The Maldives

Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2

The Maldives is famous as a tourist destination because of its enjoyable weather, heavenly beaches and lagoons, luxurious holiday resorts and ththee peace-loving people. Being an island country, it enjoys a pleasant weather throughout the year. The Maldives has been ranked as the best country brand for natural beauty.

The Maldives is well known for being the lowest country in the world. Unfortunately, this small country with idyllic natural beauty is under threat from rising sea levels due to global warming. Most of the country is just 1.5 meters above sea level with a highest point of 2.3 meters! Many predictions have been made with respect to the Maldives being swept away by the rising water level in the Indian Ocean. It was even seen during the tsunami of 2004, that many of the island's dry parts were flooded by waters shrinking the island. The government of the Maldives has begun to purchase land from nearby countries in case the islands go under water!

In order to highlight the threats of global warming to its low-lying islands, the government of the Maldives held a cabinet meeting underwater in 2009. That was the first ever cabinet meeting in the world that took place underwater. The meeting took place about 5 meters underwater, in a blue-green lagoon on a small island. While meeting, the cabinet signed a document calling on all nations to cut their carbon emissions.

1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.      

a) The tourists have a great _____ for visiting the Maldives.

i. devotion 

ii. attraction

iii. destination 

iv. attention

b) Which of the following words best describe the weather of the Maldives?

i. unpleasant

ii. tropical 

iii. warm 

iv. enjoyable

c) The Maldives is well recognized around the world for its ______ .

i. smallness as a country 

ii. Multi-racial culture

iii. lowest land 

iv. threat of global warming

d) During the tsunami of 2004, many parts of the country were ____ .

i. submerged

ii. dried

iii. uprooted

iv. eroded

e) The word ‘idyllic’ in the phrase ‘idyllic natural beauty’ means ____ .

i. ideal

ii. very beautiful

iii. very peaceful

iv. idol shaped

f) Global warming is a ____ to the Maldives.

i. threat

ii. victim

iii. dangerous

iv. warning

g) The Maldives is faced with the threat of ____ .

i. tsunami over and over again

ii. serious water pollution

iii. disappearing from the map

iv. extinction of its aquatic animals

Answer: a) ii. attraction b) iv. enjoyable c) iii. lowest land d) i. submerged e) iii. very peaceful f) i. threat g) iii. disappearing from the map

2. Answer the following questions.                        

a) Why is the Maldives a remarkable tourist spot?

b) Why is 2008 a significant year for the Maldives?

c) What may happen to the Maldives owing to global warming?

d) What happened to the Maldives during the tsunami of 2004?

e) Do you support the idea of having a cabinet meeting underwater? What could be the reason for holding such a strange meeting?

Answers:

a) The Maldives is a remarkable tourist spot because it is famous for its pleasant weather, beautiful beaches, and blue lagoons. It also has luxurious resorts and friendly, peace-loving people. Tourists enjoy natural beauty there. 

b) 2008 is a significant year for the Maldives because in that year, the Maldives government held a cabinet meeting underwater. It was done to show the danger of global warming to the world. 

c) Owing to global warming, the sea level may rise around the Maldives. As a result, many islands may go under water in the future. 

d) During the tsunami of 2004, many dry parts of the islands were flooded. The land area of some islands became smaller. 

e) Yes, I support the idea. The meeting was held to draw world attention to the danger of global warming and rising sea levels.

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