Read the text and choose the correct options

Deforestation is one of the most discussed eco problems in modern world society. There are countries, like Sweden, Finland and Japan, which can be a good example of efficient reforestation policies. But if you make a careful review, you can find out numerous pitfalls.

Let's take a closer look at a Japanese forest as an example. It's nice and thick. All trees of the same breed and about the same height grow in rows. If you stand there and look around, you will probably feel something is wrong with this place. You listen … and you don't hear anything. In a forest like this, there are no birds, no animals, no insects. It is not a dead forest, but a plantation created for the sole purpose of providing raw materials for the wood industry.

Plantations like this have been extensively replacing natural forests since the middle of the 20th century with its tremendous need for materials like wood urged by the wartime bombings and losses. In order to feed people and rebuild the destroyed houses, several tree species which were the most suitable for this purpose were selected and planted all over the territory. Everything went well and no one expected a wide range of problems to appear. To understand what kind of problems, we need to understand what a natural forest is.

A traditional forest is an ecosystem, a vast community in which all elements interact with each other. Besides, big variety of living organisms like birds, animals, insects, plants, etc. are closely related to inanimate nature: soil, water and air. They support and strengthen each other. In such a forest there is nothing accidental: mushrooms, mosses, trees of different types appear where they are needed. Everything here is born and dies according to natural laws.

What concerns the forest plantations, they are the exact opposite. There is no place for chance and biodiversity. Plantations are nothing more but an artificially created environment with a single species planted over a vast territory — the one that is in demand from manufacturers. We should know that monocultures often lead to soil infertility, heavy erosions, potential landslides and other numerous threats. For example, if you plant only Douglas fir, the soil will not be able to "digest" the carpet of needles. Nothing can grow in the shade of these thick trees which prevent sunlight from reaching the forest floor. But if some of the furs are thinned and if you add broadleaf trees, fallen leaves will help create high-quality compost for the soil.

Moreover, some trees drop highly allergic pollen which causes hay fever. Due to the unnaturally high concentration of mature trees, millions of people suffer from seasonal allergy every year. In order to handle this situation, the forestry agency must take up such measures as thinning out the trees, trimming the branches that produce the pollen, plant other species of trees. It will take years to improve the quality of artificial forests. Apparently, environmental engineering must be carried out very carefully.

Sweden, Finland and Japan are the countries

• most affected by deforestation.
• most successful in restoring its forests.

In this text "pitfall" means

• a covered pit for use as a trap.
• unsuspected danger or difficulty.

Animals and insects can't live in some of the Japanese forests because

• monocultural forests ruin natural ecosystems.
• the forests are too thick.

The Japanese Government chose certain tree species to plant according to

• social polls.
• wartime needs.

In an average ecosystem

• living beings are interconnected with inanimate nature.
• only living organisms interact with each other.

Monocultural forest plantations

• help to prevent disasters like landslides.
• tend to cause natural disasters.

Artificial coniferous forest can make an effective ecosystem if

• there are broadleaf trees too.
• there are enough thick mature trees.

To improve the situation, we need

• to cut down all the artificial plantations.
• to enrich the diversity of tree species.