III. Read the text and decide T (true)/ F (false) for each statement. Natural disasters The definition of natural disasters is any catastrophic event that is caused by nature or the natural processes of the earth. The severity of a disaster is measured in lives lost, economic loss, and the ability of the population to rebuild. Events that occur in unpopulated areas are not considered disasters. So a flood on an uninhabited island would not count as a disaster, but a flood in a populated area is called a natural disaster. All natural disasters cause loss in some way. Depending on the severity, lives can be lost in any number of disasters. Falling buildings or trees, freezing to death, being washed away, or heat stroke are just some of the deadly effects. Some disasters cause more loss of life than others, and population density affects the death count as well. Scientists, geologists, and storm watchers work hard to predict major disasters and avert as much damage as possible. With all the technology available, it’s become easier to predict major storms, blizzards, cyclones, and other weather related natural disasters. But there are still natural disasters that come up rather unexpectedly, such as earthquakes, wildfires, landslides, or even volcanic eruptions. Sometimes, a time of warning is there, but it’s often very short with catastrophic results. Areas that are not used to disasters affected by flash floods or sudden hail storms can be affected in an extreme way. Statements T F 1. Natural disaster is any catastrophic event that is caused by nature or the natural processes of the earth. 2. A flood on an uninhabited island is counted as a disaster 3. Population density area never faces disasters. 4. Scientists, geologists, and storm watchers can prevent disasters completely. 5. Areas that are not used to disasters may be affected in an extreme way when disasters come unexpectedly. IV. Read the paragraph below and fill in each blank with a suitable word from the boxes. Erosion in America Erosion of America's farmland by wind and water has been a problem since settlers first put the prairies and grasslands under the plow in the nineteenth century. By the 1930s, (1) 282 million acres of farmland (2) by erosion. After 40 years of (3) efforts, soil erosion has accelerated due to new demands (4) on the land by heavy crop pollution. In the years ahead, soil erosion and the pollution problems it causes are likely to replace petroleum scarcity as the nation's most critical (5) resource problem. 1. A. more than B. more C. less D. than 2. A. damaged B. was damaged C. were damaged D. damages 3. A. conserve B. conservation C. conserving D. conservations 4. A. were placed B. was placed C. which placed D. placed 5. A. nature B. natural C. nation D. national