Section 4 recording
Desert Blooms After Rain
You will hear an ecology lecturer giving a presentation on how deserts bloom after rain.
One speaker · British English · 3:24
In the real test you hear each recording once. Read the questions first, then play it through without pausing.
Go to the questions ↓Questions 1–8
Complete the sentences below. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Word limit: ONE WORD ONLY
1Seeds are protected from extreme temperatures and sunlight by a resilient .
2Germination cannot begin until rainfall washes away chemical inside the seed.
3Seedlings rapidly grow a deep to reach underground water before the surface dries out.
4The dense growth of plants protects desert topsoil from wind-driven .
5A strong nocturnal helps flowers attract pollinators over long distances.
6The main night-time pollinators for many desert flowers are .
7The sudden availability of food leads to a rapid population increase among local .
8From start to finish, the flowering cycle seldom continues for longer than a .
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