(Template) Englishdaily626 - Comprehension - 303

The earth is losing its forests. Presently, trees cover about 30 percent of the fertile.
ile. the leaves of the trees and the droppings of the birds, animals and
earth's surface, but they are being destroyed at an alarming rate, especially in insects which live in them, fall to the ground, where they decay and replenish
the tropics. Timber harvesting is a major reason for the destruction of forests. the soil with mulch, minerals and manure.
Trees are used for building houses, making furniture, and providing pulp for
paper products, such as newspapers and magazines. At least 40 hectares of Forests are also rich in flora and fauna. The rainforests are home to over half
rainforest are being felled every minute, mostly in order to extract valuable of the entire species of the world. Plants and creatures are God's gift to
timber. mankind. For example, plants are the source of our clothes; even the rubber
used for tyres comes from trees. Plants are also the source of sugar, coffee,
Another way that man is destroying the world's forests is by burning them tea, rice, wheat and many delicious and nutritious fruit.
down. In the Amazon, for example, rainforests are being burnt down at a rate
of 20 hectares a minute. The main reason for this is to clear the land for In addition, most of the medicines that have been used by men are derived
farming. Farmers in rainforest countries are often poor and cannot afford to from plants and animals. Chinese medicines, such as ginseng and ginkgo, are
buy land. Instead, these farmers clear rainforests so they have land to raise herb-based. Even the modern Western medicine drug 'vincristine' used in the
their animals or grow their crops. Unfortunately, tropical rainforest soil can treatment of leukaemia, is derived from a jungle plant. Many of those species
sometimes be so poor in nutrients, farmers cannot reuse the same land year that have not yet been discovered may very likely cure cancer, AIDS, and
after year. As a result, farmers just clear more land, destroying the forest piece many of the other diseases and virus-based illnesses of today. In fact, one
by piece. Already more than 30 tropical countries have reached a critical level research scientist in the field of botany has concluded that in Costa Rica's
of forest destruction and one-time exporters of timber such as Nigeria and forests alone, 15 percent of the plant species may have the potential as a
Thailand now have to import timber for their domestic needs. treatment for cancer. What potential life-saving medicines are we losing each
day as the forests are being destroyed?
Should we be concerned and worried about the loss of forests? Yes, we
should. Healthy trees are a vital part of the environment and keep the balance Apart from all this, let us keep in mind the most basic function of trees, which
of the atmosphere agreeable to all life forms. Forests are catchment areas for is that they provide oxygen. All living creatures need to breathe oxygen in
rainwater, holding the rainwater in the leaves of the trees so that it will not sink order to stay alive. A treeless planet will be an airless planet and, therefore, a
so quickly into the earth's crust. Furthermore, the forests help maintain the dead one.
water cycles in the area. The masses of clouds that provide the rain are
formed over the moist forests. Thus, the destruction of forests may also lead
to a reduction in rainfall over the area, resulting in drought. 1. State two main ways that forests are being destroyed. [2]
Forests also protect and feed the earth's fragile mantle of soil. Tees curb soil
erosion. Without the tree cover, the land is totally exposed to the agents of
erosion, such as strong winds and heavy rainfall. The strong winds blow away
the top layers of the soil and the flowing water carries it away into the rivers, 2. What is the main purpose for the burning of the trees in the forests of the
lakes or sea. Consequently, the once fertile land is converted into a barren Amazon? [1]
wasteland. In addition, denuded hill slopes are vulnerable to landslides, which
can be catastrophic disasters, resulting in the loss of homes and lives.
Apart from preventing soil erosion and landslides, forests, with their abundant
supply of leaves, give compost back to the land, thus helping it to remain
3. What point is the writer trying to show in mentioning the fact that Nigeria
and Thailand have to import timber? [1]
4. Explain why the destruction of forests may lead to drought. [2]
5. Find a word in this paragraph which means "very important". [1]
6. Why is soil erosion a greater problem in areas that have been cleared of
forests? [2]
7. Explain the meaning of "... denuded hill slopes ...".[2]
8. What is 'vincristine'? [1]

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(Template) Englishdaily626 - Comprehension - 303

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The earth is losing its forests. Presently, trees cover about 30 percent of the fertile.

4. Explain why the destruction of forests may lead to drought. [2]

5. Find a word in this paragraph which means "very important". [1]

7. Explain the meaning of "... denuded hill slopes ...".[2]

8. What is 'vincristine'? [1]

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