Basic Level English Exam MARIJUANA

Transcription

1 Basic Level English Exam MARIJUANA Sample 1 The use of marijuana has ancient and honorable roots. As early as 3000 B.C., the Chinese used it as a folk medicine and prescribed derivatives of Cannabis Sativa - the plant from which marijuana (and hashish) is extracted - for migraine headaches, asthma, and other sicknesses. In the U.S., medications containing cannabis were used as sedatives, pain relievers, and cough medicines even in the 20th century. Currently cannabis is being taken seriously as a possible treatment for glaucoma and asthma and for the relief of nausea and anxiety among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Many countries, including Israel, have recently legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes. 2 In Israel, a medical marijuana program is existent; however patients must meet certain requirements. The categories include patients suffering from nausea induced by chemotherapy or those in the later stages of HIV. Trials have also been conducted by the army for soldiers experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. In 2015 the Ministry of Health announced that more doctors will be able to prescribe medical marijuana to their patients, and that it may soon be available at pharmacies. Around 22,000 Israelis are currently eligible for medical marijuana. The procedure today in which patients with permission get their cannabis directly from the handful of authorized growers can be unsafe. When growers sell cannabis directly to patients, they don t know what other drugs the patient is taking and what interactions there might be. When cannabis will be supplied by pharmacies, the pharmacists can explain the side effects and possible interactions to the patients The marijuana plant contains more than 400 substances, many of which scientists have not analyzed completely. The main active ingredient is called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is concentrated in the flowering tops of the plant. Hashish is prepared from the plant resin, and it has about eight times more THC than marijuana. THC has several immediate physiological effects. it increases the heart rate to beats per minute, and it makes the whites of the eyes redden because it dilates the small blood vessels. Mentally, marijuana produces euphoria, a sense of relaxed well-being, and also slows perception of the passage of time

2 4 Today, United States law no longer classifies marijuana as a narcotic, but lists it as a drug with high potential for abuse. Israel considers marketing cannabis illegal; however police tend to be more tolerant when marijuana is only for personal use. The amount defined by the law "for personal use" is 15g of marijuana and hashish. Law enforcement against marijuana abuse is not very strict. There are many countries in the world that consider the use and dealing of marijuana an offence punishable by death! Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore and China all have executed people for using and selling hashish If marijuana were an antibiotic or some less controversial drug, medical researchers would have long ago decided just how hazardous it is. But marijuana continues to arouse heated discussions. Even the scientists have taken sides on the marijuana issue, and their studies seem to confirm their own attitudes. For almost every piece of research showing that marijuana poses a risk, there is at least one that shows that it is safe Some of the research links marijuana to many potentially serious health problems. They include lung damage and possibly cancer, mental and neurological disturbances, defects in the body's ability to fight disease, impaired sexual performance and the threat of chromosome damage and birth defects. Until more research has been done, even the most broad-minded scientists agree that marijuana should be considered a health hazard The rapidly increasing use of marijuana by young people adds to the concern. The teens is a period of ego growth, of acquiring skills in coping and achieving independence, and it is not clear whether this drug has any effect on the development of these skills. However, some psychologists believe that the 'marijuana menace' has been somewhat exaggerated. There has never been a death attributed to marijuana, but 1,000 deaths a year can be blamed on aspirin The controversy over marijuana centers on the long-term results of frequent use. That is what most researchers have been trying to establish during the past decade, with largely conflicting results. One scientist found that blood-cells from marijuana smokers showed irregularities, which suggests it causes genetic damage. Other studies demonstrated that rats fed THC gave birth to offspring with birth defects. Furthermore, Dr. James Sobber of UCLA reported that males who were heavy users of marijuana had lowered levels of the male hormone testosterone as well as reduced sperm production. Women who smoked marijuana heavily, he found, had slightly shorter 50 55

3 fertile cycles, or even failed to ovulate in some cases. 9 Alarming as these findings were, other scientists have dismissed them. Some studies actually contradict the earlier findings. For example, volunteers who smoked marijuana showed no significant chromosome abnormalities. Other researchers discovered that marijuana had no effect on men's testosterone levels. Moreover, there has been no increase in the frequency of birth defects among the children of marijuana users. 10 Contrary to the long-held doctrine of the anti-marijuana forces, marijuana does not cause addiction in the sense that narcotics do, nor does its use lead inevitably to a craving for hard drugs. But heavy marijuana use has been blamed for serious psychological problems, including psychosis, criminal behavior, and impaired intellectual function. Heavy use of marijuana may lead to apathy, impaired concentration, and a diminished ability to complete complex tasks. 11 Most investigators now agree that both marijuana and alcohol can impair coordination and judgment among its users. Like alcohol intoxication, marijuana weakens reading comprehension, memory, speech, problem-solving ability, and reaction time. However, unlike marijuana use, alcoholism causes liver diseases such as sclerosis of the liver, which is often incurable and may lead to death. Alcoholics may deteriorate physically and emotionally to the point where they often become poor and sometimes homeless. There is no evidence that this is the case with marijuana users. 12 Statistics show that more crimes are connected to illegal drugs including marijuana than are to alcohol. This fact supports the claim that cannabis should be legalized. Many people now believe that not only will it reduce illegal trade and associated crime, but it will provide a valuable taxsource: one billion dollars annually in tax dollars. Public opinion in the USA is rapidly changing. In the past, a minority of Americans supported legalization. More recently, Americans clearly show increased support for the legalization of marijuana The full dangers posed by marijuana will probably not be known for years. However, the present implication that the drug is no worse and perhaps even better than alcohol, hardly justifies approving its use carelessly. President Obama has stated I don t think marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol. He has admitted to using the drug in his youth. However, he adds It s not something I encourage, and I ve told my daughters I think it s a bad idea, a waste of time, and not very healthy." 80 85

4 BASIC LEVEL ENGLISH Sample Exam Name 1. The purpose of the first paragraph is to MARIJUANA Questions Each question = 5 points marijuana. give examples of Chinese and US medical uses of.ב time. explain that marijuana has been used for medical purposes throughout.ג today. contrast the different uses of marijuana in the past and.ד marijuana. explain why many states have recently legalized the use of 2. Which of the following are potential medicinal uses of marijuana today (paragraph 1)? medicines. as sedatives and cough.ב headaches. for migraine.ג medicine. as a folk.ד chemotherapy. for nausea relief from 3. According to paragraph 3, marijuana affects our minds by rate. increasing heart.ב relaxation. creating a sensation of.ג effects. causing physiological.ד vessels. dilating small blood 4. According to paragraph 3, marijuana affects the body by vessels. dilating the small blood.ב euphoria. producing.ג well-being. giving a sense of relaxed.ד rate. decreasing the heart 5. Which connector could best fill the blank in line 24? However.ב In comparison.ג Moreover.ד For instance 6. According to the information in paragraph 4, we can infer that in Israel, police arrest people who hashish. sell.ב marijuana. have 15 grams of.ג marijuana. use too much.ד parties. smoke cannabis at

5 7. From paragraph 5 the reader can understand that marijuana study. is not difficult to analyze and.ב research poses a risk.ג substance. remains a controversial.ד drug. is generally considered a safe 8. Most scientists accept the fact that marijuana is harmful. According to paragraph 6, the above statement is safe. True - Most scientists agree that marijuana is.ב proven. False - The dangerous effects of marijuana have not yet been.ג harmless. True - It is too early to say marijuana is.ד cancer. False - It is only a possible cause of 9. In paragraph 7, aspirin is given as an example of a drug that marijuana. is similar to.ב skills. affects teen coping.ג about. psychologists worry.ד dangerous. has proven to be 10. Researchers disagree on the results of smoking marijuana for an extended period of time. According to paragraph 8 and 9, the above statement is defects. False because rats fed THC gave birth to offspring with birth.ב conclusions. True since research has produced conflicting.ג smokers. False since studies have shown damaged blood cells in marijuana.ד decade. True because researchers have been working on this issue for over a 11. What does the word them in line 57 refer to? scientists.ב rats.ג studies.ד findings 12. The research in paragraph 9 the studies discussed in the previous paragraph. does not relate/refer to.ב analyzes problems discussed in.ג negates the findings of.ד agrees with the outcome of

6 13. What does the word its in line 63 refer to? marijuana.ב narcotics.ג long-held doctrine.ד addiction 14. According to paragraph 10, psychosis and criminal behavior exemplify marijuana. cravings for hard drugs initiated by.ב drugs. impaired intellectual function produced by.ג marijuana. the severe psychological problems caused by.ד use. behaviors not connected to drug 15. What is the main idea of paragraph 10? drugs. Marijuana does not necessarily lead to hard.ב concentration. Too much use of marijuana may lead to apathy and impaired.ג addiction. Marijuana is not the same as narcotics because it doesn t cause.ד problems. Even though marijuana is not addictive, it can causes serious Questions 16 and 17. Fill in the chart using information from paragraph 11. Similarities between alcohol and Differences between alcohol and marijuana use marijuana use Question 16 Question slows reaction time.ב improves speech.ג leads to death.ד causes liver sclerosis weakens problem solving ability.ב emotional and physical decline.ג impairs reading comprehension.ד improves judgment 18. Legalization of marijuana, according to its supporters, will lead to (paragraph 12) behaviors. a rise in criminal.ב opinion. changes in public.ג dollars. losses of billions of.ד revenue. increases in tax

7 19. According to paragraph 13, the reader can understand that alcohol use is probably less harmful than marijuana. According to the last paragraph, the above statement is understood. True, since alcohol's effects are better.ב cannabis. False, because alcohol is more dangerous than.ג illegal. False, since approval of marijuana is still.ד today. True, because more people are using marijuana 20. The main question that this text tries to answer is marijuana? Which is better for your health - alcohol or.ב legalized? Should marijuana be.ג marijuana? How safe is.ד marijuana? How can we educate children not to use