EXERCISES READING COMPREHENSION

Answer all questions following a passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that
passage.

Questions 1-6 refer to following passage

The desert, which already occupy approximately a foutrh of the Erath's land surface, have in
recent decades been increasinh at an alarming pace. The expansion of desertlike conditions
into areas where they did not previously exist is called desertification. It has been estimated
that an additional one-fourth of the Earth's land surfae is the threatened by this process.

Desertification is accomplished primarily through the loss of stabilizing natural vegetation

and the subsequent accelerated erosion of the soil by wind and water. In some cases the loose
soil is blown completely away, leaving a stony surgace. In other cases, the finer particles may
be removed, while the sand-sized particles are accumulated to form mobile hills or ridges of
sand.

1. What is the main idea of paragraph 1?

A. The desert occupy approximately a fourth of the Earth's land surface
B. Desertification is a dangerous phenomenon that threatens the Earth
C. The loose soil is blown completely away, leaving a stony surface
D. Desertification will never endanger the Earth

2. What is most suitable title for the topic?

A. The soil of the Earth
B. Desertification
C. Desert
D. The loose soil

3. The word they in the paragraph 1 refers to...

A. the desertlike condition
B. the area
C. the expansion
D. d. desertification
4. The word threatened in the paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to...
A. restricted
B. endangered
C. prevented
D. rejected

5. What is meant by desertification?

A. The increasing of desert area on Earth
B. The erosion of the soil by the flood and fire
C. The expansion of desertlike conditions into areas where they did not previously exist
D. The deserts that occupy approximately a fourtj of yhe Earth's land surface

6. According to paragraph 2, the loss of natural vegetation has which of the following
consequences for soil?
A. Increased stony content
B. Refuced water absorption
C. Increased numbers of spaces in the soil
D. Reduced water run off