘this’ refers to 41. According to paragraph 5, many Japanese couples choose to keep a pet rather than have a child because .... (2 marks) a) b) 42. In line 25, ‘Mr and Mrs Suzuki’ are .... A. a famous show-business couple. B. the owners of a well-known pet shop. C. well-known pet-owners in Japan. D. the name given to a typical Japanese couple.
42.
155
43. Look at the word ‘splash’ in line 25. Now look at the dictionary entry for ‘splash’ below. Which meaning corresponds to the meaning in line 25? Write the correct number in the box provided. splash v 1 to make a liquid fly through the air in drops, e.g. Stop splashing me! 2 ~ sth to decorate sth with patches of colour, paint, etc. e.g. a towel splashed with blue and green patterns. PHV 3 splash sth across sth to display a news story or photograph prominently in a newspaper, etc. e.g. The story was splashed across the front page of the paper. 4 splash out (on sth) to spend money freely on sth, e.g. She splashed out on a new pair of shoes. 5 splash down (esp of space-craft) to land in water, e.g. The astronauts splashed down in the Pacific.
43.
44. According to paragraph 6, Japanese criminals have been stealing other people’s pets to keep them for themselves. True
False
Not stated
45. In line 30, ‘These’ refers to Below is a summary of how Japanese criminals are exploiting the trend to keep expensive pets. However, there are some missing words. Read paragraphs 6 and 7 of the article and then fill in each blank with ONE word only which best completes the sentence, keeping the meaning of the original text. Note that the most suitable word may or may not appear in the article. You should also make sure that your answers are grammatically correct. The first two have been done for you as examples. (5 marks) Japanese criminals have realised that there is money to be from the latest fashion
(b)
(a) .
keeping expensive pets. Some (46)
burglars are choosing to steal pedigree dogs
than
a)
made
b)
for
46.
jewellery when they break into people’s houses. They can obtain a good
(47)
for the animals on the internet or by selling them
to pet shops who are not concerned about
(48)
the animals
47. 48.
came from. Another effective plan is to kidnap a pet and demand a (49) . The owners generally pay up
(50)
they know that
otherwise their precious pet will be killed.
51. The writer’s main purpose in this piece is to .... A. inform. B. give advice. C. complain. D. entertain.
156
END OF PAPER
49. 50.
51.
PRACTICE PAPER 9B — WRITING Complete both tasks.
Time allowed: 11/2 hours
Task 1 (100 words) When you last visited a park, you were given the questionnaire below, about allowing pets in city parks. Complete the feedback form. Write in complete sentences where instructed, about 100 words in total.
Pets in City Parks — Questionnaire 1. Do you own a pet? 2. If so, what sort of pet? 3. Do you think that pets such as dogs should be allowed into all city parks? (Please write in complete sentences and give reasons)
4. Do you think every city park should have a separate area for pets and their owners? (Please write in complete sentences and give reasons)
5. Do you think it would be a good idea to build a ‘pet park’ (a park only for pets and their owners) in West Kowloon? (Please write in complete sentences and give reasons)
6. Do you have any other suggestions about how to deal with the problem of exercising pets in Hong Kong? (Please write in complete sentences and give reasons)
157
Task 2 Write about 250 words on ONE of the following topics. 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a pet? Give examples from your own experience or of people that you know. 2. Write a story using this picture as a starting point.
END OF PAPER
158
There are 51 questions in this paper.s
PRACTICE PAPER 9A — READING Text 1
Time allowed: 1 hour
Read the extracts from ‘Animal stories in brief’ below and then answer questions 1–13. Answer the following questions using information from the ‘Animal stories in brief’. (21 marks)
Animal stories in brief Year of the Dog The Year of the Dog is having a dramatic effect on the sales of dogs in pet shops. Chan Chin-tak, of Top One pet store, expected a 10 to 20 per cent growth in business, with more people buying dogs in the coming year, despite a rise of at least 20 per cent in prices. She said the most popular dog was the toy poodle, which reminded people of a teddy bear. It cost between $10,000 and $20,000, depending on the colour. Few homes for abandoned pets With abandoned dogs and cats being destroyed faster than they can be found new homes, people are being urged to think twice before buying pets. Government statistics show that in the last six months 5,325 stray dogs were caught and 6,208 dogs were destroyed. In the same period, 3,007 stray cats were caught and 2,514 destroyed. 394 lucky dogs and 129 cats were found new homes by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Puppies found at alleged dog meat factory Police rescued eight puppies, a rabbit and a bird from a hut alleged to be an illegal dog meat factory on a hillside opposite Hang Yee House, Cheung Hang Estate, Tsing Yi, at about 11am. No one was inside at the time. The raid was prompted by a Chinese-language newspaper report. The animals have been saved and given to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Fears Mid-Levels dog poisoner has resurfaced Several pieces of raw chicken coated with poison were found along a popular walking trail near Central yesterday, raising fears that the Mid-Levels dog poisoner has reappeared. A woman found the meat at about 8am and informed police, but fortunately no dogs have been poisoned this time. At least 20 dogs have been killed in the area since 1989 and up to 200 sickened after eating meat containing poison. Don’t kiss your parrot The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has some new advice for the public about avoiding bird flu: ‘Don’t kiss your pet parrot’. People should also wash their hands after touching birds, wear gloves while cleaning up droppings and keep pets away from human food. Officials added that they have tested more than 200 tests on imported pet birds in the past nine months, and none has been positive for bird flu. Long-lived pets Hong Kong’s pets are living longer. Dr Gray of The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said some 41 per cent of dogs it examined are over the age of seven – 44 to 50 human years – and just over a fifth of cats are over seven – 54 human years. Improved health care was prolonging the lives of pets, as well as better knowledge among pet owners. Glowing fish Glowing green and red zebra fish have been on sale in Hong Kong for some years now, but not everybody is impressed. “The tank must be really dark to see them,” said Maria Hung, “and it helps if you’ve got a fluorescent light. Also, they’re not cheap at over $100 each.” The glowing fish have been genetically developed in Taiwan using DNA from jellyfish.
149
Answer the following questions using information from ‘Animal stories in brief’. Write the letter(s) (A – G) next to each question. The first has been done for you as an example. (6 marks)
Which story is about stray animals?
a.
1. Which story is about a threat to human health?
1.
2. Which story is about trends in buying pets?
2.
3. Which story is about a scientific breakthrough?
3.
4. Which story is about pet food?
4.
5. Which is the latest episode in a long-running story?
5.
6. Which two stories are about criminal activities in relation to pets?
6.
B
and
Decide whether these statements are True, False or the information is Not Given. Put a tick in ONE box only for each statement. (5 marks) True
False
Not Given
7. People might possibly catch bird flu from sick parrots. 8. A large proportion of abandoned dogs and cats find new homes. 9. The price of dogs went up during the Year of the Dog. 10. The glowing fish do not glow very brightly. 11. Dogs, cats and rabbits are all living longer in Hong Kong. 12. Which stories contain positive information about pets? Fill in the table below. One has been done for you as an example. (8 marks) Few homes for abandoned pets
394 lucky dogs and 129 cats were found new homes…
13. You want to buy a dog. Which organisation or shop mentioned in these stories would you go to, and why? (2 marks)
150
Text 2
Read these two passages. The first is a newspaper article, and the second is a reader’s response to the article. Then answer questions 14-32. (23 marks)
Pet Park for West Kowloon? An animal welfare agency wants a pet park to be established near the proposed West Kowloon cultural hub, and it also says it will urge the government to make more parks open to pets. 5
10
The Society for Abandoned Animals chief executive officer Chan Suk-kuen said yesterday the West Kowloon reclamation area would make a perfect site – as it was easily accessible but away from residential areas, which would prevent complaints from residents. Ms Chan said the society would appeal to the government through the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. “Facilities for pets are not up to date in Hong Kong. We hope that the government can provide better facilities for pets here,” she said. “As people are having fewer children, they are keeping pets. The number of dogs is probably greater than the population of toddlers. But the government has failed to meet the needs of pets and their owners.” There are an estimated 150,000 cats and 120,000 dogs in Hong Kong.
15
The society will stage a signature campaign next month to appeal to the government to open more parks for pets. Ms Chan complained that there were only six public parks open to pets at present. “We are asking the government to designate a small area in each park for animals. We don’t want to open the whole area to them, as we understand that some people may not like animals,” Ms Chan said.
20
“Most families here live in small flats and there are not enough facilities for their pets. This gives many pet owners a serious headache when they try to take their pets out for exercise. Other people complain about dogs, and it can also be dangerous to take them outside because of the traffic. Many dogs have been hit by cars. So pets are often kept in small flats all day, which is not good for them.”
25
The Home Affairs Bureau said last night that it would welcome any public ideas about developing West Kowloon.
30
Pet Park talk-back I am not a pet lover and I have no need personally for a pet park. But whether I need one or not, I can see that pets and pet-owners certainly do. At the moment there are pets on the streets, and on the upper podium of the private estate where I live. The foul smell of their toilet is everywhere. I hate it when I am playing with my children and our ball or shuttlecock falls where these pets have just been to the toilet. But there is really nothing we can do about it. All I can do is say ‘hi’ to these dog owners, secretly hoping that they will take their dogs farther away from us.
35
How nice it would be if there was a large open space where dog owners could take their dogs for a stroll and to do their toilet. It would not only do them good, it would be good for the rest of us. It would improve the hygiene of where we live and there would be less chance of us getting allergies from dog hair.
151
40
45
We must not be miserly and think only of the money we will have to pay to build these pet parks, or the land that could be used for other more useful purposes. We must understand that money spent on building pet parks will also benefit us non-pet-owners. If the pet parks are convenient, beautiful and user-friendly, pet owners will love to take their pets there to meet other pet-owners and other pets. This will leave the estates clean and clear for the rest of us. Pet lovers will then have no excuse for selfishly letting their dogs foul the street or the estate. Cleaning-up will be easier and cheaper, as the problem will be concentrated in one place instead of being spread around. There will be fewer pet-related arguments between tenants from the same estate. And best of all, the children’s play area will really belong to the children again!
14. According to paragraph 1, you cannot take your dog into any park in Hong Kong. True
False
Not stated
15. According to paragraph 2, the West Kowloon site would be a good place for a pet park because
16. In line 10, ‘We’ refers to 17. Ms Chan’s main point in paragraph 4 is people are keeping pets instead of having children. True
False
Not stated
18. In line 12, ‘toddlers’ are .... A. parents. B. puppies. C. cats. D. young children.
18.
19. Look at the word ‘stage’ in line 15. Now look at the dictionary entry for ‘stage’ below. Which meaning corresponds to the meaning in line 15? Write the correct number in the box provided. stage n 1 a platform or area, usu in a theatre, on which plays are performed, e.g. He was on stage for most of the play. 2 a step in the development of sth, e.g. At this stage, it is difficult to know whether our plan will succeed. stage v 3 to present a play on a stage, e.g. We are staging a new production of ‘Cats’. 4 to arrange and take part in an event, e.g. The farmers staged a noisy protest. 20. According to paragraph 5, Ms Chan wants .... A. every park to be completely open for pets. B. every park to have a section for pets. C. six parks to be open for pets. D. everybody to be kind to animals.
152
19.
20.
21. In paragraph 5, which word means ‘identify’? 22. In line 21, ‘This’ refers to 23. According to paragraph 6, it is difficult for owners to exercise their pets because (two reasons): (2 marks)
a) b) 24. In line 22, ‘them’ refers to 25. In line 29, ‘do’ is short for 26. According to paragraph 9, the writer does not complain to the dog owners. True
False
Not stated
27. Which word in paragraph 10 means ‘walk in a relaxed way’? 28. In line 43, ‘This’ refers to 29. Which word in paragraph 11 means ‘ungenerous’? 30. According to paragraphs 10, 12 and 13, three benefits of pet parks might be ....
(3 marks)
a) b) c) 31. What does the writer think of dog-owners? Give a reason for your answer.
(2 marks)
32. Does the writer of the second passage agree with the writer of the first passage about the need to set up more pet parks? Give a reason for your answer.
153
Text 3
Read the following account and then answer questions 33 – 51.
(20 marks)
Japanese pets To be a dog or cat in a Japanese household today is to have won the pet lottery of life. Cuddly kittens and playful pups have always been regarded as extremely kawaii (cute). But with people’s salaries rising again after a long economic downturn, pet stores are doing a roaring trade. The industry is now estimated to be worth US$9 billion a year. 5
10
Entire industries are cropping up to cater to this outbreak of animal love. Along with the more traditional chew toys and balls, full ranges of fashionable outfits are available for everything from a Great Dane to a Chihuahua in the pet sections of department stores. The most trendy pets are even getting manicures and having their claws painted to match the fingernails of their owners. Unbelievably, one company has set up an urban onsen (hot spring bath) for pets of every shape and size. Late last year, a luxury hotel opened at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, charging up to 20,000 yen ($1,320) per night for the top-of-the-range pet penthouse suite. Pet owners can fly off on their holidays safe in the knowledge that the Pet Inn Royal is catering to their loved one’s needs 24 hours a day in an air-conditioned room.
15
Japan is currently home to about 19 million pets, which is more than the number of children under the age of 15 in the country. People seem happier to spend their money on pets — which they treat almost as lovingly as children — than taking the plunge of having a baby. Perhaps this explains why Japan has a population crisis, with fewer Japanese being born every year.
20
In Japan, the choice between having a baby and buying a pet is not completely straightforward. A baby, after all, will grow up into a child who needs to be fed and expensively schooled. It will then become a teenager who eats even more and will probably be rude and badly-behaved for at least five years. After that, the teenager will then possibly turn into a university student, with endless costs. When all these costs are totted up, Mr and Mrs Suzuki often choose to splash out on an expensive pet, which won’t live as long and will definitely provide them with plenty of loyalty and affection.
25
30
35
154
Even Japan’s ever-adaptable criminals have seen the business opportunities presented by so many valuable and much-loved pets being treated as if they were children. Instead of stealing money or jewellery from people’s houses, burglars are now walking off with prized pets such as dachshunds and miniature poodles. These can cost up to 1 million yen when sold over the internet or to pet shops that close their eyes to where these pedigree dogs came from. An alternative criminal approach is to demand a ransom from the owners of the kidnapped pet. Owners generally tend to pay up. They are reluctant to go to the police, because they know that the criminals would immediately kill the animal if they found out that the police were involved.
33. In lines 1 – 2, ‘to have won the pet lottery of life’ means .... A. to be the first prize in a lottery. B. to be a very lucky pet. C. to have a very uncertain future. D. to live a long time.
33.
34. According to paragraph 1, pet shops are doing good business again because
35. In paragraph 2, the writer lists some examples of how the Japanese are spending money on pets. He chooses these examples mainly because he thinks they are: A. expensive. B. sensible. C. fashionable. D. ridiculous. 35. 36. In paragraph 2, which word means ‘smart clothes’?
37. In paragraphs 1 and 2 ‘kawaii’ and ‘onsen’ are written in italics because
38. According to paragraph 3, the purpose of the new hotel at Narita Airport is to
39. The writer’s main point in paragraph 4 is that .... A there are more pets than children under 15 in Japan. B. the Japanese seem to prefer children to pets. C. the Japanese seem to prefer pets to children. D. the Japanese spend more money on children than pets.
39.
40. In line 18, ‘this’ refers to 41. According to paragraph 5, many Japanese couples choose to keep a pet rather than have a child because .... (2 marks) a) b) 42. In line 25, ‘Mr and Mrs Suzuki’ are .... A. a famous show-business couple. B. the owners of a well-known pet shop. C. well-known pet-owners in Japan. D. the name given to a typical Japanese couple.
42.
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43. Look at the word ‘splash’ in line 25. Now look at the dictionary entry for ‘splash’ below. Which meaning corresponds to the meaning in line 25? Write the correct number in the box provided. splash v 1 to make a liquid fly through the air in drops, e.g. Stop splashing me! 2 ~ sth to decorate sth with patches of colour, paint, etc. e.g. a towel splashed with blue and green patterns. PHV 3 splash sth across sth to display a news story or photograph prominently in a newspaper, etc. e.g. The story was splashed across the front page of the paper. 4 splash out (on sth) to spend money freely on sth, e.g. She splashed out on a new pair of shoes. 5 splash down (esp of space-craft) to land in water, e.g. The astronauts splashed down in the Pacific.
43.
44. According to paragraph 6, Japanese criminals have been stealing other people’s pets to keep them for themselves. True
False
Not stated
45. In line 30, ‘These’ refers to Below is a summary of how Japanese criminals are exploiting the trend to keep expensive pets. However, there are some missing words. Read paragraphs 6 and 7 of the article and then fill in each blank with ONE word only which best completes the sentence, keeping the meaning of the original text. Note that the most suitable word may or may not appear in the article. You should also make sure that your answers are grammatically correct. The first two have been done for you as examples. (5 marks) Japanese criminals have realised that there is money to be from the latest fashion
(b)
(a) .
keeping expensive pets. Some (46)
burglars are choosing to steal pedigree dogs
than
a)
made
b)
for
46.
jewellery when they break into people’s houses. They can obtain a good
(47)
for the animals on the internet or by selling them
to pet shops who are not concerned about
(48)
the animals
47. 48.
came from. Another effective plan is to kidnap a pet and demand a (49) . The owners generally pay up
(50)
they know that
otherwise their precious pet will be killed.
51. The writer’s main purpose in this piece is to .... A. inform. B. give advice. C. complain. D. entertain.
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END OF PAPER
49. 50.
51.
PRACTICE PAPER 9B — WRITING Complete both tasks.
Time allowed: 11/2 hours
Task 1 (100 words) When you last visited a park, you were given the questionnaire below, about allowing pets in city parks. Complete the feedback form. Write in complete sentences where instructed, about 100 words in total.
Pets in City Parks — Questionnaire 1. Do you own a pet? 2. If so, what sort of pet? 3. Do you think that pets such as dogs should be allowed into all city parks? (Please write in complete sentences and give reasons)
4. Do you think every city park should have a separate area for pets and their owners? (Please write in complete sentences and give reasons)
5. Do you think it would be a good idea to build a ‘pet park’ (a park only for pets and their owners) in West Kowloon? (Please write in complete sentences and give reasons)
6. Do you have any other suggestions about how to deal with the problem of exercising pets in Hong Kong? (Please write in complete sentences and give reasons)
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Task 2 Write about 250 words on ONE of the following topics. 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a pet? Give examples from your own experience or of people that you know. 2. Write a story using this picture as a starting point.
END OF PAPER
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