
SECTION A (10 Marks)
COMPREHENSION AND SUMMARY
1. Read the passage below carefully and then answer the questions that follow.
Trees play an important role in preserving and protecting our environment. They release oxygen
in the air and absorb carbon dioxide. In this way they help to reduce the amount of pollution in
the earth’s atmosphere. Trees plays the important role in the water cycle as they release moisture
in the atmosphere through their leaves, in turn this helps the formation of clouds which bring rain.
Loss of trees can therefore be a cause of drought. In addition, at times where there is rain, trees
can soak up much of the extra water and so, they help to prevent floods. Trees also help to
prevent soil erosions, they work like nets trapping soil and stopping it from being washed away.
In addition, fallen trees branches and leaves decay on the ground hence making soil more fertile.
An individual tree can be a home to all kinds of tree dwellers animals, mammals, reptiles, birds,
insects as well as other plants. In thick forests, millions types of trees can be found. For example,
in the tropical rain forest which occupy about 8 percent of earth’s land area are homes to over 50
percent of all animals.
In addition to these benefits, products from trees provide human beings with a thousand of items.
Many fruits and seeds are eaten by humans and animals. There is also wood, people do thousands
of things with wood. It is used in the construction of both traditional and modern buildings. There
is also furniture, such as wardrobes, beds, tables, chairs, doors to mention but a few. All of these
items are made of wood.
In streets, there may be all kinds of structures made of wood like signboards, telephone and
electricity poles, fences and gates. Wood is also a source of fuel. Generally trees and its
advantages touch every human beings and non-human beings.
Questions
(a) Choose the most correct answer from among the alternatives given and write its letter in
your answer booklet.
(i) Trees play an important role in preserving and protecting our environment
because
A they provide shade on both hot days and shelter on wet days
B they protect the environment from pollution and the effect of weather
C they provide fruits and seeds which are eaten by only animals
D they make the soil fertile by producing oxygen and carbon dioxide
E they absorb excessive moisture from the atmosphere.