READING COMPREHENSION 3
  • 1. The northern lights, or the aurora borealis, is one of nature`s most dazzling spectacles. When it appears, there is often a crackling sound coming from the sky. A huge, luminous arc lights up the night, and this arc is constantly in motion. Sometimes, the brilliant rays of light spread upward in the shape of a fan. At other times, they flash here and there like giant searchlights, or move up and down so suddenly that they have been called “the merry dancers”. Farther north the aurora frequently looks like fiery draperies which hang from the sky and sway to and from while flames of red, orange, green, and blue play up and down the moving folds. According to scientific measurements, this discharge of light takes place from 500 to 100 miles above the earth. But it doesn´t reach its greatest brilliance at the North Pole. It is seen at its best around the Hudson Bay region in Canada, Northern Scotland, and in southern Norway and Sweden. It may sometimes be seen even in the United States as it flashes across the northern sky. Science is still not certain regarding exactly what these lights are and what causes them. But it is believed that the rays are due to discharges of electricity in the rare upper atmosphere. The displays seem to center about the earth´s magnetic poles, and electrical and magnetic disturbances often occur when the lights are especially brilliant. QUESTION: The passage is about: _____
A) An architectural monument
B) None of the options
C) A natural disaster
D) A natural landform
E) A scientific phenomenon
  • 2. The northern lights, or the aurora borealis, is one of nature`s most dazzling spectacles. When it appears, there is often a crackling sound coming from the sky. A huge, luminous arc lights up the night, and this arc is constantly in motion. Sometimes, the brilliant rays of light spread upward in the shape of a fan. At other times, they flash here and there like giant searchlights, or move up and down so suddenly that they have been called “the merry dancers”. Farther north the aurora frequently looks like fiery draperies which hang from the sky and sway to and from while flames of red, orange, green, and blue play up and down the moving folds. According to scientific measurements, this discharge of light takes place from 500 to 100 miles above the earth. But it doesn´t reach its greatest brilliance at the North Pole. It is seen at its best around the Hudson Bay region in Canada, Northern Scotland, and in southern Norway and Sweden. It may sometimes be seen even in the United States as it flashes across the northern sky. Science is still not certain regarding exactly what these lights are and what causes them. But it is believed that the rays are due to discharges of electricity in the rare upper atmosphere. The displays seem to center about the earth´s magnetic poles, and electrical and magnetic disturbances often occur when the lights are especially brilliant. QUESTION: This passage discusses the findings of: .....
A) teachers
B) scientists
C) inues
D) artists
E) northeners
  • 3. The northern lights, or the aurora borealis, is one of nature`s most dazzling spectacles. When it appears, there is often a crackling sound coming from the sky. A huge, luminous arc lights up the night, and this arc is constantly in motion. Sometimes, the brilliant rays of light spread upward in the shape of a fan. At other times, they flash here and there like giant searchlights, or move up and down so suddenly that they have been called “the merry dancers”. Farther north the aurora frequently looks like fiery draperies which hang from the sky and sway to and from while flames of red, orange, green, and blue play up and down the moving folds. According to scientific measurements, this discharge of light takes place from 500 to 100 miles above the earth. But it doesn´t reach its greatest brilliance at the North Pole. It is seen at its best around the Hudson Bay region in Canada, Northern Scotland, and in southern Norway and Sweden. It may sometimes be seen even in the United States as it flashes across the northern sky. Science is still not certain regarding exactly what these lights are and what causes them. But it is believed that the rays are due to discharges of electricity in the rare upper atmosphere. The displays seem to center about the earth´s magnetic poles, and electrical and magnetic disturbances often occur when the lights are especially brilliant. QUESTION: In which part of the passage does the author discuss what the aurora borealis looks like? .....
A) Paragraph 1
B) Paragraph 3
C) Whole passage
D) Nowhere
E) Paragraph 2
  • 4. The northern lights, or the aurora borealis, is one of nature`s most dazzling spectacles. When it appears, there is often a crackling sound coming from the sky. A huge, luminous arc lights up the night, and this arc is constantly in motion. Sometimes, the brilliant rays of light spread upward in the shape of a fan. At other times, they flash here and there like giant searchlights, or move up and down so suddenly that they have been called “the merry dancers”. Farther north the aurora frequently looks like fiery draperies which hang from the sky and sway to and from while flames of red, orange, green, and blue play up and down the moving folds. According to scientific measurements, this discharge of light takes place from 500 to 100 miles above the earth. But it doesn´t reach its greatest brilliance at the North Pole. It is seen at its best around the Hudson Bay region in Canada, Northern Scotland, and in southern Norway and Sweden. It may sometimes be seen even in the United States as it flashes across the northern sky. Science is still not certain regarding exactly what these lights are and what causes them. But it is believed that the rays are due to discharges of electricity in the rare upper atmosphere. The displays seem to center about the earth´s magnetic poles, and electrical and magnetic disturbances often occur when the lights are especially brilliant. QUESTION: Paragraph 2 mainly discusses northern lights in relation to their:.....
A) size
B) none
C) location
D) color
E) cause
  • 5. The northern lights, or the aurora borealis, is one of nature`s most dazzling spectacles. When it appears, there is often a crackling sound coming from the sky. A huge, luminous arc lights up the night, and this arc is constantly in motion. Sometimes, the brilliant rays of light spread upward in the shape of a fan. At other times, they flash here and there like giant searchlights, or move up and down so suddenly that they have been called “the merry dancers”. Farther north the aurora frequently looks like fiery draperies which hang from the sky and sway to and from while flames of red, orange, green, and blue play up and down the moving folds. According to scientific measurements, this discharge of light takes place from 500 to 100 miles above the earth. But it doesn´t reach its greatest brilliance at the North Pole. It is seen at its best around the Hudson Bay region in Canada, Northern Scotland, and in southern Norway and Sweden. It may sometimes be seen even in the United States as it flashes across the northern sky. Science is still not certain regarding exactly what these lights are and what causes them. But it is believed that the rays are due to discharges of electricity in the rare upper atmosphere. The displays seem to center about the earth´s magnetic poles, and electrical and magnetic disturbances often occur when the lights are especially brilliant. QUESTION: From paragraph 3, we learn tha the cause of the northern lights is: .....
A) all of the options
B) uninvestigated
C) beyond belief
D) uncertain
E) well established
  • 6. In marine habitats, a number of small creatures are involved in a "cleaning symbiosis". At least six species of small shrimp, frequently brightly colored, crawl over fish, picking off parasites and cleaning indjured areas. This is not an accidental occurrence, because fish are observed to congregate around these shrimp and stay motionless while being inspected. Several species of small fish (wrasses) are also cleaners, nearly all of them having appropriate adaptations such as long snouts, weezer-like teeth, and bright coloration. Conspicous coloration probably communicates that hese animals are not prey. QUESTION: What is the topic of this passage?
A) How certain sea creatures clean other fish.
B) Marine life.
C) Cleaning habits of fish.
D) Why fish need to be cleaned.
E) How fish are adapted to be cleaners.
  • 7. In marine habitats, a number of small creatures are involved in a "cleaning symbiosis". At least six species of small shrimp, frequently brightly colored, crawl over fish, picking off parasites and cleaning indjured areas. This is not an accidental occurrence, because fish are observed to congregate around these shrimp and stay motionless while being inspected. Several species of small fish (wrasses) are also cleaners, nearly all of them having appropriate adaptations such as long snouts, weezer-like teeth, and bright coloration. Conspicous coloration probably communicates that hese animals are not prey. QUESTION: Which of the following statements does the passage support?
A) Cleaning symbiosis is an important aspect of marine life.
B) None of the options.
C) Some fish never need to be cleaned.
D) Most fish clean each other at times.
E) Clean fish are brightly colored.
  • 8. In marine habitats, a number of small creatures are involved in a "cleaning symbiosis". At least six species of small shrimp, frequently brightly colored, crawl over fish, picking off parasites and cleaning indjured areas. This is not an accidental occurrence, because fish are observed to congregate around these shrimp and stay motionless while being inspected. Several species of small fish (wrasses) are also cleaners, nearly all of them having appropriate ADAPTATIONS such as long snouts, weezer-like teeth, and bright coloration. Conspicous coloration probably communicates that hese animals are not prey. QUESTION: The word "ADAPTATIONS" is closest in meaning to: .....
A) attractions
B) sensitivity
C) modifications
D) none of the options
E) equipment
  • 9. In marine habitats, a number of small creatures are involved in a "cleaning symbiosis". At least six species of small shrimp, frequently brightly colored, crawl over fish, picking off parasites and cleaning indjured areas. This is not an accidental occurrence, because fish are observed to congregate around these shrimp and stay motionless while being inspected. Several species of small fish (wrasses) are also cleaners, nearly all of them having appropriate adaptations such as long snouts, weezer-like teeth, and bright coloration. Conspicous coloration probably communicates that hese animals are not prey. QUESTION: The word "CONSPICUOUS" is closest in meaning to:.....
A) discrete
B) changing
C) dismal
D) unfortunate
E) noticeable
  • 10. Sometimes called puma, panther, or mountain lion, the agile cougar has a greater natural range than any other mammal in the Western Hemisphere except humans. However, long viewed as a threat to livestock, it has been intensively hunted since the arrival of European colonists to the Americas and was almost extinct by the early twentieth century. While protective measures have been implemented in the United States, humans continue to destroy the cougar´s habitat, further endangering this solitary cat. QUESTION: According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A) The cougar inhabits a small area of America.
B) The cougar is extinct.
C) The cougar does not eat cattle.
D) The cougar lives easily with humans.
E) The cougar is an endangered animal.
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