Topic 4: Vocabulary Cloze

The Amazon is the largest (1)___ in the world, full of tall trees and heavy rain. Its thick canopy of leaves forms a green roof that (2)___ the animals below from the strong sun. Many (3)___ creatures, such as jaguars and sloths, live among the trees. Sunlight barely reaches the ground below, so the air there is (4)___ and cool. Heavy rain falls almost every day and the rivers (5)___ their banks during the wet season. Scientists have discovered thousands of plants that can be used as (6)___. Sadly, huge areas of trees are being (7)___ each year to make room for farms. If we do not act (8)___, many species may disappear forever. Conservation groups (9)___ people to protect these trees. Their (10)___ is to save this precious home for wildlife.

A volcano is an opening in the Earth's crust through which hot melted rock, called (1)___, can escape. Deep underground, the rock is so hot that it (2)___ into liquid. When pressure builds up, the liquid is forced upwards and the volcano (3)___ with a loud roar. Ash and smoke rise high into the (4)___, sometimes blocking out the sun for days. Villagers living nearby must (5)___ quickly to safer places. A volcano that has not erupted for thousands of years is said to be (6)___. However, scientists still keep a close (7)___ on it in case it wakes up. Modern equipment can (8)___ tiny shakes in the ground, giving people an early warning. Although eruptions are dangerous, the soil around a volcano is very (9)___ because ash contains many minerals, so farmers grow crops there without needing much (10)___.

Last Sunday, our neighbourhood held a clean-up (1)___. Volunteers of all ages (2)___ at the void deck at eight o'clock. Mr Tan, the (3)___ of the residents' committee, gave everyone gloves and rubbish bags. We were divided into small groups, and each group was (4)___ a different area to clean. My group picked up plastic bottles and old newspapers that had been (5)___ along the pavement. The work was tiring, but nobody (6)___. Soon the playground looked (7)___ again. Afterwards, the committee (8)___ us to cold drinks and bread. I felt (9)___ that we had made our estate a better place. I hope more residents will (10)___ next time.