FAST REVIEW 1-21

Question 1 (Part A) What is the purpose of the passage?

• to explain how desert expansion has been stopped

• to bring attention to the impact of desert expansion

• to describe the link between climate change and desert expansion

• to show why the desert expansion shown in movies is unlikely to occur

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Question 1 (Part B) Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to the previous question?

• If we do not work to stop its spread, much of the continent of Africa may soon be covered with scorching sands.

• In many places on Earth, climate change causes more rain to fall.

• The drought-resistant trees will stand like soldiers, holding back the blowing sands.

• Maybe, after all, we can keep those science fiction movies just what they are—fiction.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Question 2 (Part A)- What does the word arid mean as it is used in the second paragraph?

• dry

• at risk

• destroyed

• xperiencing change

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Question 2 (Part B)-Which detail from the passage best supports the answer to the previous question?

• . . . one-third of all land on Earth . . .

• Forty percent of Africa is desert. . . .

• . . . expanding to the south at a rate of 30 miles per year

• As climate change increases . . .

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

Question 3- Choose two details from the passage that would be best to include in a summary of the passage.

• While this scenario may seem far-fetched, such a future is not out of the question.

• Due to human activity and climate change, this desert is growing larger every year.

• Currently, one-third of all land on Earth is arid.

• Recently, the Sahara's sands have swept across the once-thriving village of Chinguetti.

• With the help of the Great Green Wall and other efforts, scientists are hopeful that the spread of the Sahara can be slowed or even stopped.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Question 4- Which word or phrase most closely matches the meaning of vibrant as it is used in the first paragraph?

• bright

• strong

• full of life

• full of sand

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Question 5- Choose the two statements from the passage that best help explain why the author agrees that the Sahara Desert is flourishing, not expanding.

Today, the opposite effect of climate change is occurring. Warming air currents hold moisture from the oceans, which cooler air could not do well. These warmer air currents carry this moisture across the land, dropping it as rain. Because of this, the Sahara is becoming more fertile every year. Scientist Martin Claussen agrees with these findings. He analyzes satellite images of the Sahel, a semiarid region that borders the Sahara along its southern edge. These images show enormous increases in plants and trees in several areas. "The water-holding capacity of the air is the main driving force, " he says.

• Today, the opposite effect of climate change is occurring.

• Warming air currents hold moisture from the oceans, which cooler air could not do well.

• These warmer air currents carry this moisture across the land, dropping it as rain.

• He analyzes satellite images of the Sahel, a semiarid region that borders the Sahara along its southern edge.

• These images show enormous increases in plants and trees in several areas.

Quetion 6- What is the purpose of the paragraph in the passage?

With this type of evidence, why do other scientists believe that the desert is expanding? Some of this can be attributed to ebbs and flows of rainfall that occur in the region. For example, 1984 was a very dry year, and the desert seemed to expand to the south. However, 1994 was a wetter year, and the desert border shrunk back farther north than it had been in decades.

• to support the claim that the Sahara Desert is becoming more fertile

• to provide evidence that the Sahara Desert is expanding due to climate change

• to explain why scientists have conflicting views about the future of the Sahara Desert

• to discuss how the annual amount of rainfall in the Sahara Desert has changed over time

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Question 7 (Part A) Read this sentence from the passage.

Which phrase best states the meaning of degrades as it is used in the sentence?

Ultimately, many scientists agree that fertile land degrades due to both human and natural factors.

• threatens plants and animals

• flourishes with new resources and life

• treats someone or something with disrespect

• breaks down or decreases in quality over time

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Question 7 (Part B) Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to the previous question?

• For example, 1984 was a very dry year, and the desert seemed to expand to the south.

• However, 1994 was a wetter year, and the desert border shrunk back farther north than it had been in decades.

• They cite such reasons for the loss of usable land near the Sahara.

• However, scientist Jean-Marc Sinnassamy, who manages a portion of the project, is quick to disagree.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.8

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.7.1