Read the following passage carefully and answer the
questions that follow:
FORESTS
When most of us think of forests , we think of trees. True, trees are the
most prominent form of life in a forest. But there’s much more to a forest
than the eye can see. Each forest is a growing, changing community made
up of many different plants and animals that interact with each other.
Associated with trees are thousands of other kinds of plants- shrubs,
vines, leaves, herbs, ferns and mosses. These use trees for support , for
shade and for moisture to grow. It is all the green plants that make food
for the animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. These, in return,
pollinate flowers, distribute seeds, aerate the soil and carry out many other
important functions. Even fungi, bacteria and other microscopic
organisms play a vital role in the forest. They break down plant and animal
material and turn it into a rich layer of soil called humus. Thus all are tied
together in many ways- interdependent for food, living conditions and
cooperation for survival.
The different kinds of plants in a forest make up layers of forest stores.
The branches and leaves of the tallest trees make up the roof or the
canopy. This is the food factory where photosynthesis takes place.
Growing in the shadow under the canopy are the shorter trees and shrubs.
These form the understorey. On the forest floor where it is darker and
more humid grow the grasses, ferns, wild flowers, lichens and mosses.
With the fallen leaves and rotting logs, these make up the forest floor.
Each layer has its own special set of residents- birds, animals, insects that
find food and shelter there. Together they weave the rich tapestry of forest
life.
1.1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage answer the
following questions briefly:
(a)What is the most prominent form of life in a forest?
(b)How is humus formed?
(c)Name the three different layers in a forest.
(d)Who all are associated with trees?What do they use the trees for?
(e)How do the green plants and birds and animals help each other?
1.2. Find words from the passage which mean the similar as the
following words indicated:
(a)Society
(b) Depend on each other
(c) Wet soil
Answers
Answer:
1A)True, trees are the most prominent form of life in a forest.
2A)Humus is formed by the decomposing action of soil microorganisms (e.g., bacteria and fungi), which break down animal and vegetable material into elements that can be used by growing plants.
3A)The main layers of the soil are topsoil, subsoil and the parent rock. Each layer has its own characteristics. These features of the layer of soil play a very important role in determining the use of the soil. Soil that has developed three layers, is mature soil
4A)Associated with trees are thousands of other kinds of plants- shrubs, vines, leaves, herbs, ferns and mosses. Theseuse trees for support , for shade and for moisture to grow. It is all the green plants that make food for the animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects.
5A)It is all the green plants that make food for the animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects
1.2
a) community
B)interdependent