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.According to the final paragraph, any snow that falls over AntarcticaI. becomes part of the Antarctic ice sheetII. is blown around by strong windsIII. evaporates back into the atmosphere
Correct answer: A. l only
- A. l only
- B. I and II only
- C. II and III only
- D. I, II, and III
Explanation
Based on the passage, the correct statement about what happens to snow that falls over Antarctica is:I. becomes part of the Antarctic ice sheetThe passage mentions that most of the snow that falls on Antarctica remains permanently on the ground, eventually building up into thick ice sheets. This indicates that the snow contributes to the formation of the Antarctic ice sheet rather than evaporating or being blown away. Therefore, statement I is correct.Statements II and III are incorrect based on the passage. While it's mentioned that snow-filled winds blow over Antarctica, implying that snow is blown around by strong winds (statement II), and it's stated that evaporation of precipitation is minimal due to the cold temperatures (statement III), the passage specifically notes that most snow remains on the ground and contributes to the ice sheet. Thus, statement I is the accurate description of what happens to snowfall over Antarctica
Last updated
About Passage Reading
Passage reading requires identifying the central idea, supporting facts, author's purpose, tone, sequence and conclusions supported by the text. Questions may also test inference, vocabulary in context, reference words and the difference between information stated directly and meaning implied by the passage.
Practise Comprehension
853 free Comprehension MCQs from English, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask English questions like this
English is on 83 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
Related questions
A person who leaves his country and settles in another country is called:
According to the information on this page, items bought before 1940 _ more than items made after that year.
'ACQUAINTANCE' means a person whom:
An increase in the level of serotonin levels in the human body is known to significantly enhance the mood of the person and in some cases, help people overcome depression. Serotonin taken orally does not pass into the pathways of the central nervous system, because it does not cross the blood-brain barrier. However, tryptophan and its metabolite 5-hydroxytryptophan (5- HTP), from which serotonin is synthesized, does cross the blood-brain barrier. These agents are available as dietary supplements, and may be effective serotonergic agents.Which of the following can be correctly inferred from the statements above?
An increase in the median income of the middle class does not cause average levels of education for the middle class to go up. If they did, then countries with the highest median income of the middle class would also have the highest levels of education for this class. In fact, when the median income of the middle class is made suitably comparable for different countries (accounting for inflation, currency fluctuations and purchasing power parity), there is no such co-relation.Which of the following can be correctly inferred from the statements above?