Our environment club

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

We have an environment club at our school. All the pupils in the school are members. They do a lot of activities for the club. They also receive a lot of benefits from the club. We have a seedlings nursery in our school. Members bring fruit seeds from their homes. We also bring plastic bags, fertile soil, and manure from our homes. Our environment teacher guides us through planting the seeds.

First, we mix soil with manure. Then, we put the mixture into plastic bags. We make holes in the plastic bags to let air in. Thereafter, we plant the fruit seeds in the soil. Lastly, we arrange the planted bags on the seedbeds. Our seedbeds are partly shaded. This prevents sunshine from burning the seedlings. We water the seedlings every morning. Each club member takes three big seedlings of fruit trees. They have to plant and take care of the seedlings in their home environment. Club leaders visit members' homes to inspect the seedlings. They make sure that the seedlings grow into big fruit trees.

Each member must grow one fruit tree in the school environment. We have to care for our trees until we finish Standard Seven. We have to make sure that the seedlings grow into big fruit trees. Therefore, we build a wooden fence around our trees to protect them from animals. We apply manure around them. We water them every morning. We mark the trees with our names. The environment teacher monitors the progress of the trees. He awards those whose trees grow well.

Mature fruit trees are easy to care for. They do not need watering anymore. They give us fruits and shade. They prevent soil erosion. They break the wind. They give us fresh air. They make our school environment look more beautiful. Our club activities have turned our school into a fruit garden. People come to buy fruits. Others come to buy seedlings to plant in their homes. We get a lot of money from selling mangoes, pawpaws, oranges, avocados, lemons, and guavas. Apart from gardening, our club has many other environmental activities.

We have cleaning operations too. We clean the environment of the neighbouring community. We do this by picking plastic bags. We focus on plastic bags and bottles because they pollute the environment. They remain in the soil or water for many years. They stop water from entering the soil. They keep away air and light from entering water bodies. We take the plastic materials to the recycling centres.

Questions

Choose the correct answer and write its letter in the boxes provided.

1. Who are the members of the school environment club? a) All boys and girls b) Standard Five pupils c) The environment master d) All the teachers

2. What kind of plants does the environment club grow? a) Banana plants b) Tomato plants c) Coconut trees d) Fruit trees

3. The club grows the following fruits, except ____________. a) Avocados b) Mangoes c) Grapes d) Pawpaws

4. The pupils make holes on the planted plastic bags to __________. a) Allow light in b) Let air in c) Keep water in d) Keep away animals

5. The environment teacher gives _______ to the pupils whose trees grow well. a) Fruits b) Awards c) Seedlings d) A punishment

6. The following is not one of the benefits of trees in the environment: a) Preventing rains b) Preventing soil erosion c) Breaking winds d) Giving fruits and shade

7. The cleaning operation focused on plastic materials because they ___________. a) Cause soil erosion b) Are scattered everywhere c) Are used to make utensils d) Pollute the environment

8. The best way to remove plastic bags and bottles from the environment is to ____________. a) Burn them b) Recycle and reuse them c) Throw them away d) Bury them

Change the words in brackets into the correct form.

Example: Each member _____ (bring) fruit seeds from their homes. Each member brings fruit seeds from their homes.

1. She _____ (mix) soil with manure.

2. Baraka _____ (put) the mixture into the plastic bags.

3. They _____ (make) holes on the plastic bags to allow air in.

4. We do not _____ (plant) trees other than fruit trees.

5. Shade _____ (prevent) sunshine from burning the seedlings.

6. Do you_____ (water) the seedlings every morning?

7. Does each club member_____ (take) three big seedlings of fruit trees?

8. Do club leaders _____ (visit) members' homes to inspect the trees?