Reading test for 9 D

Reading Comprehension. Ecology.

Reading Lesson – Gold In The Garbage

Hunting Treasure

The Gramacho rubbish dump in Rio de Janeiro was the biggest dump in South America until it was closed in 2012. Its closure was widely welcomed by local residents, but not everybody was happy with the decision.

Cleonice Bento was one of over 2,000 treasure hunters who used to look through the rubbish forvaluable items. The rubbish pickers depended on the dump, and many are sorry that it is no longer there.

So was it really possible to make money by searching through garbage? Absolutely—Ms. Bento once found a gold necklace among the rubbish. She sold it and was able to build her own house with the money. Geraldo Oliveira, another rubbish picker, once found $21,000 in cash. He was unable to believe what he had found at first.

“I was scared,” he says. “So I took one $100 note to a money changer to check if it was real. It was!”

Mixed Feelings

Although some rubbish pickers were unhappy with the decision to close the dump, many welcomed it, agreeing that the work was dangerous and unpleasant. The rubbish pickers receivedcompensation, and the chance to work at a new recycling centre which was built next to the site of the old dump. The former rubbish pickers now work in better conditions and earn a regular wage.

However, the rubbish pickers could make much more on the dump than they can now. At the Gramacho, rubbish pickers could make up to $1,500 per month, while the pay at the recycling centre is only around $190. Rosinete dos Santos, a former rubbish picker, says: “At the moment we are happy, but if a new dump opened, we would go back to it in a flash.”

Sorting through rubbish was hard, dangerous work, and the rubbish pickers were often discriminated against. So why do some of them feel nostalgic for the old days?

“We suffered a lot, but we were a family,” says former rubbish picker Gloria. Many rubbish pickers formed groups, who would work together and look after each other. No one misses working there, but we miss the companionship that we had.”

 Follow the link and do the tasks.http://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/reading-gold-in-the-garbage

Ex.1 True or false?

1 Not all of the rubbish pickers were unhappy with the decision to close the dump.

2. Geraldo Oliveira was able to buy a house with the money he made working on the dump.

3. Many former rubbish pickers say that they preferred working on the dump.

4.Former rubbish pickers who work at the recycling centre earn on average less than half of what they used to.

5.Gloria misses the family atmosphere of working at the dump.

Ex. 2     Complete the sentences using words from the text

1. In order to cut costs, the company announced the c _ _ _ _ _ _ of 90% of its offices around the world.
2. It’s not worth a lot of money, but this picture is the most v _ _ _ _ _ _ _ item I own.
3. The judge awarded her $1,500 in c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, plus legal costs.
4. The work pays an hourly w _ _ _ of $7.50.
5. Migrant workers, who come from the countryside looking for work, are often d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ against.