Reading Test 5

1. Question

The main purpose of the passage is to

A. describe periods in Earth’s recent geologic history.
B. explain the methods scientists use in radiocarbon analysis.
C. describe evidence linking the volcano Samalas to the Little Ice Age.
D. explain how volcanic glass forms during volcanic eruptions.

2. Question

Over the course of the passage, the focus shifts from

A. a criticism of a scientific model to a new theory
B. a description of a recorded event to its likely cause.
C. the use of ice core samples to a new method of measuring sulfates.
D. the use of radiocarbon dating to an examination of volcanic glass.

3. Question

Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?

A. Lines 17-25 (“In 2012…1455 C.E.”)
B. Lines 43-46 (“The researchers…atop the volcano”)
C. Lines 46-48 (“They examined…material”)
D. Lines 55-60 (“The team…13th century”)

4. Question

The author uses the phrase “is written in” (line 6) most likely to

A. demonstrate the concept of the hands-on nature of the work done by scientists
B. highlight the fact that scientists often write about their discoveries.
C. underscore the sense of importance that scientists have regarding their work.
D. reinforce the idea that the evidence is there and can be interpreted by scientists.

5. Question

Where does the author indicate the medieval volcanic eruption most probably was located?

A. Near the equator, in Indonesia
B. In the Arctic region
C. In the Antarctic region
D. Near the equator, in Ecuador

6. Question

Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?

A. Lines 1-3 (“About 750…IceAge”)
B. Lines 26-28 (“Sucha…thecooling”)
C. Lines 49-54 (“The volume…theHolocene”)
D. Lines 61-64 (“It’s not…climate impacts”)

7. Question

As used in line 68, the phrase “Another possible candidate” implies that

A. powerful volcanic eruptions occur frequently.
B. the effects of volcanic eruptions can last for centuries.
C. scientists know of other volcanoes that erupted during the Middle Ages.
D. other volcanoes have calderas that are very large.

8. Question

Which choice best supports the claim that Quilotoa was not responsible for the Little Ice Age?

A. Lines 3-4 (“Identifying…tricky”)
B. Lines 26-28 (“Sucha…cooling”)
C. Lines 43-46 (“The researchers…atop the volcano”)
D. Lines 71-75 (“But…closer match”)

9. Question

According to the data in the figure, the greatest below-average temperature variation occurred around what year?

A. 1200 CE
B. 1375 CE
C. 1675 CE
D. 1750 CE

10. Question

The passage and the figure are in agreement that the onset of the Little Ice Age began

A. around 1150 CE.
B. just before 1300 CE.
C. just before 1500 CE.
D. around 1650 CE.

11. Question

What statement is best supported by the data presented in the figure?

A. The greatest cooling during the Little Ice Age occurred hundreds of years after the temperature peaks of the Medieval Warm Period.
B. The sharp decline in temperature supports the hypothesis of an equatorial volcanic eruption in the Middle Ages.
C. Pyroclastic flows from volcanic eruptions continued for hundreds of years after the eruptions had ended.
D. Radiocarbon analysis is the best tool scientists have to determine the temperature variations after volcanic eruptions.