Growing Deserts

10/10/2020 8:14:00 PM
Desertification threatens different areas of the planet. Image: iberdrola.com

Do you know?

  • Deserts are characterized by their lack of rainfall. They have dry soil and rapid evaporation.
  • Today, desertification has become a growing problem that the world faces. It occurs on almost every continent and affects millions of people.

What are the reasons for this issue? Let's find the answers now!

Desertification threatens different areas of the planet. Image: iberdrola.com

Listen and choose the correct answer to each of the following questions.

  • According to the passage, why is desert growth a serious problem?
  • According to the passage, which of the following doesn't cause desertification?

According to the passage, why is desert growth a serious problem?

  • Deserts destroy farmland.
  • Deserts cause air pollution.
  • Deserts reduce the amount of rain.

According to the passage, which of the following doesn't cause desertification?

  • Large animals like cows walking on soil too much
  • People cutting down too many trees
  • Too many people leaving their homes

Complete the text you are listening to by dragging the correct word to each blank.

Growing Deserts

There are deserts all over the world. They can be found in Africa, China, South America, and North America. In some places, deserts are growing. This is a problem because deserts destroy farmland and land where animals live. When people cannot grow food or find animals to eat, they have to leave their homes.

Sometimes, nature can cause deserts to spread. Wind can move sand away from deserts and onto useful land. When there is no rain for a long time, plants die and deserts grow. However, humans can also cause deserts to grow. This is called , and it happens in many ways. One way is when people cause too much air pollution, which can make an area hotter. Hotter weather can reduce the amount of rain as well. Too many people in one area can also the land. In addition, having many animals can the land. When large animals like cows walk on soil too much, they turn it into . The wind easily blows this dust away. Trees help hold water in the ground. When people too many trees, less water stays in the ground, and the soil is ruined.

All of these things can speed up desertification. To stop deserts from growing, people must think of ways to treat the land better.

Read and answer the following questions.

Growing Deserts

China's farmers on the edge of Gobe desert fight desertification by planting trees. Image: .vaticannews.va

There are deserts all over the world. They can be found in Africa, China, South America, and North America. In some places, deserts are growing. This is a serious problem because deserts destroy farmland and ruin land where animals live. When people cannot grow food or find animals to eat, they have to leave their homes.

Sometimes, nature can cause deserts to spread. Wind can move sand away from deserts and onto useful land. When there is no rain for a long time, plants die and deserts grow. However, humans can also cause deserts to grow. This is called desertification, and it happens in many ways. One way is when people cause too much air pollution, which can make an area hotter. Hotter weather can reduce the amount of rain as well. Too many people in one area can also damage the land. In addition, having many animals can harm the land. When large animals like cows walk on soil too much, they turn it into dust. The wind easily blows this dust away. Trees help hold water in the ground. When people cut down too many trees, less water stays in the ground, and the soil is ruined.

All of these things can speed up desertification. To stop deserts from growing, people must think of ways to treat the land better.

Source: Reading Challenge 1

Where are deserts found?
  • Africa and South America
  • The United States and China
  • On useful land
  • All around the world
Which is NOT a cause of desert growth?
  • No wind
  • No rain
  • Using land too much
  • Many animals
How do humans cause desert growth?
  • By causing pollution
  • By eating only vegetables
  • By planting trees
  • By moving sand
How can humans stop desert growth?
  • By using bicycles less
  • By raising more cows
  • By cutting down trees
  • By having fewer children
What is the main idea of the reading?
  • Where the world’s deserts are.
  • How people live in deserts.
  • Why some deserts are growing.
  • How cows can stop deserts from growing.

Put the right word in each blank. The sentences are from the text.

  1. In some places, deserts are growing. This is a problem because deserts destroy farmland and land where animals live. 
  2. When people too many trees, less water stays in the ground, and the soil is ruined.
  3. However, humans can also cause deserts to grow. This is called , and it happens in many ways.
  4. Too many people in one area can also the land.
  5. In addition, having many animals can the land.
  6. When large animals like cows walk on soil too much, they turn it into .

Put the right word in each blank. The sentences are from the text.

  1. Smoking seriously your health.
  2. A few years ago, the company was in trouble.
  3. The crops were by the late frost.
  4. Pollution can marine life.
  5. Some trees in his garden had been .
  6. The workers wear masks to avoid inhaling the .
  7. Trees help to prevent , as well as providing shade and firewood.