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Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.When you imagine the desert, you probably think of a very hot place covered with sand. Although this is a good description for many deserts, Earth's largest desert is actually a very cold place covered with ice: Antarctica.In order for an area to be considered a desert, it must receive very little rainfall. More specifically, it must receive an average of less than ten inches of precipitation-which can be rain, sleet, hail, or snow-on the ground every year. Antarctica, the coldest place on earth, has an average temperature that usually falls below the freezing point. And because cold air holds less moisture than warm air, the air in Antarctica does not hold much moisture at all. This is evident in the low precipitation statistics recorded for Antarctica. For example, the central part of Antarctica receives an average of less than 2 inches of snow every year. The coastline of Antarctica receives a little bit more-between seven and eight inches a year. Because Antarctica gets so little precipitation every year, it is considered a desert.When precipitation falls in hot deserts, it quickly evaporates back into the atmosphere. The air over Antarctica is too cold to hold water vapor, so there is very little evaporation. Due to this low rate of evaporation, most of the snow that falls to the ground remains there permanently, eventually building up into thick ice sheets. Any snow that does not freeze into ice sheets becomes caught up in the strong winds that constantly blow over Antarctica. These snow-filled winds can make it look as if it is snowing.Even though snowfall is very rare there, blizzards are actually very common on Antarctica.In paragraph 2 the author writes, "And because cold air holds less moisture than warm air, the air in Antarctica does not hold much moisture at all." Using this information, it can be understood that

Correct answer: A. Air in Africa holds more moisture than the air in Antarctica

  • A. Air in Africa holds more moisture than the air in Antarctica
  • B. Air surrounding a tropical island holds less moisture than the air in Antarctica
  • C. Air in the second floor of a house is typically warmer than air on the first floor
  • D. Air at the mountains is typically colder than the air at the beach

Explanation

Using the information provided in the passage, it can be understood that:The air in Antarctica has low moisture content due to its cold temperatures, which result in minimal evaporation and precipitation. This is because cold air has a lower capacity to hold water vapor compared to warm air. As a result, despite Antarctica receiving some precipitation (mainly in the form of snow), the cold air prevents significant moisture accumulation in the atmosphere. This condition contributes to Antarctica being classified as a desert, despite its icy landscape, because it receives very little rainfall or snowfall annually. Therefore, the statement emphasizes the relationship between cold temperatures and low moisture content in Antarctica's atmosphere.

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