Ajyal high school Academic year: 2021 - 2022

Dweir – Nabatiyeh Subject: Comprehension

Part One: Reading Comprehension (Score: 24/40)

Read the selection below about the damage that tornadoes might cause and then answer the questions
that follow.

The Tornado Mystery

1. The myth of tornadoes continues to puzzle storm researchers. Why do they form out of one severe
thunderstorm but not another? On one day but not the next? Why is one more powerful than another? And most
particularly, perhaps, why is one tornado two hundred feet wide and another a mile or more in diameter?

2. A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most
violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of up to 480 km per hour. They can
destroy large buildings, uproot trees and hurl vehicles hundreds of meters.

3. Forces other than damaging winds are at work inside tornadoes. Sometimes, as the twisting funnel passes
over a house, the walls and ceiling burst apart as if a bomb had gone off inside. This is caused by the low air
pressure at the center of a tornado.

4. The pressure at the center of a tornado is usually thirteen pounds per square inch. However, inside the
house the air pressure is normal, about fifteen pounds per square inch. The difference in pounds per square inch
between the inside and outside pressure may not seem much. But suppose a tornado funnel passes over a small
building that measures 20 by 10 by 10 feet. On each square inch of this building, there is pressure from the
inside that is not balanced by air pressure outside the building. This unbalanced pressure adds up with more
inches of the ceiling and the four walls and becomes higher and more dangerous.

5. If windows are open in the building, some of the inside air will rush out through them. This will balance
the pressure inside and outside the building. But if the windows are shut tightly, the enormous inside pressure
may cause the building to burst.

6. Unfortunately, heavy rain and hail often occur in thunderstorms that later produce tornadoes. So people
frequently shut all windows to protect their property. This may cause far worse damage later. For the same
reason, the door of an underground storm shelter must have an air opening for relief of pressure. Otherwise, the
shelter door might be blown out when a tornado passes over it.

7. Predicting tornadoes is so difficult that many people up till now rely on natural warning signs such as sky
color and thunder. But none, alone or together, guarantees a tornado is coming soon. Not even the best weather-
forecasting technology can determine more than a few minutes ahead of time whether or not a tornado will
strike.

Questions:

A- Answer questions 1 to 3 in complete sentences using your own words.

1- Based on paragraph 4, what is the difference in pounds (per square inch) between the air pressure inside a
house and inside a tornado?

2- According to paragraph 5, what relieves the pressure on a building during a tornado? Explain how.
3- What makes the writer believe it is still not easy to tell when a tornado occurs?

4- Refer to the selection and select the correct choice that completes the following sentence:

Tornadoes can destroy buildings because the …………………………...

a. force of a tornado increases the air pressure in a building.

b. weight of a tornado can crush a building's roof when it passes overhead.

c. air pressure inside a tornado is less than the air pressure inside a building.

B- Based on the selection, what does each of the following underlined pronouns refer to?

1- They ( Paragraph 2)

2- This ( Paragraph 3)

3- This ( Paragraph 6)

4- it ( Paragraph 6)

C- The table below shows the yearly number of tornadoes per month in USA and Canada. Read the table
carefully and then answer the following question.

Table: The Yearly Number of Tornadoes per Month in USA and Canada

Country January February March

Month

USA 35 39 56

Canada 4 6 9

How are USA and Canada similar and different in the occurrence of tornadoes?

D- Use contextual clues to figure out the meaning of each word in the box below. Then fill in the blanks with
the correct words to complete the following sentences. Make the necessary changes.

burst (Paragraph 3) rush (Paragraph 5) produce ( Paragraph 6) rely (Paragraph 7) strike (Paragraph 7)

1- In some regions, when strong lightning …………..one neighborhood, it would start a big fire and destroy the
whole area.

2- We had to …………. home from the party when the baby-sitter phoned to say that our daughter was sick.

3- With the continuous drop in temperature, the water pipes are expected to ……….... during this cold weather.

4- He always tries to ……….…..on his wife to support him when things get tough at work.
E- In each of the following, there is ONE grammatical error. Identify the error and then correct it.

1- They are talking for the last two hours, and I am not sure if they are done.

2- What kind of computer did they got from the store?

3- I wish I have one million dollars now.

4- The teacher told the students to not forget their books.

F- Rewrite the following sentences, starting each as indicated, without changing the meaning.

1- “I won’t be able to go with Sara because I have an appointment with the dentist,” Sam says.

Sam said that………………….…………………………………..…….

2- Hana had to add more wood to the fire because it was cold weather.

Due to…………………………………………………………………….

Part Two: Writing (Score: 16/40)

Choose ONE of the following prompts: Prompt (A): Natural hazards caused by hurricanes, earthquakes,
floods etc. can be disastrous because they lead to losses in life and property. People must be made aware of
procedures they should follow before, during and after a natural disaster emergency.

Provide an outline and then write an essay in which you explain the above statement. As you develop your
essay, refer to how different parties (e.g. people, governments, schools or media) can spread awareness about
the procedures that should be taken to protect people in case of a natural disaster.

In your essay, provide a thesis statement in the introduction, a topic sentence in each body paragraph and
support the main idea with relevant, specific and adequate details. Give examples drawn from your experience,
reading, or observation. Your essay should be between 150-200 words with an appropriate title. Revise and
proofread your essay.

Prompt (B): We should always remember that we have two hands: The first is to help ourselves, and the second
is to help others.

Based on the statement above, write a narrative essay about someone who once witnessed a natural disaster (e.g.
snowstorm, volcano, etc.) but could survive because of others’ help. As you develop your essay, describe what
happened, how people helped him/her and the lesson learnt. Copy and fill in the chart below and then write the
essay. Your essay should be between 150-200 words with an appropriate title. Revise and proofread your essay.

1. Title

2. Setting

3. Characters

4. Events

5. Lesson learnt