Johnson Borges Solutions for Exercise 8: Model Passages

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

The slimy brown earthworms that crawl about our fields and gardens are among the humblest of nature's creatures. They are not certainly beautiful to look at, nor do they appear to be of any use to man. Yet these little worms are farmer's best friend, for they are nature's plowmen. As they move in and out of the ground, they turn over the soil, again and again, to keep it soft and fertile. Lands in which these worms have been destroyed perhaps by flood, become hard and lose their fertility.
Worms live about a foot and a half underground and it is this top layer of soil that is affected by their presence. They usually come out to feed at night as in the day time their many enemies, birds, frogs, lizards would make short work of them. As they push down into the ground, they fill their mouth with the earth, which passes through the body and comes out from the tail in what is called a worm cast. This constant formation of hundreds and thousands of tiny coils of the earth helps to crumble the surface and brings up new layers of soil on which plants can feed. Moreover, as the worms tunnel into the ground, their burrows form air passages for the soil and soften it; so that the tender young roots can make their way down. The worms also drag down leaves the arid decaying vegetable matter to feed on and in this way too, they help to fertilize the soil.
Each little worm individually may seem too small to be a really useful plowman for man's purposes, but the work of countless millions of busy worms helps to keep the whole surface of the earth constantly cultivated.

Why do the earthworms usually come out to feed at night?

The slimy brown earthworms that crawl about our fields and gardens are among the humblest of nature's creatures. They are not certainly beautiful to look at, nor do they appear to be of any use to man. Yet these little worms are farmer's best friend, for they are nature's plowmen. As they move in and out of the ground, they turn over the soil, again and again, to keep it soft and fertile. Lands in which these worms have been destroyed perhaps by flood, become hard and lose their fertility.
Worms live about a foot and a half underground and it is this top layer of soil that is affected by their presence. They usually come out to feed at night as in the day time their many enemies, birds, frogs, lizards would make short work of them. As they push down into the ground, they fill their mouth with the earth, which passes through the body and comes out from the tail in what is called a worm cast. This constant formation of hundreds and thousands of tiny coils of the earth helps to crumble the surface and brings up new layers of soil on which plants can feed. Moreover, as the worms tunnel into the ground, their burrows form air passages for the soil and soften it; so that the tender young roots can make their way down. The worms also drag down leaves the arid decaying vegetable matter to feed on and in this way too, they help to fertilize the soil.
Each little worm individually may seem too small to be a really useful plowman for man's purposes, but the work of countless millions of busy worms helps to keep the whole surface of the earth constantly cultivated.

How do the activities of the earthworms help plants grow?

The slimy brown earthworms that crawl about our fields and gardens are among the humblest of nature's creatures. They are not certainly beautiful to look at, nor do they appear to be of any use to man. Yet these little worms are farmer's best friend, for they are nature's plowmen. As they move in and out of the ground, they turn over the soil, again and again, to keep it soft and fertile. Lands in which these worms have been destroyed perhaps by flood, become hard and lose their fertility.
Worms live about a foot and a half underground and it is this top layer of soil that is affected by their presence. They usually come out to feed at night as in the day time their many enemies, birds, frogs, lizards would make short work of them. As they push down into the ground, they fill their mouth with the earth, which passes through the body and comes out from the tail in what is called a worm cast. This constant formation of hundreds and thousands of tiny coils of the earth helps to crumble the surface and brings up new layers of soil on which plants can feed. Moreover, as the worms tunnel into the ground, their burrows form air passages for the soil and soften it; so that the tender young roots can make their way down. The worms also drag down leaves the arid decaying vegetable matter to feed on and in this way too, they help to fertilize the soil.
Each little worm individually may seem too small to be a really useful plowman for man's purposes, but the work of countless millions of busy worms helps to keep the whole surface of the earth constantly cultivated.

How far do you agree with the writer's view that the earthworms are the farmer's best friends?

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

The slimy brown earthworms that crawl about our fields and gardens are among the humblest of nature's creatures. They are not certainly beautiful to look at, nor do they appear to be of any use to man. Yet these little worms are farmer's best friend, for they are nature's plowmen. As they move in and out of the ground, they turn over the soil, again and again, to keep it soft and fertile. Lands in which these worms have been destroyed perhaps by flood, become hard and lose their fertility.
Worms live about a foot and a half underground and it is this top layer of soil that is affected by their presence. They usually come out to feed at night as in the day time their many enemies, birds, frogs, lizards would make short work of them. As they push down into the ground, they fill their mouth with the earth, which passes through the body and comes out from the tail in what is called a worm cast. This constant formation of hundreds and thousands of tiny coils of the earth helps to crumble the surface and brings up new layers of soil on which plants can feed. Moreover, as the worms tunnel into the ground, their burrows form air passages for the soil and soften it; so that the tender young roots can make their way down. The worms also drag down leaves the arid decaying vegetable matter to feed on and in this way too, they help to fertilize the soil.
Each little worm individually may seem too small to be a really useful plowman for man's purposes, but the work of countless millions of busy worms helps to keep the whole surface of the earth constantly cultivated.

Rewrite the following sentence in the ways instructed:

These little worms are the farmer's best friends. (Change the degree of comparison)

The slimy brown earthworms that crawl about our fields and gardens are among the humblest of nature's creatures. They are not certainly beautiful to look at, nor do they appear to be of any use to man. Yet these little worms are farmer's best friend, for they are nature's plowmen. As they move in and out of the ground, they turn over the soil, again and again, to keep it soft and fertile. Lands in which these worms have been destroyed perhaps by flood, become hard and lose their fertility.
Worms live about a foot and a half underground and it is this top layer of soil that is affected by their presence. They usually come out to feed at night as in the day time their many enemies, birds, frogs, lizards would make short work of them. As they push down into the ground, they fill their mouth with the earth, which passes through the body and comes out from the tail in what is called a worm cast. This constant formation of hundreds and thousands of tiny coils of the earth helps to crumble the surface and brings up new layers of soil on which plants can feed. Moreover, as the worms tunnel into the ground, their burrows form air passages for the soil and soften it; so that the tender young roots can make their way down. The worms also drag down leaves the arid decaying vegetable matter to feed on and in this way too, they help to fertilize the soil.
Each little worm individually may seem too small to be a really useful plowman for man's purposes, but the work of countless millions of busy worms helps to keep the whole surface of the earth constantly cultivated.

Rewrite the following sentence in the ways instructed:

Worms live about a foot and a half underground. (Rewrite using 'Present Perfect Tense)

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

The slimy brown earthworms that crawl about our fields and gardens are among the humblest of nature's creatures. They are not certainly beautiful to look at, nor do they appear to be of any use to man. Yet these little worms are farmers' best friend, for they are nature's plowmen. As they move in and out of the ground, they turn over the soil, again and again, to keep it soft and fertile. Lands in which these worms have been destroyed perhaps by flood, become hard and lose their fertility.
Worms live about a foot and a half underground, and it is this top layer of soil that is affected by their presence. They usually come out to feed at night as in the day time their many enemies, birds, frogs, lizards would make short work of them. As they push down into the ground, they fill their mouth with the earth, which passes through the body and comes out from the tail in what is called a worm cast. This constant formation of hundreds and thousands of tiny coils of the earth helps to crumble the surface and brings up new layers of soil on which plants can feed. Moreover, as the worms tunnel into the ground, their burrows form air passages for the soil and soften it; so that the tender young roots can make their way down. The worms also drag down leaves the arid decaying vegetable matter to feed on and in this way too, they help to fertilize the soil.
Each little worm individually may seem too small to be a really useful plowmen for man's purposes, but the work of countless millions of busy worms helps to keep the whole surface of the earth constantly cultivated.

Rewrite the following sentence in the ways instructed:

They turn over the soil again and again and keep it soft. (Rewrite the sentence using 'not only', 'but also')

The slimy brown earthworms that crawl about our fields and gardens are among the humblest of nature's creatures. They are not certainly beautiful to look at, nor do they appear to be of any used to man. Yet these little worms are farmers' best friend, for they are nature's plowmen. As they move in and out of the ground, they turn over the soil, again and again, to keep it soft and fertile. Lands in which these worms have been destroyed perhaps by flood, become hard and lose their fertility.
Worms live about a foot and a half underground, and it is this top layer of soil that is affected by their presence. They usually come out to feed at night as in the daytime their many enemies, birds, frogs, lizards would make short work of them. As they push down into the ground, they fill their mouth with the earth, which passes through the body and comes out from the tail in what is called a worm cast. This constant formation of hundreds and thousands of tiny coils of the earth helps to crumble the surface and brings up new layers of soil on which plants can feed. Moreover, as the worms tunnel into the ground, their burrows form air passages for the soil and soften it; so that the tender young roots can make their way down. The worms also drag down leaves the arid decaying vegetable matter to feed on and in this way too, they help to fertilize the soil.
Each little worm individually may seem too small to be a really useful plowmen for man's purposes, but the work of countless millions of busy worms helps to keep the whole surface of the earth constantly cultivated.

Find opposite words for the following from the extract:

Ugly

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The slimy brown earthworms that crawl about our fields and gardens are among the humblest of nature's creatures. They are not certainly beautiful to look at, nor do they appear to be of any used to man. Yet these little worms are farmers' best friend, for they are nature's plowmen. As they move in and out of the ground, they turn over the soil, again and again, to keep it soft and fertile. Lands in which these worms have been destroyed perhaps by flood, become hard and lose their fertility.
Worms live about a foot and a half underground, and it is this top layer of soil that is affected by their presence. They usually come out to feed at night as in the daytime their many enemies, birds, frogs, lizards would make short work of them. As they push down into the ground, they fill their mouth with the earth, which passes through the body and comes out from the tail in what is called a worm cast. This constant formation of hundreds and thousands of tiny coils of the earth helps to crumble the surface and brings up new layers of soil on which plants can feed. Moreover, as the worms tunnel into the ground, their burrows form air passages for the soil and soften it; so that the tender young roots can make their way down. The worms also drag down leaves the arid decaying vegetable matter to feed on and in this way too, they help to fertilize the soil.
Each little worm individually may seem too small to be a really useful plowmen for man's purposes, but the work of countless millions of busy worms helps to keep the whole surface of the earth constantly cultivated.

Find opposite word for the following:

Absence