Unit 9 - DESERTS - Test 1

Deserts can be defined as areas that receive ________ average annual precipitation of less than 50 mm.. Three great stretches of sandy deserts almost circle the center of Australia.. Ra

Unit 9_ DESERTS

TEST 1

Choose the word which has the underlined part pronounced differently from the rest.

1 a grasses b stretches c comprises

d potatoes

2 a lie b wide c circle

d comprise

3 a compound b route c house

d south

4 a dune b hummock c shrub

d buffalo

5 a west b between c growth

d which

Choose a, b, c, or d that best completes each unfinished

sentence, substitutes the underlined part, or has a close

meaning to the original one

6 Sahara of Africa is the world's largest desert.

a Ø / the b The / Ø c A / an

d The / an

7 Deserts can be defined as areas that receive average

annual precipitation of less than 50 mm

d Ø

8 The Sahara contains complex linear dunes that are by

almost 6 kilometers

a developed b separated c lay

d located

9 A _ is a landscape or region that receives very little

precipitation

a dune b desert c sandy area d shrub land

10. Deserts are often composed of and rocky surfaces

sand

11. Three great stretches of sandy deserts almost circle the center

of Australia

a dunes b valleys c lands

d areas

12. Deserts are also classified by their location and dominant weather pattern

a geographical b aerial c sandy

d facial

13. Thanks to pictures taken by satellites, deserts have not

a mystery in our time

a hidden b intended c remained

d attained

14. Deserts take one-third of the Earth's land surface

a up b on c over d after

15. The Simpson Desert was named _ Mr Simpson,

President of the South Australian Branch of the Royal

Geographical Society of Australia

16. In 95, Peveril Meigs divided desert regions Earth categories according to the amount of precipitation they received

a through / in b from / with c on / into

d in / for

17. More and more are very excited at discovering as many interesting things in the deserts as possible

a explores b explorations c explorers d exploratory

18. Can you make a estimate of how much our

expedition in the desert may be?

a rough b roughly c roughing

d roughen

19. After Peter had returned from the Sahara desert, he was

confined to bed by a disease

a mystery b mysterious c mysteriously d

mysteriousness

20. I want to work as an interpreter in the future, , I am studying Russian at university

a but b so c however d

therefore

21. I am going shopping for food this evening I do not have to go at the weekend

a so b but c however d moreover

22. When she got the news from her family, she could not do

anything, cry

a but b and c so d however

23. Mrs Lindon has that she is unable to get a job

a but not enough education b so little education

c however little education d such little education

24. That small car, , is advertised in many current

magazines

a so inexpensive and comfortable

b however inexpensive and comfortable

c inexpensive but comfortable

d and inexpensive but comfortable

25. We live in the same building we have hardly seen each other

a and b therefore c but

d so

26. I went to buy a Rolling Stones CD the shop didn't have it

a and b but c therefore

d so

27. Anna needed some money, , she took a part-time job

a furthermore b moreover c however

d therefore

28. Julie has a guitar she plays it really well

a and b so c but d therefore

29. My fingers were injured my sister had to write the note for me

30. The concert was cancelled we went to a nightclub instead

a so b however c so on

d but

Error Identification.

31 Desert is a large area of land that has very little water however

very few

A B C

plants growing on it (and)

D

32 Rain falls occasionally in deserts so desert storms are often violent.

A B (but) C D

33 The Nile River, the Colorado River, but the Yellow River flow through

A (and) B

deserts to deliver their sediments to the sea.

C D

34 Deserts may have underground springs, rivers, or reservoirs they lie

A B

close to the surface, or deep underground (that / which)

C D

35 Most plants in deserts have adapted to sporadic rainfalls in a

desert

A B C

environments (environment)

D

Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer.

A desert is a hostile, potentially deadly environment for unprepared humans In hot deserts, high temperatures cause rapid loss of water due to sweating, and the absence of water sources with which to replenish it can result in dehydration and death within a few days In addition, unprotected humans are also at risk from heatstroke

Humans may also have to adapt to sandstorms in some deserts, not just in their adverse effects on respiratory systems and eyes, but also in their potentially harmful effects on equipment such as filters, vehicles and communication equipment Sandstorms can last for hours, sometimes even days

Despite this, some cultures have made hot deserts 'their home for thousands of years, including the Bedouin, Tuareg tribe, and Pueblo people Modern technology, including advanced irrigation systems, desalinization and air conditioning, has made deserts much more

hospitable, In the United States and Israel for example, desert farming has found extensive use

In cold deserts, hypothermia and frostbite are the chief hazards,

as well as dehydration in the absence of a source of heat to melt ice for drinking Falling through pack-ice or surface ice layers into freezing water is a particular danger requiring emergency action to prevent rapid hypothermia Starvation is also a hazard; in low temperatures the body requires much more food energy to maintain body heat and to move As with hot deserts, some people such as the Inuit have adapted to the harsh conditions of cold deserts

36. The text is about

a troubles that human beings have to face in a desert

b desert storms and desert inhabitants

c hot deserts and cold deserts in the United States

d desert hospitality and environment

37. Which is not a problem for an unprepared man in a hot desert?

a sandstorm b loss of water c irrigation d heatstroke

38. Sandstorms

a do no harm to machinery

b have effects only on the eyes

c never lasts more than one hour

d have bad effects on both human beings and machinery

39. Which sentence is true?

a No one can survive in both hot and cold deserts

b Modern technology makes deserts more hospitable.

c In the United States, all deserts are quite uninhabited

d There are no deserts in Israel

40. Which is not a problem in cold deserts?

a Starvation b Hypothermia c Frostbite d Body heat

Fill in each numbered blank with one suitable word or phrase.

Desert biomes are the (4) _ of all the biomes In fact, the most important characteristic of a desert is that it receives very little (4) _ Most deserts receive less than 00 mm a year compared (4) rainforests, which receive over ,000 mm That means that the desert only gets 0 percent of the rain that a rainforest gets! The temperature in the desert can (44) _ drastically from day to night because the air is (45) _ dry that heat escapes rapidly at night The daytime temperature averages 8°C (46) _ in some deserts it

can get down to -4°C at night The temperature also varies greatly depending on the (47) _ of the desert

Since desert conditions are so severe, the plants that live there need to have (48) _ to compensate for the lack of water Some plants, such as cacti, (49) _ water in their stems and use it very slowly, while others like bushes conserve water by growing few leaves or by having large root systems to gather water or few leaves Some desert plant species have a short life cycle of a few weeks that (50) _ only during periods of rain

41. a coldest b hottest c driest d wettest

42. a rain b rainfall c raindrop d raincoat

43 a with b for c about d in

44 a change b exchange c transform d transfer

45. a such as b such c so much d so

because

47. a part b region c area

d location

48 a adaptations b agreements c accepts d

achievements

49. a place b put c store

d hold

50. a spend b take c last

d experience