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1. 1.

   Write summary of the passage and give a suitable title.

   Geographers have estimated that about twenty percent of the earth's surface is occupied by deserts. A majority of us view deserts as one kind of landscape - areas with little or no rainfalls.

   In truth, there are differences between the deserts. There are deserts which are rocky or covered with gravel or pebbles and there are some which have large sand dunes. Despite the fact that rainfall in minimal, temperatures do change in deserts, ranging from seasonal ones to daily changes where extreme heat and cold are experienced in the day and night.

   Unfavourable conditions in the deserts, especially the lack of water, make it difficult for living things to thrive on these landscapes. However, there are some that have managed to live through these conditions. One such kind are the specialist annual plants which overcome seasonal temperature changes with their extremely short, active life cycles. In events of sudden rain, the plant seeds grow very quickly to make full use of the rain water. Their flowers bloom and set seeds that ripen quickly in the hot sun too. Once the water runs dry, the mother plants dies, leaving behind the seeds, which wait patiently for the next rainy season to arrive.

   The cactus, a native of American deserts, adapts to the dry surroundings due to its special body structures. the plant has swollen stems to help store water that carries it through months. By having sharp spines instead of leaves, water loss through transpiration is reduced. Besides, these pointed spines also help the plant ward off grazing animals.

   Besides plants, there are also animals that survive in deserts. For instance, Skinks (desert lizards) digest stored fats in their tails, producing water for their needs, just like camels do with the stored food in their humps during long journeys through deserts. Antelopes, like the addax, have very low water needs and hence are able to tolerate the conditions in deserts, taking moisture from the food they eat.

   Finally, there are sandgrouses (desert birds) which do not have special abilities to overcome the conditions in deserts. Hence, to survive in these hot, dry deserts, they need to spend a large part of their time flying in search of waterholes. (368 words)

2. 2.

   Write summary of the passage and give a suitable title.

   With the invention of television, many forms of entertainments have been replaced. Lively programmes, like television serials and world news, have taken away the need to read books or papers, to listen to radios or even to watch films. In fact, during the 1970s, when televisions were first introduced, cinema theatres suffered great losses as many people chose to stay in their comfort of their homes to watch their favourite programmes.

   Indeed, the television brings the world into our house. Hence, by staying at home and pressing some buttons, world happenings are immediately presented before us. Children nowadays develop faster in language, since they are exposed to the television. Thus, television programmes are a good source of learning for them. Also, young children can learn the right pronunciations by watching newsreaders and actors. Owning a television is also extremely useful to working parents who may not always be able to take their kids out for entertainment. Surrounded by the comforts of their home, the family can have a chance to get together and watch their favourite programmes on television.

   Of course, television has its disadvantages, too. Watching the television takes us away from reading. Why bother to read the papers when we can hear them from the television news reports? Why read books when exciting films are screened? The lack of reading in unhealthy especially to younger children as they will grow up only with the ability to speak, but not write. Not only are the writing skills of children affected, their thinking capacities are also limited.

   Television programmes leave no room for imagination. Where books allow us to imagine how the events in a story might have happened, on television we only get to see scenes of someone else's imagination.

   In the end, if we watch television selectively, we can make the best of its advantages and reduce the disadvantages. (311 words)