SSAT Middle Level Reading Practice Test 60

The current agreement among scientists on global warming is that "most of the observed warming over the last 50 years is likely to have been caused by human activities." The main cause of the human-induced component of warming is the increase in greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, due to activities such as burning of fossil fuels, land clearing, and agriculture. Greenhouse gases are gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. Thiseffectwas first described by Joseph Fourier in 1824, and was first investigated scientifically in 1896 by Svante Arrhenius.

Climate sensitivity is a measure of response to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  It is found by observational and model studies. This measure is usually expressed as the expected temperature increase from a doubling of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This increase is estimated to be about 3 °C according to the 2001 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. The IPCC, using different scenarios, projects that global temperatures will increase about 3.5 °C between 1990 and 2100.

-Wikipedia

1. According to the passage, most of the scientific community believes that

• A. global temperatures will drop in the next century.
• B. climate sensitivity should be used more.
• C. Fourier's research was very difficult to understand.
• D. humans have had the most effect on global warming.
• E. the IPCC needs to make less predictions.

2. Theeffectmentioned at the end of the first paragraph most likely refers to

• A. the interaction between land clearing and agriculture.
• B. the result of greenhouse gases warming the Earth.
• C. the examination of deadly gases by two chemists.
• D. the distribution of carbon dioxide in fossil fuels.
• E. the relationship between Fourier and Arrhenius.

3. Which of the following is the author most likely to discuss next?

• A. A history of the warming of the Earth
• B. A discussion on measures of temperature
• C. Reasons why carbon dioxide is so toxic
• D. A mention of other atmospheric gases
• E. The advantages of burning fossil fuels

4. The main purpose of the first paragraph is to

• A. investigate the contributions two scientists made to the study of the greenhouse effect
• B. explain the role carbon dioxide plays in the warming of the Earth
• C. list activities that humans can use to prevent the spread of greenhouse gases
• D. determine why more federal funds are not devoted to fighting global warming
• E. introduce the major sources of global warming caused by humans

5. According to the passage, climate sensitivity

• A. measures temperature change in the Earth's oceans.
• B. must be calculated within a certain time frame.
• C. takes into account carbon dioxide increase.
• D. was recorded inaccurately in the 2001 IPCC report.
• E. rarely uses observational or model studies.