سؤال قراءة ستيب محلول — المفردات في السياق (تدريب 6956)

(1) Wildfires take place with alarming frequency in the drier areas of the United States, especially in the western states. Not only do the fires cause immediate damage by killing plants and animals in their path, but they can also have long- term effects that harm the ecosystem. (2) At the Hanford Reach National Monument in Washington State, different types of wildlife such as the burrowing owl, the sagebrush vole, and the pygmy rabbit abound. Visitors to Hanford Reach might also see elk, porcupines, and jack rabbits that live near the free-flowing Columbia River. The area is protected from development, which has helped these species thrive. (3) Over the last decade, several major wildfires have broken out at Hanford Reach. Thousands of acres have burned. One type of plant that has been severely damaged in the fires is sagebrush. This poses special problems for many of the species living in the park. (4) First, animals such as the sage grouse depend on sagebrush as part of their natural habitat. It can take thirty years for sagebrush to grow large enough to provide shelter for these animals. Second, after the sagebrush burns, an invasive species called cheat grass can grow quickly in its place. Unfortunately, cheat grass burns more easily and at higher temperatures than sagebrush. That means that after sagebrush is destroyed, wildfires can occur more frequently and be even more devastating. What happened because of wildfires at Hanford Reach?