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THOSE of us who live in regions covered with forests and surrounded by hills may find it difficult to imagine what a desert is really like. The popular belief is that it is an endless stretch of sand where no rain falls and, therefore, no vegetation grows. It is dry, hot, waterless and without shelter. But this is not entirely correct. For those who have studied it, the desert can be a beautiful place. It is the home of a variety of people, animals and plants that have learnt to live under very hot and dry conditions.
True, the ground is not always hidden by a cover of grass, plants and trees as it is in other climates. But whenever it rains, which is rare, desert flowers bloom and the sight can be as rewarding as that of any tropical garden.
Explanation:
Forests are home to around 300 million trees worldwide, and 1.6 billion people depend on them for their livelihood. And apart from that, forests provide food and shelter to a diverse range of living species.
Evergreen forest
Living organisms which live in or near forests or near hills could never imagine what a desert would be like. In a desert, the amount of evaporation exceeds the amount of annual rainfall.
Most people think of a desert to be a vast expanse of land unfit for any living being to survive. It is a common misconception that a desert is entirely made up of sand and is unsuitable for plant growth.
Most people think of a desert to be a vast expanse of land unfit for any living being to survive. It is a common misconception that a desert is entirely made up of sand and is unsuitable for plant growth.
Desert landscape
Desert rainfall is one of the primary reason in determining the desert condition. A desert, according to scientists, averages not more than \(25\) centimetres (\(10\) inches) of precipitation per year.
For many people, the desert seems to be a region of hotness and dryness. They assume that no one can live there. Such beliefs about the desert were pure assumptions, without any exact fact.
While it may be true that grass, plants, and trees did not always cover a desert region, unlike other climatic areas, desert flowers also bloom for sure if it rains. However, it often doesn't occur, and the sight can be as enjoyable as that of a tropical landscape.
For many people, the desert seems to be a region of hotness and dryness. They assume that no one can live there. Such beliefs about the desert were pure assumptions, without any exact fact.
While it may be true that grass, plants, and trees did not always cover a desert region, unlike other climatic areas, desert flowers also bloom for sure if it rains. However, it often doesn't occur, and the sight can be as enjoyable as that of a tropical landscape.
Meaning of difficult words:
S.No | Words | Meaning |
1. | Region | A large area of land, usually without exact limit |
2. | Precipitation | A form of water from the atmosphere |
3. | Vegetation | Plants that grow in a particular environment |
4. | Misconception | A belief or idea that is not based on a correct information |
5. | Assumption | A belief that something is true without any proof |
6. | Tropical | Very hot and humid |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2006). Supplementary. The Desert (pp.15-18). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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