Reading comprehension

The most familiar speleothems ( from the greek word spelaion for cave and thema for deposit ), the decorative dripstone features found in caves, are stalactites and stalagmites. stalactites hang downward from the ceiling of the cave and are formed as drop after drop of water slowly trickles through cracks in the cave roof. Stalagmites grow upward from the floor of the cave generally as a result of water dripping from an overhead stalactite. A column forms when a stalactite and a stalagmite grow until they join A” curtain” or” drapery “ begins to form on an inclined ceiling when drops of water trickle along a slope natural openings on the surface that lead to caves are called sinkholes or swallow holes. streams sometimes disappear down these holes and flow through the cavern. Rivers may flow from one mountain to another through a series of caves. Some caverns have sinkholes in their floors. Water often builds up a rim of dripstone around the edge of the hole. Dripping water often contains dissolved minerals as well as acid. These minerals too will be deposited and they may give rich coloring to the deposits. If minerals in the water change, layers of different colors may be formed. 1947 1. Stalagmites are formed by a. Drops of water which enter through cracks in the ceiling. b. Underground rivers which flow through the cave. c. Water dripping from an overhead stalactite d. Water which trickles down a slope Answer : c 2. Sinkholes are a. The decorative dripstone features found in caves b. Natural openings on the surface that lead to caves c. Colorful layers of mineral deposits d. None of the above Answer : b 3. Which speleothem grows upward from the floor ? a. Stalagmites b. Stalactites c. Sinkholes d. Curtains Answer : c 4. An “inclined ceiling” is one which a. Is straight b. Is crooked c. Is slanted d. Is wet Answer : a 5. Which of the following are NOT caused by dripping water ? a. Stalagmites b. Stalactites c. Slopes d. Curtains Answer : d 6. The information in the passage is most relevant to which field of study ? a. Geography b. Archaeology c. Physics d. Geology Answer : c 7. “curtains” can also be called a. Columns b. Draperies c. Stalagmites d. Rims Answer : c 8. The word speeleothem comes frome which language ? a. Latin b. French c. Greek d. English Answer : c 9. Stalagmites are formed by a. Drops of water which enter the cave through cracks in the ceiling b. Underground rivers which flow through the cave c. Water which seeps through the cave floor d. Water which trickles down a slope Answer : c 10. Which speleothem hangs from the ceiling of a cave ? a. Stalagmites b. Stalactites c. Columns d. Rimstones Answer : b