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QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
 Taming the sand 
Unit 9.5
2014-2015 S2 Geography
Name:
(
)
S.2 (
)
What can be done to solve the problem of desertification in
China? (Textbook P. 32-37)
Key Questions:
1. What are the measures for alleviating the negative impact of desertification and sandstorms in China?
Preparatory task
Find out the meaning of the BOLD words. Write down the definition in Chinese in the boxes below.
Passage A
Desertification and sandstorms can cause great damage to the people and the environment. In
recent years, the central government has spent huge sums of money to combat desertification.
The basic reason for desertification and sandstorms is high population pressure. Therefore, the
government has taken measure of (1) population control to lower population pressure. Besides, the
government has carried out (2) afforestation to check desertification as trees can act as a (3) windbreak
to prevent soil erosion by wind and water. If the climate is too dry for tress to grow, grass can be planted.
For example, (4) straw checkerboards can be used to stabilize moving sand. The central government has
also encouraged people to returning farmland and grazing land into woodland and grassland by paying
compensation. The government has also improved infrastructure for promoting (5) green tourism to let
people earn a living without damaging the environment. Lastly, the government has developed solar and
wind energy to make people cut less trees for fuel wood.
English
Chinese
1. population control
控制人口
2. afforestation
植林
3. windbreak
防風林
4. straw checkerboards
草方格
5. green tourism
綠色旅遊
1
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
 Taming the sand 
2014-2015 S2 Geography
Name:
(
)
S.2 (
)
1. What are the measures for alleviating the negative impact of
desertification and sandstorms in China? (Textbook, p.33-37)
The following photos show some measures which has been carried out to alleviate the
negative impacts in China . Identify and describe the measures.
Measure 1: Population control
 Control population can be done through
(i)
contraception
(ii)
abortion
(iii) late marriage
(iv) family planning / small family
Measure 2: Afforestation

Trees and grass can hold the topsoil,
they can stabilize moving sand.

Tress can also block strong wind and
moving sand.

Grass and trees are grown as a
windbreak to prevent soil erosion by
wind and water.

Trees that are:
(i)
( fast / slow )-growing
The Green Great Wall is a large-scale tree planting
project that aims at checking desertification in
northern China.
(ii)
drought-resistant
(iii)
have extensive roots and
branches
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QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
 Taming the sand 
Name:
2014-2015 S2 Geography
( )
S.2 (
 If the climate is too dry for tress to
grow, grass can be planted.

)
For example, straw checkerboards can
be used to stabilize moving sand.
Measure 3: Wise / Careful land use planning

In areas which are under the threat of
desertification and sandstorms, we
should not:
(i) remove the vegetation cover
(ii) develop the land into farmland or
grazing land
Farming activities near a desert in northern China
is not allowed
Measure 4: Returning farmland and grazing land to woodland and grassland

The central government has encouraged
people in northern China to give up
farming and gazing activities by paying
compensation.

The government has also improved
infrastructure for promoting green
tourism.

Local people can act as tour guide in
green tourism to earn a living without
damage the environmental pollution.
Without farming activities, trees and grasses can
re-grow
A hotel in the rural village and local people as a
tour guide in Xizang
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QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
 Taming the sand 
2014-2015 S2 Geography
Name:
(
)
S.2 (
)
Measure 5: Develop other sources of power

By providing other sources of power,
people will not cut trees for fuel wood.

There are fewer clouds in deserts. More
sunlight can reach the ground.

There is little vegetation in deserts. The
wind is strong.

Solar and wind energy are favourable
to develop in desert areas.

They are (renewable / non-renewable)
energy with unlimited supply and will
not cause environmental pollution.
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