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. 0 / the b. The / 0 c. A / an d. The / an
7. Deserts can be defined as areas that receive ________ average annual precipitation of less than 250 mm.
a. a b. an c. the d.0
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.
a. water b. trees c. oil d. 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.

a. and b. so c. but d. therefore
29. My fingers were injured ________ my sister had to write the note for me.
a. and b. however c. so d. but
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) a large area of land (B) that has very little water (C) however very few plants (D) growing on
it.
32. Rain (A) falls occasionally in deserts (B) so desert storms (C) are often violent.
33. The Nile River, the Colorado River, (A) but the Yellow River flow (B) through deserts (C) to deliver their
sediments (D) to the sea.
34. Deserts (A) may have underground springs, rivers, or reservoirs (B) they lie close to (C) the surface, (D) or
deep underground.
35. (A) Most plants in deserts (B) have adapted to sporadic (C) rainfalls in a desert (D) environments.
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,

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
46. a. when b. while c. as d. 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 TEST 2
Choose the word which is stressed differently from the rest.
1. a. comprise b. sandy c. circle d. northern
2. a. Aborigines b. expedition c. kilometer d. scientific
3. a. corridor b. enormous c. mystery d. separate
4. a. remain b. hummock c. explore d. between
5. a. territory b. Australia c. geography d. society
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. The Simpson Desert is in ________ north of ________ Lake Eyre.
a. 0 / 0 b. the / the c. a / the d. the / 0
7. Cold deserts can be covered in ________ snow or ice and frozen water is unavailable to plant life.
a. a b. an c. the d. 0
8. In the northern part of the Simpson Desert, the dunes are separated by ________ of low, open shrubland.
a. streets b. ways c. corridors d. lines

22. ________ long it takes, I will wait for you.
a. However b. But c. So d. Therefore
23. I must say that you have done very well. ________, you should be aware that you still have a lot of thing to
learn.
a. Therefore b. So c. But d. However
24. ________ that we stopped for a rest.
a. But we were tired b. So tired were we
c. However we were tired d. Therefore, we were tired
25. He is only sixteen, and ________, he is not eligible to drive a car.
a. nevertheless b. but c. therefore d. however
26. Maria tried to read a novel in French ________ the book was too difficult for her to understand.
a. so that b. therefore c. but d. and
27. To get from Vancouver to Victoria, you can fly, ________ you can ride the ferry.
a. or b. but c. so d. however
28. I bought a bottle of wine ________ we drank it together.
a. therefore b. so c. and d. but
29. The waiter was not very nice, ________ , the food was delicious.
a. however b. but c. so d. and so
30. ________ hard he worked, he could earn enough money to support the family.
a. But b. However c. Therefore d. Whatever
Choose the sentence which has the closest meaning to the original one.
31. Slippery as the roads were, they managed to complete the race.
a. The roads were so slippery that they could hardly complete the race.
b. The roads were slippery but they managed to complete the race.
c. The roads were slippery so they could hardly complete the race.
d. The roads were so slippery, therefore, they could hardly complete the race,
32. They decided to go for a picnic though it was very cold.
a. Because it was very cold, they decided to go for a picnic.
b. However cold it was, they decided to go for a picnic.
c. If it had been cold, they would not have gone for a picnic.