Reading Exercise for Concrete Supporting Details

World Refugees

Duc Trong knew that the voyage would be risky, but he also knew that he had no choice. If he, and his family, stayed in the country, there was little hope for their future. So, one night, he, his wife, and ten other members of his family boarded a small, rickety boat, taking with them only what they could carry, and set sail along with thirty-six other Vietnamese. Their voyage was a nightmare. Before they reached safety, they were attacked by two different groups of pirates, and during a terrible storm, their supplies were washed overboard. Eleven of the older people died, and the survivors were delirious from lack of food and water.

The rising tide of refugees around the world is rapidly becoming a flood. According to figures published by the United Nations, there are more than 6.2 million refugees and an additional 2.6 million people who are classified as “displaced persons”. That makes a total of nearly 9 million.

No corner of the Earth is without a refugee problem although the African continent has so far produced the greatest number. Ethiopia, with its 1.6 million refugees, has produced 3 times as many refugees as Vietnam and Cambodia combined. The Middle East has its Palestinian and, more recently, Afghan refugees. In the Western Hemisphere, Haiti, Cuba and the Central American countries of El Salvador and Guatemala are producing refugees by the thousands.

The refugees present problems not only for themselves but also for the countries that take them in. As Victor Palmieri, the US coordinator for refugee affairs, has put it, “The worldwide refugee explosion is a massive tragedy in human terms and a growing crisis in financial terms for the countries bearing the burden.”

What was the total number of people in Duc Trong's family who left Vietnam?
1. 36
2. 10
3. 12
What was the condition of the boat that they escaped in?
1. Very poor
2. Good
3. Excellent
Why were the survivors delirious?
1. They had eaten bad food.
2. They had not had enough food and water.
3. They were so happy to have survived.
In the second paragraph, the writer uses the term "rising tide" to show that:
1. The number of refugees is increasing and it is a process we cannot stop.
2. Many of the refugees are escaping by sea and arriving in another country at a beach.
3. The number of refugees is increasing, but like the tide, it will go up and then down.
In the second paragraph, the writer uses the term "flood" to suggest that:
1. We can solve the problem by getting in boats.
2. Like a real flood, it may do some damage, but eventually, the problem will go away.
3. The problem will become so serious that we won't be able to do anything about it.
The figures quoted in the second paragraph are published by:
1. The UN
2. The EU
3. The BBC
Which part of the world produces the most refugees?
1. Central America
2. Asia
3. Africa
Apart from being a human tragedy, the refugee problem is also:
1. A serious military problem.
2. A serious financial problem for the countries that have to help the refugees.
3. A terrible burden for America.