GRADE 8 - ENGLISH EXTRA CLASS Mark

IN-CLASS HANDOUT LESSON 2

Name: ................................................. Class: 8NC5

Language focus:

- Vocabulary: Phrasal verbs

- Grammar: Subjunctive
- Skills: Reading + Writing + Listening

A. VOCABULARY

STT Phrasal verbs Meaning

1 Act out
2 Account for
Ask for st
3 Ask after
Ask sb out

Break down
4 Break into
Break out
Break up
5 Bring sb up
Bring out
Bring about
Bring back
6 Blow out
7 Build up
8 Breathe in = take in = inhale
9 Calm down
10 Clear out
11 Care for
Care about
12 Clean up
13 Call for
Call out
Call off
Call up
Carry on
Carry out
Carry away
Carry over

14 Cut down
Cut off
Cut in
Cut down on

15 Crop up
16 Come up with
Come into
Come up
Come out
Come on
Come off
Come across
Come in Come in for
Come around
Come up to

17 Dip into
18 Die out
Die of
19 Dress up

20 Drop out of
Drop in on
21 Fall over
Fall for
Fall behind
Fall back on
Fall out with
22 Fill in
Fill up
Fill out

23 Grow up
24 Jot down = note down
25 Go through
Go ahead
Go on with st = continue
with st
Go out
Go on = continue
Go away
Go back
Go back on
Go beyond
Go off
Go over
Go by
Go up >< go down
Go down with
Go in for
Go into
26 Get around
Get over
Get through
Get into
Get by
Get off
Get on

27 Give up
Give off
Give in
Give out
Give away

28 Hold up
Hold back
Hold on
Hold over

29 Hurry up

30 Hand out
Hand in
31 Keep up/pace with = catch up with
Keep on
Keep away
Keep in with

32 Look up
Look after = take care of
Look around
Look down on
Look up to
Look at
Look for
Look forward to
Look into
Look out (for)
Look over
33 Lie down
34 Lay down
35 Mull over
Make up for
Make up
36 Be made up of
Make away with
Make for
Make out
37 Pick up
38 Point at
39 Pray for
40 Pass away = die
Pass down
Pass over
41 Put up with = tolerate
Put across
Put on
Put off
Put aside
Put away
Put back
Put through
Put up
Put sb up
Put out

42 Pull down

43 Result in
44 Run on st
Run off
Run out of st
Run out
Slow down
Speed up
45 Settle down
46 Start up
47 Save up
48 Set out
Set up
Set off
49 Stand in for sb
Stand up
Stand for
Stand out
Stand up for
50 Ponder on/upon/over
51 Show off
Show up = turn up
52 Stay up
53 Spread over
54 Think back on = recall
55 Talk back to sb
56 Take after
Take off
Take in
Take out
Take away
Take on
Take over
 Take up
57 Turn on >< turn off
Turn up = show up
Turn into
Turn out
Turn down
58 Try out
Try on
59 Throw away
60 Wipe out
61 Wake up
62 Wind down = relax
63 Wait for sb/st
64 Wash away
Wash up
65 Use up = run out

PRACTICE

I. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
1. It is very important for a firm or a company to keep the changes in the market.
A. pace of B. track about C. touch with D. up with
2. The forecast has revealed that the world’s reserves of fossil fuel will have by 2015.
A. taken over B. caught up C. used off D. run out
3. We intend to with the old system as soon as we have developed a better one.
A. do up B. do in C. do away D. do down
4. Put your shoes on properly or you’ll over.
A. get B. turn C. fall D. bend
5. The teacher made a difficult question, but at last, Joe a good answer.
A. came up with B. came up to C. came up against D. came up for
6. Unexpectedly the lights and we were left in darkness.
A. turned down B. went out C. put off D. gave away
7. The train to the center of the city was by a heavy snowfall.
A. held up B. took back C. put off D. given out
8. My hat has just behind the sofa although I thought I had lost it.
A. turned up B. gone away C. run into D. come across
9. Jim’s flu again. That’s the third time this year.
A. gone down with B. put up with C. led up to D. come up with
10. Considering how little they have got in common, it’s surprising how well they ______ together.
A. get through B. get on C. get down D. get up
11. Her brother was offered the manager’s job, but he . He said he didn’t want the
responsibilities.
A. turned it off B. turned it down C. threw it away D. put it off
12. Roger Federer couldn’t the possibility of withdrawing from the championship
because of injury.
Presented by Ms. Trang Vo

A. rule out B. pass over C. come off D. do without

13. He is disappointed at not being offered the job, but I think he will it.
A. turn off B. fill in C. get over D. take after
14. Lucy was late for school this morning because the alarm didn’t as usual.
A. ring off B. go off C. get off D. take off
15. His son him so much that we can’t see any differences between them.
A. takes after B. looks up C. takes in D. looks over
16. My sister in-law is beloved by all my relatives for she can all right after
getting married.
A. get on well with B. get up C. get over D. get out of
17. I know we had an argument, but now I’d quite like to .
A. look down B. make up C. fall out D. bring up
18. Don’t worry about trying to catch last train home, as we can easily________ you for the night.
A. keep/off B. put/up C. take/out D. set/off
19. The thieves ran away when the burglar alarm .
A. went out B. went on C. went off D. went
20. Boys! Put your toys . It is time to go to bed. Don’t stay late.
A. around/for B. away/up C. down/off D. off/to
21. At present, we are an anti-drug campaign.
A. setting up for B. taking part C. joining with D. carrying out
22. You should have those shares when they were cheap.
A. taken out B. sold off C. bought up D. taken over
23. I’ll you to our research department. Please hold on.
A. put - away B. put - out C. put - through D. put - up
24. Jane’s very modest, always her success.
A. playing down B. turning around C. keeping down D. pushing back
25. Those companies were due to some seriously financial problems.
A. taken off B. set up C. wiped out D. gone over
26. Deborah is going to take extra lessons to what she missed while she was away.
A. catch up on B. cut down on C. put up with D. take up with
27. Mrs. Moore waited for the class to before she continued.
A. bring up B. pass away C. settle down D. bring on
28. I haven’t my mind where to go for our holiday this year. I am quite busy at work.
A. turn up B. made up C. break up D. changed
29. Since Carl was unable to pay his bill, after a couple of months, his telephone was
A. cut off B. broken up C. dropped off D. rung up
30. I can the house being messy, but I hate it if it’s not clean.
A. lead up to B. come up with C. go down with D. put up with
31. Belinda Harrell taking her driving test until she finally passed it on her twenty-first
attempt.
A. kept on B. cleared off C. used up D. wore out
32. James is now too old to live on his own, so he is being by his daughter.
A. found out B. brought up C. moved on D. looked after
33. We arranged to meet at the station, but she didn’t .
A. get through B. turn up C. walk out D. wait on
34. Don’t worry we’ll have to wait a little longer because I’m sure he will .
A. turn down B. turn in C. turn into D. turn up
Presented by Ms. Trang Vo

35. When they for the beach the sun was shining, but by the time they arrived it had
clouded over.
A. went out B. went off C. set off D. left out
36. When Mr. Spendthrift ran out of money, he his mother for help.
A. fell back on B. fell upon C. fell behind D. fell in with
37. If you can’t remember his phone number, you can always______it in the phone book.
A. take/down B. look/up C. find/out D. bring/about?”.
38. If a machine stops moving or working normally, you can say that it has
A. cut off B. wiped out C. seized up D. go off
39. Many people television as their main source of information and entertainment.
A. rely on B. try on C. put on D. hold
40. It was so foggy that the driver couldn’t the traffic signs.
A. make out B. break out C. keep out D. take out
41. It took me 10 years to enough money to travel around the country.
A. set out B. put away C. put by D. save aside
42. I think I should have your mother while I was passing.
A. dropped in on B. come up with C. got on with D. run into
43. They thought they could deceive me but they were wrong. I could .
A. see them off B. see off them C. see through them D. see them through
44. I’m sorry I offended you. I what I said.
A. take back B. get back C. come back D. get away
45. I hope I can you to be there if I need any help.
A. let know B. make out C. get through D. count on
46. I don’t know what we are going to if I lose this job.
A. get by B. live on C. give away D. grow up
47. He is disappointed at not winning the competition, but he will soon it.
A. take after B. get over C. look after D. go over
48. Though considered the king sport in many parts of the world, soccer has never really
A. caught on B. carried out C. taken off D. put through
49. When the manager of our company retires, the deputy manager will that position.
A. stand for B. take over C. catch on D. hold on
50. The company management decided to more workers to meet the production
schedule.
A. take on B. make out C. take over D. make up
II. Complete each sentence with the most appropriate word from the box.
put him out keep up with brought in go back take up
left out wear off looked up look after hung up
1. I won't any more of your time.
2. She from her book as I entered the room.
3. He hadn't been asked to the party and was feeling very .
4. She doesn't want to to her husband
5. Two men were for questioning.
6. Who's going to the children while you're away?
7. These pills should for a few hours.
8. The novelty of married life was beginning to .
9. After I I remembered what I'd wanted to say.
10. If you do not the payments you could lose your home.
III. Complete each sentence with the most appropriate word from the box.
Presented by Ms. Trang Vo

fell out with fell for brings back fallen behind comes up
came into fall back on over come up with dealing with
1.The manager is good at difficult customers.
2.That song such fond memories of my childhood.
3. I don't know what happened-one minute, she was talking to me, and the next minute, she just fell !
4. The moment I met my wife, I her completely.
5. I've with that show-can you tell me what happened in the latest episode?
6. With all of these medical bills, I just don't have any more money to .
7. Apparently, Gina Dave last week, and now they're not talking to each other at all.
8. The board must a plan to put the city back on its financial feet.
9. I think she all of that money when her grandmother died.
10. There are job vacancies from time to time. I'll let you know if anything .
IV. Complete each sentence with the most appropriate word from the box.
makes up went down with go in for make fun of look into
looked back on looking after went through keep up with make out
1.Schoolchildren shouldn't those who are intellectually inferior to them.
2.George his career in government with a great deal of satisfaction.
3.She walks so fast that I can never her.
4.His school had suggested he the Young Musician of the Year competition.
5.Health experts from the WHO have been striving to the origin of the
coronavirus.
6.People in the central Vietnam a deluge of natural disasters in 2020.
7.Instead of reading stories from books, Michelle’s father usually stories to lull
her to sleep.
8.It’s hard work three children all day.
9.I need glasses! I can’t what’s written on the board.
10. Three people in my neighborhood with the deadly disease in just 3 days.
V. Complete each sentence with the most appropriate word from the box.
made look to made up for for away with
keep pace with go over away down on over
1. In China’s largest psychiatric facility, there is a serious lack of resources but the staffs try hard to this in
their treatment of the patients.
2. Come here next week because the boss has gone .
3. She says she has kissed and up with Nigel, and the reunion was a fun night.
4. You should go the report before you submit it to the director of the company.
5. Certainly, man must the future, and find ways of providing for his needs.
6. The dog went him and knocked him down.
7. He smashed the window and made a number of items of jewellery.
8. Check for spellings, your analysis in your own minds just to ensure that you have
not made a monumentally large mistake.
9. My mother had social pretensions and looked most of our neighbours.
10. They say the law needs to two big changes in the marketplace.

VI. Match the sentences in the left-hand column with those in the right-hand column. Use the phrasal verbs in
bold to help you.

1. We came across this little restaurant when we were out
walking.
2. The children have come down with measles.
3. The policewoman came up to him and asked to see his
passport.
A. Oh dear. It's such an unpleasant disease.
B. He was obviously a bit nervous as the officer got
closer
C. I'm not surprised. I knew they'd get in the way. D.
Presented by Ms. Trang Vo

Really? Where did you find it?

4. Jenny came into a fortune when she was twenty-one.
E. He's always saying something unexpected.
5. Simon's come out in a rash. F. For how long had she been unconscious?

6. When we suggested moving to another office, we came up G. How could it? The phone has been disconnected
against a lot of opposition from the management. and the fax machine is broken.

7. The message came through this morning.
8. Come along, or you'll miss the bus.
9. Our team came off badly in the competition.. 10. When she
came to, she was in hospital.
11. Richard came up with a really strange idea the other day.
H. You're always in such a hurry. Let me take my
time.
I. I'm not surprised. I didn't think they'd do very well.
J. My son has developed one as well on his chest. K.
Lucky her! Who did she inherit it from?

B. GRAMMAR: SUBJUNCTIVES
I. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
1. I suggest that he up his mind quickly or else he would lose his opportunity.
A. makes B. make C. made D. is to make
2. His friends suggest that the for that job.
A. applies B. apply C. applying D. will apply
3. It's high time we about our environment.
A. did B. do C. should do D. to do
4. It is necessary that children of their old parents.
A. to take care B. takes care C. took care D. take are
5. It is essential that all students best use of learning facilities in the university,
A. make B. makes C. made D. making
6. The clients demanded that the post office earlier.
A. opening B. opened C. open D. to open
7. It is necessary that he a certificate in English?
A. will get B. gets C. get D. would get
8. I demand that I to retake the exam.
A. be allowed B. am allowed C. will be allowed D. were allowed
9. The teacher ordered that all pupils inside their classroom
A. stay B. stays C. will stay D. would stay
10. It is essential that Mai speak English.
A. is able to B. was able to C. be able to D. must be able to
11. He suggested that I kind to others.
A. am B. was C. be D . would be
12. My doctor insisted
A. that I diet B. me to diet C. for me dieting D. for me to diet
13. Everyone urged that Bill his education.
A. continue B. continuing C. to continue D. continued
14. The director requests that all packages at the central office.
A. to mail B. be mailed C. to be mailed D. mailing
15. Long may the Queen .
A. live B. lives C. living D. would live
16. It is important that you to our meeting on time.
A. to come B. should come C. would come D. come
17. It is imperative that you careful on construction site.
Presented by Ms. Trang Vo

A. to be B. were C. are D. be
18. It is advisable that she care of her ill mother.
A. to take B. takes C. take D. took
19. The teacher ordered that the students talking
A. stop B. should stop C. stopped D. A or B
20. She insisted that we our summer vacation in the countryside.
A. spend B. spent C. should spend D. A or C
21. May you happy all your life!
A. are B. were C. be D. to be
22. "Should I begin typing these letters?" "I suggest bookkeeping first".
A. you finished B. you to finish C. you finish D. you will finish
23. It is suggestion that my brother when our family are on holiday.
A. not be working B. be working C. shouldn't work D. not work
24. "Have you received the gift sent from London yet?".
"No, but it's possible that it in a few days"
A. will come B. comes C. come D. has come
25. I'd rather you that present.
A. not give B. wouldn'd give C. didn't give D. give
II. Give the right form of the verbs in brackets to complete the following sentences.
1. It's important that she (remember) to take her medicine twice a day.
2. I suggest that Frank (read) the directions carefully before assembling the bicycle. He
doesn't want the wheels to fall off while he is riding down a hill
3. Mrs. Finkelstein demanded that the heater (repair) immediately. Her apartment
was freezing.
4. It's vital that the United States (focus) on improving its public education system. What
we do now will affect our country for generations to come.
5. The monk insisted that the tourists (enter) the temple until they had removed their
shoes.
6. I am not going to sit here and let her insult me. I demand that she immediately (apologize)
for what she just said.
7. Judy asked that we (attend) her graduation ceremony next week.
8. Was it reaily necessary that (sit) I there watching you the entire time you were
rehearsing for the play? It was really boring watching you repeat the scenes over and over again.
9. It is important to remember that Janine (think) very differently from you. She may not
agree to the changes you have made in the organization of the company.
10. It's a little difficult to find the restaurant. I propose that we all (drive) together so
that nobody gets lost along the way.
11. The woman insisted that the lost child (take) to store's information desk so his
parents could be paged.
12. The nutritionist recommended that Sally (reduce) her daily fat intake.
13. The environmental leader felt it was extremely important that the people of the city (allow)
to voice their concerns over the new hotel being built on the bay.
14. She told me that the government (regulate) the airline industry. I don't know if that
is true.
15. The sign at the pool recommended that you (swim) after eating a large meal.
16. It is necessary that a life guard (monitor) the summing pool while the children are
taking their swimming lessons.
17. The sun is scorching today. I suggest you (put) on sunblock immediately before you
get a sun burn.
Presented by Ms. Trang Vo

18. John insists that Sarah (invite)
19. It is the recommendation that we (send)
remote area.
20. It is imperative that the world (work)
before the weather patterns of the world are disrrupted irreparably
to the wedding; otherwise he will not attend.
our old clothes to poor people in the
towards a solution to global warming

III. Rewrite the sentences without changing the meaning:

He appears to be running away from your fierce dog.
–> It looks……………………………………………………………………………..
2. I would love to be rich and famous.
–> If only………………………….………………………………………..………………………………………..
3. I’d love to be in a secluded beach in Mexico.
–> I wish………………………………………………………………………………..
4. I really think you ought to acquire a few manners.
–> It’s high time……………………………………………………………………………..
5. I’m really sorry I didn’t invite her to the party.
–> I really wish I………………………………..………………………………………..
6. Would you mind not smoking here?
–> I’d rather…………………………..………………………………………..………………………………………..
7. Please don’t say things like that.
–> I wish………………………………………………………………..………………………………………..
IV. Rewrite the sentences using subjunctive
1. Why don’t you ask her yourself ?
- My friend suggests that __________________________________________
2. She urged her husband to apply for the post in the government.
- She urged that her husband __________________________________________
3. They insisted on my coming early.
- They insisted that _________________________________________________
4. An accountant needs to master computer science.
- It is necessary that _________________________________________________
5. Everyone find it important for us to do something save the environment.
- It is important that we ______________________________________________
6. The headmaster insists on every schoolgirl’s wearing ao dai every Monday.
- The headmaster insists that __________________________________________
7. They advise her to eat less meat and fat to keep herself healthy.
- It is advisable that she ____________________________________________
8. Naturally, a child had better respect his parents.
- It is natural that ___________________________________________________
9. He needs to come to the interview early.
- It is necessary that ________________________________________________
10. She must find it important to take two medicines every day.
- It is important that _________________________________________________

V. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not
change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given.
1. I’m never going to forget to consider Darren's views when I make a decision again. account
=> That's the last time I........................................................when I make a decision.
2. I don’t know how on earth she thinks of such brilliant plots for her novels. come
=> How on earth....................................................such brilliant plots for her novels?
3. I’m sure Nancy is still presuming that the party starts at nine. impression
=> I’m sure Nancy...........................................................................that the party starts at nine.
4. Sean, do you know yet what you’re doing this evening? mind
=> Sean,.....................................................yet what you’re doing this evening?
5. I told Jeanne, thinking that she’d be supportive - how wrong I was! belief
=> I told Jeanne.................................that she’d be supportive - how wrong I was!
6. There’s no way that you're staying out all night with your friends, I'm afraid. question
=> Your staying out all night with your friends.........................................., I'm afraid.
Presented by Ms. Trang Vo

7. I’m glad you now see sense and agree that your parents are right. senses
=> I’m glad.............................................................and agree that your parents are right.
8. I think you think - wrongly - that this is all a conspiracy against you. misapprehension
=> I think......................................................................that this is all a conspiracy against you.

C. READING
I. Read the text below and decide which answer best fits each gap of the following
Conversations are such common, everyday events that we easily take them for GRANTED and assume that they
require no special SKILLS. Yet at some time or other , most of us have had problems talking with other people. You
may find yourself unable to get word in EDGEWAY, and feel foolish and inadequate. Sometimes you have to
interrupt rudely, and are LEFT feeling that, to other people, you must seem unpleasantly aggressive. Or having been
DESPERATE to speak, you do not know how to stop and risk being considered boring. Everyone sometimes finds it
difficult to STRIKE up conversations. The importance of being able to start conversations is obvious. To have
relationships, you have to meet people and get to know them. To get to know them, you have to talk to them. At some
point, there has to be an opening LINE, but how do you know what to say? Conversations often begin when one
person remarks, ‘Beautiful weather, isn’t it?’ or asks some other clichéd question. Conversation openers are rarely
ORIGINAL– the anxiety of making the first approach is not conducive TO creative thought – but this does not matter
what does matter is that these openers are recognized as what they are – ATTEMTPS at starting a conversation. The
words are UNIMPORTANT the fact that they have been spoken is.
0. A. ignorance B. granted C. disregard D. unawareness
1. A. qualifications B. skills C. capability D. aptness
2. A. edgeways B. runways C. highways D. roadways
3. A. placed B. caused C. left D. made
4. A. disheartened B. distressed C. despaired D. desperate
5. A. set B. strike C. build D. make
6. A. greeting B. sentence C. line D. saying
7. A. original B. customized C. shaped D. chief
8. A. for B. to C. in D. with
9. A. attempts B. efforts C. trying D. aims
10. A. nonessential B. trivial C. marginalized D. unimportant

II. Read an article about mental pain and choose the best answer to the following questions.
There is one kind of pain for which nobody has yet found a cure—the pain that comes from the ending of a
relationship. The relationship could be a marriage, a love affair, or a deep friendship; in fact, any strong emotional tie
between two people. Such a relationship may come to an abrupt end; or it may simply fade away slowly as people and
circumstances change. You may be the one to “break it off”, with a short note or a brief phone call. Or you may be on
the receiving end, like the soldier who dreads getting a “Dear John” letter from a girlfriend who has got tired of
waiting. But however it ended and whoever decided to end it, the pain is equally hard to bear. It is a sort of death, and
it requires the same period of mourning, the same time for grief.
Although there is no cure for grief, we cannot help looking for one, to ease the pain and to make us forget our
tears. We seek refuge in other relationships, we keep ourselves busy with work, we try to immerse ourselves in our
hobbies. Perhaps we start to drink more than we should to “drown our sorrows,” or we follow the conventional advice
and join a club or society. But these things only relieve the symptoms of the illness; they cannot cure it. Moreover, we
are always in a hurry to get rid of our grief. It is as if we were ashamed of it. We feel that we should be able to “pull
ourselves together.” We try to convince ourselves, as we bite on the pillow, that we are much too old to be crying.
Some people bury their grief deep inside themselves, so that nobody will guess what hey are going through. Others
seek relief by pouring their hearts out to their friends, or to anyone else who can offer a sympathetic shoulder to cry
on. But after a while, even our friends start to show their impatience, and suggest with their reproachful glances that it
is about time we stopped crying. They, too, are in a hurry for the thing to be over.
It is not easy to explain why we adopt this attitude to emotional pain, when we would never expect anyone to
overcome physical pain simply by an effort of will power. Part of the answer must lie in the nature of grief itself.
When the love affair dies, you cannot believe that you will ever find another person to replace the one who has gone
so completely out of your life. Even after many, many months, when you think that you have begun to learn to live
without your lost love, something—a familiar place, a piece of music, a whiff of perfume — will suddenly bring the
bitter-sweet memories flooding back. You choke back the tears and desperate, almost angry, feeling that you are no
better now than the day the affair ended.
1. Relationships often come to an end because ….
A. not everyone has deep feeling towards the other.
Presented by Ms. Trang Vo

B. people are not aware of the pain they can cause.

C. people do not always stay the same.
D. not many people know how to love.
2. One way to get over a broken relationship is to ….
A. make a brief phone call
B. write a “Dear John” letter
C. occupy oneself with work
D. find new hobbies
3. When seeking advice on what to do about a broken relationship, you will probably be told to …...
A. focus on individual interest
B. join a club
C. turn to acohol
D. seek happiness in other relationships
4. Often people are ashamed when they cry because ……..
A. they should have forgotten the sorrow quickly.
B. they are not strong as they think.
C. it will be judged by other people.
D. only children and babies cry.
5. You tell your friends about your sorrow because ……..
A. you want to find a feeling of reassurance.
B. you expect them to hear your story.
A. you want them to help you forget the unhappiness.
B. they are the ones who understand you the most.
6. That memories continue to upset will make you feel that you …..
A. are not that strong.
B. just pretend to forget the sorrows.
C. may live with them all life.
D. have made no progress at all.

III. Read the following passage and answer the following questions. Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
Adults and children are frequently confronted with statements about the alarming rate of loss of tropical
rainforests. For example, one graphic illustration to which children might readily relate is the estimate that rainforests
are being destroyed at a rate equivalent to one thousand football fields every forty minutes – about the duration of a
normal classroom period. In the face of the frequent and often vivid media coverage, it is likely that children will have
formed ideas about rainforests – what and where they are, why they are important, what endangers them –
independent of any formal tuition. It is also possible that some of these ideas will be mistaken.
Many studies have shown that children harbour misconceptions about ‘pure’, curriculum science. These
misconceptions do not remain isolated but become incorporated into a multifaceted, but organised, conceptual
framework, making it and the component ideas, some of which are erroneous, more robust but also accessible to
modification. These ideas may be developed by children absorbing ideas through the popular media. Sometimes this
information may be erroneous. It seems schools may not be providing an opportunity for children to re-express their
ideas and so have them tested and refined by teachers and their peers.
Despite the extensive coverage in the popular media of the destruction of rainforests, little formal information
is available about children’s ideas in this area. The aim of the present study is to start to provide such information, to
help teachers design their educational strategies to build upon correct ideas and to displace misconceptions and to plan
programmes in environmental studies in their schools.
The study surveys children’s scientific knowledge and attitudes to rainforests. Secondary school children were
asked to complete a questionnaire containing five open-form questions. The most frequent responses to the first
question were descriptions which are self-evident from the term ‘rainforest’. Some children described them as damp,
wet or hot. The second question concerned the geographical location of rainforests. The commonest responses were
continents or countries: Africa (given by 43% of children), South America (30%), Brazil (25%). Some children also
gave more general locations, such as being near the Equator.
Responses to question three concerned the importance of rainforests. The dominant idea, raised by 64% of the
pupils, was that rainforests provide animals with habitats. Fewer students responded that rainforests provide plant
habitats, and even fewer mentioned the indigenous populations of rainforests. More girls (70%) than boys (60%)
raised the idea of the rainforest as animal habitats.
Similarly, but at a lower level, more girls (13%) than boys (5%) said that rainforests provided human habitats.
These observations are generally consistent with our previous studies of pupils’ views about the use and conservation
Presented by Ms. Trang Vo

of rainforests, in which girls were shown to be more sympathetic to animals and expressed views which seem to place
an intrinsic value on non-human animal life.
The fourth question concerned the causes of the destruction of rainforests. Perhaps encouragingly, more than
half of the pupils (59%) identified that it is human activities which are destroying rainforests, some personalising the
responsibility by the use of terms such as ‘we are’. About 18% of the pupils referred specifically to logging activity.
One misconception, expressed by some 10% of the pupils, was that acid rain is responsible for rainforest destruction; a
similar proportion said that pollution is destroying rainforests. Here, children are confusing rainforest destruction with
damage to the forests of Western Europe by these factors. While two-fifths of the students provided the information
that the rainforests provide oxygen, in some cases this response also embraced the misconception that rainforest
destruction would reduce atmospheric oxygen, making the atmosphere incompatible with human life on Earth.
In answer to the final question about the importance of rainforest conservation, the majority of children simply said
that we need rainforests to survive. Only a few of the pupils (6%) mentioned that rainforest destruction may contribute
to global warming. This is surprising considering the high level of media coverage on this issue. Some children
expressed the idea that the conservation of rainforests is not important.
Pupils did not volunteer ideas that suggested that they appreciated the complexity of causes of rainforest
destruction. In other words, they gave no indication of an appreciation of either the range of ways in which rainforests
are important or the complex social, economic and political factors which drive the activities which are destroying the
rainforests. One encouragement is that the results of similar studies about other environmental issues suggest that
older children seem to acquire the ability to appreciate, value and evaluate conflicting views. Environmental education
offers an arena in which these skills can be developed, which is essential for these children as future decision-makers.
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
Write TRUE, if the statement agrees with the information.
FALSE, if the statement contradicts the information.
NOT GIVEN, if there is no information on this.
1. The media has actively propagated the plight of the rainforests.
2. The knowledge of rainforests that children absorb from schools is not totally true.
3. A majority of students believe that rainforests are mainly located in Africa.
4. The most common response to the question about the importance of the rainforests is that it is vital to plant habitats.
5. The data shows that girls are more sensitive to rainforests destruction problems than boys.
6. Most children attributed the loss of the rainforests to human activities.
7. Media has successfully raised students’ awareness of global warming.
8. Other studies on the same topic show better comprehension of students of rainforests.
Choose the correct answer A, B or C.
9. Which of the following is NOT a misconception of students about rainforests?
A. Rainforest destruction is resulted from pollution.
B. Rainforests do not only provide habitats for plants and animals.
C. Rainforest destruction will reduce the proportion of oxygen in atmosphere.
10. Which is the best title for the article?
A. The importance of the rainforests and the reasons for their destruction.
B. Children’s perception of rainforests: right and wrong knowledge.
C. Children’s ideas about the rainforests and the implications for course design.

Read the text below and use ONE word which best fits each gap of the following questions. Write your answers
in the corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
If you were to stop people in the street and ask them to name a ship that had been (1) ____________, it is nearly that
all of them would say the Titanic. For the sinking of the Titanic was, if (2) ____________ the most tragic, certainly
the most famous sea (3) ____________ in the history of ocean travel.
The Titanic was (4) ____________ as a luxury liner, intended to be the fastest in the world, and great deal of publicity
had surrounded it. The (5) ____________ point probably explains why so many important people from all (6)
____________ of life were on the boat when it went down.
The Titanic was on its (7) ____________ voyage to America in 1912 when it struck an (8) ____________ and sank.
Of its 2,300 passengers, more than two-thirds were (9) ____________. Because the Titanic was thought to be virtually
unsinkable, no one was prepared for the tragedy. There was total as few of the passengers had bothered to learn the
necessary drill in the event of trouble. There was severe (10) ____________ of lifeboats and those that were launched
were still half-empty.

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