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FACULTAD DE INGENIERIA
NAME:
DATE:
PROGRAM:
A Reading Comprehension Exam
Ocean Acidification
1. Predicting (5’ / 5pts)
a.
b.
c.
d.
5
10
15
What do you think the text will be about?
Causes of ocean acidification
Effects of ocean acidification
Definition of ocean acidification
Different viewpoints on ocean acidification
Most people know that the release of carbon dioxide into the air from human sources has contributed to
rising global temperatures and massive increases in the rate of melting of the ice at the poles and on
Greenland. One of the major consequences they may not know about is the acidification of the oceans. The
chemistry is quite straightforward. It is the same process that occurs when bottled water is carbonated. Most
of the carbon dioxide simply dissolves in the water. But some of it reacts with the water to form carbonic
acid. And, that is what is happening in the world's oceans as humans release more and more carbon dioxide
into the air.
Climate change deniers love to dispute climate modeling, to talk about short-term weather phenomena, and
to pick on minor citation errors in official reports. But, they do not like to talk about ocean acidification for
three interrelated reasons. First, humans have indisputably been dumping exponentially increasing amounts
of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from the beginning of the industrial revolution, primarily through the
burning of fossil fuels. Second, the oceans have absorbed about one-third of this carbon dioxide which then
forms carbonic acid. This reduces the pH of the water in an acidic direction. Third, scientists have
documented through direct observation the changes in ocean species, both large and microscopic, that have
resulted from this increased acidity.
What the scientists are finding is troubling. First, the entire food chain of the ocean could be short-circuited.
Second, ocean acidification in combination with other human impacts on the ocean could result in mass
extinctions. Third, no one knows how such changes might affect life on land which is by no means isolated
from the ocean.
20
25
30
Among those who accept the science of climate change, there are some who believe we can engineer our
way out of the problem. One proposal calls for putting small reflective particles into the atmosphere to block
a portion of the sunlight falling on the earth. But a recent study revealed that this would have little or no
effect on the continuing acidification of the oceans.
Even though the mechanism for ocean acidification is well-established, the source of the excess of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere and consequently in the ocean is traceable to man-made causes, and the effects are
already being observed, the climate change deniers will tell us that ocean acidification is nothing to worry
about. Of course, we must remember that they are in the pay of or under the influence of propaganda put out
by the fossil fuel interests, interests that spend millions on disinformation and zero on ocean research. But
even if climate change were not an issue, the peril associated with the acidification of the oceans by itself
would justify immediate and drastic action to curb carbon dioxide emissions.
(From: http://www.energybulletin.net/51946)
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2. Skimming (30’/30pts)
The main idea in paragraph 1 is
a. Most of the carbon dioxide released into the air simply dissolves in water
b. The release of carbon dioxide is produced by mankind.
c. Carbon dioxide reacts with the water to form carbonic acid
d. CO2 emission has contributed to global warming and ocean acidification.
The main idea in paragraph 2 is
a. Climate change deniers do not admit the increased acidity of the ocean.
b. Oceans have absorbed about one-third carbon dioxide which then forms carbonic acid.
c. Scientists have documented through direct observation the changes in ocean species.
d. Humans have indisputably been dumping CO2 into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution.
The main idea in paragraph 3 is
a. No one knows how changes might affect life on land
b. Ocean acidification might bring about worrying effects.
c. The entire food chain of the ocean could be short-circuited.
d. Ocean acidification and other human impacts on the ocean could be crucial.
The main idea in paragraph 4 is
a. Small reflective particles in the atmosphere could block some sun rays.
b. Reflective particles in the atmosphere would not decrease ocean acidification.
c. There are many people who accept the science of climate change
d. Some scientists think we can find a way out of climate change problems
The main idea in paragraph 5 is
a. The causes and effects of ocean acidification are evident regardless of people’s view.
b. Climate change deniers are in the pay of or under the influence of fossil fuel propaganda.
c. Fossil fuel interests spend millions on disinformation and zero on ocean research.
d. Climate change deniers will tell us that ocean acidification is not a problem.
3. Scanning (10’/10 pts)
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
CO2 emission has contributed to:
human well being
ice pole melting
chemistry
bottled water
2.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Some CO2 reacts with water to form:
Sulphuric acid
Hydrofluoric acid
Carbonic acid
Calcium sulfate
3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Climate change deniers do not like to refer to ocean acidification:
for three reasons
because they do not know about the topic
as it does not appear in official reports
since they are not scientists
4.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by oceans is:
50%
1/3
389 ppm
none of the above
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5.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Ocean acidification can cause:
impacts on isolated islands
impediments in the food chain
improvements in ocean species
advancements in fishing techniques
6.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Mass extinctions in the ocean could result from:
ocean acidification and other human actions
ocean acidification and climate change
ocean acidification and sunlight falling on the earth
ocean acidification and fossil fuel use
7.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Small reflective particles in the atmosphere could:
stop mass extinctions
prevent climate change
block sunlight falling on earth
reduce acidification of the oceans
8.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The excess of CO2 in the atmosphere and in the ocean is caused by:
animals
people
the sun
all of the above
9.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Fossil fuel companies spend on ocean research a total amount of:
100 million
10 million
1 thousand
not specified
10.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The text does NOT mention:
chemical reaction of ocean acidification
the main cause of ocean acidification
effective solutions to decrease ocean acidification
some effects of ocean acidification
4. Inferencing (20’/25 pts)
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What can carbonic acid in the ocean cause?
2.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What could an example of a minor citation error be?
Incorrect date
Wrong figures
Misspelled words
Erroneous source
3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What is an important feature of an official report?
Death of coral reefs
Improvement of marine ecosystems
Minor changes in food chain
Better water quality
Endorsement of a legitimate organization
Friendly greeting
Clear abstract
Complete address
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4. Which of the following could be considered a fossil fuel?
a.
b.
c.
d.
water
detergent
coal
all of the above
5.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What does pH mean?
6.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What could a microscopic ocean species be?
7.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What other human impacts can be mentioned?
Use of insulation methods
Ocean acidification
Renewable energy use
Deforestation
8.
a.
b.
c.
d.
How could life on land be affected by ocean acidification?
Coral reefs could be damaged
Many ocean life forms could become extinct
Marine ecosystems could be harmed
None of the above
9.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What man-made causes produce ocean acidification?
Electric power consumption
Hybrid car sales
Solar energy use
Research on climate change
10.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What other ocean acidification effects can be mentioned?
Human health
Modification of cycles that drive the climate
Food provision
All of the above
Originally it stood for personal home page, but currently means hypertext Processor
The symbol of a scale that rates water solutions according to their acidity or alkalinity
An advanced academic degree awarded by universities
A Trademark of computing devices
plankton
swordfish
tuna
seahorse
5. Vocabulary (15’/10 pts)
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The word “acidification” in line 3 can be understood as:
The act of turning a product into iron rust
The process of diminishing the pH caused by the increase of CO2
The practice of converting a metal into an acid
The method of loosening screws with a special substance
2.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The noun “deniers ” in line 8 means:
people who accept
people who object
people who pollute
people who produce
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3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The verb “to dispute” in line 8 can be replaced by:
to write about
to study about
to talk about
to argue about
4.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The verb “dumping” in line 10 can be defined as:
using
buying
releasing
picking up
5.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The verb phrase “could be short-circuited” in line 16 is similar in meaning to:
could flourish
could thrive
could collapse
could prosper
6.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The meaning of the verb “isolated” in line 18 is:
near
blocked
separated
scattered
7.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The noun “proposal” in line 21 can be described as:
promise
research
report
plan
8.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The adjective “traceable” in line 25 can be described as:
capable
attributable
regrettable
suitable
9.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The word “peril” in line 29 can be changed by:
terrible consequence
final outcome
imminent danger
important cause
10.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The meaning of the verb “to curb” in line 30 means:
to wave
to increase
to promote
to control
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6. Reference (10’/20pts)
1. What does the pronoun “they” in line 3 refer to?
2. What does the pronoun “it'” in line 4 refer to?
3. What does the pronoun “they” in line 9 refer to?
4. What does the relative pronoun “which” in line 12 refer to?
What does the relative pronoun “who” in line 20 refer to?
5. What linking word in line 24 could be replaced by “Despite”?
6. What does the pronoun “they” in line 27 refer to?
7. What word in line 28 means “study”?
8. What word in line 29 means “problem”?
9. What word in line 30 does NOT mean “gradual”?
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Keys
1. Predicting
1. D
2. Skimming
1. D
2. A
3. B
4. D
5. A
3. Scanning
1. B
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. B
9. D
10. C
4. Inferencing
1. A
2. C
3. A
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. D
8. D
9. A
10. D
5.Vocabulary
1. B
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. C
6. C
7. D
8. B
9. C
10. D
6. Reference
1. Most people
2. Acidification of the ocean
3. Climate change deniers
4. Carbon dioxide
5. Those
6. Even though
7. Climate change deniers
8. Research
9. Issue
10. Immediate