Concept:Sclerophyll vegetation is characteristic of Mediterranean climate regions around the world.
Explanation:Sclerophyll forests and shrublands are found in regions with a Mediterranean climate – mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
These regions include the Mediterranean Basin, California, central Chile, the Cape Region of South Africa, and southwestern Australia.
Now examine each group of cities:
• Valparaiso (Chile) and Cape Town (South Africa) – both lie in Mediterranean climate zones, so sclerophyll is present.
• Lisbon (Portugal, Mediterranean Basin) and Perth (southwestern Australia) – both have sclerophyll vegetation.
• Los Angeles (California) and Adelaide (south Australia, Mediterranean climate) – both support sclerophyll.
• Las Vegas (Nevada, USA) has a hot desert climate, not Mediterranean. Queensland (northeastern Australia) has a tropical/subtropical climate, not Mediterranean. Neither supports sclerophyll as natural cover.
Thus, only the last pair lacks sclerophyll vegetation.
Answer:Option D – Las Vegas and Queensland.