Level L/M English Reading and Directed Writing

IGCSE Second Language

Term 2 Practice

Directions: Read the text below and answer the questions that follow on a separate sheet of paper.

Rats!
1. When one thinks of rats, what comes to mind? The much-quoted statistic that we are never further than a
metre from one of these creatures, the Bubonic Plague that took the lives of one third of the population in
medieval Europe, or simply the fact that many of us are frightened by their appearance?

2. Although rats receive a great deal of bad publicity, some people do not regard them as a menace. One such
person is Olivier Leferver, who has been keeping rats as pets since he was 11. ‘I have always been
astounded by these creatures’ intelligence. Show them how to perform a trick once and they memorise it
almost immediately,’ he says as one of his pets sits contentedly on his shoulder and another lies asleep in his
lap. ‘People often despise things they are ignorant of, but scientists have realised a rat’s ability to problem
solve, and many important scientific breakthroughs would not have occurred without the help of my friends
here,’ he says, stroking the rat on his shoulder. He adds, ‘ Although very curious animals, rats are also shy
and prefer to run away than confront a potential threat.’

3. ‘Did you know that rats can chew through wood, metal and even some types of concrete?. Domesticated
ones form strong bonds with their owners; one even saved a man from being overwhelmed by smoke in a
house fire by nipping his ear until he became conscious – you see, people don’t know these things. Wild rats
will even care for a sick member of their pack.’

4. Olivier is a fountain of knowledge. He is able to reel off facts such as rats can go longer than a camel
without water, and fall over 4 metres without being injured. ‘In Western societies, a rat is associated with
dishonesty and cunning,’ he tells us, ‘but in other cultures, particularly Asian, rats are viewed as having
favourable characteristics like honesty, hard work, intelligence and good luck. They are not considered dirty
or undesirable at all. Rats are extremely clean animals, spending several hours every day grooming
themselves and their group members. They are less likely than cats or dogs to catch and transmit parasites
and viruses. They are even an important part of Eastern spirituality; the Year of the Rat is the first year of
the Chinese zodiac.’ ‘Furthermore rats are recognised as the vehicle of Lord Ganesh in Indian tradition.
They are worshipped at the Karni Devi Temple, where priests and pilgrims will feed them grain and milk.’

5. As he stokes on of his many pets, he adds, ‘Rats need friends, without companionship rats tend to become
lonely and depressed. Rats look to play and be touched; they are ticklish like humans. When rats are happy
and fulfilled, rats have been observed to chatter or grind their teeth. This is often accompanied by vibrating
eyes and rats make happy “laughter” sounds when they play.’

6. ‘So, what are your feelings about rats being used in scientific experiments?’ I ask him. ‘It’s good that they
have much to offer mankind,’ he says. ‘ Rats were the first mammalian species specifically domesticated to
be used in the laboratory. Two centuries ago, the brown rat Rattus norvegicus was used by scientists to
understand human physiology and medicine, concentrating on the effects of food and oxygen deprivation.
Rats are an ideal choice for many labs due to their physiological similarity to humans. Also, since rats are
easier to feed and smaller in size than other complex mammals, such as primates, they are a more
convenient option for many researchers. ‘Their amazing memories, rapid learning ability, curiosity and
friendliness make them ideal not only for research but for other services to humans, such as sniffing out
landmines and bombs, as well as identifying tuberculosis. They can even be used in search and rescue
 missions. Rats have excellent memories. Once they learn a navigation route, they won’t forget it. I read the
other day that Canadian and British researchers have found a way to get rats to reason like human gamblers
– something that they hope will help them develop drug treatments for addicted gamblers. Their ability to
assess risks in decision making is very advanced.’ I am stunned by all that I have heard. So when it is time
to leave, the fear factor has left me, and I look differently at Olivier’s friend perched jauntily on his
shoulder.
Passage amended from 0500/23/O/N/10

Section A: Reading

Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Do not write on the question paper. Write your
answers in your notebooks.
1. What does the statement ‘that we are never further than a metre from one of these creatures’ imply about the
population of rats worldwide?

2. Explain, in your own words, the evidence presented in paragraph 3 that shows the bond pet rats share with
their owners.

3. Explain, in your own words, how the view of the rat in Asian cultures differs from that of the West.

4. What are three reasons rats can survive almost anywhere?

5. How can rats help save the lives of people and soldiers in war zones?

6. Explain, in your own words, why rats are excellent research subjects.
Find a word or phrase in the text that has a similar meaning to the following words and phrases.
a) pest (paragraph 2)
b) nibble at (paragraph 3)
c) positive (paragraph 4)
d) cheerily (paragraph 6)

Section B: Directed Writing

You have recently learned some interesting facts about rats and believe that more people should have rats as
pets. Write an article for your school article encouraging fellow students to consider the benefits of having a pet
rat.
Your article should be 100-150 words in length.