Test Yourself is where you can improve your reading skills. Whether it’s for tests like University Entrance Exams or IELTS and TOEFL, or even just for fun, these pages help you to read, understand and improve your English.
Read the following story by Melalin Mahavongtrakul from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Set Zero - a mass euthanisation or impounding to control the population of stray dogs - has been hotly debated on social media. While some feel it’s something that must be done, others see the method as inhumane and cruel.
MAKE IT HUMANE
One organisation opposing the idea is the Soi Dog Foundation, which insists that there are better alternatives. They advocate an approach known as CNVR, which stands for Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release.
The foundation believes that this method is the safest and most humane way to control the stray dog population and the spread of rabies. CNVR has been shown to work. The foundation used this approach in Phuket and it has been reported that the population of stray dogs there has fallen from 80,000 in 2003 to only 4,000-6,000 today. Phuket has also been declared rabies-free.
“The big issue with Thai pet owners is that many allow their pets to roam freely,” said John Dalley, co-founder of Soi Dog Foundation. He added that over 40 percent of dogs with rabies have owners. These owners have neglected to take simple but highly important measures like vaccinating their dogs. Even if Set Zero were to happen, it wouldn’t affect pets being raised in irresponsible homes.
Concerning the idea of pet taxation, Dalley points out that this method has been tried in other countries with no success.
“Dog taxation has never worked,” he said. “The UK used to have a dog-license fee, but few people paid it. The scheme was abandoned because it cost more to run than it gained from the revenue it collected.”
WHAT IS SET ZERO?
But are we being too quick to judge Set Zero? Veterinarian Dr Chatkaew Tridech from Talingchan Animal Hospital suggests we should pause to consider what the term really means.
“Set Zero is being interpreted differently by different groups of people and it’s causing a rift within society,” she said.
From one perspective, Set Zero means starting the regulation process anew, with a set budget, tasks delegated to different sectors and everybody working together to control the street dog population and the spread of disease.
But from another perspective Set Zero is mass extermination.
Dr Chatkaew said that there are fine details regarding nationwide euthanisation that would have to be considered before any decision can be made.
“Do we impound the dogs first and only euthanise ones carrying disease? What about the others? How many of them can the state really care for? And if they can’t be taken care of, do we gas them or simply put them to sleep by injection?” she asked.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS
One solution Dr Chatkaew feels could work instead is to give tax deductions to those who adopt stray dogs and cats. This process must be well regulated by the government to track how people care for the adopted animals and to educate and assist people when necessary.
With rabies getting such wide coverage by the media, Dr Chatkaew said her animal hospital has seen a surge in the number of people bringing their pets in for vaccination. This is a welcome change, she said, as people weren’t as aware of the issue in the past.
Section 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the article about?
a. Vaccination for stray dogs.
b. How to deal with diseased dogs.
c. The spread of rabies.
2. What is CNVR?
a. A way to handle street dogs.
b. A foundation providing medical care for dogs.
c. A virus that infects both humans and dogs.
3. Which province has successfully reduced the population of stray dogs?
a. Bangkok.
b. Phuket.
c. Krabi.
4. What suggestion does Dr Chatkaew make for dealing with the problem?
a. She suggests the CNVR method.
b. She suggests that the government provides pet owners with free vaccination and health check-ups.
c. She suggests giving tax deductions to people adopting homeless pets.
5. Who is co-founder of Soi Dog Foundation?
a. Dr Chatkaew Tridech.
b. John Dalley.
c. The story does not say.
6. What does John Dalley say about pet taxation?
a. He says he’s in favour of the idea.
b. He says it doesn’t work.
c. He says it’s the best option for solving the problem in Thailand.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?
a. Dr Chatkaew Tridech is an animal doctor.
b. Set Zero has been discussed widely on social media.
c. The Soi Dog Foundation advocates Set Zero.
Section 2
Match each of the following words used in the story with the correct definitions from the choices given.
| 8.inhumane | a. to shut up animals found on the streets |
| 9. impound | b. to say something officially or publicly |
| 10.regulate | c. to control something by means of rules |
| 11. declare | d. a serious disagreement between people that stops their relationship from continuing |
| 12. rift |
e. not caring about the suffering of other people or animals |
Section 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words form the choices given.
Vaccination …..13….. highly important in protecting pets …..14….. contracting disease. And even dogs and puppies …..15….. within a closed system can still get rabies from animals …..16….. squirrels, rabbits, rats, cats and others that wander in. Dr Chatkaew advises that, during this outbreak, pet owners and people …..17….. work with animals should get pre-exposure vaccines as a …..18….. measure for themselves. Also, be careful before …..19…..animals you don’t know.
13.
a. are
b. is
c. has
14.
a. for
b. of
c. from
15.
a. raise
b. raised
c. raising
16.
a. such as
b. so that
c. in spite of
17.
a. which
b. who
c. where
18.
a. prevention
b. prevent
c. preventive
19.
a. approach
b. approached
c. approaching
Section 4
Write down the adjective forms of the following words used in the story.
20. change
……………………
21. government
……………………
22. considered
……………………
23. simply
……………………
24. decision
……………………
Answers
Section 1
1. b.
2. a.
3. b.
4. c.
5. b.
6. b.
7. c.
Section 2
8. e.
9. a.
10. c.
11. b.
12. d.
Section 3
13. b.
14. c.
15. b.
16. a.
17. b.
18. c.
19. c.
Section 4
20. Changeable.
21. Governmental.
22. Considerate/considerable.
23. Simple.
24. Decisive.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
