Vocabulary Tests
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 .
The Hawaiian Islands are a tropical paradise most of the time .
But even there , nature can sometimes show its more violent side . The islands
have been hit by numerous natural disasters in the recent past . These
disasters have caused deaths and great damage .
Through all of Hawaii’s
history , volcanoes have played an important part . The islands were formed by
the eruption of volcanoes under the ocean . On the big island of Hawaii , the
volcanoes continue to erupt . During an eruption , hot lava pours out of the
top of a volcano and down the side . The red , hot lava covers everything in
its path . The air is filled with smoke and horrible-smelling gas that is
sometimes poisonous . Once , in 1790 , poisonous gas below down into a populated
valley and killed 80 people . In 1950 , a volcano on Hawaii erupted and lava
poured out for 23 days . The lava covered 35 miles and closed off the main
coastal road .
Native Hawaiians believe
that volcanoes are a natural part of life . In their traditional religion ,
volcanoes are ruled by the goddess , Pele . When Pele is angry , the volcanoes
erupt . Before an eruption she takes a human form . If you meet her and are kind
to her , you will not be hurt by the lava . Today , Hawaiians have forgotten most of the ancient gods , but
not Pele . They continue to honor her and her volcanoes .
Another kind of natural
disaster that has hit Hawaii is the tidal wave , or tsunami . Unlike volcanoes
, tsunamis come from far away under the ocean . When an earthquake occurs
underwater , it creates huge waves . If these waves hit land , they destroy
everything along the coast . Two terrible tsunamis have hit the big island of
Hawaii in modern times . One enormous wave washed away a whole school with the
children and their teacher . Another killed 61 people .
These days , all of the
Hawaiian Islands have special signals to warn of tsunamis . When the signal
sounds , everyone who stays near the coast will be washed away , along with
cars , trees , and houses .
Hurricanes have also
caused much trouble for Hawaiians recently. When a hurricane passes over an
island , the wind may be very strong , over 80 miles an hour . It can blow away
windows , roofs , and even whole building . The shore line may be changed ,as
the large waves wash over beaches and break up cliffs .
In the past , people in
Hawaii did not worry about these storms . They rarely occurred in that area .
Scientists believed that the water around the islands was too warm for
hurricanes . However , that has changed , for some reason . Dangerous
hurricanes have hit the island of Kauai twice in the past ten years . In 1982 ,
Hurricane Iwa caused $ 200 million dollars worth of damage . The people of the
island rebuilt their homes . New hotels and vacation resorts were built . And
then ,in 1992 , they ere hit by Hurricane Iniki , which caused even more damage
!
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Circle the best answers to the following questions .
Do not look back at the passage .
1 . This passage is about
( A ) three types of natural disasters in Hawaii .
( B ) Hawaii’s volcanoes .
( C ) the damage caused by natural disasters .
( D ) Hawaii’s natural history .
2 . Volcanoes were the cause of
( A ) the formation of the Hawaiian Islands .
( B ) the warm climate of the islands .
( C ) many tsunami in the Pacific Ocean .
( D ) Hawaii’s recent hurricanes .
3 . During a
volcanic eruption
( A ) the goddess Pele is angry .
( B ) the air is full of hot smoke and terrible
smells .
( C ) houses and cars are safe from the lava .
( D ) only
small areas of the island are in danger .
4 . You can infer from this that most Hawaiians today
( A ) follow their traditional religion .
( B ) do not follow their traditional religion .
( C ) do not understand volcanoes .
( D ) do not worry about storms .
5 . Tsunamis are caused by
( A ) volcanic eruptions .
( B ) strong winds far out at sea .
( C ) rain storms in the Pacific Ocean .
( D ) underwater earthquakes .
6 . If you hear a tsunami signal , you should
( A ) close all your windows .
( B ) stay away from trees .
( C ) go down to the beach .
( D ) burry away from the seashore .
7 . You can infer from this passage that hurricanes
( A ) have caused the most damage on Kauai .
( B ) are very common on all of the islands .
( C ) are caused by warm ocean water .
( D ) can be predicted .
8 . Volcanoes , tsunamis , and hurricanes
( A ) can all be prevented by careful planning .
( B ) are caused by the forces of nature .
( C ) are controlled by Hawaiian gods of nature .
( D ) have caused little damage in Hawaii .
Answer Key
1 . A 2. A 3 . B 4 . B 5 . D 6 . D 7 . A 8 . B
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