This picture shows a desert environment, which is home to many lizards, small mammals, and cacti and other plants with short roots. This environment allows some plants and animals to live there because the soil in the desert is. A- dry and sandy, allowing small animals to burrow and hide from the sun while allowing plants with short roots to reach and hold onto water. B- dry and hard, allowing small animals to lay on the hard soil to get sunlight while allowing plants with short roots to sit on top of the soil and hold onto water.