Reading Explorer 3: Unit 4 Lesson A

DIRECTIONS: Choose the best answer for each question.

Sacred Summits

[A] Volcanoes are creators and destroyers. They can shape lands and cultures, but can also cause great
destruction and loss of life. Two of the best-known examples are found at opposite ends of the world, on the
Pacific Ring of Fire.

Symbol of Japan
[B] It's almost sunrise near the summit of Japan's Mount Fuji. Exhausted climbers, many of whom have hiked
the 3,776 meters through the night to reach this point, stop to watch as the sun begins spreading its golden
rays across the mountain. For the climbers, this is an important moment. They have witnessed the dawn on
Mount Fuji - the highest point in Japan.

[C] Mount Fuji is a sacred site. Japan's native religion, Shintoism, considers Fuji a holy place. Other people
believe the mountain and its waters have the power to make a sick person well. For many, climbing Fuji is
also a rite of passage. Some do it as part of a religious journey; for others, it is a test of strength. Whatever
their reason, reaching the top in order to stand on Fuji's summit at sunrise is a must for many Japanese. Every
July and August, hundreds of thousands attempt to do so.

[D] Fuji is more than a sacred site and tourist destination, however. It is also an active volcano around which
four million people have settled, and it sits just 112 kilometers from the crowded streets of Tokyo. The last
time Fuji erupted, in 1707, it sent out a cloud of ash that covered the capital city and darkened the skies for
weeks.

[E] Today, new information has some volcanologists concerned that Fuji may soon erupt again. According to
Motoo Ukawa and his associates at the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention,
there has been an increase in activity under Fuji recently. This activity may be caused by low-frequency
earthquakes. Understanding what causes these quakes may help scientists predict when Fuji will come back to
life. In the meantime, locals living near Fuji hold special festivals each year to offer gifts to the goddess of the
volcano - as they have for generations - so that she will not erupt and destroy the land and its people below.

Mexico's Threatening Mountain

[F] Halfway across the globe from Fuji, Popocatepetl - one of the world's tallest and most dangerous active
volcanoes - stands just 70 kilometers southeast of Mexico City. Although the volcano (whose name means
"smoking mountain") has erupted many times over the centuries, scientists believe its last great eruption
occurred around AD 820. In recent years, Popocatepetl is once again threatening the lives of the people near
the mountain; in December 2000, almost 26,000 people were evacuated when El Popo - as Mexicans call the
mountain - started to send out ash and smoke. As with all active volcanoes, the question is not if it will erupt
again (an eruption is inevitable); the question is when it will happen.

[G] "Every volcano works in a different way," explains Carlos Valdes Gonzalez, a scientist who monitors El
Popo. "What we're trying to learn here are the symptoms signaling that El Popo will erupt." These include
earthquakes, or any sign that the mountain's surface is changing or expanding. The hope is that scientists will
be able to warn people in the surrounding areas so they have enough time to evacuate. A powerful eruption
could displace over 20 million people - people whose lives can be saved if the warning is delivered early
enough.
 [H] For many people living near El Popo - especially farmers - abandoning their land is unthinkable. As
anyone who farms near a volcano knows, the world's richest soils are volcanic. They produce bananas and
coffee in Central America, fine wines in California, and enormous amounts of rice in Indonesia.

[I] Today, many people continue to see El Popo as their ancestors did. According to ancient beliefs, a volcano
can be a god, a mountain, and a human all at the same time. To appease El Popo and to ensure rain and a good
harvest, locals begin a cycle of ceremonies that starts in March and ends in August. Carrying food and gifts
for the volcano, they hike up the mountain. Near the summit, they present their offerings, asking the volcano
to protect and provide for one more season.

____ 1. Why are Japanese volcanologists trying to predict what Mount Fuji is doing?
a. They intend to help locals preserve Fuji's natural environment.
b. They provide locals information so that they can plan festivals.
c. They are trying to predict when the next earthquake will happen in the region.
d. They want to know when the volcano will become active again.
____ 2. What do the two volcanoes have in common?
a. Both of them are just 60 kilometers from their respective capital city.
b. They are both special to the people who live near them.
c. The two volcanoes have both been active within the last 100 years.
d. People know they are dangerous and avoid living near them.
____ 3. What is the main idea of paragraph G?
a. If scientists can predict eruptions, lives will be saved.
b. Each volcano behaves in unique ways.
c. Twenty million people live near Popo.
d. Earthquakes sometimes happen before eruptions.
____ 4. In paragraph H, what does They refer to?
a. coffee growers in Central America
b. locals living on Popocatepetl
c. volcanic soils
d. farmers living near El Popo
____ 5. What is the author's main purpose in writing this piece?
a. to describe two active volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire
b. to show the dangers of living near a volcano
c. to remind people what happened when Mount Vesuvius erupted
d. to provide evidence that everyone who lives close to a volcano should move away

DIRECTIONS: Choose the best answer for each question.

Magic Mountain

[A] It is fair to say that mountains have always played a special role in many societies. Before the discovery
of antibiotics,1 Europeans used to seek the mountain air as a remedy for tuberculosis - a deadly lung disease.
Furthermore, before the age of airplanes and space flight, the summits of the world's great mountains were the
highest places that humans could physically reach. High above the world of humans, the peaks of mountains
were considered by many people to be the gateway between heaven and earth. In many places, the belief that
mountains are sacred places fit for the gods still holds true.
 [B] One such place is Mount Kinabalu, located in the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. For
locals and visitors alike, Mount Kinabalu is an impressive natural wonder, standing at 4,095 meters. This
makes it the tallest mountain on Borneo as well as one of the tallest in the Southeast Asian region.

[C] Estimated to be 15 million years old, the mountain plays a massive role in the daily lives of Sabah's
indigenous2 groups. This is especially true for one local tribe, the Kadazan-Dusun. The people of this tribe
have lived and farmed at the base of the great mountain for several centuries. Due to the plentiful natural
resources in the surrounding areas, Mount Kinabalu has been considered a provider, whose gifts have served
as the foundation for the locals' livelihoods.

[D] Beyond these practical reasons, the mountain is also deeply respected for the fact that it is central to the
religious beliefs of the Kadazan-Dusun. For locals, Mount Kinabalu stands as a monument created by two
gods, Kinohiringan and Umusumundu, who erected the mountain once the job of creating the world was
complete. Because Mount Kinabalu represents a connection between the sacred and human worlds, members
of the Kadazan-Dusun community have traditionally been buried at the foot of the mountain after their death.
According to local belief, after dying, the souls of the dead will engage in a long journey to the top of the
mountain. This is aided by the funeral rituals performed by living relatives and friends. Upon reaching the
peak, they will wait for the gods to make their decision about entrance into libabou - the Kadazan-Dusun
equivalent of heaven.

[E] Since the mountain is understood as part of the journey from human existence to the afterlife, appreciation
for the mountain is directly connected to appreciation for the gods. For locals, any disrespect shown to the
mountain could lead to trouble for members of the community. Indeed, after an earthquake violently shook
the mountain and its surrounding areas, many locals blamed the natural disaster on a group of foreign tourists
who had taken off their clothes on the top of the mountain. As a result of such deeply held beliefs, travel
agencies and tour guides provide foreign mountain climbers with not only safety information, but also
instructions on proper etiquette. Smoking, littering, shouting, and cursing3 are all prohibited on the mountain.
When combined with the traditional practices of the locals, such care ensures that Mount Kinabalu remains
one of the world's most special mountains.

1 Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections.

2 Indigenous refers to people or things that are originally in a particular place.
3 Cursing means using bad language.

____ 6. What is this passage mainly about?

a. the importance of mountains to people all over the world
b. the importance of Mount Kinabalu to local people in Sabah
c. the creation of the world according to the Kadazan-Dusun tribe
d. the trouble that foreigners cause when visiting Mount Kinabalu
____ 7. Why are people of the Kadazan-Dusun tribe buried at the base of Mount Kinabalu after death?
a. Because that is where the funeral rituals are traditionally held.
b. Because the mountain provides a connection between Earth and the afterlife.
c. Because that is where all the resources are.
d. Because it is the place where the gods are buried.
____ 8. Which of the following words is a synonym of erected in paragraph D?
a. buried
b. built
c. finished
d. moved
____ 9. In the final paragraph, what does the word etiquette mean?
a. safety precautions
b. clothing
c. religion
d. polite behavior
____ 10. What does the author imply in the last sentence of the passage?
a. Foreigners cannot be trusted on Mount Kinabalu.
b. Mount Kinabalu is gradually losing its special status.
c. Local knowledge and practices keep Mount Kinabalu special.
d. Foreigners can climb Mount Kinabalu if they go with a tour guide.

DIRECTIONS: Read the passage. Choose the best summary for each paragraph.

Magic Mountain

[A] It is fair to say that mountains have always played a special role in many societies. Before the discovery
of antibiotics,1 Europeans used to seek the mountain air as a remedy for tuberculosis - a deadly lung disease.
Furthermore, before the age of airplanes and space flight, the summits of the world's great mountains were the
highest places that humans could physically reach. High above the world of humans, the peaks of mountains
were considered by many people to be the gateway between heaven and earth. In many places, the belief that
mountains are sacred places fit for the gods still holds true.

[B] One such place is Mount Kinabalu, located in the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. For
locals and visitors alike, Mount Kinabalu is an impressive natural wonder, standing at 4,095 meters. This
makes it the tallest mountain on Borneo as well as one of the tallest in the Southeast Asian region.

[C] Estimated to be 15 million years old, the mountain plays a massive role in the daily lives of Sabah's
indigenous2 groups. This is especially true for one local tribe, the Kadazan-Dusun. The people of this tribe
have lived and farmed at the base of the great mountain for several centuries. Due to the plentiful natural
resources in the surrounding areas, Mount Kinabalu has been considered a provider, whose gifts have served
as the foundation for the locals' livelihoods.

[D] Beyond these practical reasons, the mountain is also deeply respected for the fact that it is central to the
religious beliefs of the Kadazan-Dusun. For locals, Mount Kinabalu stands as a monument created by two
gods, Kinohiringan and Umusumundu, who erected the mountain once the job of creating the world was
complete. Because Mount Kinabalu represents a connection between the sacred and human worlds, members
of the Kadazan-Dusun community have traditionally been buried at the foot of the mountain after their death.
According to local belief, after dying, the souls of the dead will engage in a long journey to the top of the
mountain. This is aided by the funeral rituals performed by living relatives and friends. Upon reaching the
peak, they will wait for the gods to make their decision about entrance into libabou - the Kadazan-Dusun
equivalent of heaven.
 [E] Since the mountain is understood as part of the journey from human existence to the afterlife, appreciation
for the mountain is directly connected to appreciation for the gods. For locals, any disrespect shown to the
mountain could lead to trouble for members of the community. Indeed, after an earthquake violently shook
the mountain and its surrounding areas, many locals blamed the natural disaster on a group of foreign tourists
who had taken off their clothes on the top of the mountain. As a result of such deeply held beliefs, travel
agencies and tour guides provide foreign mountain climbers with not only safety information, but also
instructions on proper etiquette. Smoking, littering, shouting, and cursing3 are all prohibited on the mountain.
When combined with the traditional practices of the locals, such care ensures that Mount Kinabalu remains
one of the world's most special mountains.

1 Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections.

2 Indigenous refers to people or things that are originally in a particular place.
3 Cursing means using bad language.

____ 11. Paragraph A

a. Mountains have been important to many societies for various reasons.
b. Many people see mountains as the meeting point of heaven and Earth.
____ 12. Paragraph B
a. Mount Kinabalu is one of the most impressive mountains in the world.
b. Mount Kinabalu is one of the most impressive mountains in Southeast Asia.
____ 13. Paragraph C
a. Mount Kinabalu is respected by the Kadazan-Dusun tribe because of how old it is.
b. Mount Kinabalu is respected by the Kadazan-Dusun tribe because of what is provides.
____ 14. Paragraph D
a. Mount Kinabalu is central to the religious beliefs and customs of the Kadazan-Dusun
people.
b. Mount Kinabalu is an important place for major life events of the Kadazan-Dusun
community.
____ 15. Paragraph E
a. Bad behavior on the mountain is considered to be responsible for disasters.
b. Showing respect to the mountain is of extreme importance to the local people.

DIRECTIONS: Read each sentence. Decide if the use of the underlined word in each sentence makes
the statement T (true) or F (false).

____ 16. The summit of a mountain is at the very top.

____ 17. Your children and grandchildren are your ancestors.

____ 18. Dawn happens at the end of the day when the sun sets and it gets dark.

____ 19. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are examples of disasters that affect many people.

____ 20. Most of the civilians displaced by the war could not return to their homes.

____ 21. When a business grows and employs more workers, it expands.
____ 22. When someone causes destruction, they leave a positive impact.

____ 23. If it is unlikely that a popular rock group is going to perform, it's inevitable.

____ 24. When mothers monitor their young children, they watch what they are doing.

____ 25. A witness is someone who didn't actually see a robbery, but heard about it on the news.
Reading Explorer 3: Unit 4 Lesson A
Answer Section
1. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Page 59 | Page 60
OBJ: Supporting Detail TOP: Violent Earth
2. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Page 59 | Page 60
OBJ: Supporting Detail TOP: Violent Earth
3. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Page 59 | Page 60
OBJ: Main Idea TOP: Violent Earth
4. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Page 59 | Page 60
OBJ: Anaphoric Reference TOP: Violent Earth
5. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Page 59 | Page 60
OBJ: Purpose TOP: Violent Earth
6. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Page 59 | Page 60
OBJ: Main Idea TOP: Violent Earth
7. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Page 59 | Page 60
OBJ: Supporting Detail TOP: Violent Earth
8. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Page 59 | Page 60
OBJ: Unfamiliar Vocabulary TOP: Violent Earth
9. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Page 59 | Page 60
OBJ: Unfamiliar Vocabulary TOP: Violent Earth
10. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Page 59 | Page 60
OBJ: Inference TOP: Violent Earth
11. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Page 62 OBJ: Summarizing a Text
TOP: Violent Earth
12. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Page 62 OBJ: Summarizing a Text
TOP: Violent Earth
13. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Page 62 OBJ: Summarizing a Text
TOP: Violent Earth
14. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Page 62 OBJ: Summarizing a Text
TOP: Violent Earth
15. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Page 62 OBJ: Summarizing a Text
TOP: Violent Earth
16. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: Page 63 OBJ: Vocabulary
TOP: Violent Earth
17. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: Page 63 OBJ: Vocabulary
TOP: Violent Earth
18. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: Page 63 OBJ: Vocabulary
TOP: Violent Earth
19. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: Page 63 OBJ: Vocabulary
TOP: Violent Earth
20. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: Page 63 OBJ: Vocabulary
TOP: Violent Earth
21. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: Page 63 OBJ: Vocabulary
TOP: Violent Earth
22. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: Page 63 OBJ: Vocabulary
TOP: Violent Earth
23. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: Page 63 OBJ: Vocabulary
TOP: Violent Earth
24. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: Page 63 OBJ: Vocabulary
TOP: Violent Earth
25. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: Page 63 OBJ: Vocabulary
TOP: Violent Earth