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Practice Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer ID: #46466 Expanding
Instructions ›
Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting the correct response. Only one response is correct.
There is little doubt, however, that desertification in most areas results primarily from human activities rather than natural processes. The semiarid lands bordering the deserts exist in a delicate ecological balance and are limited in their potential to adjust to increased environmental pressures. Expanding populations are subjecting the land to increasing pressures to provide them with food and fuel. In wet periods, the land may be able to respond to these stresses. During the dry periods that are common phenomena along the desert margins, though, the pressure on the land is often far in excess of its diminished capacity, and desertification results.

In dry periods, border areas have difficulty

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Option 1: "adjusting to stresses created by settlement"

Explanation: The text states that during dry periods, the pressure on the land is often far in excess of its diminished capacity, indicating that the land struggles to adjust to the stresses caused by expanding populations and their needs for food and fuel. This aligns directly with the idea of difficulty in adjusting to stresses created by settlement.

Option 2: "retaining their fertility after desertification"

Explanation: While the text discusses desertification, it does not specifically mention the retention of fertility after desertification. The focus is on the inability of the land to cope with pressures during dry periods, making this option not directly supported by the text.

Option 3: "providing water for irrigating crops"

Explanation: The text does not address the issue of water provision for irrigation specifically. Instead, it emphasizes the overall pressures on the land during dry periods, which does not directly correlate with the ability to provide water for crops.

Option 4: "attracting populations in search of food and fuel"

Explanation: This option misinterprets the text. The text indicates that expanding populations are already putting pressure on the land, rather than suggesting that border areas are attracting new populations. Therefore, this option does not accurately reflect the content of the text.

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