Reading Comprehension Related

Review Reading Comprehension related questions and content

Doppler Effect
Have you ever wondered why the whistle of a traveling, distant locomotive predicts its approach several yards before anyone actually sees it? Or why an oncoming ambulance's screaming siren is heard momentarily several feet before the ambulance comes into full view, before it passes you, and why its siren is still heard faintly well after the ambulance is out of sight?
What you are witnessing is a scientific phenomenon known as the Doppler Effect. What takes place is truly remarkable. In both of these instances, when the train or ambulance moves toward the sound waves in front of it, the sound waves are pulled closer together and have a higher frequency. In either instance, the listener positioned in front of the moving object hears a higher pitch. The ambulance and locomotive are progressively moving away from the sound waves behind them, causing the waves to be farther apart and to have a lower frequency. These fast-approaching modes of transportation distance themselves past the listener, who hears a lower pitch.

What is the author's primary purpose in writing this passage?

  • A. To entertain the reader with information about trains and ambulances
  • B. To inform the reader about avoiding accidents involving trains and ambulances
  • C. To inform the reader about how movement affects sound
  • D. To analyze the difference between train and ambulance sounds
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. The author's primary purpose in writing this passage is to inform the reader about how movement affects sound, specifically focusing on the Doppler Effect. The author explains how sound waves change when a source of sound is in motion, leading to differences in pitch perceived by a listener. The passage aims to educate readers on this scientific phenomenon rather than entertain, provide safety tips, or compare train and ambulance sounds, making option C the most fitting choice.