Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only ONE word in
each gap.
The destruction of the rainforests is a pressing problem of our times (61) _______ not one that is
regarded equally seriously by everyone. The more affluent nations regard the issue as (62) _______ of
preservation; deforestation must stop. When it comes to the poorer countries, the issue is not so cut and dried.
(63) _______ these people, the rainforests represent a source of economic prosperity, a point that obviously
takes precedence over ecological concern. A solution must be found before the damage caused by the
deforestation that is destroying the rainforests becomes irrevocable.
Deforestation is carried out by (64) _______ involved in the timber industry and also by migrant
farmers. The latter occupy an area of land, strip it, farm it (65) _______ its natural mineral supply is used up
and then move on. The land is left useless and exposed and a process of erosion comes into effect, washing
soil into rivers thereby killing fish and blocking the water’s natural course.
The land is not the (66) _______victim. Rainforests are a richly populated habitat. In the rainforests
of Madagascar there are at (67) _______150,000 individual species of plants and animals which are found
nowhere (68) _______ in the world, and more are being discovered all the time . Furthermore, approximately
50% of all endangered animal species live in the world’s rainforests. The destruction of the forests effectively
represents a complete removal of all these plants and animals. Deprived (69) _______ their natural
environments, they will disappear altogether. Again, this process is irreversible. Man, no (70) _______ how
powerful he considers himself, does not have the power to re-establish the species he is so wilfully
destroying.
The destruction of the rainforests is a pressing problem of our times (61) ___but____ not one that is regarded equally seriously by everyone. The more affluent nations regard the issue as (62) ___necessity____ of
preservation; deforestation must stop. When it comes to the poorer countries, the issue is not so cut and dried. (63) ___To____ these people, the rainforests represent a source of economic prosperity, a point that obviously takes precedence over ecological concern. A solution must be found before the damage caused by the deforestation that is destroying the rainforests becomes irrevocable. Deforestation is carried out by (64) ___workers____ involved in the timber industry and also by migrant farmers. The latter occupy an area of land, strip it, farm it (65) __until_____ its natural mineral supply is used up and then move on. The land is left useless and exposed and a process of erosion comes into effect, washing soil into rivers thereby killing fish and blocking the water’s natural course.
The land is not the (66) ___only____victim. Rainforests are a richly populated habitat. In the rainforests of Madagascar there are at (67) __least_____150,000 individual species of plants and animals which are found nowhere (68) __else__ in the world, and more are being discovered all the time . Furthermore, approximately 50% of all endangered animal species live in the world’s rainforests. The destruction of the forests effectively represents a complete removal of all these plants and animals. Deprived (69) ___of____ their natural environments, they will disappear altogether. Again, this process is irreversible. Man, no (70) ___matter___ how powerful he considers himself, does not have the power to re-establish the species he is so wilfully destroying.
