Loading question...
You are in free guest mode. Timed Practice Revision List Attempt History Progress Tracking Create a free account to unlock these tools
Back to Questions
Prev Next
CELPIP Practice Reading: Reading for Information ID: #63108 Hard Permafrost thaw: ground ice and northern risk

Read the following passage.

A. Permafrost is ground that stays frozen for at least two consecutive years across much of Canada's North and some alpine zones. It can hold lenses and wedges of pure ice as well as frozen soil. When the surface thaws deeper than usual in warm summers, that ice melts and the ground can slump or form sinkholes. Buildings, roads, and pipelines built for stable frozen ground then crack or tilt. A careful description of permafrost thaw starts with what it is before listing exceptions. In Canadian settings, permafrost thaw shows up in both large cities and smaller communities.

B. Scientists drill boreholes and install temperature sensors to track how deep the thaw reaches each year. Satellite radar detects subtle ground motion over wide regions. Communities report new ponds, leaning trees - called drunken forests - and buckled boardwalks as early warning signs. Thaw also releases organic carbon that microbes can turn into greenhouse gases, feeding back into warming. When equipment or schedules fail, staff adjust routines so the public still gets clear guidance.

C. Engineers adapt with thermosyphons that pull heat out of the ground, adjustable foundations, and wider road embankments that insulate ice-rich soil. Some older structures must be relocated when repair costs soar. Planning now treats climate projections as design inputs, not optional extras. Insurance and public budgets strain when many assets fail in the same decade.

D. Indigenous knowledge of changing travel routes over ice and muskeg guides safety decisions for hunters and school trips. Northern research partnerships aim to share data rather than extract it without consent. International Arctic networks compare thaw rates across countries facing similar risks. Everyday life - from water lines to airstrips - depends on how fast societies adapt to softening ground. Future upgrades will likely focus on clearer communication as much as new hardware.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

Decide which paragraph, A to D, has the information given in each statement below. Select E if the information is not given in any of the paragraphs.

 - 1. Permafrost is ground frozen for at least two consecutive years.

 - 2. Thaw can release carbon that microbes turn into greenhouse gases.

 - 3. Thermosyphons and adjustable foundations are engineering responses.

 - 4. Permafrost is molten lava found only inside active volcanoes.

 - 5. Drunken forests of leaning trees can signal thawing ground.

 - 6. Indigenous knowledge guides safe travel as ice and muskeg change.

 - 7. Borehole sensors track how deep thaw reaches each year.

 - 8. Thaw never affects buildings or roads in any northern town.

 - 9. Satellite radar can detect subtle ground motion over wide areas.

With a free account: Retry and compare every attempt.
Be the first! No community answers here yet — submit yours and help others learn.
Saving...