Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D) to complete the passage. TREES FOR LIFE Trees are amongst the biggest and longest-living things on Earth, some dating back longer than the oldest buildings. But as well as being nice to look at, trees also (21) ___________ an important role in improving the quality of our lives. On a world-wide scale, forests help to slow down the effects of global warming by using up the gas known as carbon dioxide and giving (22) ...

Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D) to complete the passage.

TREES FOR LIFE

Trees are amongst the biggest and longest-living things on Earth, some dating back longer than the oldest buildings. But as well as being nice to look at, trees also (21) ___________ an important role in improving the quality of our lives.

On a world-wide scale, forests help to slow down the effects of global warming by using up the gas known as carbon dioxide and giving (22) ___________ the oxygen we need to breathe. At local neighborhood level, trees also brings important environmental benefits. The offer shade and shelter, which in (23) ___________ reduces the amount of energy needed to heat and cool nearby buildings; at the same time, they also remove other impurities from the air we breathe.

Urban trees are especially important because for many people they provide the only daily (24) ___________ with the natural world. What’s more, urban trees also provide a home for birds and small animals. Without the trees we would lose the pleasure of seeing these creatures in our cities. Regrettably, (25) ___________ trees in cities are now coming under threat. There is a limit to the level of pollution they can (26) ___________ and down at street level, their roots are being seriously disturbed by the digging needed to make way for telephone, television and other cables.

But as well as being nice to look at, trees also (21) ___________ an important role in improving the quality of our lives.