Whаt is аn impоrtаnt part оf hоw Native Americans, as explored in this book and in the presentation, deal with difficulty and grief?
PASSAGE 2: Reаd this pаssаge tо answer questiоns 12-1. Damage Cоntrol [A] Measuring the scale of a natural disaster is not easy. Tornados, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions are typically measured according to their intensity. Part of this measurement includes the amount of destruction that the incident can inflict on the natural setting, as well as on human life. Tornados, for example, are measured on what is known as the Fujita Scale. While the weakest tornados are classified as F0s, those that are the most powerful and destructive are classified as F5s. [B] Perhaps the most famous of these measurement scales, however, is the Richter Scale - the system for measuring the strengths of earthquakes. Most earthquakes that have been recorded in the modern era have fallen somewhere between 0 and 9. At the lower end of the scale, earthquakes that register between 2.5 and 5.4 can be felt on the Earth's surface, but only cause minor damage. Those below 2.5, while technology designed to monitor seismic activity can capture movement, cannot be felt at all. By contrast, at the higher end of the Richter Scale, seismic activity that registers above 8 are considered catastrophic - capable of causing massive damage at the epicenter of the earthquake. [C] Despite the usefulness of these scales, however, it is essential to keep in mind that the raw strength of a natural disaster does not directly correlate with the amount of death and destruction that it leaves in its wake.1 Rather, researchers have come to understand that high levels of preparation for such events can dramatically reduce the negative impact that they can have on a society. [D] Internationally, the most impressive case of this preparedness is Japan. Given its location on several fault lines,2 the Japanese government and Japanese companies have spent billions of dollars preparing their buildings as well as public infrastructure for the possibility of a major earthquake. In Tokyo, nearly 90 percent of buildings have been designed to survive the impact of major earthquakes. As one example of this commitment to earthquake-proof engineering, many towers in Japan are built upon special foundations that allow them to slightly slide when the ground begins to shake. Furthermore, Japanese bullet trains are programmed to immediately stop once an earthquake has been detected somewhere nearby. [E] By contrast, experts have suggested that the United States is nowhere near as prepared if a massive earthquake were to hit the highly vulnerable West Coast. While some buildings and public utilities have been built to withstand a major earthquake, projects such as these have been in the minority. Since many seismologists3 have predicted that a major earthquake along the U.S. West Coast is almost inevitable in the next 100 years, some believe that the Americans are taking an incredible gamble. For these critics, taking inspiration from the Japanese and committing to a higher level of preparedness is the only path to take. By doing so, future earthquakes need not be described as "major" or "great," despite the use of measurement systems like the Richter Scale. 1 If something happens in the wake of an event, it happens afterwards as a result of the event. 2 A fault line is a location on the Earth's surface that is very likely to experience earthquakes. 3 A seismologist is a scientist who studies earthquakes. QUESTION: What is the purpose of paragraph B?
PASSAGE 1: Reаd this pаssаge tо answer questiоns 2-6. Sacred Summits [A] Vоlcanoes 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. QUESTION: What is the author's main purpose in writing this piece?
Cоntext Clues: Use the cоntext tо help you determine the meаning of the itаlicized word. Although I wаs unable to understand all of the details of the presentation, I did get the gist of it. In this sentence, gist means [1]. My sister loathes broccoli and can't stand even the smell of it, but she loves spinach. In this sentence, loathes means [2]. We should be careful not to ostracize those who are different from us. It is much better for all if we are welcoming to everyone. In this sentence, ostracize means [3]. [6] It is disappointing to go to job interview and not get the job. [7] The server quickly tracked the glass so that it wouldn't fall off the table.
PASSAGE 1: Reаd this pаssаge tо answer questiоns 2-6. Sacred Summits [A] Vоlcanoes 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. QUESTION: In paragraph H, what does They refer to?
PASSAGE 2: Reаd this pаssаge tо answer questiоns 12-1. Damage Cоntrol [A] Measuring the scale of a natural disaster is not easy. Tornados, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions are typically measured according to their intensity. Part of this measurement includes the amount of destruction that the incident can inflict on the natural setting, as well as on human life. Tornados, for example, are measured on what is known as the Fujita Scale. While the weakest tornados are classified as F0s, those that are the most powerful and destructive are classified as F5s. [B] Perhaps the most famous of these measurement scales, however, is the Richter Scale - the system for measuring the strengths of earthquakes. Most earthquakes that have been recorded in the modern era have fallen somewhere between 0 and 9. At the lower end of the scale, earthquakes that register between 2.5 and 5.4 can be felt on the Earth's surface, but only cause minor damage. Those below 2.5, while technology designed to monitor seismic activity can capture movement, cannot be felt at all. By contrast, at the higher end of the Richter Scale, seismic activity that registers above 8 are considered catastrophic - capable of causing massive damage at the epicenter of the earthquake. [C] Despite the usefulness of these scales, however, it is essential to keep in mind that the raw strength of a natural disaster does not directly correlate with the amount of death and destruction that it leaves in its wake.1 Rather, researchers have come to understand that high levels of preparation for such events can dramatically reduce the negative impact that they can have on a society. [D] Internationally, the most impressive case of this preparedness is Japan. Given its location on several fault lines,2 the Japanese government and Japanese companies have spent billions of dollars preparing their buildings as well as public infrastructure for the possibility of a major earthquake. In Tokyo, nearly 90 percent of buildings have been designed to survive the impact of major earthquakes. As one example of this commitment to earthquake-proof engineering, many towers in Japan are built upon special foundations that allow them to slightly slide when the ground begins to shake. Furthermore, Japanese bullet trains are programmed to immediately stop once an earthquake has been detected somewhere nearby. [E] By contrast, experts have suggested that the United States is nowhere near as prepared if a massive earthquake were to hit the highly vulnerable West Coast. While some buildings and public utilities have been built to withstand a major earthquake, projects such as these have been in the minority. Since many seismologists3 have predicted that a major earthquake along the U.S. West Coast is almost inevitable in the next 100 years, some believe that the Americans are taking an incredible gamble. For these critics, taking inspiration from the Japanese and committing to a higher level of preparedness is the only path to take. By doing so, future earthquakes need not be described as "major" or "great," despite the use of measurement systems like the Richter Scale. 1 If something happens in the wake of an event, it happens afterwards as a result of the event. 2 A fault line is a location on the Earth's surface that is very likely to experience earthquakes. 3 A seismologist is a scientist who studies earthquakes. QUESTION: What does the writer imply in the last sentence of the passage?