Question 4
About 6% of the Earth is covered by rainforests. The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon Basin, which stretches over 2.3 million square miles across nine different South American countries. This area is double the size of all the other remaining rainforests in the world. Brazil contains 60% of the Amazonian rainforest, as it lies at the mouth of the Amazon River. This river is the second largest in the world and contains more than one-fifth of the world’s fresh water. The Amazon rainforest is classified as a type of wet broadleaf forest. The weather there is very humid and warm, with substantial rainfall contributing to the forest's rich greenery. The tree leaves are pointed and narrow, allowing raindrops to easily slide off wet plants. This tropical rainforest is home to more living species than the entire European continent, with over 400 types of insects living in a single rainforest tree, totaling around 2.5 million species. One square kilometer of rainforest may contain over 75,000 types of trees and approximately 438,000 different kinds of plants, resulting in a total of 90,000 tons of greenery overall. The Amazon rainforest is home to 2,000 species of birds and mammals, with one in every five birds in the world residing there. Local farmers have lived off this rich and diverse land for thousands of years, finding food and water without destroying the environment. The Kayapo people of Brazil farm in an environmentally friendly manner. Instead of using chemicals, they burn wood to enrich the soil and plant banana trees, which attract wasps. These wasps feed on leafcutter ants, helping to control these harmful insects. The rainforest also provides a variety of tropical fruits, such as bananas and coconuts, as food sources. Cinnamon is made from the bark of a rainforest tree, and Amazonian Indians use the fruit and stem of the Buruti plant for drinks, bread, and construction. Many other plants are used for medicinal purposes. However, the Amazon rainforest is in significant danger of disappearing. In 2003 alone, 9,169 square miles of forest were cut down in Brazil. An area the size of a football field is burned every minute, suggesting that the rainforest may be gone by the year 2030. The dangers associated with this activity are clear. Trees absorb poisonous carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen. Rainforests have more oxygen and less carbon dioxide in their vicinity. When trees are cut down, the amount of carbon dioxide increases, resulting in a warmer atmosphere. This leads to global warming, which is extremely harmful to the environment. It is estimated that the burning of Brazilian rainforests alone produces 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. Another significant danger associated with the destruction of the rainforest is the disappearance of plants and animals. When trees are cut down, plants and animals lose their food sources and gradually die out. While killing wild animals is illegal in Brazil, poaching remains a problem. An estimated 38 million animals are stolen and sold illegally each year. The most hunted animals are birds, especially parrots, followed by snakes and jaguars
According to the information given, which of the following is NOT mentioned about the Amazon Rainforest?
Rationale
The passage provides details about the Amazon Rainforest, such as its size, location, the river Amazon, and its characteristics as a wet broadleaf forest. However, there is no mention of the specific amount of rainfall in the Amazon Rainforest. The passage focuses on various aspects of the rainforest but does not discuss its precipitation levels. Therefore, the correct answer is C: 'Its rainfall.'
