The Maowusu Desert, once one of the four main deserts in China, is becoming a green land. It is between Shanxi and Inner Mongolia and was known as “Devil’s Land (恶魔之地)” in the past. Many years ago, local people experienced a lot of sand-related disasters. There were strong sandstorms. Just to get out of their houses they had to clear thick sand away from front doors.

From 1959, local people decided to fight back the sand. Since then, they have planted trees to slow down the wind, and worked hard to turn the sandy land into farmland. Yin Yuzhen came to live near the Maowusu Desert after she married her husband in 1985. Once she saw a small tree growing in their yard, and then she decided to protect her family through planting trees.

Yin and her husband bought 600 small trees in the spring of 1986 and planted them around their house. Though she had taken very good care of the trees, only 10 of them were still alive in the following year. Instead of feeling sad, Yin was hopeful. She said it meant that trees could live in this environment. After 30 years of hard work by Yin and her family, the sand world around their house has become an endless green place.

Now 80% of the Maowusu Desert has been changed. Today, there are forests, farmlands, cows and sheep and even highways in the desert.

Clearly it is a miracle (奇迹). Millions of people’s hard work and the country’s plan and help make all of this come true. Now people there don’t have to worry about the sand-related disasters. What’s more, their lives have improved a lot.

【小题1】In the past people called the Maowusu Desert “Devils’ Land” probably because ________.

A．nobody lived there	B．it caused many disasters
C．there was a devil story about it	D．many strange things happened there

【小题2】When did local people begin to fight back the sand?

A．From 1959.

B．From 1985.

C．From 1986.

D．From 1989.

【小题3】How did Yin feel after she found only 10 trees were alive in 1987?

A．She was sad.

B．She was hopeless.

C．She was worried.

D．She was hopeful.

【小题4】The writer takes the example of Yin Yuzhen to show ________.

A．the importance of water	B．the living conditions near the desert
C．people’s hard work in changing the desert	D．the country’s plan to improve people’s lives

【小题5】What can we know about the Maowusu Desert today?

A．80% of it is forest.	B．There are farmlands.
C．Millions of people visit it every year.	D．There are strong sandstorms sometimes.