Question

Mangroves (0) ______ (serve) as the nursery, feeding and (1) ______ (breed)
grounds for crabs, prawns, molluscs, finfish, birds, reptiles and mammals. The
Pichavaram Mangrove in Tamil Nadu, spread over 1,100 hectares has been
extensively studied for its incredible biodiversity. It (2) ______ (calculate) that
eight tonnes of organic plant per hectare, per year, (3) ______ (produce) by the
withered mangrove leaves in Pichavaram Mangrove. These leaves (4) ______
(colonize) by bacteria and fungi, which, in turn, are eaten by protozoans. All
these give rise to rich particulate organic matter – the source of food for several
animals like crabs, worms, shrimps, small fishes which are, in turn, (5) ______
(eat) by more than sixty species of larger fish living here. As much as 80% of the
global fish catch (6) ______ (depend) on mangroves, thus (7) ______ (ensure)
the food security of coastal people. Mangroves also provide firewood, timber,
cattle feed, honey, medicines, besides (8) ______ (lend) a hand in the
development of tourism.

Answer 1

Explanation:

serves

breeding

was calculated

produced

are colonized

depends

ensured

lend