READING

COMPREHENSION

Tips for Reading comprehension

1. Read the questions first.
2. Read the paragraph and make
mental summary.
3. Read editorials of ET/Economist to
gain
deeper
and
faster
understanding.

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Io and Europa, the inner two of Jupiters four

largest moons, are about the size of Earths moon
and are composed mostly or entirely of rock and
metal. Ganymede and Callisto are larger and
roughly half ice. Thus, these four moons are
somewhat analogous to the planets of the solar
system, in which the rock- and metal-rich inner
planets are distinct from the much larger gas- and
ice-rich outer planets. Jupiters moons are, however,
more systematic: many of their properties vary
continuously with distance from Jupiter. For
example, Io is ice-free, Europa has a surface shell of
ice, and while Ganymede and Callisto are both icerich, outermost Callisto has more.
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This compositional gradient has geological parallels. Io

is extremely geologically active, Europa seems to be
active on a more modest scale, and Ganymede has
undergone bouts of activity in its geological past. Only
Callisto reveals no geological activity. In similar fashion,
Callistos surface is very heavily cratered from the
impact of comets and asteroids; Ganymede, like Earths
moon, is heavily cratered in parts; Europa is very lightly
cratered; and no craters have been detected on Io, even
though Jupiters gravity attracts comets and asteroids
passing near it, substantially increasing the
bombardment rate of the inner moons compared to that
of the outer ones. But because of Ios high degree of
geological activity, its surface undergoes more-or-less
continuous volcanic resurfacing.
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Questions
1. According to the passage, the difference in
the amount of cratering on Callistos and Ios
respective surfaces can probably be explained
by the difference between these two moons
with respect to which of the following factors?
(A) Size
(B) Ice content
(C) The rate of bombardment by comets and
asteroids
(D) The influence of Jupiters other moons
(E) The level of geological activity
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2.Which of the following best describes the purpose of

the second paragraph of the passage?
(A) To provide further evidence of the systematic
variation in the characteristics of Jupiters four largest
moons
(B) To present a comprehensive theory to explain the
systematic variation in the characteristics of Jupiters
four largest moons
(C) To explain the significance of the systematic variation
in the characteristics of Jupiters four largest moons
(D) To introduce facts that contradict conventional
assumptions about Jupiters four largest moons
(E) To contrast the characteristics of Jupiters four largest
moons with the characteristics of the
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3.The authors reference to Jupiters gravity in line

25 serves primarily to
(A) indicate why the absence of craters on Ios
surface is surprising
(B) explain the presence of craters on the surface
of Jupiters four largest moons
(C) provide an explanation for the lack of geological
activity on Callisto
(D) contrast Jupiters characteristics with the
characteristics of its four largest moons
(E) illustrate the similarity between Jupiters four
largest moons and the planets of the solar system
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