– The Amazon Rainforest –
The Amazon Rainforest, also known as ‘the lungs of the Earth,’ is a vibrant and complex ecosystem that spans across eight countries in South America. Covering an area of approximately 5.5 million square kilometers, it represents over half of the planet’s remaining rainforests.
A myriad of species calls the Amazon Rainforest their home, including an estimated 400 billion individual trees belonging to 16,000 species. This dense population of flora creates an immense canopy that shields much of the forest floor from sunlight, dictating a unique vertical layering of the ecosystem.
Within these layers, an incredibly diverse array of fauna thrives. The Amazon hosts 10% of the world’s known species, including a multitude of insects, birds, and mammals. Each species has carved out a niche, contributing to a delicate balance that sustains the ecosystem.
However, this biodiversity hotspot is under threat due to deforestation and climate change. The loss of this ecosystem would be catastrophic, not only for the species it hosts but also for its role in global carbon dioxide absorption and the stabilization of the world’s climate.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO words from the text for each answer.
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| Choose NO MORE THAN ONE word from the text for each answer.
Spanning eight South American countries, the Amazon Rainforest, or ‘the lungs of the Earth,’ is a complex ecosystem that occupies about _______ square kilometers. It shelters an array of species with approximately 400 billion individual trees from _______ different species. These trees form an extensive _______ that significantly reduces sunlight reaching the forest floor, resulting in a distinct layering of the ecosystem. Home to _______ percent of known species on Earth, every organism has carved out its unique _______ maintaining a fragile balance. Regrettably, the ecosystem’s stability is threatened by deforestation and changes in _______. |
Vocabulary Builder
- Find the synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning) to these 9 words from the original passage.
| Original Word | Variants Used |
|---|---|
| extends | _______________ |
| encompasses | _______________ |
| variety | _______________ |
| canopy | ______________________ |
| shades | _______________ |
| identified | _______________ |
| equilibrium | _______________ |
| hotspot | _______________ |
| deforestation | _______ |
| climate | _______________ |
