Passage 4

FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
ENGLISH PORTFOLIO
BSIT 1(A)
GROUP 01
Passage 4:
ORANGUTANS – “PEOPLE OF
THE FOREST”
EXERCISE
A: Meaning in context
1. Give the meaning of each word or phrase as it is used in
the passage.
S
No. Word Meaning
the situation in which a

person or animal is kept
a. accustomed to captivity
somewhere and is not
allowed to leave
normal lifespan of a
b. their natural life
person or organism
behavior among two or
c. social behavior more organisms within
the same species
other animals, typically
d. its African cousins of the same species, that
are native to Africa
two or more individuals
e. must meet and interact
must come together and
FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
ENGLISH PORTFOLIO
BSIT 1(A)
GROUP 01
communicate with one

another in order to
achieve a goal
to refrain from
participating in an
f. to sit out
activity, due to lack of
interest
an expression in an
aggressive or destructive
g. throw a violent tantrum
manner due to anger or
frustration
not aware of the fact that
h. oblivious to my presence someone else was in the
same space or vicinity
suddenly halt one's
i. stopped dead in his tracks movement due to
surprise, fear, or shock
a period of time that is
j. for long seconds
longer than usual
confirm or validate
something, typically by
k. to bear out
providing evidence or an
example
an animal's decreasing
l. diminishing ranges ability to move freely in
its natural environment
the removal of
something when it
m. wholesale destruction affects a very large
number of things or
people.
FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
ENGLISH PORTFOLIO
BSIT 1(A)
GROUP 01
saving and protecting

n. conservation groups
the environment
2. Give a synonym of each word as it is used in the passage.
WORDS SYNONYM
imagined assume
considered think about
solitary lonely
extent size
vivid realistic
strangely amazingly
marvelled wonder
retiring shy
illegal illicit
strictly rigorously
slaughter kill
expert skillful
B: In each case, choose the best answer.

1. The "not-so-wild subjects" refer to
(A) orangutans in the zoos.
FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
ENGLISH PORTFOLIO
BSIT 1(A)
GROUP 01
(B) captured orangutans.

(C) young orangutans accustomed to captivity.
(D) completely tame orangutans.
2. In social behavior the orangutan is different from other primates in
that
(A) it is sociable.
(B) it is aggressive in company.
(C) it seeks the company of younger orangutans.
(D) it is very often seen alone.
3. The writer was quite convinced that orangutans

(A) are always solitary creatures.
(B) have close family relationships.
(C) must of necessity socialize at times.
(D) only live in pairs.
4. In their nesting habits orangutans seem to be

(A) constant nest builders.
(B) occasional nest builders.
(C) builders of rain shelter only.
(D) lovers of overhead platforms.
5. In their eating habits orangutans are

(A) only leaf and fruit eaters.
FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
ENGLISH PORTFOLIO
BSIT 1(A)
GROUP 01
(B) only nut and bark eaters.

(C) vegetarians.
(D) fussy eaters.
6. When on one occasion the writer came face to face with a large male
orangutan, the predominant feeling she had was one of
(A) fear
(B) curiosity
(C) wonder.
(D) strangeness.
7. On this occasion the behavior of the orangutan seemed to confirm

the belief that members of the species are
(A) gentle and shy.
(B) poor sighted.
(C) cowardly.
(D) stupid.
8. Wild orangutans are described as "rarest of the apes" because
(A) they fetch high prices.
(B) they are found only in Borneo and Sumatra.
(C) it is illegal to own, kill or export them.
(D) they are diminishing in numbers.
9. "repossessed" orangutans are those animals that have been

FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
ENGLISH PORTFOLIO
BSIT 1(A)
GROUP 01
(A) taken away from illegal captivity.

(B) returned to their rightful owners.
(C) declared safe and tame.
(D) made "wild' again.
10. We can infer from the passage that the writer's attitude towards
orangutans is one of
(A) utter indifference.
(B) interested concern.
(C) apprehension.
(D) wonder and curiosity.
C: Answer these questions in your own words.
1. What was the aim of “halfway house” provided by the
writer and her husband?
Ans. The main aim of halfway house is that the author was trying to
return the natural life of the orangutans in the forest so, they became the
halfway to give them a freedom as they like to move openly in the forest.
2. What behavior uncharacteristic of primates, did the
writer observe regarding wild orangutans?
Ans. The writer observes the social behavior of the orangutans,
primates have been characterized as social animals par excellence,
but the wild orangutans were invariably solitary.
3. How is the orangutan different from other primates in

nesting habits?
FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
ENGLISH PORTFOLIO
BSIT 1(A)
GROUP 01
Ans. The author says that the orangutans have always been
considered different from the Monkeys, Apes and
Chimpanzees. The major difference between them was how
they feed, Move through the trees, and their way of nesting.
The author observed that the Orangutans made a new tree nest
each night out of branches and leaves. They also made
overhead platforms and covered themselves with branches to
protect themselves against downpours.
4. Describe briefly an episode in the passage which seems to
prove that the wild orangutan is a mild and retiring
creature.
Ans. The writer describes an episode as, on that scorching day
she came face to face with a large adult male, he was ambling
along, head down, not concerned to her presence, suddenly he
stopped approx. 12 feet away from her and stared her for a long
second, unexpectedly he whirled around and was gone. This
confrontation with this big male seemed to confirm a
traditional belief that the wild orangutans is mild and retiring.
5. According to the passage, what factors today still
threaten the orangutans with extinction?
Ans. The factors today still threaten the orangutans with extinction is
the slaughter of mothers by hunters trying to capture their infants, the
whole sale destruction of their habitat and by logging and agricultural
land cleaning operations.
6. What dangers do “repossessed” young orangutans face?
Ans. The repossessed young orangutans face a lot of dangers, without
expert guidance these unfortunate animals usually die from disease,
malnutrition and neglect. wild orangutans have been illegal in many
FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
ENGLISH PORTFOLIO
BSIT 1(A)
GROUP 01
countries to kill. to export them. Earlier the haunter's caught them and
keep in their farmhouse and it have been bought at high prices for zoos
and laboratories for testing around the world. The hunters never gave
them their natural life. Mostly caught animals die from disease because
of without any expert guidance. The author wants to teach them about
their natural life and she hoped that they would live their wild life. But
still now it is catches from hunters and sell at a higher price.

Passage 4

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Passage 4

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Passage 4

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH

the situation in which a

communicate with one

saving and protecting

2. Give a synonym of each word as it is used in the passage.

B: In each case, choose the best answer.

(B) captured orangutans.

3. The writer was quite convinced that orangutans

4. In their nesting habits orangutans seem to be

5. In their eating habits orangutans are

(B) only nut and bark eaters.

7. On this occasion the behavior of the orangutan seemed to confirm

9. "repossessed" orangutans are those animals that have been

(A) taken away from illegal captivity.

3. How is the orangutan different from other primates in

You might also like