Question

Choose the correct statement(s) regarding the Amazon rainforest.
I. It is called the lungs of the planet.
II. It harbours probably millions of species.
III. It is the largest tropical rainforest in South America and has the greatest biodiversity on earth.
IV. They are being cut and cleared for cultivating soya beans or for the conversion to grasslands for raising beef cattle.

• A. Only II, III and IV
• B. Only I and II
• C. Only I, II and III
• D. I, II, III and IV

Answer 1

The correct option is D I, II, III and IV

The Amazon rainforest of South America (covering much of Brazil) is so huge that it is called the ‘lungs of the planet’. It is estimated to produce nearly 20 percent of the total oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere by photosynthesis.

It has the greatest biodiversity on earth and is home to millions of species such as 40,000 species of plants, 3,000 species of fishes, 1,300 species of birds, 427 species of mammals, 427 species of amphibians, 378 species of reptiles and of more than 1,25,000 species of invertebrates.

Unfortunately, this forest is being cut and cleared for cultivating soya beans and developing grasslands for raising beef cattle.

Therefore, all the statements regarding the Amazon rainforest are correct.