Tunguska Impact-100 Years Later

The details in paragraph 5 support the main idea that---

• Kulik was more interested in locating a meteorite than investigating the impact

• Kulik's team was uncertain about the exact location of the impact

• harsh conditions were to blame for the impact

• no scientific research was done immediately following the impact

Read these sentences from the text.

Today, June 30,2008, is the 100th anniversary of that ferocious impact near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in remote Siberia---and after 100 years, scientist are still talking about it. (paragraph 3)

Yeomans estimates that, on average, a Tunguska-size asteroid will enter Earth's atmosphere once every 300 years. (paragraph 14)

Which conclusion do these sentences support?

• Most large asteroids that enter Earth's atmosphere land harmlessly in remote areas.

• Scientist feel it is imperative to prepare for the next time an asteroid enters the atmosphere.

• Asteroids that are capable of causing extensive damage to Earth are relatively rare.

• It has become much easier from scientist to predict where and when asteroids will land.

Which phrase from paragraph 13 best serves as a context clue for the word annihilate in paragraph 12?

• that is why

• no impact crater

• great majority

• is consumed

Why did the author italicize part of paragraph 9?

• To emphasize the significance of the local's statement

• To distinguish the eyewitness account from the author's words

• To indicate that the direct quotation has been translated from another language

• To demonstrate how eyewitness accounts contribute to scientific exploration

Which idea is supported by details in paragraph 9?

• The members of Kulik's expedition had trouble communicating with the local people.

• Hearing the accounts of the local people drastically changed scientists' view of the events at Tunguska.

• Most local people experience the Tunguska impact in the form of a heat blast.

• Local people gradually overcame their reluctance to talk to scientist about the blast.

The author organizes the information in paragraph 10 mainly by--

• describing how the impact affected people far to near

• providing background information about Siberia climate in its order of importance

• detailing the events that took place that day in chronological order

• comparing and contrasting the Tunguska impact with another massive explosion

The photograph of the trees felled by the Tunguska impact is included in the text to---

• indicate possible reasons why the asteroid fell in this particular location

• shows the type of evidence scientists encountered at the scene of the impact

• highlight the remoteness of the area affected by the impact

• emphasize the unfortunate loss of natural resources as a result of the impact

What is the author's message in the text?

• Despite the amount of data collected from the site, scientist cannot prevent similar incidents.

• Citizens of urban areas are protected from natural disasters.

• Scientists are predicting another catastrophic astrological events in a couple hundred years.

• Though astrological phenomena rarely impact Earth, they may have devastating effects.