The 1986 Nuclear Disaster at Chornobyl Question Set

Which quotation belongs in a summary of the passage?

• Atoms are so small that we cannot see them, even with the strongest microscopes. (paragraph 1)

• From 1922 to 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, also called the USSR or the Soviet Union, was the biggest country ever to exist. (paragraph 4)

• The town had schools, daycares, stores, and a swimming pool—everything the townspeople needed. (paragraph 5)

• At 1:23 a.m. on April 26, 1986, the nuclear reactor exploded, throwing the steel and concrete lid off the top. (paragraph 7)

Which quotation best supports the inference that exposure to nuclear power can be dangerous?

• “Humans have developed processes to use the nuclear energy from some elements, like uranium, to produce large amounts of electricity.” (paragraph 1)

• “They produce radioactive waste, which refers to waste products that release nuclear energy into the environment.” (paragraph 3)

• “At first, the Soviets did not think that the explosion and the released radioactive particles would cause problems for the people who lived in Pripyat and other nearby towns.” (paragraph 8)

• “The men who helped with that cleanup effort were allowed to work for ninety seconds, and then they had to leave the area completely.” (paragraph 9)

What is the author’s purpose for including paragraph 5?

• to show how popular the nuclear plant made Pripyat

• to emphasize the convenience of using nuclear energy

• to explain why many people were affected by the nuclear disaster

• to describe the disadvantages of working in a city with a power plant

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part A

How does the author show the danger of using nuclear power?

• by listing the effects radiation has on people’s health

• by explaining how nuclear power creates radioactive material

• by illustrating an event where radiation had negative consequences

• by describing a specific individual’s experience with radioactive material

Part B

Which quotation supports the answer to Part A?

• “Atoms are held together by energy that scientists call nuclear energy.” (paragraph 1)

• “The leaking of nuclear energy damages living organisms and can harm people, animals, and plants that come in contact with it.” (paragraph 3)

• “The men who helped with that cleanup effort were allowed to work for ninety seconds, and then they had to leave the area completely.” (paragraph 9)

• “One area, which came to be known as the ‘Red Forest,’ was exposed to so much radioactive material that it killed all the trees.” (paragraph 10)

Read the sentence from paragraph 11.

More than twenty years later, scientists decided that was not enough to prevent the escape

of radioactivity from the reactor, so a large steel structure was built around it.

How does the use of the word escape impact the meaning of the sentence?

• It emphasizes how hard scientists worked to correct their mistakes.

• It highlights how dangerous the effects of radioactivity are for animals.

• It emphasizes the difficulty of protecting people from radioactive material.

• It highlights the different precautions scientists take to use nuclear energy safely.

Read the sentence from paragraph 8.

The people thought they would be gone for only a few days, but they were never able to

return to their homes.

What can the reader infer about nuclear waste based on this sentence?

• The waste caused less damage than predicted.

• The waste destroyed the property around the plant.

• The waste scared the individuals away from returning.

• The waste made the environment unsafe for inhabitants.

Which quotation suggests that the author believes that using nuclear power is beneficial?

• “These processes occur in nuclear power plants, and the electricity is moved to homes and businesses using power lines.” (paragraph 1)

• “If those who work with nuclear power are cautious and operate their factory safely, it can be an excellent source of electricity.” (paragraph 2)

• “However, if safety precautions are not followed, nuclear power reactors can be dangerous.” (paragraph 3)

• “Because of this, safety is extremely important around nuclear reactors.” (paragraph 3)

Choose a word or phrase for each blank to correctly convey the central idea of the passage.

[CHOICE 1] can be dangerous to humans because they produce [CHOICE 2].

• Atoms

• Power plants

• Turbines

Choose a word or phrase for each blank to correctly convey the central idea of the passage.

[CHOICE 1] can be dangerous to humans because they produce [CHOICE 2].

• clouds of smoke

• radioactive waste

• inefficient electricity