ACT Reading- "Natural Gas"

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 thirty years.

• down approximately 50 percent from thirty 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 dwindled from almost 300 TCF to around 150 TCF,” or known supplies have decreased by about 50 percent. Answer choice A is incorrect because the passage states that at predicted rates of consumption, the United States’ natural gas supply would be exhausted in approximately five years. Answer choice C is incorrect because natural gas provides for roughly 25 percent of America’s energy needs, which has nothing to do with the decrease in supply. Answer choice D is incorrect because the passage states that it is extremely difficult to obtain natural gas from other countries, not from within the US.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

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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 nation’s energy needs, and even at this level there is much concern over whether supplies will run out. Answer choice H may appear to be correct, but the passage merely states that countries such as Japan and China will also be searching for fuel sources, including liquid natural gas, outside of their own countries in the future.

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One of the main ideas of the passage is that:

• energy sources are dwindling around the world.

• natural gas supplies 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, which makes answer choice D the best selection. Answer choice A may appear to be correct; however, the passage focuses on the supply and use of liquid natural gas around the world. The passage does not discuss the supply and use of any other energy sources. Answer choice B was mentioned briefly in the passage, but is not a main idea. Answer choice C is beyond the scope of the passage.

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 It can be inferred from the second paragraph 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 stated 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 import liquid natural gas, it is necessary for the nation to do so in order to relieve and/or avoid shortages. Answer choice H may appear to be correct; however, the author states that even though transportation costs have been substantially decreased due to new technology, importing liquid natural gas “is still often uneconomical.” Answer choices G and J are beyond the scope of the passage.

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

• Japan

• China

• Canada

• Saudi Arabia

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.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

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According to the third paragraph, misconceptions exist about liquid natural gas regarding: 

I. its 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 passage states “One of the largest misconceptions 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 prices making liquid natural gas uneconomical, the only misconception mentioned is the fact that liquid natural gas is an abundant

source of natural gas. The other answer choices are not supported by the passage.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

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As it is used in line 7, the word phenomenal most nearly means:

• annual

• efficient

• extraordinary

• inconsequential

Answer explanation

The context surrounding the word phenomenal discusses the surprisingly large growth expected in natural gas demand and the huge impact that such growth will have on depletion of the resource. This context clearly indicates that the demand is increasing at “phenomenal,” or extraordinary, rates. The other answer choices are not supported by the context of the passage.

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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

Answer choice G is the only reason that America is choosing liquid natural gas; consumers are demanding it so America must provide it. Answer choices F and H express current problems with choosing liquid natural gas; transportation and processing are both very costly relative to other fuel sources. Answer choice J is a potential problem. Liquid natural gas is inherently expensive due to its transportation and processing costs. If natural gas prices are low, the market for liquid natural gas will plummet, making liquid natural gas an uneconomical choice for consumers.

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 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 stated 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. Answer choice C may appear to be correct; however, the passage simply states that Canada is the largest liquid natural gas supplier for the United States alone. The passage does not compare Canada’s liquid natural gas exports to those of any other country; therefore, we do not know whether or not Canada is the world’s largest exporter. Likewise, the other answer choices are not supported by the passage.

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As it is used in line 35, the word vessel most nearly means:

• process

• 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. Answer choice J, “container,” is the most logical choice.

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