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Practice Reading: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers ID: #33823 Damaging winds
Instructions ›
Read the text and answer the question by selecting all the correct responses. You will need to select more than one response.
Forces other than damaging winds are also at work inside tornadoes. Sometimes, as the writhing, twisting funnel passes over a house, the walls and ceiling burst apart as if a bomb had gone off inside. This explosion is caused by the low air pressure at the centre of a tornado. The pressure at the centre of a tornado is usually 13 pounds per square inch. However, inside the house, the air pressure is normal, about 15 pounds per square inch. The difference of 2 pounds per square inch between the inside and outside pressure may not seem like much. But suppose a tornado funnel passes over a small building that measures 20 by 10 by 10 feet. On each square inch of the building, there is2 pounds of pressure from the inside that is not balanced by air pressure outside the building. On the ceiling, that adds up to an unbalanced pressure of 57, 600 pounds. The pressure on the four walls adds up to 172,800 pounds. If windows are open in the building, some of the inside air will rush out through them. This will balance the pressure inside and outside the building. But if the windows are shut tightly, the enormous inside pressure may cause the building to burst. Unfortunately, heavy rain and hail often occur in thunderstorms that later produce tornadoes. So people frequently shut all windows to protect their property. This may cause far worse damage later. For the same reason, tornado cellars must have an air vent. Otherwise, the cellar door might be blown out when a tornado passes over it.

Which of the following statements can be supported by the information given in the passage?

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Result:

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Option 1: "The difference per square inch between the air pressure inside a building and the air pressure inside a tornado is of 2 pounds."

Explanation: The text clearly states that the pressure at the center of a tornado is 13 pounds per square inch, while the normal air pressure inside a building is about 15 pounds per square inch. This results in a difference of 2 pounds per square inch, directly supporting this option.

Option 2: "According to the passage, Tornadoes can destroy a building because the air pressure inside the tornado is less than the air pressure inside the building."

Explanation: The passage explains that the lower air pressure inside the tornado (13 pounds per square inch) compared to the normal air pressure inside the building (15 pounds per square inch) creates an unbalanced pressure that can lead to the destruction of the building. This directly supports the statement.

Option 3: "The pressure on a building during a tornado can be relieved by closing the cellar."

Explanation: This option is incorrect because the passage indicates that closing the cellar can actually lead to greater pressure buildup, potentially causing the cellar door to be blown out. The text does not support the idea that closing the cellar relieves pressure.

Option 4: "The passage talks about how tornadoes can be prevented."

Explanation: This option is incorrect as the passage does not discuss tornado prevention. Instead, it focuses on the effects of tornadoes on buildings and the consequences of air pressure differences, making this statement unsupported by the text.

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