ACT Reading 3 passages

According to the passage, current known North American supplies of natural gas are:

• sufficient to provide the United States with natural gas for the next thiry years.

• down approximately 50 percent from 30 years ago

• decreasing at a rate of 25 percent per year.

• extremely difficult to access.

Answer explanation

As stated in the passage, "in the past 30 years, known supplies have dwindles from almost 300 TCF to around 150 TCF", or known supplies have decreased by 50 percent.

The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

• Liquid natural gas will never be a viable source of energy in the United States

• America's energy needs will not be met by the use of liquid natural gas alone.

• The populations of Japan and China are growing too rapidly to be served by liquid natural gas.

• Until another reliable energy source is discovered, liquid natural gas is the best solution to the world's energy problems.

Answer explanation

At the end of the passage, the author states that "consumers and business leaders should not rely on liquid natural gas to solve America's energy needs." This can also be inferred from the point that natural gas is currently only supplying approximately 25 percent of the nations energy needs, and even at this level there is much concern over whether supplies will run out.

One of the main ideas of the passage is that:

• energy sources are dwindling around the world.

• natural gas supplied one-quarter of America's energy needs.

• liquid natural gas takes millions of years to form.

• the known supply of liquid natural gas is limited.

Answer explanation

This question can be difficult if you do not read the answer choices carefully. The third paragraph is devoted to a discussion on the limited availability of liquid natural gas, and the expense of processing the gas.

It can inferred from the second paragraph (lines 16-38) that America's reluctance to choose liquid natural gas over other energy sources will:

• not prevent America from importing more liquid natural gas from other countries.

• induce Japan and China to build new liquid natural gas processing facilities.

• most likely continue until the cost and problems associated with liquid natural gas can be reduced.

• lead to a decrease in the current demand for liquid natural gas in other countries, such as Canada

Answer explanation

As states in the second paragraph, it is predicted that "liquid natural gas imports will increase by almost 500 percent in a few short years". Although America may be reluctant to important liquid natural gas, it is necessary for the nation to do so in order to relieve and/or avoid shortages.

According to the passage, which of the following countries supplies the most liquid natural gas to the United States?

• Japan

• China

• Canada

• Asia

Answer explanation

According to the passage, "Currently, Canada is the largest liquid natural gas supplier for the United States." Japan and China, two countries in Asia, are providing competition in attaining liquid natural gas.

According to the third paragraph (lines 39-54), misconceptions exist about liquid natural gas regarding:

I. it's abundance.

II. the expense of converting it.

III. public demand for it.

• I only

• II only

• II and III only

• I, II, and III

Answer explanation

The first sentence of the third paragraph states "One of the largest misonceptions about liquid natural gas is that it is an abundant source of natural gas." While the passage goes on to discuss the expense of creating new processing facilities and process making liquid natural gas uneconomical, the only misconception mentioned is the fact that liquid natural gas is a abundant source.

As it is used in line 6, the word phenomenal mostly nearly means:

• special.

• efficient.

• extraordinary.

• inconsequential.

Answer explanation

The context surrounding the work phenomenal discusses the surprisingly large expected in natural gas demand and the huge impact that such growth will have on depletion of the resource. The context clearly indicates that the demand is increasing at "phenomenal", or extraordinary, rates.

The passage states that all of the following are reasons for America's reluctance to choose liquid natural gas EXCEPT:

• the expense of transporting liquid natural gas.

• the increasing demand for liquid natural gas.

• the difficulty in processing liquid natural gas.

• the possibility of low natural gas prices.

Answer explanation

It is the only reason that America is choosing liquid natural gas; consumers are demanding it so America must provide it. The other answers express current problem with choosing liquid natural gas; transportation and processing are both very costly relative to other fuel sources.

The passage states that which of the following is true about natural gas?

• It currently supplies more than half of America's energy needs.

• The United States has an unlimited supply of natural gas.

• Canada is the world's largest exporter of natural gas.

• Annual demand for natural gas is increasing at a rapid rate.

Answer explanation

As states in the paragraph, "natural gas demand is increasing at phenomenal rates" and its consumption is expected to grow from 22 trillion cubic feet per year to 32 trillion cubic feet per year in less than a decade.

As it is used in line 32. the word vessel most nearly means:

• prcoess.

• source.

• facility.

• container.

Answer explanation

In the paragraph, the vessel in question is described as something that the liquid natural gas is injected into for transportation. It does not make sense that a liquid would be injected into a "process", "source", or "facility" for transportation.