VI. Choose the correct word A, B, C or D for each gap to complete the following passage. More than a billion people all over the world are (1)_______the threat of desert expansion, but few of them are aware that they themselves cause it and are also its (2) ________. People cut (3) ________trees for fuel and farmland. Their herds eat (4) ________ the grass covering valley floors and hillsides. The climate and soil quality, therefore, are affected and forests are turned into (5) _________. In some places, many people had to leave their homes when their wells became dry and sand buried their house and crops. Therefore, governments in nearby areas have banned local people (6) __________ trees and banned burning firewood for fuel. Many other techniques have been (7)________. For example, in Iran, a thin covering of oil was poured on sandy areas to retain (8) __________ for planting trees, but this method may harm the environment. Other countries built long canals or pipelines (9)________water to desert areas. Unless people find more (10) __________methods, their homes and land will be lost. The fight against the desert is continuing. 1. A. under B. in C. on D. of 2. A. enemies B. victims C. friends D. effects 3. A. off B. back C. in D. down 4. A. away B. up C. into D. out 5. A. blanks B. spaces C. deserts D. bareness 6. A. planting B. to plant C. plant D. planted 7. A. using B. use C. uses D. used 8. A. water B. soil C. earth D. fertilizer 9. A. take B. to carry C. fetch D. bring 10. A. effective B. great C. major D. useful