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The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, is a continuous process by which water circulates through the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land. This cycle is essential for supporting all forms of life and maintaining the Earth's climate. Water undergoes various changes in state—evaporating from the surface, condensing in the atmosphere, and precipitating back to the surface. At its start, the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, and oceans, causing it to evaporate and rise into the atmosphere as vapor. Once in the atmosphere, this vapor cools and condenses into clouds. Over time, these clouds get heavy and release precipitation in the form of rain, snow, or sleet, which falls back to the Earth's surface. Some of this precipitation collects in bodies of water, while some seeps into the soil, replenishing groundwater supplies. Additionally, some water returns to the atmosphere through transpiration, a process where water is released from plants. The cycle is critical not only for water distribution but also for transporting nutrients and purifying water naturally through filtration as it flows through different layers of the Earth's surface.
What is the primary function of the water cycle?
- A. To generate energy
- B. To transport nutrients
- C. To support life and maintain climate
- D. To produce oxygen
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The primary function of the water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, is to support life and maintain climate. The water cycle is essential for all forms of life as it ensures the distribution of water, replenishment of groundwater supplies, and natural purification of water through filtration. Furthermore, the cycle plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate by influencing temperature and weather patterns. While energy generation, nutrient transportation, and oxygen production are important processes, they are not the primary function of the water cycle.
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Nurseries: If you thought nurseries were just for babies, well, think again! Being special kinds of farms, nurseries are used to raise plants in mass quantities. Plants, trees, and shrubs are typically grown in nurseries and then sold to farmers and gardeners to plant in homes, businesses, and farms. Most nurseries are found in the more rural parts of the country because much land is required to have a viable nursery. If a nursery sells plants to others, it must obtain a special permit from the local city or county, which keeps the competition fair and does not saturate the market with a large number of nurseries selling similar products.
Also on the grounds of nurseries are greenhouses which are made of glass or plastic panes that protect the plants from weather elements that may harm them and cause them not to grow and develop. The glass panels in greenhouses allow for sunlight to enter and moisture to be trapped inside. This creates a tropical environment which allows orchids and poinsettias to grow. It ensures that vegetables and fruits will grow large, which makes them valuable to farmers.
In the passage, the word 'panel' means
- A. The part of a vehicle that supports the controls and dials.
- B. A strip of board or other material that forms a section of a wall or door.
- C. A list of jurors.
- D. A strip of material set lengthwise in or on a garment.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: A strip of board or other material that forms a section of a wall or door. In the context of the passage, the word 'panel' refers to the glass or plastic panes that make up the structure of greenhouses. Greenhouses are described as having glass panels that allow sunlight to enter and moisture to be trapped inside, creating a specific environment for plant growth. This definition aligns with choice B, as a panel is a section of a wall or door made of a specific material. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not correspond to the definition of 'panel' as used in the passage. Choice A refers to a part of a vehicle, choice C refers to a list of jurors, and choice D refers to a strip of material in a garment, none of which relate to the context of greenhouses described in the passage.
VIOLENCE: Lately, studies have been done to decide whether a relationship exists between violence on television and mounting violence in the streets of the United States. More and better research is needed to assess fully the effects of exposure to violence on human behavior. However, early results seem to indicate that some people are influenced negatively by what they see on TV, especially young children. Since children born today, on an average, are exposed to seven hours of TV daily, some changes seem needed. Consultants have advised network officials to reconsider certain policies if they wish to avoid the pitfalls of increased government regulations.
The author seems to support:
- A. A complete deregulation of television programming.
- B. Violence on television, if it has artistic merit.
- C. Further research into the effects of TV violence.
- D. Public control of TV programming.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Further research into the effects of TV violence.
Rationale:
1. The passage highlights the need for more and better research to fully understand the effects of exposure to violence on human behavior.
2. The author acknowledges that early results suggest some negative influence on people, especially young children, indicating the importance of further investigation.
3. By emphasizing the need for more research, the author is advocating for a more informed approach to addressing the issue of violence on television.
4. The other choices are incorrect:
- A: Complete deregulation of television programming goes against the author's suggestion for changes and avoiding pitfalls.
- B: Supporting violence on television based on artistic merit is not the focus of the passage, which highlights negative influences.
- D: Public control of TV programming is not explicitly supported in the passage; the emphasis is on research to understand the effects of TV violence.
All That Jazz: Jazz is an American musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African-American communities in the Southern United States. It derived from a confluence of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has also incorporated music from 19th and 20th century American popular music. The word jazz began as a West Coast slang term of uncertain derivation and was first used to refer to music in Chicago in about 1915.
Improvisation is one of the key elements of jazz and a fundamental part of the nature of the music. In jazz, the skilled performer will interpret a tune in very individual ways, never playing the same composition exactly the same way twice. Depending upon the performer's mood and personal experience, interactions with fellow musicians, or even members of the audience, a jazz musician/performer may alter melodies, harmonies, or time signatures at will.
What makes jazz a different sort of music?
- A. Improvisation of the theme.
- B. Rhythmic variations by combo members.
- C. Rigid interpretation of the written score.
- D. Interaction with the audience.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Improvisation of the theme. Jazz is distinguished by its emphasis on improvisation, where performers interpret and play a tune in unique ways each time. This constant creativity and spontaneity set jazz apart from other music genres. Rhythmic variations by combo members (B) are related to improvisation but not the defining characteristic of jazz. Rigid interpretation of the written score (C) goes against the essence of jazz, which thrives on freedom and individual expression. While interaction with the audience (D) is common in jazz performances, it is not what fundamentally makes jazz a different sort of music.
Nurseries
If you thought nurseries were just for babies, well, think again! Being special kinds of farms, nurseries are used to raise plants in mass quantities. Plants, trees, and shrubs are typically grown in nurseries and then sold to farmers and gardeners to plant in homes, businesses and farms. Most nurseries are found in the more rural parts the country because much land is required to have a viable nursery. If a nursery sells plants to others, it must obtain a special permit from the local city or county, which keeps the competition fair and does not saturate the market with a large number of nurseries selling similar products.
Also on the grounds of nurseries are greenhouses which are made of glass or plastic panes that protect the plants from weather elements that may harm them and cause them not to grow and develop. The glass panels in greenhouses allow for sunlight to enter and moisture to be trapped inside. This creates a tropical environment which allows orchids and poinsettias to grow. It ensures that vegetables and fruits will grow large, which makes them valuable to farmers.
What does 'panel' mean?
- A. A type of decorative fabric used for clothing
- B. A strip of board or other material that forms a section of a wall or door
- C. A tool used for gardening
- D. A piece of software for editing photos
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The term 'panel' refers to a strip of board or other material that forms a section of a wall or door. In the context provided, the glass panels in greenhouses are specifically mentioned, indicating that 'panel' is used to describe a part of a structure that allows sunlight to enter and protects plants from weather elements. This definition aligns most closely with choice B, making it the correct answer.
About 6% of the earth is covered by rainforests. The largest rainforest in the world is the
Amazon Basin, which stretches over 2.3 million square miles in nine different South American countries. This area is double the length of all the other remaining rainforests in the world. Brazil contains 60%of the Amazonian rainforest, since it lies at the mouth of the river Amazon. This river is the second largest in the world and contains more than one-fifth of the world's fresh water. The Amazon rainforest is a type of wet broadleaf forest. The weather there is very humid and warm as it rains quite a bit. Because of the high rainfall, the forest is very rich and green. The
tree leaves are pointed and narrow so that the raindrops can easily drop off wet plants. This
tropical rainforest has more living species than the entire European continent. There are over 400 types of insects living in one single rain forest tree for a total of 2.5 million species. One square kilometer of rainforest may contain over 75,000 types of trees and approximately 438,000
different kinds of plants, which comes to a total of 90,000 tons of greenery overall. The Amazon rainforest is home to 2,000 birds and mammals, with one in every five birds in the world living there. Local farmers have lived off this rich and diverse land for thousands of years. They have been able to find food and water here without destroying the land. The Kayapo people of Brazil
farm in an environmentally-friendly way. Instead of chemicals, they use burned wood to enrich the soil, and plant banana trees, which attract wasps. These wasps then feed on leafcutter ants and get rid of these harmful insects. The rainforest also offers a lot of tropical fruits, such as bananas and coconuts, as food.
Cinnamon is made from the bark of a rainforest tree. Amazonian Indians use the fruit and stem
of the Buruti plant as a drink, to make bread and to build houses. Many other plants are used as medicine. But the Amazon rainforest is in very big danger of disappearing. 9,169 square miles of
forest have been cut down in 2003 in Brazil alone. An area of the size of a football field is burned down basically every minute, which means that the rain forest may be gone by the year 2030.The dangers related to this type of activity are obvious. Trees take in poisonous carbon
dioxide from the air and give off oxygen. There is more oxygen and less carbon dioxide around a
rainforest. When trees are cut down, however, the amount of carbon dioxide increases, and the
air gets warmer. This leads to global warming, which is extremely harmful to the environment. It
is estimated that the burning of Brazilian rainforests alone produces 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide ayear. Another danger connected with destroying the rainforest is the disappearance of plants and animals. When trees are cut down, plants and animals have no more
food left and slowly die out. Killing wild animals is illegal in Brazil, but there is plenty of stealing going on. 38 million animals are stolen and sold illegally each year. The most hunted
animals are birds, especially parrots, followed by snakes and the jaguar.
What is the biggest problem related to the disappearance of the rainforest?
- A. Global warming
- B. Poisoning the air
- C. Burning the field
- D. Cutting down trees
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The biggest problem related to the disappearance of the rainforest is cutting down trees. When trees are cut down, it leads to various detrimental consequences. Firstly, trees play a crucial role in reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and providing oxygen. Cutting down trees increases carbon dioxide levels, contributing to global warming. Additionally, the loss of trees results in the destruction of habitats for plants and animals, leading to biodiversity loss. Therefore, the act of cutting down trees in the rainforest has far-reaching negative impacts on the environment, making it the most significant issue related to the rainforest's disappearance.