Practice mode Reading Comprehension

What can be inferred from the passage about the ozone layer and the Montreal Protocol?

Read the passage: High above the Earth, a thin layer of ozone gas absorbs much of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. In 1985 British scientists reported that this layer was thinning dramatically over Antarctica each spring. The main cause was a group of chemicals called CFCs, then widely used in refrigerators and aerosol sprays. In 1987 governments signed the Montreal Protocol, an agreement to phase out these chemicals. Manufacturers developed substitutes, and the use of CFCs fell sharply over the following years. Because the chemicals linger in the atmosphere for decades, the damage did not disappear overnight. Nevertheless, scientists now report that the ozone layer is slowly healing and is expected to recover substantially within the coming decades.

Correct answer C. Coordinated action between countries can help reverse an environmental problem.

Explanation

After governments agreed to phase out CFCs, their use fell and the ozone layer began healing, implying that international cooperation can help reverse environmental damage.

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Question 01 Reading Comprehension

In the passage about mountain glaciers, what does the word ‘retreating’ most nearly mean?

Read the passage: Mountain glaciers are slow-moving rivers of ice that form where more snow falls in winter than melts in summer. Over many years the snow is pressed into dense ice, which creeps downhill under its own weight. In many mountain ranges around the world, including parts of the Himalayas and the Alps, glaciers have been retreating for decades as average temperatures rise. Their lower ends, or snouts, now lie higher up the valleys than they did in the past, sometimes leaving behind lakes held back by loose piles of rock. Because glaciers release meltwater slowly during warm months, they help keep rivers flowing in dry seasons, so their loss could affect water supplies for millions of people downstream.

Correct answer D. Shrinking back up the valley

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Question 02 Reading Comprehension

What is the author’s main purpose in the passage about brisk walking?

Read the passage: You do not need an expensive gym membership to become healthier. Walking briskly for thirty minutes on most days of the week can strengthen your heart, help control your weight and lift your mood. It requires no special equipment beyond a comfortable pair of shoes, and it can easily be fitted into a busy day. Try getting off the bus one stop early, taking the stairs instead of the lift, or walking to the corner shop rather than riding a motorbike. Invite a friend or family member to join you, and the time will pass quickly. Start small if you need to, but start today. Your body will thank you for every step.

Correct answer B. To encourage readers to walk more as a simple way to improve their health

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Question 03 Reading Comprehension

In the passage about Nani in the Ahmed household, what does the word ‘frugal’ most nearly mean?

Read the passage: Nani, as everyone in the Ahmed household calls their grandmother, has always been frugal. She saves rubber bands from vegetable bundles, turns old saris into quilts and keeps a tin of buttons cut from worn-out shirts. When the family's ceiling fan stopped working, she refused to let her grandson buy a new one until a local mechanic had tried to repair it, which he did for a small fee. Her habits once embarrassed her grandchildren, who thought them old-fashioned. Recently, however, her granddaughter Mehreen studied environmental science at college and came home declaring that Nani had been practising 'reduce, reuse and recycle' long before anyone had invented the slogan.

Correct answer D. Careful to avoid waste and unnecessary spending

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Question 04 Reading Comprehension

Which option best states the central idea of the passage about how vaccines work?

Read the passage: A vaccine works by training the immune system to recognise a disease-causing germ without the person having to suffer the illness itself. It usually contains a weakened or killed form of the germ, or just a harmless piece of it. The body responds by making antibodies and special memory cells. If the real germ later invades, these cells recognise it and mount a rapid defence before it can cause serious harm. The idea dates back to 1796, when the English doctor Edward Jenner showed that material from cowpox sores could protect people against the far deadlier smallpox. Nearly two centuries later, after a worldwide vaccination campaign, smallpox became the first human disease ever to be declared eradicated.

Correct answer A. Vaccines prepare the body to fight germs, an idea that has had enormous success.

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What can be inferred from the passage about the ozone layer and the Montreal Protocol?

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