From the first paragraph

(i) pick out two phrases which describe the desert as most people believe it is;

(ii) Pick out two phrases which describe the desert as specialists see it. Which do you think is an apt description, and why?

(i) Two phrases which describe the desert as most people believe it is are “an endless stretch of sand, where no rainfalls and no vegetation grows. “and “A place that is dry, hot, waterless and without shelter.”

(ii) Two phrases which describe the desert as specialists see it are “a beautiful place”, “home of a variety of people, animals and plants that have learnt to live under hot and dry conditions.”

Both are apt descriptions as they describe the desert’s reality but in two different contexts.