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Chapter 12 Land Use Conflict in the Amazon Rainforest
Directions: Carefully read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
From Deforestation to Hope
For thousands of years, native people in rainforests have lived in harmony with their environment. They hunted and gathered what they needed to survive. They planted gardens in small areas, moving to a new plot every few years to let the jungle grow back and replenish the soil.
Today this has changed. The modern world has begun to move into the rainforests, destroying vast areas. Thousands of acres of rainforest have been cut down or burned to clear land for grazing cattle. Cattle ranchers then sell the beef all over the world. Trees are also being cut down by loggers for timber and to clear room for farms. As the rainforest is cut down, its biodiversity is affected. Plants and animals can become extinct when clear cutting occurs. Native people have even been moved from their traditional homes.
A growing population of settlers only adds to the problem. Towns and cities have begun to grow up along the edges of the rainforest. As more people arrive, more land is cleared.
Many organizations are working to find ways to stop further destruction of the rainforests. Some environmentally minded people in South America are trying to find ways to use the resources of the rainforests sustainably. One way is to harvest and sell sustainable products such as Brazil nuts, latex (rubber sap) and shade grown coffee beans. Another way is to promote ecotourism. Ecotourism means people come to visit the wonders of the rainforest ecosystem. Harvesting sustainable products and providing ecotourism opportunities give the people of South America a reason to preserve the rainforest because they can still make money without cutting the trees.
Adapted from: South America. Evan Moore 1999
1. Read this sentence from the passage in paragraph 2.
As the rainforest is cut down, its biodiversity is affected.
What does biodiversity mean?
A. trees B. animals going extinct C. grazing cattle D. variety of plants and animals
2. Read this sentence from the last paragraph of the passage.
Harvesting sustainable products and providing ecotourism opportunities give the people of South America a reason to preserve the rainforest as people can still make money without cutting trees.
What does preserve mean?
A. harvesting B. growing C. saving D. selling
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3. The main purpose of this passage is to
A. describe the “lungs of the earth”.
B. explain why ecotourism is a good idea for people of Brazil.
C. convince people to settle in the rainforest.
D. explain some problems and solutions to rainforest development.
4. Which of the following is an opinion found in the passage? *Not a fact
A. It is important that government of Brazil preserve the Amazon Rainforest
B. Many organizations are working to find ways to stop further destruction of the rainforests
C. The modern world has begun to move into the rainforests, destroying vast areas
D. As the rainforest is cut down, its biodiversity is affected
5. Rainforests are called the "lungs of the Earth" because
Rainforests are important to the well-being of the planet because of their effect on the carbon-oxygen cycle. The forest is often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth” because they add oxygen to the atmosphere.
A. cities are growing up along the edges.
B. the forest is home to native people.
C. loggers use the trees.
D. the forest adds oxygen to the atmosphere.
6. According the information in the passage, an idea to help preserve rainforest habitat is
A. selling logs cut from rainforest trees.
B. increase cattle ranching.
C. harvesting sustainable products.
D. building more roads into the rainforest.
7. According to the passage, which of the following activities would harm biodiversity the most in a rainforest?
A. cattle ranching
B. collecting rubber sap
C. ecotourism
D. natives’ hunting and gathering
8. What is the purpose of the last paragraph?
A. To explain why Brazil nuts are harvested
B. To explain how collecting rubber sap is difficult
C. To explain ecotourism
D. To explain how rainforests can be used sustainably
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Directions: Carefully read the following article and answer the questions that follow.
What Cattle Ranchers Want
A rainforest may not seem like cattle country. But since the 1960’s, parts to the Amazon basin have become just that. Although Amazon cattle ranchers are a small group, they own large areas of rainforest land.
Cattle Need Grasslands to Graze
Rainforest cattle graze mainly on grass. They eat the grass in an area all the way down to the dirt. Then they are moved to a new area with fresh grass to eat. Moving cattle from place to place gives grazed land a chance to grow new grass. It also takes up a lot of land.
Today cattle can be found grazing on vast areas of grassland in the Amazon Basin. Loggers cleared some of this land. Farmers and ranchers cleared the rest. Once large areas of rainforest are cleared, the trees seldom grow back. Instead, the cleared areas become grasslands. This permanent deforestation upsets many people. But it is a great benefit to the ranchers.
We Need Land To Feed The World
Many people argue that cattle do not belong on rainforest land. Cattle ranchers of Brazil disagree. They say that they are making good use of the land by raising food for the world and earning money for Brazil.
Many businesses in other countries import beef from Brazil. In fact, businesses from the United States are one of the biggest buyers of Brazilian beef. Some environmental groups are not happy with this.
Like logging, cattle ranching has become an important economic activity in Brazil. In 2010, the value of beef exported to other countries was more than 1.5 billion. Those beef sales help some of Brazil’s people earn a better living.
9. Underline the text that shows when cattle ranching started in the rainforest. Put number 9 by it.
10. Underline the text that shows what cattle ranchers want. Put number 10 by it.
11. Underline the text that shows why cattle ranchers think they should get what they want. Put number 11 by it.
12. Underline the evidence that supports the cattle ranchers’ argument. Put number 12 by it.
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Chapter 12 Land Use Conflict in the Amazon Rainforest
Directions: Carefully read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
From Deforestation to Hope
For thousands of years, native people in rainforests have lived in harmony with their environment. They hunted and gathered what they needed to survive. They planted gardens in small areas, moving to a new plot every few years to let the jungle grow back and replenish the soil.
Today this has changed. The modern world has begun to move into the rainforests, destroying vast areas. Thousands of acres of rainforest have been cut down or burned to clear land for grazing cattle. Cattle ranchers then sell the beef all over the world. Trees are also being cut down by loggers for timber and to clear room for farms. As the rainforest is cut down, its biodiversity is affected. Plants and animals can become extinct when clear cutting occurs. Native people have even been moved from their traditional homes.
A growing population of settlers only adds to the problem. Towns and cities have begun to grow up along the edges of the rainforest. As more people arrive, more land is cleared.
Many organizations are working to find ways to stop further destruction of the rainforests. Some environmentally minded people in South America are trying to find ways to use the resources of the rainforests sustainably. One way is to harvest and sell sustainable products such as Brazil nuts, latex (rubber sap) and shade grown coffee beans. Another way is to promote ecotourism. Ecotourism means people come to visit the wonders of the rainforest ecosystem. Harvesting sustainable products and providing ecotourism opportunities give the people of South America a reason to preserve the rainforest because they can still make money without cutting the trees.
Adapted from: South America. Evan Moore 1999
1. Read this sentence from the passage in paragraph 2.
As the rainforest is cut down, its biodiversity is affected.
What does biodiversity mean?
A. trees B. animals going extinct C. grazing cattle D. variety of plants and animals
2. Read this sentence from the last paragraph of the passage.
Harvesting sustainable products and providing ecotourism opportunities give the people of South America a reason to preserve the rainforest as people can still make money without cutting trees.
What does preserve mean?
A. harvesting B. growing C. saving D. selling
Page 2
3. The main purpose of this passage is to
A. describe the “lungs of the earth”.
B. explain why ecotourism is a good idea for people of Brazil.
C. convince people to settle in the rainforest.
D. explain some problems and solutions to rainforest development.
4. Which of the following is an opinion found in the passage? *Not a fact
A. It is important that government of Brazil preserve the Amazon Rainforest
B. Many organizations are working to find ways to stop further destruction of the rainforests
C. The modern world has begun to move into the rainforests, destroying vast areas
D. As the rainforest is cut down, its biodiversity is affected
5. Rainforests are called the "lungs of the Earth" because
Rainforests are important to the well-being of the planet because of their effect on the carbon-oxygen cycle. The forest is often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth” because they add oxygen to the atmosphere.
A. cities are growing up along the edges.
B. the forest is home to native people.
C. loggers use the trees.
D. the forest adds oxygen to the atmosphere.
6. According the information in the passage, an idea to help preserve rainforest habitat is
A. selling logs cut from rainforest trees.
B. increase cattle ranching.
C. harvesting sustainable products.
D. building more roads into the rainforest.
7. According to the passage, which of the following activities would harm biodiversity the most in a rainforest?
A. cattle ranching
B. collecting rubber sap
C. ecotourism
D. natives’ hunting and gathering
8. What is the purpose of the last paragraph?
A. To explain why Brazil nuts are harvested
B. To explain how collecting rubber sap is difficult
C. To explain ecotourism
D. To explain how rainforests can be used sustainably
Page 3
Directions: Carefully read the following article and answer the questions that follow.
What Cattle Ranchers Want
A rainforest may not seem like cattle country. But since the 1960’s, parts to the Amazon basin have become just that. Although Amazon cattle ranchers are a small group, they own large areas of rainforest land.
Cattle Need Grasslands to Graze
Rainforest cattle graze mainly on grass. They eat the grass in an area all the way down to the dirt. Then they are moved to a new area with fresh grass to eat. Moving cattle from place to place gives grazed land a chance to grow new grass. It also takes up a lot of land.
Today cattle can be found grazing on vast areas of grassland in the Amazon Basin. Loggers cleared some of this land. Farmers and ranchers cleared the rest. Once large areas of rainforest are cleared, the trees seldom grow back. Instead, the cleared areas become grasslands. This permanent deforestation upsets many people. But it is a great benefit to the ranchers.
We Need Land To Feed The World
Many people argue that cattle do not belong on rainforest land. Cattle ranchers of Brazil disagree. They say that they are making good use of the land by raising food for the world and earning money for Brazil.
Many businesses in other countries import beef from Brazil. In fact, businesses from the United States are one of the biggest buyers of Brazilian beef. Some environmental groups are not happy with this.
Like logging, cattle ranching has become an important economic activity in Brazil. In 2010, the value of beef exported to other countries was more than 1.5 billion. Those beef sales help some of Brazil’s people earn a better living.
9. Underline the text that shows when cattle ranching started in the rainforest. Put number 9 by it.
10. Underline the text that shows what cattle ranchers want. Put number 10 by it.
11. Underline the text that shows why cattle ranchers think they should get what they want. Put number 11 by it.
12. Underline the evidence that supports the cattle ranchers’ argument. Put number 12 by it.
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13. According to the graph, which is most responsible for deforestation of the rainforest?
- Logging
- Fires and mining
- cattle ranchers
- commercial agriculture
14. Which statement is best supported by the graph above?
- Rainforest loss has increased in the last 10 years.
- A little over half of the world's rainforests have been lost.
- Rainforest once covered about 3 million square miles.
- Almost all of the world's rainforests have disappeared.
15. What should be the label along the bottom edge of the graph?
A. biodiversity B. animals C. plants D. species
16. Estimate the number of tree species in the Amazon rainforest.
A. 300 B. 750 C. 950 D. 1500
A. biodiversity B. animals C. plants D. species
16. Estimate the number of tree species in the Amazon rainforest.
A. 300 B. 750 C. 950 D. 1500