Flora across the continents
Australia has a large number of unique species of flora and fauna. The wattle is a small evergreen with fragrant green flowers. Adopted as the national flower, it is so popular that the first day of spring is known
as the National Wattle Day. While Australia is well- known for its hot deserts, it is also home to a tropical rainforest - the Wet Tropics of Queensland - with its significance in providing a record of ecological processes.
Asia is very diverse, and it has a mix of habitats. Southeast Asia has tropical rainforest, East Asia has temperate forests, and South Asia has tropical rain and dry forest. The largest flower in the world, the rafflesia, native in Indonesia can be over three feet in diameter and weigh 15 to 20 pounds. It is also known as the corpse flower because it smells like rotten meat.
The Namib Desert in South Africa is one of the driest deserts in the world. Despite the heat, the Welwitschia, one of the oldest plants in the world, grows here, absorbing moisture through its leaves from the fog which comes from the Atlantic Ocean every two weeks. Its two leaves turn red during daytime, and turn green at night for photosynthesis.
The Amazon rainforest, covering almost 40 percent of South America, is considered the most biodiverse region on the planet, home to as many as 80,000 plant species. Hot lips with red blossoms grow in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Their flowers are actually colourful leaves. Their main task is to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to collect the pollen and pollinate the plants. In the Andean cliffs of Peru, 4000 metres above the sea level, you might come upon a so tall tree that you may feel like you are “Alice in Wonderland”. Ten metres tall, the Titanca tree bears fruit when it is over one hundred years old.
(Source: Internet)
1. The wattle in Australia _____________.
A. blooms on the first day of spring B. is the national flower
C. grows in hot deserts D. has different colours depending on the weather 2. The Wet Tropics of Queensland _____________.
A. helps scientists find information about ecological processes B. is in the hottest desert in Australia
C. has the largest flower in the world
D. is significant for the study of the biodiversity of flora and fauna in Australia 3. From the mix of habitats in Asia, we can infer that _____________.
A. Asia has all the species of flora and fauna from other continents B. species of flora and fauna cannot flourish well there
C. the largest Hower in the world can grow there
D. Asia is home to a large number of species of flora and fauna
4. The rafflesia is also known as the corpse flower because of _____________.
A. its big size B. its native habitat C. its impressive weight D. its bad smell
5. The Welwitschia in the Namib Desert _____________.
A. absorbs moisture coming from the Atlantic Ocean every day B. can survive there because it is one of the oldest plants in the world C. develops a special form of photosynthesis to survive there
D. has only two leaves in two colours - red and green
6. The Amazon rainforest is considered the most biodiverse region on the planet because _________.
A. it covers almost 40 percent of South America
B. home to unique species of plants, such as hot lips and the Titanca tree C. it is the natural habitat to as many as 80,000 plant species
D. it covers tropical rainforests in Central and South America
7. All of the following are true about the Titanca tree EXCEPT that _____________.
A. it grows 4000 metres above the sea level B. you can find it in the Amazon
C. it bears fruit when it is over one century old D. it is very impressive to tourists
8. The word “pollinate” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to _____________.
A. to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to collect the pollen B. to produce pollen for the other surrounding plants
C. to make other flowers of the same type produce seeds D. to make tourists feel like they are in Alice in Wonderland
III. Read the following passage and choose the correct answer for each question.
In One Cubic Foot
In any environment - forest, mountain, or water - you always see the big animals first: birds, mammals, fish. But under your feet, on land or in the water, there are many smaller organisms: insects, tiny plants, miniature sea creatures. They seem unimportant, but, in fact, these sea creatures and ground dwellers are “the heart of life on the Earth,” says naturalist E.O. Wilson. Without them, our world would change dramatically.
Most organisms on the Earth live on the ground or just below it. Here, they are part of an important cycle.
Plants and animals fall to the ground when they die. Later, tiny insects and other organisms break down the dead plant and animal material. This process eventually returns nutrients to the soil and gives plants energy. Plants can then help to maintain a healthy environment for humans and other animals.
Despite their importance, scientists know very little about most ground organisms. To learn more, photographer David Liittschwager went to different places around the world, including a forest, a river, a mountain, and a coral reef. In each place, he put a green 12-inch cube on the ground or in the water. Then he and his team counted and photographed the organisms that lived in or moved through the cube. Often they discovered hundreds, some only a millimeter in size. “It was like finding little gems,” he says. In the coral reef in French Polynesia, he saw thousands of creatures in the cube and photographed 600. The team identified as many as possible, but it was difficult. Many of the animals they found were new species.
(Source: Internet) 1. Another title for the passage could be _____________.
A. Dangers to Ground Creatures B. The Importance of Tiny Organisms C. Saving Small Animals in Cubes D. The Life of Nutrients
2. The word “miniature” in paragraph 1 means _____________.
A. very small B. very large C. very beautiful D. very important 3. Where do most organisms on the Earth live?
A. in the sea B. on or just below the ground C. deep underground D. in the air
4. Liittschwager and his team used the cube to _____________.
A. collect different species for research B. test the quality of the soil and water C. count and photograph animal species D. protect animals from human activities
5. The word "their” in paragraph 3 refers to _____________.
A. scientists B. ground organisms C. cubes D. nutrients 6. Why was it difficult to identify the creatures at the coral reef?
A. Many were new to science. B. The water was cloudy.
C. They were too small. D. Many of them looked the same.
7. All of the Following are true about Liittschwager and his team EXCEPT that _____________.
A. they went to various places in the world
B. they discovered numerous organisms in small sizes
C. they examined cubes by putting them on the ground or in the water D. they did some experiments with the organisms
8. Why does Liittschwager call the organisms "little gems” in the last paragraph?
A. They are difficult for him to see.
B. He thinks they are valuable and precious.
C. Many of the organisms are shiny.
D. The organisms look like little stones.