Comprehension , Upper Intermediate & Advanced ( 10 )

Comprehension .

10 - ] Upper Intermediate & Advanced

Read the following passage , then answer the questions below . Do not look back at the passage . Compare your answers to the Answer Key . Check any incorrect answers by reading the passage .

                     If you would like to go to a beautiful , faraway place , you should go to the Hawaiian Islands . Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean , these islands are far from any other land . They are , in fact , the farthest from land of any islands on earth - about 2,400 miles from San Francisco , 3,830 miles from Tokyo , and 5,540 miles from Hong Kong .

                   There are eight Hawaiian Islands . In order of size , they are Hawaii ( the “Big Island” ) , Maui , Oahu , Kauai , Molokai , Lanai , and Kahoolawe . In 1959 , the islands together became Hawaii , the 50^th state of the United States .

                     While they differ from one another in some ways , the islands share many of the same features . They all have a tropical climate , first of all . The average daytime temperature is about 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer . However , it is never uncomfortably hot . The nighttime temperature is always cooler and there is generally a little wind . Rain falls often , but usually not for long . People in Hawaii say that it rains every day somewhere on the islands .

                     The islands also are similar in their natural beauty . They all have volcanic mountains and waterfalls , rain forests and beautiful beaches . The warm , clear water around the islands is filled with many kinds of sea creatures . There are giant sea turtles , whales , and dolphins as well as lots of tropical fish . The forests are full of beautiful birds and flowers . Many of them cannot be found anywhere else in the world .

                      The Hawaiian Islands , in fact , have an interesting natural history . Until modern times , birds and insects were the only kinds of animals living on the islands , with just a few exceptions . The exceptions were the monk seal ( a sea mammal ) and a kind of bat ( a flying mammal ) . There were no other mammals until people arrived in about 500 A.D . They brought some animals , such as pigs , for food . Other animals , such as mice , probably traveled to the islands hidden in their boats .

                      Each of the islands also has features that are special . For example , the Big Island , Hawaii , is the only island with active volcanoes . Both Mauna Loa and Kilauea on Hawaii occasionally erupt , pouring out hot lava and smoke . The island of Oahu is the site of the modern capital of Hawaii , Honolulu . This island also has one of the world’s most famous beaches , Waikiki Beach , especially popular with surfers .

                     And finally the island of Maul is important to Hawaiians for its role in the history of the islands . In 1800 , Kamehameha the Great became the king of the islands . He established his capital on Maul , where it remained until early in the 20^th century .

                      Today , with its tropical climate and natural beauty , Hawaii is a major tourist attraction . People come from all over the world to view the volcanoes , the seacoast and the rain forests . They come to sunbathe or surf at the beaches , or they come just to relax in the warm , sweet air .

*******************

Do not look at the passage . Circle the best answer .

1 . This passage is about

( A ) some of the main features of the Hawaiian Islands .

( B ) the climate of the Hawaiian Islands

( C ) the remoteness of the Hawaiian Islands .

( D ) volcanoes in Hawaii .

2 . The Hawaiian Islands are called remote because they are     

( A ) always warm

( B ) very beautiful

( C ) in the middle of the Pacific Ocean .

( D )  far away from any land .

3 . The Hawaiian Islands are closest to    

( A ) Hong Kong

( B ) Japan

( C ) Oahu

( D ) San Francisco .

4 . The temperature in the islands is   

( A ) warm all year round .

( B ) cold in the winter .

( C ) warmer at night .

( D )  very cold at night .

5 . The features that you can find on all or the Hawaiian Islands are    

( A ) active volcanoes .

( B ) good restaurants .

( C ) beautiful scenery and a warm climate .

( D ) good hotels and restaurants .

6 . Many kinds of birds and flowers on the islands      

( A ) can be found all over the Pacific .

( B ) are like birds and flowers in the United States .

( C ) cannot be found anywhere else .

( D ) came to the islands with the first people .

7 . You can infer from this passage that , apart from Hawaii , the other islands   

( A ) do not have volcanoes .

( B ) have volcanoes , but they are inactive .

( C ) do not have beaches .

( D ) have no mammals .

8 . The island of Maui is especially known for its     

( A ) beaches .

( B ) active volcanoes .

( C ) history .

( D ) tropical fish .

Answer Key

1. A 2. D 3. D 4 . A 5 . C 6 . C 7 . B 8 . C