Directions: Read
the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the
four alternatives and mark it in the Answer Sheet.
Passage (Five Questions)
The
destructive process of Mountain Top Removal mining (MTR) has caused permanent
damage to Appalachia. Although the law requires that mining companies restore
the mountaintops after the mining has been completed, the 1.5 million acres of
mountains that have already been removed cannot be re-grown, re-built, or
replaced. The companies do secure the rock formations to prevent erosion and
landslides. But their efforts cannot recreate the once beautiful mountain
landscape. Furthermore, while companies are usually vigilant abut securing the
rock formations, they seem less interested in restoring the native vegetation.
MTR operations clear enormous tracts of forest. Environmental hazards are not
only created in preparing a mountaintop for mining, they also continue once the
coal has been extracted. After the blast, the excess mountaintop – which
miners refer to as “overburden” – is usually dumped into nearby valleys or
streams. The overburden contains a variety of toxic substances, including explosive
residue, silica and coal dust.
31. The work opposite in
meaning to “Vigilant” is
(a) lenient
(b) displeased
(c) careless
(d) annoyed
(a) lenient
(b) displeased
(c) careless
(d) annoyed
Answer: (c) careless
32. MTR operations cause
environmental hazards because
(a) mountaintops dumped in valleys & streams contain toxic substance.
(b) it destroys natural vegetation
(c) it causes explosion
(d) it causes landslides.
(a) mountaintops dumped in valleys & streams contain toxic substance.
(b) it destroys natural vegetation
(c) it causes explosion
(d) it causes landslides.
Answer:(a) mountaintops dumped in valleys & streams contain toxic substance.
33. In the Appalachian region
MTR has caused
(a) floods
(b) widespread damage
(c) landslides
(d) permanent beautification
(a) floods
(b) widespread damage
(c) landslides
(d) permanent beautification
Answer:(c) landslides
34. After the MTR operation,
the mining companies
(a) replace the mountaintops
(b) beautify the mountains
(c) restore native vegetation
(d) secure rock formations to prevent erosion.
(a) replace the mountaintops
(b) beautify the mountains
(c) restore native vegetation
(d) secure rock formations to prevent erosion.
Answer:(d) secure rock formations to prevent erosion.
35. The term “overburden” means
(a) excess mountaintop left after the extraction of coal through the blast.
(b) weeds planted by mining companies.
(c) remnants of natural forests.
(d) debris from landslide
(a) excess mountaintop left after the extraction of coal through the blast.
(b) weeds planted by mining companies.
(c) remnants of natural forests.
(d) debris from landslide
