Four things are needed to build a small rooftop garden to grow vegetables. One thing is a roof that can support the weight. Another is grass cuttings. The third thing is a sheet of plastic on which to spread the cut grass. And the last thing is a box about eight centimeters deep and made out of four pieces of wood.

Once you are sure the roof is good, cut and collect some grass. Then lay down the plastic where the garden box will go. The four-sided box can be as long and as wide as needed. Place the box on top of the sheet of plastic. Then fill it with the cut grass. Next, add water and walk on the cuttings to press them down.

After about three weeks, the rooftop garden is ready for planting. Put the seeds directly into the wet grass cuttings. This garden is a good place to grow peas, tomatoes, beans, onions and lettuce. If the box is deep enough, potatoes and carrots will also grow.

It is important to keep the grass wet until the plants begin to grow. When the plants are growing, they will need watering every day, unless there is rain. And they will need some liquid fertilizer. If you can get chicken waste, you can make your own liquid fertilizer. Put the chicken manure in a cloth bag. Then, put the bag in a big container of water. After about one week, the water becomes a good liquid fertilizer.

Rooftop gardens need a lot of water. Also, seeds and new plants must be protected from insects and birds.

Rooftop gardens are increasingly popular, and not just to grow vegetables. They keep buildings cooler in the sun, so they save energy. They can also extend the useful life of a roof. Rooftop gardens also reduce the runoff of storm water and help clean the air. Plus they add beauty, and give birds and insects in the city a nice place to live.

57. Which is NOT needed to build a small rooftop garden according to the passage?

A. A roof.       B. A sheet of plastic.     C. A wooden box.          D. Some wet soil.

58 Choose the right order of events given in the passage.

a. place the box over the sheet of plastic

b. put down the sheet of plastic

c. fill the box with the cut grass

d. prepare some grass cuttings

e. water and walk on the grass cuttings

A. e. b. c. a. d.       B. e. b. a. c. d.            C. d. b. a. c. e.                     D. b. a. c. d. e.

59. Which of the following is among the benefits of a rooftop garden?

A. It can provide a home for birds and insects.

B. It can keep the buildings wet.

C. You can save plenty of drinking water.

D. You can get some free liquid fertilizer.

60. The purpose of this writing is to ______.

A. persuade    B. entertain                   C. inform                     D. sell

     Directions:  Read the following passage.  Complete the diagram by using the information from the passage. Write NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS for each answer.

     Who says people need land to grow vegetables? All you need is a roof that is strong enough and flat enough to support a garden. We are going to describe one way to build a rooftop garden that does not even require soil. Four things are needed for a small rooftop garden. One thing is a roof that can support the weight; another is grass cutting. The third thing is a sheet of plastic in which to spread the cut grass. And the last thing is a box about eight centimeters deep and made out of four pieces of wood.

     Once you are sure the roof is good, cut and collect some grass. Then lay down the plastic where the garden box will go. The four-sided box can be as long and as wide as needed. Place the box on top of the sheet of plastic. Then fill it with the cut grass. Next, add water and walk on the cuttings to press them down. After about three weeks, the rooftop garden is ready for planting. Put the seeds directly into the wet grass cuttings. This garden is a good place to grow peas, tomatoes, beans, onions and lettuce. If the box is deep enough, potatoes and carrots will also grow.

     It is important to keep the grass wet until the plants begin to grow. When the plants are growing, they will need watering every day, unless there is rain. And they will need some liquid fertilizer. Also, seeds and new plants must be protected from insects and birds.

     Rooftop gardens are increasingly popular, and not just to grow vegetables. They keep buildings cooler in the sun, so they save energy. They can also extend the useful life of a roof. Rooftop gardens also reduce the runoff of storm water and help clean the air. Plus they add beauty, and give birds and insects in the city a nice place to live.

                The building of a rooftop vegetable garden