grasslands review
TRANSCRIPT
GrasslandsPractice Reading
GrasslandsAt one time grasslands covered about 42 percent of the land surface of Earth. In the
Northern Hemisphere great expanses of grassland covered the midcontinent of North America and
extended across the central part of Eurasia. In the Southern Hemisphere grasses covered much of the
southern tip of South America and the high plateau of southern Africa. Today grasslands probably
occupy less than 12 percent, for most of them have been plowed under for cropland and degraded by
overgrazing. Humans have foolishly broken up grasslands with the plow and converted the most
productive of them into the breadbaskets of the world.
All grasslands have in common a climate characterized by rainfall between 250 and 800
mm (too light to support a heavy forest and too great to result in a desert), a high rate of
evaporation, and periodic severe droughts. They share a rolling to flat terrain. Grazing and burrowing
species are the dominant animals. Most grasslands require periodic fires for maintenance, renewal,
and elimination of woody growth.
Grasses have a mode of growth that adapts them to grazing and fire. The grass plant
consists of leafy shoots called tillers. Each shoot has a leaf-like blade or lamina, the base of which has
a tube-like sheath. These tillers grow from short, underground stems, which grow upward only when
the plant begins flowering. Tillers that group closely about a central stem and buds make up a bunch
or tussock grasses. Species that spread lateral buds on underground stems, producing a sod, are sod or
turf grasses. Associated with grasses are a verity of legumes and composite plants.
(Smith, Robert Leo and Thomas M. Smith. 2000. Elements of Ecology, 4th Ed. p. 397)
Paragraph 1
At one time grasslands covered about 42 percent of
the land surface of Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere
great expanses of grassland covered the midcontinent of
North America and extended across the central part of
Eurasia. In the Southern Hemisphere grasses covered much
of the southern tip of South America and the high plateau
of southern Africa. Today grasslands probably occupy less
than 12 percent, for most of them have been plowed under
for cropland and degraded by overgrazing. Humans have
foolishly broken up grasslands with the plow and converted
the most productive of them into the breadbaskets of the
world.
Where the grasslands were plentiful and how they have shrunk due to farming
Paragraph 2
All grasslands have in common a climate
characterized by rainfall between 250 and 800 mm (too
light to support a heavy forest and too great to result in a
desert), a high rate of evaporation, and periodic severe
droughts. They share a rolling to flat terrain. Grazing and
burrowing species are the dominant animals. Most
grasslands require periodic fires for maintenance, renewal,
and elimination of woody growth.
What they have in common: climate, terrain, inhabitants,
maintenance/growth
Paragraph 3
Grasses have a mode of growth that adapts them to
grazing and fire. The grass plant consists of leafy shoots
called tillers. Each shoot has a leaf-like blade or lamina,
the base of which has a tube-like sheath. These tillers grow
from short, underground stems, which grow upward only
when the plant begins flowering. Tillers that group closely
about a central stem and buds make up a bunch or tussock
grasses. Species that spread lateral buds on underground
stems, producing a sod, are sod or turf grasses. Associated
with grasses are a verity of legumes and composite plants.
What the grasses are like/how they grow
Summary
1. Where the grasslands were plentiful and how they
have shrunk due to farming
2. What they have in common:
climate, terrain, inhabitants, maintenance/growt
h
3. What the grasses are like/how they grow
Which sentence best states the
main idea of the passage?
A. Grasslands, shrinking in size, are characterized by rainfall,
terrain, inhabitants, and vegetation.
B. In the Northern Hemisphere, great expanses of grassland
cover the mid-continent of North America and extend
across the central part of Eurasia.
C. Grasslands have a mode of growth that adapts them to
grazing and fire.
D. Grasslands share common characteristics.
Which sentence best states the
main idea of the passage?
A. Grasslands, shrinking in size, are characterized by rainfall,
terrain, inhabitants, and vegetation.
B. In the Northern Hemisphere, great expanses of grassland
cover the mid-continent of North America and extend
across the central part of Eurasia.
C. Grasslands have a mode of growth that adapts them to
grazing and fire.
D. Grasslands share common characteristics.
The author's primary purpose is
to
A. explain the development of grasslands.
B. discuss the forms of life unique to grasslands.
C. classify the types of grasslands.
D. describe the general features of grasslands.
MI: Grasslands, shrinking in size, are characterized by
rainfall, terrain, inhabitants, and vegetation.
The author's primary purpose is
to
A. explain the development of grasslands.
B. discuss the forms of life unique to grasslands.
C. classify the types of grasslands.
D. describe the general features of grasslands.
MI: Grasslands, shrinking in size, are characterized by
rainfall, terrain, inhabitants, and vegetation.
What is the overall tone of this
passage?
A. Neutral
B. Persuasive
C. Informative
D. Ambivalent
What is the overall tone of this
passage?
A. Neutral (“foolishly”)
B. Persuasive
C. Informative
D. Ambivalent
Identify the relationship of parts
within the following sentence.
"Today grasslands probably occupy less than 12 percent,
for most of them have been plowed under for cropland
and degraded by overgrazing." (lines 5-6).
A. Contrast
B. Comparison
C. Cause and effect
D. Addition
Identify the relationship of parts
within the following sentence.
"Today grasslands probably occupy less than 12 percent,
for most of them have been plowed under for cropland
and degraded by overgrazing." (lines 5-6).
A. Contrast
B. Comparison
C. Cause and effect
D. Addition
Identify the relationship between
these sentences from paragraph
three."The grass plant consists of leafy shoots called tillers. Each shoot has a leaf-like blade or lamina, the base of which has a tube-like sheath." (lines 14-16)
A. Cause and effect
B. Chronological
C. Definition
D. Comparison/contrast
Identify the relationship between
these sentences from paragraph
three."The grass plant consists of leafy shoots called tillers.Each shoot has a leaf-like blade or lamina, the base of which has a tube-like sheath." (lines 14-16)
A. Cause and effect
B. Chronological
C. Definition
D. Comparison/contrast
A conclusion that can be drawn
from the first paragraph is that
A. grasslands are essential to human existence.
B. at one time grasslands covered 42 percent of the
Earth's land.
C. grasslands still cover much of the southern tip of South
America
D. farming and ranching have contributed to the
reduction of Grasslands.
Conclusion = Inference
First Paragraph
At one time grasslands covered about 42 percent of
the land surface of Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere
great expanses of grassland covered the midcontinent of
North America and extended across the central part of
Eurasia. In the Southern Hemisphere grasses covered much
of the southern tip of South America and the high plateau
of southern Africa. Today grasslands probably occupy less
than 12 percent, for most of them have been plowed
under for cropland and degraded by overgrazing. Humans
have foolishly broken up grasslands with the plow and
converted the most productive of them into the
breadbaskets of the world.
A conclusion that can be drawn
from the first paragraph is that
A. grasslands are essential to human existence. (no information to support)
B. at one time grasslands covered 42 percent of the Earth's land. (stated)
C. grasslands still cover much of the southern tip of South America (probably less than 12 percent)
D. farming and ranching have contributed to the reduction of Grasslands. (“ foolishly broken up grasslands with the plow and converted the most productive of them into the breadbaskets of the world”)
Conclusion = Inference
A conclusion that can be drawn
from the first paragraph is that
A. grasslands are essential to human existence.
B. at one time grasslands covered 42 percent of the
Earth's land.
C. grasslands still cover much of the southern tip of South
America
D. farming and ranching have contributed to the
reduction of Grasslands.
In this passage, the author
shows bias against (negative
feelings about)
A. grazing and burrowing species.
B. diminishing grasslands for croplands and grazing.
C. periodic fires.
D. the beauty of the grasslands.
First Paragraph
At one time grasslands covered about 42 percent of
the land surface of Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere
great expanses of grassland covered the midcontinent of
North America and extended across the central part of
Eurasia. In the Southern Hemisphere grasses covered much
of the southern tip of South America and the high plateau
of southern Africa. Today grasslands probably occupy less
than 12 percent, for most of them have been plowed
under for cropland and degraded by overgrazing. Humans
have foolishly broken up grasslands with the plow and
converted the most productive of them into the
breadbaskets of the world.
First Paragraph
At one time grasslands covered about 42 percent of
the land surface of Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere
great expanses of grassland covered the midcontinent of
North America and extended across the central part of
Eurasia. In the Southern Hemisphere grasses covered much
of the southern tip of South America and the high plateau
of southern Africa. Today grasslands probably occupy less
than 12 percent, for most of them have been plowed
under for cropland and degraded by overgrazing. Humans
have foolishly broken up grasslands with the plow and
converted the most productive of them into the
breadbaskets of the world.
In this passage, the author
shows bias against
A. grazing and burrowing species.
B. diminishing grasslands for croplands and grazing.
C. periodic fires.
D. the beauty of the grasslands.
Throughout the passage, overall, which
type of support is offered to describe the
characteristics of the grasslands?
A. Objective
B. Emotional
Throughout the passage, overall, which
type of support is offered to describe the
characteristics of the grasslands?
A. Objective
B. Emotional
"Humans have foolishly broken up
grasslands with the plow and converted the
most productive of them into the
breadbaskets of the world." (lines 6-8)
The above sentence is a statement of
A. opinion (Look for a judgement/opinion word)
B. fact
"Humans have foolishly broken up
grasslands with the plow and converted the
most productive of them into the
breadbaskets of the world." (lines 6-8)
The above sentence is a statement of
A. opinion
B. fact