How are deserts formed
Read How are deserts formed and check the IELTS Reading answers. A desert refers to a barren section of land, mainly in arid and semi-arid areas, where there is almost no precipitation and the environment is hostile for any creature to inhabit. Deserts have been classified in a number of ways, gene…
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A desert refers to a barren section of land, mainly in arid and semi-arid areas, where there is almost no precipitation and the environment is hostile for any creature to inhabit. Deserts have been classified in a number of ways, generally combining total precipitation, how many days the rainfall occurs, temperature, humidity, and sometimes additional factors. In some places, deserts have clear boundaries marked by rivers, mountains or other landforms, while in other places there are no clear-cut borders between deserts and other landscape features.
Vocabulary from this passage
11 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- alleviate verb
To make suffering, deficiency, or a complex physical problem less severe and more manageable
The government introduced new emergency subsidies to alleviate the crippling financial burden on struggling rural farmers.
- aquaculture noun
The controlled cultivation and harvesting of aquatic organisms, such as fish and crustaceans, for commercial purposes
Sustainable aquaculture has become increasingly necessary to prevent the total collapse of wild ocean fish populations.
- arid adjective
Having little or no rain; a climate or region too dry to support widespread vegetation
The severely arid climate of the Sahara makes traditional agricultural practices impossible without advanced irrigation.
- chain reaction noun
A series of consecutive events, where each event is directly caused by the previous one
The introduction of the invasive species caused a disastrous chain reaction throughout the delicate local ecosystem.
- devoid adjective
Entirely lacking or completely free from a specific quality, substance, or expected attribute
After the devastating seasonal wildfire, the once-lush mountain valley was left entirely devoid of plant life.
- impoverished adjective
Reduced to poverty; deprived of natural richness, strength, or vitality through overuse or poor management
International financial aid was explicitly redirected to support the most impoverished agricultural communities.
- precipitation noun
Any liquid or frozen water that forms in the atmosphere and falls back to the Earth
Desert ecosystems receive incredibly low levels of annual precipitation, making survival difficult for most flora.
- pulverise verb
To reduce a solid substance to fine particles or dust by crushing or grinding it
The heavy industrial machinery was designed to pulverise large boulders into fine gravel for road construction.
- soil degradation noun
The physical, chemical, or biological decline in soil quality caused by improper agricultural or urban use
Overgrazing and excessive deforestation are the primary drivers of massive soil degradation in semi-arid regions.
- susceptible adjective
Likely or liable to be influenced, harmed, or significantly affected by a particular condition
Older concrete infrastructure is highly susceptible to severe structural damage during even minor earthquakes.
- viable income noun
Financial earnings that are sufficient, sustainable, and capable of supporting a decent standard of living
Eco-tourism provides a viable income for remote coastal communities that previously relied solely on commercial fishing.
Answers with explanations
- 14. B
The option must reference the **irregular movement of particles**. In Paragraph B, the text describes how **fine particles** begin **vibrating**, are **lifted into the air**, and when they fall they hit other particles which are **jerked into the air** in a chain reaction. This perfectly matches the concept of irregular particle movement, so B is correct.
- 15. G
The option requires mention of **productive land** turning to desert in the **20th century**. Paragraph G explicitly mentions that in the **20th century**, a large section of **farmland** in the United States **turned into desert**. The direct mention of the time period and the loss of farmland confirms G is the correct match.
- 16. A
The option looks for **types of deserts**. Paragraph A explains that deserts have been **classified in a number of ways**, based on combining factors like precipitation, temperature, and humidity. Being "classified in a number of ways" is a direct paraphrase of categorizing deserts into different **types**. Therefore, A is the correct match.
- 17. H
The option needs mention of **technical methods** to tackle desert problems. Paragraph H discusses how **new technologies** are being used to address issues caused by desertification, specifically citing **satellites** as a tool to investigate human and livestock influence. This clear reference to technological solutions matches Paragraph H.
- 18. F
The option requires the influence of **migration**. Paragraph F details how **refugees** often **move** into vulnerable ecosystems to escape enemies, bringing unsuitable cultivation practices. The movement of refugees into new ecosystems is a clear example of **migration** contributing to desertification, making F the correct match.
- 19. C
The option is about a **lack of agreement** among scientists on causes. Paragraph C states explicitly that the **academic circle has never agreed** on the causes of desertification, despite public attention on the severity of the issue. The exact phrasing about the lack of consensus makes C the correct match.
- 20. D
The option requires harmful effects of **farming practices**. Paragraph D focuses on **livestock farming** in semi-arid areas. It describes how breeding excessive herds leads to the loss of **vegetation cover** and causes the soil to be **trampled** and **pulverised**, increasing erosion. This detailed explanation of damaging farming impacts points to D.
- 21. TRUE
The claim is that it is **difficult to ascertain** where deserts end. The passage states that in some places there are **no clear-cut borders** between deserts and other landscape features. Having **no clear-cut borders** directly means it is difficult to see exactly where the desert ends, fully supporting the claim. Therefore, the answer is TRUE.
- 22. FALSE
The claim is that the **media is uninterested** in the problems. The passage states there has been a **great deal of publicity** about how severe desertification can be. Because "a great deal of publicity" directly contradicts the idea that the media is uninterested, the statement is FALSE.
- 23. FALSE
The claim suggests a **lack of rainfall** is the **most common cause**. The passage explicitly notes this is a **common misunderstanding**, stating that **more often than not, human activities are responsible**. Since the text directly contradicts the claim by identifying human activity as the primary driver, the answer is FALSE.
- 24. TRUE
The claim is that **farming animals** increases **soil erosion**. The passage states that **livestock farming** in semi-arid areas **accelerates soil erosion** because grazing excessive herds destroys vegetation and exposes topsoil. Since farming animals directly causes these problems, the statement is completely supported and is TRUE.
- 25. FALSE
The claim says people in Asian countries **no longer use firewood** as chief fuel. The passage states that in many Asian countries, firewood **is the chief fuel** used for cooking and heating, which causes clear-cutting. This directly contradicts the idea that it is no longer used, making the answer FALSE.
- 26. FALSE
The claim states that **technology** for studying this relationship has **not yet been invented**. The passage confirms that **new technologies** are currently being used, giving the specific example that **satellites... have been utilised** to investigate human and livestock influence. This contradicts the claim, making the answer FALSE.