About one percent of all the rainforests in the world are lost every year. We know this because satellites give us true pictures of the rainforests. Satellite pictures tell us, for example, that between 1978 and 1988, 170,000 square kilometers of the rainforests in the Amazon were lost.

When roads are made through the rainforests, people start to destroy the forests. Look at the satellite picture taken in 1976.You can see the new road going through the rainforest. The second picture shows the same forest in 1981.The rainforest in this part of Brazil has been destroyed very quickly.

Without the trees to protect the ground, the heavy rain quickly washes away the soil beside the roads.

The rainforests are rich in trees and animals, but the soil is not rich; it is very poor because it is very old and because the trees and plants contain all the good things that were once in the soil. Without the trees, the rain washes away the soil and nothing can grow there again.

Look at the picture of Madagascar. Thousands of trees once covered these mountains, and thousands of animals lived there. Nothing can grow there now, and no animals can live there.

Are we going to destroy all the rainforests of the world? Perhaps one day you will travel to a rainforest country, but will you see the wonderful plants and animals of the rainforests?

（   ）1. How many rainforests in the world are lost every year?

A．About one billion  B．About ten percent  C．About one percent  D．About ten million

（   ）2. Why does the heavy rain wash away the soil beside the roads?

A．Because the rain is very heavy.

B．Because thousands of trees once covered these mountains.

C．Because people start to destroy the forests.

D．Because there are few trees to protect the ground.

（   ）3. How can we know about the situation of he rainforests in the world?

     A．By watching TV B．By reading books C By the radio  D． By satellite pictures

（   ）4. Can you tell me where Brazil is?

A．Yes. It’s in South America                B．Yes. It’s in North America

C．No. It’s in North Africa                 D．No. It’s in South Africa

（   ）5. What will happen one day when you travel to a rainforest country according to the passage?

A．You will see the wonderful plants and animals of the rainforests.

B．You won’t see the wonderful plants and animals of the rainforests.

C．Thousands of trees will cover these mountains, and animals will live there.

D．You can see the new road going through the rainforest.