Morocco's Shield in the Soil: The Argan Tree
The argan tree grows in southwestern Morocco, where the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve includes a landscape shaped by mountains, plains, and the Atlantic coast. UNESCO identifies argan as an endemic species there, meaning it naturally belongs to that region. The United Nations observes the International Day of Argania on May 10 to recognize the tree’s ecological, cultural, and economic importance.
Argan trees are part of life in a dry region. The tree’s fruit and oil are useful to people, while the species is also important to local biodiversity. No single tree can solve drought or stop desertification by itself. The landscape depends on many connected factors, including climate, plants, animals, water, and the people who care for the land.
For generations, people in the region have developed knowledge and practices connected to the argan tree. UNESCO describes traditions of gathering and processing the fruit that are shared within communities and passed from one generation to another. These practices vary, and the people who hold this knowledge should be recognized as experts in their own cultural traditions.
- endemic:
- Naturally found in and native to a specific geographic area.
- biodiversity:
- The variety of different plants and animals living in an environment.
- desertification:
- The process by which fertile land becomes dry desert land.
- traditions:
- Customs, beliefs, or ways of doing things passed down through generations.
- kernels:
- The softer, inner edible parts found inside seeds or nuts.
- livelihoods:
- The means or jobs by which people secure the necessities of life.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where in Morocco does the argan tree naturally grow?
- 2What does it mean when the text states the argan tree is an endemic species?
You Might Also Like
About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“Morocco's Shield in the Soil: The Argan Tree” is a explanatory article reading passage about The Argan Tree and Moroccan Communities, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (292 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.