Barbed wire, first patented in the United States in 1867, played an important part in the development of American farming,

as it enabled the settlers to make effective fencing to enclose their land and keep cattle away from their crops. This had a considerable effect on cattle ranching, since the herds no longer had unrestricted use of (5) the plans for grazing, and the fencing led to conflict between the farmers and the cattle ranchers.

Before barbed wire came into general use, fencing was often made from serrated wire, which was unsatisfactory because it broke easily when under strain, and could snap in cold weather due to contraction. The first practical machine for producing (10) end barbed wire was invented in 1874 by an Illinois farmer, and between then and the

of the century about 400 types of barbed wire were devised, of which only about a dozen were ever put to practical use.

Modern barbed wire is made from mild steel high-tensile steel, or aluminum. Mild steel and aluminum barbed wire have two strands twisted together to form a cable (15) which is stronger than single-strand wire and less affected by temperature changes.

Single-strand wire, round or oval, is made from high-tensile steel with the barbs crimped or welded on . The steel wires used are galvanized coated with zinc to make them rustproof. The two wires that make up the line wire or cable are fed separately into a machine at one end. They leave it at the other end twisted-together and barbed. (20) by The wire to make the barbs is fed into the machine from the sides and cut to length

knives that cut diagonally through the wire to produce a sharp point. This process continues automatically, and the finished barbed wire is wound onto reels, usually made of wire in lengths of 400 meters or in weights of up to 50 kilograms.

A variation of barbed wire is also used for military purposes. It is formed into long (25) coils or entanglements called concertina wire.

Reading Comprehension 88
Congratulations - you have completed Reading Comprehension 88. You scored 0 out of 9. Your performance has been rated as Need more practice! Your answers are highlighted below. Question 1 Wrong What is the main topic of the passage? Cattle ranching in the United States. Industrial uses of wire A controversy over land use. A type of fencing Question 2 Wrong The word "unrestricted" in line 4 is closest in meaning to considerable unsatisfactory difficult unlimited Question 3 Wrong The word "snap" in line 9 could best be replaced by which of the following? freeze click loosen break Question 4 Wrong What is the benefit of using two-stranded barbed wire? Increased strength More rapid attachment of barbs Improved rust-resistance Easier installation. Question 5 Wrong

According to the author, the steel wires used to make barbed wire are specially processed to prevent contraction in cold weather straighten them. make them more flexible protect them against rust Question 6 Wrong The word "fed" in line 20 is closest in meaning to put eaten bitten nourished Question 7 Wrong The knives referred to in line 21 are used to cut the wire that becomes barbs separate double-stranded wire twist the wire prevent the reel from advancing too rapidly Question 8 Wrong What is the author's purpose in the third paragraph? To suggest several different uses of the wire. To describe how the wire is made To explain the importance of the wire. To outline the difficulty of making the wire Question 9 Wrong According to the passage, concertina wire is used for livestock management military purposes prison enclosures international communications Incoming search terms: Sumber: http://www.belajarbahasainggrisyuk.com/soal-latihan-dan-jawaban-readingcomprehension-88/#ixzz2PfqIbTEH Birds that feed in flocks commonly retire together into roosts. The reasons for roosting communally are not always obvious, but there are some likely benefits. In winter especially, it is important for birds to keep warm at night and conserve precious food reserves. One way to do this is to find a sheltered roost. Solitary roosters shelter in

(5)

dense vegetation or enter a cavity horned larks dig holes in the ground and

ptarmigan burrow into snow banks but the effect of sheltering is magnified by several birds huddling together in the roosts, as wrens, swifts, brown creepers, bluebirds, and anis do. Body contact reduces the surface area exposed to the cold air, so the birds keep each other warm. Two kinglets huddling together were found to (10) reduce their heat losses by a quarter and three together saved a third of their heat.

The second possible benefit of communal roosts is that they act as information centers. During the day, parties of birds will have spread out to forage over a very large area. When they return in the evening some will have fed well, but others may have found little to eat. Some investigators have observed that when the birds set out (15) to again next morning, those birds that did not feed well on the previous day appear

follow those that did. The behavior of common and lesser kestrels may illustrate different feeding behaviors of similar birds with different roosting habits. The common kestrel hunts vertebrate animals in a small, familiar hunting ground, whereas the very similar lesser kestrel feeds on insects over a large area. The common kestrel roosts and (20) can hunts alone, but the lesser kestrel roosts and hunts in flocks, possibly so one bird

learn from others where to find insect swarms.

Finally, there is safety in numbers at communal roosts since there will always be a few birds awake at any given moment to give the alarm. But this increased protection is partially counteracted by the fact that mass roosts attract predators and are especially

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vulnerable if they are on the ground. Even those in trees can be attacked by birds

prey. The birds on the edge are at greatest risk since predators find it easier to catch small birds perching at the margins of the roost.

Reading Comprehension 83
Question 1 What does the passage mainly discuss? Why some species of birds nest together. Why birds need to establish territory. How birds maintain body heat in the winter. How birds find and store food. Question 2 The word "conserve" in line 3 is closest in meaning to retain locate share watch Question 3 Ptarmigan keep warm in the winter by huddling together on the ground with other birds. Digging tunnels into the snow. Building nests in trees. Burrowing into dense patches of vegetation Question 4 The word "magnified" in line 6 is closest in meaning to combined intensified caused modified Question 5 The author mentions kinglets in line 9 as an example of birds that Nest together for warmth Usually feed and nest in pairs. protect themselves by nesting in holes. Nest with other species of birds Question 6 The word "forage" in line 12 is closest in meaning to

feed rest assemble fly Question 7 Which of the following statements about lesser and common kestrels is true? The common kestrel nests in larger flocks than does the lesser kestrel. The lesser kestrel feeds sociably but the common kestrel does not. The common kestrel nests in trees, the lesser kestrel nests on the ground. The lesser kestrel and the common kestrel have similar diets. Question 8 The word "counteracted" in line 24 is closest in meaning to shielded suggested negated measured Question 9 Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as an advantage derived by birds that huddle together while sleeping? Some birds in the flock function as information centers for others who are looking for food. Several members of the flock care for the young. Staying together provides a greater amount of heat for the whole flock. Some members of the flock warm others of impending dangers. Question 10 Which of the following is a disadvantage of communal roosts that is mentioned in the passage? Some birds in the group will attack the others. Groups are more attractive to predators than individual birds. Food supplies are quickly depleted Diseases easily spread among the birds. Question 11 The word "they" in line 25 refers to a few birds trees predators mass roosts There are 11 questions to complete. Sumber: http://www.belajarbahasainggrisyuk.com/soal-latihan-dan-jawaban-readingcomprehension-83/#ixzz2Pfu5dLcn