Stanford University Looking Down by Going Up Questions
Read the passage. Then answer the questions. Looking Down by Going Up by Amanda BakerUsing radio waves to peer through thick layers of ice 1 Antarctica may seem like nothing but ice, but those glaciers cover mountains as tall as the Rockies and a lake almost as big as the state of Connecticut. And the ice sheet itself holds enough water to raise sea level by an estimated 190 feet (58 m) around the world. Radio glaciologists, like Dustin Schroeder of Stanford University, use radar to study the ice and get a glimpse of the hidden landscape below. But they don’t do it by digging down through the ice. They do it by flying high above. 2 Getting a glimpse beneath the icy surface is about far more than exploration. What glacial ice is made of, how cold or warm it is, and whether it is sitting on top of water or bedrock can all dramatically affect how the ice will behave. And how ice behaves can be the difference between some minor melting and a catastrophic collapse.3 It may be hard to picture, but Antarctica’s massive ice sheets flow over Earth’s surface. Some glaciers move easily over fine sediment and liquid water. Other glaciers move slowly over surfaces such as hard bedrock or steep cliffs. Ice sheets with thick edges flow more quickly than thinner ones. Even the structure of the ice crystals at the tiniest scales can change how massive bodies of ice will flow. So getting measurements of how thick an ice sheet is and the kind of material it's sitting on is important for figuring out how quickly it might move or change.4 Just as important as how a particular ice sheet moves is how it melts. Every year, growth and melting occur with the seasons. When climate change causes additional melting, it can be too extreme to gain back. Ice shelves, with warm ocean water touching their bases, can melt particularly quickly. And not all melting happens at the surface or the base. Some water ends up stored in pores within the layers of ice itself. Getting an idea of when and how an ice sheet might melt means getting a look inside. 5 Many of the traditional tools we use for mapping are designed for studying features at the surface—like a detailed picture of the frosting decorations on a cake. But how do you get a look inside? Scientists can't just take a mile-thick slice of a glacier, so they depend on tools like radar. Radar technology measures the time it takes for a signal to reach a surface and bounce back to the sensor. It's similar to timing an echo. Scientists use this timing to calculate distance.6 Radio glaciologists send bursts of radio waves that travel at the speed of light. The waves can pass through solid objects like rock and ice before they bounce back. The process is so fast that the device sending the signal and the antenna receiving it can be part of the same instrument. The whole system can even take measurements from a plane flying over the landscape. The result—a radargram—provides a view beneath the surface in the path of the plane. According to Schroeder, the radar reflections pick up tiny changes in density or materials in the layers of ice and provide a profile of the continental bedrock below. The radar can't look through water because the reflection of the signal is too strong. But it is a valuable tool for seeing if liquid water is present, even in tiny amounts.7 Schroeder gets excited about using radar to study ice not just because of what he gets to study, but also because he gets to be a part of developing the tools to study it. Whereas many other areas of science have been around for centuries, radio glaciology feels young by comparison. Researchers are still figuring out exactly which questions to ask, so the people designing instruments and the people posing the questions have to work together very closely. Sometimes, they are even the same people. Because of his passion for scientific instruments, Schroeder thinks this crossover between science and engineering is an exciting place to be. 8 Unlike geologists who might hike or drive over the surface, radio glaciologists depend on pilots and airplanes. They have to work as a team and create sophisticated flight plans before they ever leave the ground, so they can't easily change their routes. They spend months studying maps, coordinating with other research teams, and deciding the best possible path to fly for the data they want to collect. They face harsh weather conditions and limited time, so they put a lot of effort into making the most of every minute in the air. That might mean having back-up plans for bad weather, installing replacement parts mid-flight, or even coming up with unexpected repairs in the moment. But most of the time it means preparing in advance to make the hours in the air as uneventful as possible.from "Looking Down by Going Up," by Amanda Baker, from Muse, January 2019. Copyright ©2019 by Carus Publishing Company d/b/a Cricket Media.
Which phrase best supports the meaning of bedrock as it is used in paragraph 2?"...Earth's surface..." (paragraph 3)"...Earth's surface..." (paragraph 3)"...move easily over fine sediment..." (paragraph 3)"...move easily over fine sediment..." (paragraph 3)"...liquid water." (paragraph 3)"...liquid water." (paragraph 3)"...steep cliffs." (paragraph 3)Which detail from the passage best explains the work of a radio glaciologist?"...measures the time it takes for a signal to reach a surface and bounce back..." (paragraph 5)"...measures the time it takes for a signal to reach a surface and bounce back..." (paragraph 5)"...take measurements from a plane flying over..." (paragraph 6)"...take measurements from a plane flying over..." (paragraph 6)"...the people designing instruments and the people posing the questions have to work together..." (paragraph 7)"...the people designing instruments and the people posing the questions have to work together..." (paragraph 7)"...work as a team and create sophisticated flight plans before they ever leave the ground..." (paragraph 8)"...work as a team and create sophisticated flight plans before they ever leave the ground..." (paragraph 8)What is Harriet Beecher Stowe's purpose in the passage?to suggest honest lawyers make the best presidentsto suggest honest lawyers make the best presidentsto reveal the personal qualities that made Lincoln a great presidentto reveal the personal qualities that made Lincoln a great presidentto describe the events that led to Lincoln being elected presidentto describe the events that led to Lincoln being elected presidentto imply that as president Lincoln could see both sides of a conflictto imply that as president Lincoln could see both sides of a conflictMove four details into the correct order so that they create an objective summary of the passage.1 Response area 2 Response area 3 Response area 4 Response areaWhile in a government position, Lincoln demonstrated his understanding of fulfilling economic responsibilities. Lincoln returned to the government the correct amount of money owed to it There are many reasons everyone loved Lincoln, even before he became president.In the courtroom, he demonstrated the ability to explain the case so that jurors could make an informed decision. Lincoln was well informed about issues and tried always to be fair in his opinions about political issues.Even before he became president, Lincoln's actions helped to make him a very respected member of his community. Part AWhich two statements best describe central ideas the author develops in the passage?Often refusing to take payment for his work, Abraham Lincoln had a difficult time supporting himself as a lawyer.Often refusing to take payment for his work, Abraham Lincoln had a difficult time supporting himself as a lawyer.Abraham Lincoln had a keen intellect that led him to explore and carefully consider both sides of any issue. Abraham Lincoln had a keen intellect that led him to explore and carefully consider both sides of any issue. Abraham Lincoln struggled to support himself for several years after moving to Springfield.Abraham Lincoln struggled to support himself for several years after moving to Springfield.While Abraham Lincoln became a successful lawyer, he was careful about which cases he prosecuted.While Abraham Lincoln became a successful lawyer, he was careful about which cases he prosecuted.In part because of his honesty and integrity, Abraham Lincoln was held in high esteem by others.In part because of his honesty and integrity, Abraham Lincoln was held in high esteem by others.Abraham Lincoln subscribed to several newspapers because he enjoyed reading the views of others.Abraham Lincoln subscribed to several newspapers because he enjoyed reading the views of others.Question 2Part BWhich statement best describes how they are developed over the course of the passage?Stowe compares his experiences within specific settings and professions in the years before he becomes a politician.Stowe compares his experiences within specific settings and professions in the years before he becomes a politician.Stowe provides several anecdotes about his interactions with others in the years before he becomes president.Stowe provides several anecdotes about his interactions with others in the years before he becomes president.Stowe explores the impact of his life experiences on his behavior in the years before he becomes president.Stowe explores the impact of his life experiences on his behavior in the years before he becomes president.Stowe implicitly implies that Lincoln's attitudes to life influenced his decision to become a politician.Stowe implicitly implies that Lincoln's attitudes to life influenced his decision to become a politician.