DAY62 Reading comprehension Direction: In this part, there are four passages followed by questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the on e
DAY62 Reading comprehension Direction: In this part, there are four passages followed by questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the on e that you think is the correct answer. Passage 1 A rise in the sea level is a potentially serious problem as it relates to global warming. Although a precise estimate of the total potential rise in sea level is not possible at this time, there is a consensus that the level of the sea will in fact rise. In fact, sea level along much of the US coast is already rising at a rate of 2.5 to 3.0mm per year, or about 10 to 12inches per century. The causes for the rise are thought to be twofold: thermal current of ocean water (the primary cause) and melting of glacial ice (a secondary cause). The various models predict that the rise may be anywhere from 20cm to approximately 2m (8-80in) in the next century; the most likely rise is probably 20 to 40cm (8-16in). One estimate is that sea level will likely rise 15cm by the year 2050 and 34cm by the year 2100. When other factors such as land subsidence and compaction, groundwater depletion, and natural climate variation are considered, some coastal regions could experience a sea level rise of 45 to 55cm by the year 2100. Such a change will have significant environmental impacts; it could easily cause increased coastal erosion on open beaches of up to 50 to 100m (165-230ft), making buildings and other structures in the coastal zone more vulnerable to damage from waves generated by highmagnitude storms. It could also cause a landlord migration of estuaries and salt marshes in the coastal zone. Finally, groundwater supplies for coastal communities may be saltwater intrusion should sea level rise. A rise in the sea level of approximately 1m (3.3ft) would have serious consequences. People would have to make significant alterations in the coastal environment to protect investments, and communities would be forced to choose between making very heavy financial investments in controlling coastal erosion and allowing for considerable loss of property. Considering the amount of coastal defenses present in the world today, it seems inevitable that a rise in sea level lead to further investment for protecting cities in the coastal zone. Construction of seawalls, dikes, and other erosioncontrolling structures will become more common as coastal erosion threatens urban property. In more rural areas, where development is set well back from the coastal zone, the most likely response to a rising sealevel will be simply to adjust to the erosion that occurs. Coastal erosion is a different problem that is very expensive to deal with; it is prudent to allow erosion to naturally take place where feasible rather than try to control it. Finally, when considering a rise in the sea level, we must be concerned with the hundreds of millions of people who live in lowlying areas of developing countries. For example, two cyclones that hit Bangladesh in the last 25 years killed more than 400,000 people and caused over ＄1.6billion in property damage. The double impact of a rising sea level and more frequent and powerful cyclones and other tropical disturbances (owing to warmer oceans) would have a devastating effect on people in developing countries. 1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph? A. The estimated amount of a rise in sea level. B. A rise in sea level. C. The factors that influence a rise in sea level. D. The estimated amount and impact of a rise in sea level. 2. According to the passage, which of the following factors will cause a rise in sea level? A. Warm current.B. Land subsidence. C. Groundwater exhaustion.D. Climate change. 3. What is the probable meaning of the underlined word “vulnerable” in paragraph 1? A. Sturdy.B. Impregnable.C. Staunch.D. Feeble. 4. Which of the following statements about a rise in sea level is NOT true according to the author? A. People
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