EPE Practice
Careful Reading 3
Clearing Land for Farms
Rainforests are disappearing in tropical areas around the world. They are being cut down,
burned, and damaged through a process called "deforestation." This is a serious problem in
developing countries within tropical regions. The impact of deforestation, though, also has vast
global implications. It is, therefore, very important to find solutions to these problems.
Unfortunately, progress in this area has been very slow.
According to World Bank statistics, many developing countries, such as Brazil, Ecuador,
and Indonesia had lost almost half of their rainforests by 1991. Worldwide, in 1800 there were 7.1
billion acres of tropical forests, while today there are only 3.5 billion acres. Recent statistics
suggest that an area of tropical forest larger than North Korea is deforested every year.
Most importantly, though, the rainforests play an important role in the health of our
environment. ■ A) Trees and other plants act as filters that clean pollutants out of the air and
produce clean air. ■ B) With air pollution increasing as forests decline, the world is facing a
potential crisis with regard to air quality. ■ C)
Poverty is one of the main forces behind deforestation in tropical countries, where many rely
on farming as a way of life. The most practical method is "slash and burn" agriculture, in which a
small area of trees is cut down and then burned to fertilize the soil. For a period of time, the soil
can produce good crops, but rain gradually washes away the nutrients, reducing fertility and
causing crops to grow at a slower rate. Eventually, the soil can no longer support crops, and
farmers are often forced to abandon the land.
Government policies also contribute to the destruction of rainforests. In countries like Brazil,
much of the rainforest is owned by the state. However, the state does not have enough resources
to control access to the forests. Therefore, the government allows people to claim areas of land
within the forest. To do this, the people must clear the land that they want to claim. Small farmers,
then, often clear plots and then sell them. They then move to a new area, clear it, and sell it again.
While this is good for the farmers, it is highly destructive to the forest.
Large companies contribute their own problems. Logging companies can do a great deal of
damage on their own, but they also cause secondary damage through their effects on small farmers.
Often, road construction companies hired by the government claim land that they clear during their
projects, thus pushing small farmers further into the forest. In addition, the government might set
low tax rates for agricultural production. Corporations and wealthy investors buy up land, and the
small farmers are again forced to find plots in unclaimed areas of the forest.
The problem of deforestation is strongly affected by poverty in developing countries.
Clearly, any long-term solution to deforestation must focus first on how poverty can be reduced.
Any other solution can only be a temporary measure.
EPE Practice
Careful Reading 3
QUESTIONS
1. The author mentions North Korea ______________________.
(A) to demonstrate the impact of deforestation in North Korea
(B) to demonstrate how much forest is being destroyed each year
(C) to demonstrate that deforestation is not as serious as we thought
2. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be
added to the passage:
When trees are cut down in large numbers, we lose these filters and are left with
unclean air to breathe.
Where would the sentence best fit? Choose the square [■] where the sentence should be
added to the passage.
(A) Paragraph 3, line 2
(B) Paragraph 3, line 3
(C) Paragraph 3, line 4
3. According to the passage, why is slash and burn agriculture harmful?
(B) It leaves areas of land infertile.
(C) It keeps farmers in poverty.
(D) It can cause forest fires.
4. According to the passage, why does the Brazilian government allow farmers to make
claims on rainforest land?
(A) They want to improve the living conditions of farmers.
(B) If the farmers don't claim them, large companies will.
(C) They don't have the resources to prevent it.
5. From the passage, it can be inferred that______________________
(A) deforestation is the main cause of poverty in tropical countries.
(B) deforestation is a serious problem for small farmers.
(C) deforestation is driven by economics.
EPE Practice
Careful Reading 3
6. What is the main purpose of paragraph 6?
(A) To explain the primary damage caused by logging companies
(B) To explain how large companies affect small farmers
(C) To show how corporations purchase land
7. According to the passage, which of the following would best address the problem of
deforestation?
(A) Changing government policy
(B) Increasing agricultural taxes
(C) Reducing poverty
8. All of the following are mentioned in the passage EXCEPT
(A) the extent of rainforest destruction
(B) the fast food industry clearing rainforests for grazing land
(C) the practice of slash and burn agriculture in Brazil
EPE Practice
Careful Reading 3
ANSWER KEY
1. B
2. B
3. A
4. C
5. C
6. B
7. C
8. B
Source: Edmunds, P., & McKinnon, N., 2006, “Developing Skills for the TOEFL IBT”, pp.
616-619
