READING PRACTICE DRILL 2 CRACKING TOEFL IBT 2019

 

CRACKING TOEFL IBT 2019 READING PRACTICE DRILL 2

 

Fire Tornadoes   →Fire tornadoes—also known as fire whirls, firenados, or fire twisters—look like tornadoes but are   made up of fire. Therefore, they aren’t really tornadoes at all. Tornadoes are formed when just the   right weather elements combine: moist, warm air lying close to the ground; an unstable atmosphere;   and air fronts that collide and propel moist air vertically into the sky. 5     A fire tornado has two parts: the core, which is actually on fire, and an invisible, rotating air pocket.   It can reach temperatures of nearly 2,000°F, which is hot enough to even reignite ashes that have   been sucked into the vortex from the ground. While real tornadoes occur as a result of atmospheric   conditions high above, fire tornadoes result from hot, dry air rising quickly away from the ground. 10 When hot, strong winds come into contact with an already-burning brushfire, updrafts of hot   air catch the fire and surrounding winds and send it whirling into the air. This whirling air forms   columns; as more and more hot air is pulled into a column, the column begins to swirl, very much   like a real tornado.     15 A fire twister’s spinning column creates a vortex thanks to angular momentum. The law of angular   momentum states that when an object is inside a spinning column it will move faster and faster the   closer it gets to the center of rotation. The fire tornado picks up flaming embers, combustible gases,   burning debris, and ash. When sucked up by the firenado, unburned gases travel up the core until   they reach an area where there is enough oxygen to ignite them. This ultimately creates a spinning 20 fire tower that can be hundreds of feet tall.       While fire whirls move pretty slowly, they can cause significant damage. Anything—or anyone! —   unfortunate enough to be in a fire whirl’s path will likely either be set ablaze or flung vigorously   from its location. But it’s not just the fire that’s dangerous—the winds it generates can create 25 wind speeds of more than 100 mph, which is strong enough to knock down trees. Fire whirls also   typically don’t last very long, but when they do they can wreak havoc and leave disaster in their   wakes       →There have been numerous major firenados in the last 150 years, many of which have proved 30 lethal. In 1871, the great Peshtigo Fire in Northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan resulted from   inauspicious conditions: dry weather during the summer, slash-and-burn farming practices, and   a vigorous cold front that brought strong winds. Together, these three contributing factors created   firenados that turned a few small prairie fires into a furious conflagration. The town of Peshtigo, with   hundreds of wooden structures and lumberyards, sat in the middle of a forest of pine and hardwood. 35 When the fire reached the town, it found abundant fuel. In just minutes, 100-mph winds and ambient   temperatures of more than 700°F caused what is still recognized as the worst fire disaster in the   history of the United States. As best as anyone could tell, nearly 2,000 people lost their lives.       More recently, a fire twister was recorded in January 2003 on Mount Taylor in Canberra, Australia. It 40 had a diameter of almost 1,600 feet and winds of more than 160 mph. In April 2016, a fire tornado   nearly claimed the life of a firefighter in Alberta, Canada. His team was fighting a blaze that started   as an out-of-control campfire. The firefighter’s teammate yelled at him to watch out. Without   thinking, he jumped in the nearby river, saving his own life.     45 Unfortunately, we still don’t know much about fire twisters. Because they can arise in any part of   a fire, there is no way to predict where one might appear. And because they don’t usually last very   long, it’s reasonable to consider that even firefighters can’t identify where a fire twister has touched   ground. Even with that information, we would still be left with the question of whether the fire   caused the vortex or whether the vortex was helped by the fire. Perhaps someday we’ll find out!   1 It can be inferred from paragraph 1 of the passage that fire tornadoes (Paragraph 1 is marked with an arrow →) A are truly tornadoes B form easily C look like tornadoes D result only from an unstable atmosphere 2 The word whirling in the passage is closest in meaning to A spinning B working C flying D jumping 3 The word it in the passage refers to A the fire B the air pocket C the fire tornado D the ashes 4 The word reignite in the passage is closest in meaning to A remove B char C quench D light again 5 Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a characteristic of a fire tornado? A Column B Core C Air pocket D Angular momentum 6 The word vortex in the passage is closest in meaning to A spinning column B angular momentum C unburned gases D center of rotation 7 Which of the following is an example of angular momentum? A A runner running faster the further she runs B A tennis player hitting harder earlier in the game C An ice skater spinning faster as she pulls her arms in to her body D A swimmer swimming faster at a higher altitude 8 The phrase flung vigorously in the passage is closest in meaning to A burned quickly B moved slowly C thrown forcefully D tossed gently 9 The author implies that A fire whirls don’t move quickly B fire whirls don’t cause damage C fire whirls can’t knock down trees D fire whirls can last for days 10 The phrase wreak havoc in the passage is closest in meaning to A start sizeable fires B last forever C move quickly D cause significant damage 11 According to paragraph 5 of the passage, firenados (Paragraph 5 is marked with an arrow →) A have happened more than once B have never been documented C first occurred in Peshtigo D are always lethal 12 The word inauspicious in the passage is closest in meaning to A lucky B fortunate C unlucky D dangerous 13 Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. A firenado is one example of a natural phenomenon that is as uncommon as it is dangerous. ·         _________________________________________ ·         _________________________________________ ·         _________________________________________

 

ANSWER KEY

1 C This is an inference question. Based on paragraph 1, what does it say about fire tornados? Fire tornadoes—also known as fire whirls, firenados, or fire twisters—look like tornadoes but are made up of fire. Therefore, they aren’t really tornadoes at all. Tornadoes are formed when just the right weather elements combine: moist, warm air lying close to the ground; an unstable atmosphere; and air fronts that collide and propel moist air vertically into the sky. In the first sentence, it says that fire tornadoes look like tornadoes but are made up of fire, which supports (C). Choice (A) is wrong because the passage says they aren’t really tornadoes. Choice (B) can be eliminated because the passage says that fire tornadoes form when “just the right weather elements combine,” meaning that circumstances have to be exactly right or the fire tornadoes won’t form at all. Choice (D) is incorrect: an unstable atmosphere is one contributing factor, but it is not the only one. 2 A This is a vocabulary in context question. Look at the lines from the passage. When hot, strong winds come into contact with an already-burning brushfire, updrafts of hot air catch the fire and surrounding winds and send it________into the air. This whirling air forms columns; as more and more hot air is pulled into a column, the column swirls, very much like a real tornado. Remember to read a sentence or two after the word in question. In this case, the description of the column as it pulls more hot air inside is the key: the column swirls, supporting (A). 3 C This is a reference question: it’s asking what noun the pronoun zr replaces. Look at the passage. A fire tornado has two parts: the core, which is actually on fire, and an invisible, rotating air pocket. It can reach temperatures of nearly 2,000°F, which is hot enough to even reignite ashes that have burned out and then been sucked into the vortex from the ground. The passage is asking what can reach temperatures of nearly 2,000°F? That would be the fire tornado, or its core. Now do some POE: (A), (B), and (D) are all mentioned in the passage, but they don’t match “fire tornado,” so get rid of them. 4 D This is a vocabulary in context question. Look at the lines from the passage. It can reach temperatures of nearly 2,000°F, which is hot enough to even________ ashes that have burned out and then been sucked into the vortex from the ground. Remember to read past the word in question: “ashes that have burned out” tells us that they’re no longer burning. “Re” on any word means “again,” and if the ashes have burned out, this word must mean that the ashes have been lit again. Using POE, (A), (B), and (C) don’t match this meaning, so (D) will earn the point. 5 D This is a NOT question, which is a variation on an EXCEPT question. Eliminate everything that is mentioned as a characteristic of a fire tornado and select the answer choice that is not mentioned as a characteristic of a fire tornado. Look at the second paragraph, where the fire tornado is described: A fire tornado has two parts: the core, which is actually on fire, and an invisible, rotating air pocket. It can reach temperatures of nearly 2,000°F, which is hot enough to even reignite ashes that have burned out and then been sucked into the vortex from the ground. While real tornadoes occur as a result of atmospheric conditions high above, fire tornadoes result from hot, dry air rising quickly away from the ground. When hot, strong winds come into contact with an already-burning brushfire, updrafts of hot air catch the fire and surrounding winds and send it whirling into the air. This whirling air forms columns; as more and more hot air is pulled into a column, the column swirls, very much like a real tornado. Choices (A), (B), and (C) are all mentioned, leaving you with (D). 6 A This is a vocabulary in context question. Look at the lines from the passage. A fire twister’s spinning column creates a________thanks to angular momentum. The law of angular momentum states that when an object is inside a spinning column it will move faster and faster the closer it gets to the center of rotation. The second sentence in the quote above describes what happens to an object in a spinning column thanks to the law of angular momentum. The word in question is created by angular momentum, so the two must be related. Use that to tackle POE. Choice (B) is angular momentum itself, not what it creates, so eliminate it. Choice (C) is unrelated to these sentences, so get rid of it too. Choice (D) may be appealing, but it goes further than necessary—were just talking about the column that’s been created, not its center. Get rid of (D) and go with (A)! 7 C This question asks you to understand what the passage says about angular momentum and then find an example that matches that description. Look at the passage. The law of angular momentum states that when an object is inside a spinning column it will move faster and faster the closer it gets to the center of rotation. With that description, go to POE and eliminate answers that don’t describe a spinning motion. Choices (A), (B), and (D) have nothing to do with spinning or rotating, so eliminate them. 8 C This is a vocabulary in context question. Look at the lines from the passage. While fire whirls move pretty slowly, they can cause significant damage. Anything—or anyone! —unfortunate enough to be in a fire whirl’s path will likely either be set ablaze or________from its location. But it’s not just the fire that’s dangerous—the winds it generates can create wind speeds of more than 100 mph, which is strong enough to knock down trees. So the fire whirls move slowly and it’s the winds that are dangerous. Chances are “flung vigorously” will have something to do with the wind. Try using POE. Choice (A) doesn’t have anything to do with wind, so get rid of it. Choice (B) is tricky: thefire whirl moves slowly, not the objects in its way so get rid of (B). Choices (C) and (D) both involve throwing something. This may be where a little bit of common sense is required: if the wind speeds are more than 100 mph, will the resulting throw be gentle or forceful? Forceful! So eliminate (D) and go with (C). 9 A This is an inference question, but it doesn’t tell you where to look. Remember that most questions on TOEFL Reading passages are arranged chronologically in order with the passage, so you’re probably pretty close to the answer for this question by looking at where you found the answer to the previous question. Take a look at that same paragraph. While fire whirls move pretty slowly, they can cause significant damage. Anything—or anyone!—that is unfortunate enough to be in a fire whirl’s path will likely either be set ablaze or flung vigorously from its location. But it’s not just the fire that’s dangerous— the winds it generates can create wind speeds of more than 100 mph, which is strong enough to knock down trees. Fire whirls also typically don’t last very long, but when they do they can wreak havoc and leave disaster in their wakes. Now, look at the answers to see what you can eliminate. Is there anything in the passage that matches what (A) says? Not in exactly the same words, but does “move pretty slowly” mean the same thing as “don’t move quickly?” Yes! So leave (A) for now. Choices (B), (C), and (D) are exactly the opposite of what this paragraph is saying, so eliminate them 10 D This is a vocabulary in context question. Look at the lines from the passage. But it’s not just the fire that’s dangerous—the winds it generates can create wind speeds of more than 100 mph, which is strong enough to knock down trees. Fire whirls also typically don’t last very long, but when they do they can__________ and leave disaster in their wakes. Anytime you you’re not sure what a word or phrase might mean, you can start by asking yourself if it is positive or negative in meaning. In this case, the “and” tells us that the phrase in question will be along the lines of “leave disaster in their wakes.” That means it’s definitely negative. Use that for POE. Choices (A) and (D) would be negative, and (B) and (C) are neutral or positive, so eliminate them. Then, compare (A) and (D): which one is more negative? Definitely (D)—starting fires is bad, but in turn they cause significant damage, which is worse. 11 A This is an inference question that guides you to paragraph 5. There have been numerous major firenados in the last 150 years, many of which have proved lethal. In 1871, the great Peshtigo Fire in Northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan resulted from inauspicious conditions: dry weather during the summer, slash-and-burn farming practices, and a vigorous cold front that brought strong winds. Together, these three contributing factors created firenados that turned a few small prairie fires into a furious conflagration. The town of Peshtigo, with hundreds of wooden structures and lumberyards, sat in the middle of a forest of pine and hardwood. When the fire reached the town, it found abundant fuel. In just minutes, 100-mph winds and ambient temperatures of more than 700°F caused what is still recognized as the worst fire disaster in the history of the United States. As best as anyone could tell, nearly 2,000 people lost their lives. Once you’ve reviewed the paragraph, it’s all about POE. Choice (A) is a reasonable match, because the passage says there have been “numerous major firenados in the last 150 years.” Choice (B) is out because they have been documented—after all, you know they happened long before anyone who’s alive today was even born. Choice (C) can be eliminated because nothing says that the fire in Peshtigo was thefirst known occurrence of a firenado. Choice (D) is suspicious because it says “always lethal,” which you can’t prove from the passage. 12 C This is a vocabulary in context question. Look at the lines from the passage. There have been numerous major firenados in the last 150 years, many of which haveproved lethal. In 1871, the great Peshtigo Fire in Northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan resulted from inauspicious conditions: dry weather during the summer, slash-and-burn farming practices, and a vigorous cold front that brought strong winds. Together, these three contributing factors created firenados that turned a few small prairie fires into a furious conflagration. Looking at the sentence after the word in question, you see terms like “vigorous” and “strong” that describe the conditions from which the fire resulted. Together, these tell you that “inauspicious” means something negative. Try using POE. Choices (A) and (B) are positive, so eliminate them. Choice (D), “dangerous,” is negative, and while the conditions did clearly prove to be dangerous, they were more (C), “unlucky.” 13 This is a summary question that requires you to consider the entire passage. On a summary question, don’t choose answers that give specific details that are mentioned only once in the passage. Instead, choose answers that are broader and are supported throughout the passage. This passage has discussed how firenadoes are created and the damage they can cause. Therefore, the three points that show that “A firenado is one example of a natural phenomenon that is as uncommon as it is dangerous” are as follows: ·         Firenados require a unique combination of conditions in order to occur.  This answer shows that they are uncommon, because they require a “unique combination” of conditions. ·         Firenados can cause significant damage.  This answer shows that firenados are dangerous. ·         Scientists don’t know much about firenados because it is hard to predict where or when they will occur.  This answer supports the idea that firenados are uncommon.