SSAT Reading Comprehension Practice Test 21

1. A primary difference between volcanoes and other mountains is in

• A. their height
• B. their ruggedness
• C. their age
• D. where they are located
• E. how they are formed

2. A volcanic eruption is likely to be most explosive if magma

• A. is thin and runny
• B. is thick and sticky
• C. rises and collects in magma chambers
• D. pushes out through fissures in the Earth's surface
• E. becomes lava

3. The author uses italic print primarily to

• A. emphasize words that are used in an unusual way
• B. indicate words that are difficult to pronounce
• C. point out foreign words
• D. highlight important terms that are defined in the text
• E. indicate words that are not necessary to understanding the passage

4. All of the following can be explicitly answered by the passage EXCEPT:

• A. What factors contribute to hot temperatures deep inside the Earth?
• B. Why are some volcanic eruptions explosive while others are not?
• C. As dangerous as eruptions can be, why do lava flows rarely kill people?
• D. Why does magma rise and collect in chambers?
• E. Why does pressure build up in magma that is thick and sticky?

5. This passage would most likely appear in

• A. a newspaper
• B. a science textbook
• C. an adventure novel
• D. a travel brochure
• E. a safety manual

6. Which of the following statements is NOT true of tephra?

• A. It can range in size from tiny particles of ash to huge boulders.
• B. It can travel thousands of kilometers from a volcano.
• C. It can be found trapped in magma.
• D. Large tephra falls on or close to a volcano.
• E. It is the term for rock fragments erupted into the air by volcanoes.