Section A Reading Skills (10 Marks)

1. Read the following passage carefully.                                                                    (10)

(1) Currently, humanity is facing major environmental, social and economic problems worldwide. To address these global issues on an international cross-border level and to create a more sustainable and better future for all, the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Each of the SDGs has indicators that are used to measure progress towards achieving the goals. The individual goals do not stand alone but rather influence each other and are closely linked; each goal addresses environmental, social and economic problems.

(2) It is particularly important how the SDGs are perceived, accepted and evaluated by people worldwide. In this context, there have been several surveys conducted in recent years, some with varying results. While awareness of the SDGs has increased globally compared to their predecessor, i.e., the Millennium Development Goals, 63% of the respondents in a survey of 28 European countries said they had never heard of the SDGs. Globally, awareness of the SDGs is approximately 50%; however, only 1% of people say they are very well informed about the SDGs. There are also regional differences in the assessment of the individual goals. Globally, 'climate action', 'good health' and 'well-being and quality education' are considered particularly important. In another survey, 'zero hunger', 'clean water and sanitation' and 'no poverty' were selected as the most important SDGs. Young people in particular are more likely to have heard of the SDGs, and for them, quality education is particularly important. In general, people around the world have a high level of acceptance about the content of the SDGs.

(3) The education system has an important role in raising awareness of the SDGs and in teaching skills and values that lead to more sustainable behaviour. Therefore, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has developed learning objectives for the SDGs to support teachers and learners. Tertiary educational institutions are particularly important in this regard, as they educate the next generation of decision-makers who will have a critical impact on the future of the planet. Universities, through their education and influence, contribute directly to the achievement of a whole range of SDGs. In recent years, there has been a strong increase in sustainability programmes at universities, with a particular focus on student attitudes; however, there is wide divergence between programmes. Despite the recent surge of sustainability in higher education, students generally have limited knowledge of the SDGs. Higher education institutes, such as universities, have a special responsibility worldwide because they shape future leaders, decision-makers, professionals and intellectuals in various academic fields.

(4) In addition to educating the next generation of decision-makers, which is most likely the most important factor, universities also make an important contribution to achieving the SDGs through research, public engagement or university policy. They can influence politicians and industry leaders with their clear and unbiased information and reach a wide audience in the general population.

(5) While elite positions in society can be reached independently of having a university education, universities provide knowledge and technical skills that significantly increase the likelihood that a person will achieve such a socially relevant position. Therefore, students, as potential future decision-makers of society, contribute greatly to the achievement of the SDGs and have an impact on the major problems of humanity and thus on the future of the planet. Until now, however, there has been a lack of valid international research that examines the perspective of students in the natural and sustainable sciences on the various SDGs.

Answer the following questions based on the above passage.

(i) What is the predecessor of Sustainable Development Goals?                          (1)

(ii) Complete the following with the correct option from the two given. Globally, only 1% of the people are …….                                                                                                   (1)

(A) highly educated   

(B) very well informed about SDGs

(iii) According to paragraph 5, there is a lack of what?                                        (2)

(iv) Which of the following SDGs is the most important for young people according to the

author?                                                                                                                        (1)

(a) Quality education

(b) Zero hunger

(c) No poverty

(d) Climate action

(v) State whether the following statement is True or False. Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the United Nations in 2015?                                                        (1)

(vi) The passage includes some words that are opposites of each other. From the sets (a) to (e) below, identify two sets of antonyms.                                                                         (1)

(a) Clear and unbiased

(b) Surge and downfall

(c) Accepted and evaluated

(d) Globally and locally

(e) Future and intellectual

(vii) What would be a good title for the above article? Justify your choice.            (2)

(viii) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option............                               (1)

In paragraph 4, the words that mean 'free from preconceptions' are.

(a) engagement

(b) unbiased

(c) influence

(d) None of these