Reading Comprehension ACID RAIN When the pollutants reach the atmosphere, they combine with existing water

vapour, oxygen, and sunlight. The reaction creates a diluted soup of highly dangerous sulphuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids. Acid rain affects everything it falls on. The water in lakes and rivers turns acidic. Acid rain always changes the sol nutrients like potassium, calcium and magnesium from the upper layer that help trees grow. Acid rain kills large stretches of forests leaving behind leafless skeletons of tree. Acid rain irritates the sensitive tissues of our eyes and lungs, particularly in children. Some of the most acidic rainfalls occur in the Scandinavian countries, Japan, Central Europe and Eastern North America. While Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary are most polluted countries, India is not far behind. Look at the discoloured marble of the Taj Mahal. So, acid rain is something we have created. It is for us to find the solution to it. Answer the following Questions based on the above Reading Comprehension: 1. What is acid rain? 2. What does acid rain do? 3. How does acid rain affect human beings? 4. What can we do to prevent this? 5. Name the countries where most acidic rains occur? 6. Name three most polluted countries in the world?

English Reading Comprehension Test : Answers

Answers to the above Questions: 1. When the pollutants reach the atmosphere, they combine with existing water vapour, oxygen and sunlight. The reaction creates a diluted soup of highly dangerous acids. When this soup falls on earth, it is called acid rain. 2. Acid rain spoils the water in the lakes, changes the nutrient content of the soil and destroys trees and plants. It destroys everything it falls on. 3. It irritates the sensitive tissues of our eyes and lungs, particularly in children. 4. We should control and minimize the air pollution which causes acid rains. 5. Some of the most acidic rainfalls occur in the Scandinavian countries, Japan, Central Europe and Eastern North America. 6. Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungry are three most polluted countries in the world.

Pollution has been defined as the addition of any substance or form of energy to the environment at a rate faster than the environment can accommodate its dispersion, breakdown, recycling or storage in some harmless form. In simpler terms, pollution means the poisoning of the environment by man. Pollution has accompanied mankind every since groups of people settled down in one place for a long time. It was not a serious problem during primitive times when there was more than ample space available for each individual or group. As the human population boomed, pollution became a major problem and has remained as one every since. Cities of ancient times were often unhealthy places, fouled by human wastes and debris. Such unsanitary conditions favored the outbreak of diseases that killed or maimed many people living in those times. The rapid advancement of technology and industrialization today is something that man can be proud of. However, it has brought along with it many undesirable results, one of which is the pollution of our environment. Humanity today is threatened by the dangers of air, water, land and noise pollution. The air that we breathe is heavily polluted with toxic gases, chemicals and dust. These consist of the discharge from industrial factories and motor vehicles. The emission of tetraethyl lead and carbon monoxide from exhaust fumes is a major cause for concern too. Outdoor burning of trash and forest fires have also contributed to air pollution. They cause the smarting of the eyes, bouts and coughing and respiratory problems. Owing to the burning of fossil fuels, the level of carbon monoxide in the air is more than desirable. Too high a level of carbon dioxide will cause the Earth's temperature to rise. The heat will melt the polar caps, thus raising the sea level and causing massive floods around the world. the burning of fuels also produces gases which form acid rain. Acid rain has a damaging effect on water, forest and soil, and is harmful to our health. Man has reached the moon and invented supersonic crafts that can travel faster than the speed of sound. However, these inventions emit pollutants which contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. This depletion of ozone, which absorbs the harmful rays of the sun and prevents them from reaching the Earth, will have drastic effects on all living things. It will lead to a rise in the number of people suffering from skin cancer. Water pollution has become widespread too. Toxic waste has found its way into our lakes, streams, rivers and oceans. This waste is released by factories and sea-going vessels. Spillage of oil by tankers and during the recent Gulf War has caused irreparable damage to marine life. Thousands of sea animals have died or were poisoned by the pollutants in their natural habitat. As such, it is dangerous for humans to consume sea food caught in polluted waters. Dumping of used cars, cans, bottles, plastic items and all other kinds of waste material is an eyesore. Much of the refuse is not biodegradable and this interferes with the natural breakdown process of converting substances from a harmful form to a non harmful one. As such, it becomes a hazard to one's health. We are often faced with noises from construction sites, jet planes and traffic jam. we may be unaware of it but noise pollution has been attributed to causing a loss of hearing, mental disturbances and poor performance at work.

To control environmental pollution, substances which are hazardous and can destroy life must not be allowed to escape into the environment. this calls for united decision-making among world leaders and a public awareness of the dangers of pollution. From paragraph 1 : 1. (a) In your own words, explain what pollution is. (b) Explain how recycling can help prevent pollution. From paragraph 2 : 2. (a) Why was pollution not a problem during primitive times ? (b) Explain the meaning of the word 'maimed'. From paragraph 3 : 3. What is the adverse effect brought about by technological and industrial progress ? From paragraph 4 : 4. (a) What causes air pollution ? (b) Briefly explain what you understand by the term 'acid rain'. (c) What do you think a person feels when there is 'smarting of the eyes' ? (d) How will a rise in the Earth's temperature endanger life ? From paragraph 5 : 5. Why is the ozone layer important ? From paragraph 6 : 6. (a) What is the effect of the spillage of oil during the Gulf War ? (b) What do you understand by the term 'irreparable damage' ? From paragraph 7 : 7. (a) What causes land pollution ? (b) Which word in this paragraph means 'danger' ? From paragraph 8 : 8. (a) What are the effects of noise pollution ? (b) Explain the meaning of the word 'attributed'. From paragraph 9 : 9. (a) How can we control environmental pollution ? (b) Give another word that has the same meaning as 'united'.

Answers 1. (a) Pollution is the addition of any substance or energy to the environment at a rate faster than the environment can cope with changing it to a harmless form. (b) In recycling, we get natural products back from used material by treating it. For example, when we recycle old newspaper, we treat the used material so that it can be used again. This prevents the presence of the used product from polluting the environment. 2. (a) It was not a problem then because there was more than ample space for everyone. (b) It means 'wounded or injured so that part of the body cannot be used'. 3. They cause pollution. 4. (a) Air pollution is caused by toxic gases, chemical and dust emitted by industrial factories, motor vehicles, burning of trash outdoors and forest fires. (b) It is rainwater which is made acidic when chemical substances, especially from factories, dissolve in it. (c) He feels a sharp, stinging pain in his eyes. (d) A rise in the Earth's temperature will melt the polar caps, thus raising the sea level and causing massive floods around the world. 5. The ozone layer is important because it absorbs the harmful rays of the sun and prevents them from reaching the Earth. 6. (a) This spillage has caused irreparable damage to marine life by killing or poisoning thousands of sea animals. It has also made them unsafe for human consumption. (b) It means 'injury that cannot be put right, restored or repaired'. 7. (a) Land pollution is caused when man dumps used cars, cans, bottles, plastic items and other kinds of waste material on land. (b) The word is 'hazard'. 8. (a) Noise pollution can cause a loss of hearing, mental disturbance and poor performance at work. (b) It means 'regard something as caused by'. 9. (a) We can do so by not allowing substances that are hazardous and can destroy life to escape into our environment. (b) The word is 'collective' or 'joint'.