Read the article about scientific researches about volcanoes and complete the task below. Collecting Information about Volcanoes Is Difficult For most volcanoes, we don’t know enough. The last time volcano Agung erupted was in 1963. That was before we had all the tools we have today to measure it. Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted in 1991. Before that, it had not erupted for 500 years. In 1991, two months of changes came before the eruption. Ash burst from the top. The volcano's shape changed. Earthquakes were bigger. They also happened more often. We know more about Mount St. Helens volcano in the U.S. Scientists have watched it for many years. They can now make good predictions about it. They know that if there are small earthquakes happening it will erupt in two weeks. We don’t know exactly what Agung volcano did before its 1963 eruption. These events could mean an eruption is coming in two weeks. Or, it could be months or even years. Correct Predictions Are Important Today, we use satellites to study volcanoes. Satellites give scientists a good look at the volcano from space. They can’t give smaller details, though. Satellites usually only pass over a given volcano once every week or two. The other tools we use cost a lot of money. We cannot have them everywhere. Predicting volcanic eruptions correctly is very important. If it erupts before people leave, they could die. They need to know before it happens. What if they leave and the volcano doesn’t erupt? That can be a different problem. This happened in Mammoth Mountain, California, in 1984. People stopped visiting. It cost money for everyone to leave. The community lost millions of dollars. The eruption never happened. To predict eruptions correctly, we need to know about each volcano. Without that, we have to compare with other volcanoes. Nothing beats really getting to know each volcano, though. (Tracy K.P. Gregg is a professor of geology at the State University of New York at Buffalo.)
Task. Read and choose the best answer A, B, C or D.
1. What do scientists know about Mount St. Helens volcano?
A) Small earthquakes will cause eruption.
B) The shape of the volcano is changed.
C) The last earthquakes were bigger.
D) The last eruption was 500 years ago.
2. Which word could replace the word "predictions" WITHOUT changing the meaning of the first sentence?
“They can now make good predictions about it. They know that if there are small earthquakes happening it will erupt in two weeks.”
A) answers
B) guesses
C) tips
D) truths
3. Which question is answered in these sentences?
Predicting volcanic eruptions correctly is very important. If it erupts before people leave, they could die. They need to know before it happens.
A) How can people predict volcanoes’ eruption?
B) What can happen if volcanoes erupt earlier than predicted?
C) What can happen if volcanoes do not erupt at all?
D) Where are the most dangerous volcanoes located?
Task. Read the text and give a short answer.
4. What technology is used by scientist today to study volcanoes?
5. Why do NOT scientists use other kinds of technologies to study volcanoes?
6. Why is scientific prediction important for people?
Total [6]
WRITING Task 1.
Choose ONE topic and write an article.
Topic 1. Your school magazine is organising a competition for best articles among school learners. You have to write an article about latest scientific news. Your article should include the following information:
- what exactly has happened;
- the place where it occurred;
- its potential effects/results.
Topic 2. Your school magazine is organising a competition for best articles among school learners. You have to write an article about a deadly natural disaster. Your article should include the following information:
- the type of a natural disaster and its description;
- the place where it occurred;
- the description of its consequences.

Maksander    2   28.10.2020 07:26    58