Ninth Meeting

   

    A geyser is the result of underground water under the combined conditions of high temperatures and increased pressure beneath the surface of the Earth. Since temperature rises about 1°F for every sixty feet under the Earth surface, and pressure increases with depth, water that seeps down in cracks and fissures until it reaches very hot rocks in the Earth’s interior becomes heated to a temperature of approximately 290°F.

            Water under pressure can remain liquid at temperatures above its normal boiling point, but in a geyser, the weight of the water nearer the surface exerts so much pressure on the deeper water that the water at the bottom of the geyser reaches much higher temperatures than does the water at the top of the geyser. As the deep water becomes hotter, and consequently lighter, it suddenly rises to the surface and shoots out of the surface in the form of steam and hot water. In turn, the explosion agitates all the water in the geyser reservoir, creating further explosions. Immediately afterward, the water again flows into the underground reservoir, heating begins, and the process repeats itself.  

In order to function, then, a geyser must have a source of heat, a reservoir where water can be stored until the temperature rises to an unstable point, an opening through which the hot water and steam can escape, and underground channels for resupplying water after an eruption.

Favorable conditions for geyser exist in regions of geologically recent volcanic activity, especially in areas of more than average precipitation. For the most part, geysers are located in three regions of the world: New Zealand, Iceland, and the Yellowstone National Park area of the United States. The  most famous geyser in the world is Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park. Old Faithful erupts every hour, rising to a height of 125 to 170 feet and expelling more than ten thousand gallons during each eruption. Old Faithful earned its name because, unlike most geysers, it has never failed to erupt on schedule even once in eighty years of observation.

1.Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?

A. The Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park

B. The nature of geysers

C. The ratio of temperature to pressure in  underground water

D. Regions of geologically recent volcanic activity

2.In order for a geyser to erupt

A. hot rocks must rise to the surface of the Earth

B. water must flow underground

C. it must be a warm day

D. the earth must not be rugged or broken

3.The word it in paragraph 1 refers to

A. Water          

B. Depth         

C.  pressure

D.  Surface

4.As depth increases

A. pressure increases but temperature does not

B. temperature increases but pressure does not  

C. both pressure and temperature increase

D. neither pressure nor temperature increases

5.Why does the author mention and Ice in?

A. To compare areas of high volcanic activity

B. To describe the Yellowstone National Park

C. To provide examples of areas where geysers are  located

D. To name the two regions where all geysers are found

6.Hoe often does Old Faithful erupt?

A.  Every 10 minutes               

B.  Every 60 minutes   

C.  Every 125 minutes

D.  Every 170 minutes

7.The word expelling in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to

A. Heating                              

B. Discharging           

C. supplying

D. Wasting

8.What does the author mean by the statement : Old Faithful earned its name because, unlike most     geysers, it has never failed to erupt on schedule even once in eighty years of observation?

A. Old faithful always erupts on schedule

B. Old Faithful is usually predictable

C. Old Faithful erupts predictably like other geysers

D. Old Faithful received its name because it has been observed for many years

9.According to the passage, what is required for a geyser to function?

A.         A source of heat, a place for water to collect, an opening, and underground channels

B.         An active volcano nearby and a water reservoir   

C.         Channels in the Earth and heavy rainfall

D.        Volcanic activity, underground channels, and steam

PROBLEMS WITH POINT OF VIEW

Point of view means maintaining the correct sequence of verb tenses and time phrases in a sentence.

Problem 1

Point of View – Verbs

In all patterns, maintain a point of view, either present or past.

Avoid changing from present to past tense, or from past to present tense in the same sentence.

Examples

Incorrect:  He was among the few who want to continue working on the project.

Correct  :  He is among the few who want to continue working on the project.

                                                or

He was among the few who wanted to continue working on the project.

Incorrect:  It is an accepted custom for a man to open the door when he accompanied a woman.

Correct  :  It is an accepted custom for a man to open the door when he accompanies a woman.

or

             It was an accepted custom for a man to open the door when he accompanied a woman.

Incorrect:  She closed the door and hurries away to class.

Correct  :  She closes the door and hurries away to class.

or

            She closed the door and hurried away to class.

Incorrect:  We receive several applications a day and with them had been copies of transcripts and    degrees.

Correct  :  We receive several applications a day and with them are copies of transcripts and   degrees.

or

     We received several applications a day and with them were copies of transcripts and  degrees.

Incorrect:  Mr. Davis tried to finish his research, but he found only part of the information that he   needs.

Correct  :  Mr. Davis tries to finish his research, but he finds only part of the information that he needs.

or

     Mr. Davis tried to finish his research, but he found only part of the information that he  needed.

Problem 2

Point of View – Reported Speech

Some verbs are used to report past events.

Remember that the following verbs are used as the first part verb in the pattern below:

Asked; believed; forgot; knew; remembered; reported; said; thought; told

 S         V (past)            that         S       V (past)                      

He           said               that        he          was   sorry.

Avoid using a present verb after that in the pattern

Note: When the reported sentence deal with a general truth, the a present verb may be used after that in the pattern. For example, in the early 1500s, some sailors believed that the world is round. If current knowledge supersedes a formerly accepted truth, than the past verb is retained. For example, in the early 1500s, many sailors believed that the world was flat.

Examples

Incorrect:  I thought that he is coming today.

Correct  :  I thought that he was coming today.

Incorrect:  A research scientist at State University reported that he finds a blood test to diagnose     cancer

Correct  :  A research scientist at State University reported that he found a blood test to diagnose  cancer

Incorrect:  When she told us that everything is ready, we went into the dining room and seated  ourselves

Correct  :  When she told us that everything was ready, we went into the dining room and seated  ourselves

Incorrect:  They asked him if he will help us.

Correct  :  They asked him if he would help us.

Incorrect:  Professor Baker told his class that there 10,000 species of ferns.

Correct  :  Professor Baker told his class that there are 10,000 species of ferns. 

 (A general truth by current scientific standards.)

Problem 3

Point of View – Verbs and Adverbs

In all patterns, avoid using past adverbs with verbs in the present tense.

Examples :

Incorrect:  Between one thing and another, Charles does not finish typing his paper last night.

Correct  :  Between one thing and another, Charles did not finish typing his paper last night.

Incorrect:  In 1990, according to statistics from the Bureau of  Census, the population of the United  States is 250,000,000.

Correct  :  In 1990, according to statistics from the Bureau of  Census, the population of the United  States was 250,000,000.

Incorrect:  We do not receive mail yesterday because it was a holiday.

Correct  :  We did not receive mail yesterday because it was a holiday.

Incorrect:  Mary does not finish her homework in time to go with us to the football game yesterday afternoon.

Correct  :  Mary did not finish her homework in time to go with us to the football game yesterday afternoon.

Incorrect:  Although there are only two hundred foreign students studying at State University in 1990, there are more than five hundred now.

Correct  :  Although there were only two hundred foreign students studying at State University   in 1990, there are more than five hundred now.

Problem 4

Point of View – Activities of the Dead

In all patterns, avoid using present verbs to refer to activities of the dead.

Examples

Incorrect:  Just before he died, my friend who writes poetry published his first book.

Correct  :  Just before he died, my friend who wrote poetry published his first book.

Incorrect:  Professor Ayers was so punctual that until the day he died, he always arrives in class just as the bell ring.

Correct  :  Professor Ayers was so punctual that until the day he died, he always arrived in class just  as the bell rang.

Incorrect:  Before he died, the man who lives across the street used to help me with my English.

Correct  :  Before he died, the man who lived across the street used to help me with my English.

Incorrect:  A short time before he died, the old man has written a will, leaving his entire estate to his brother.

Correct  :  A short time before he died, the old man had written a will, leaving his entire estate to his brother

Incorrect:  Until the day she died, the lady who lives next door visited me every evening.

Correct  :  Until the day she died, the lady who lived next door visited me every evening.