One of the world’s most significant ecological and environmental problems is desertification. Desertification is a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry land region becomes increasingly arid (干旱的), typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife. It’s happening all over the world and it’s happening very quickly.

There are several causes of desertification. The immediate cause is the removal of most vegetation. This is driven by a number of factors, such as drought, tillage (耕种) for agriculture, overgrazing (过度放牧) and deforestation for fuel or construction materials. Some farmers farm their land too much, without giving the soil a chance to recover. Others allow their animals to eat up large areas of grass far too quickly — at a rate that makes it impossible for the grass to grow back. Cutting down trees is another major cause of desertification. Trees help protect the soil. Without trees, the soil easily blows away in the wind or washes away in floods. Besides, wildlife plays an important role in the preservation of vegetation and soil. So removal of animals is also one of the main drivers of increasing desertification. Moreover, some parts of the Earth are hotter today than they used to be. This change in climate has dried out a lot of land.

The consequences of desertification can be disastrous. So we need to take steps to prevent desertification. We should pay attention to how much energy we use in our daily lives. That way, we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released. We can walk or cycle short distances, and use less water. We can also protect our forests by reusing paper and not using disposable chopsticks. What’s more, we should try to make people around us aware of the problem and encourage them to change their daily habits in the same way. As long as we create a harmonious environment, life on this planet will live in peace and abundance, and stop the pace of desertification together.

【小题1】What can we learn about desertification from paragraph 1?

A．It is happening slowly throughout the world.

B．It is an ecological and environmental solution.

C．It is the process during which farmland turns into desert.

D．It is the process during which a relatively dry land becomes rich.

【小题2】Why does desertification occur?

A．Wildlife does harm to the vegetation and soil.

B．The change in climate contributes to dried land.

C．Animals eat the grass at a slower rate than grass grows.

D．Trees are blown away in the wind or washed away in floods.

【小题3】What steps can we take to prevent desertification?

A．Changing our good daily habits.

B．Raising people’s environmental awareness.

C．Using more paper and less disposable chopsticks.

D．Using more energy and releasing less carbon dioxide.

【小题4】Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Desertification — the major cause of climate change.

B．Desertification — everyone’s responsibility for its treatment.

C．Desertification — the disastrous consequences of deforestation.

D．Desertification — the most significant ecological and environmental problem.