When people think of the American Southwest, they often picture a flat desert dotted with cactus plants. A visit to the Painted Desert will quickly change that notion.
The Painted Desert is in the northeastern part of Arizona. It stretches over 160 miles from the Grand Canyon National Park into the Petrified Forest National Park. It contains colorful mesas, buttes, and badlands that seem to shimmer in the dry desert air. The area is covered with soft clay, sandstone and shale. Over millions of years, different types of organic matter and minerals have been deposited in layers within the rock. The erosion of these brightly banded layers by wind and rainfall has created some dramatic shapes and has stained the landscape in a variety of hues. The colors are most obvious at sunrise and sunset. At those times, the land seems to glow in shades of red, blue, violet, and gold.
Erosion has not only revealed a colorful landscape, it has also uncovered petrified wood from a forest that grew in the area over 220 million years ago. Logs that turned to brilliantly colored stone long ago are scattered about, too. Many appear to be adorned with jewels, and the crystals glint brightly in the sun.
The best way to see the Painted Desert is on foot. Wilderness trails lead you through unspoiled areas. Desert heat can be a problem, though, so plan your hikes carefully. You can also take advantage of the area's information buildings. There you can get answers to all your questions. You can also enjoy a cool, air-conditioned break from the heat!
1. What is the passage mainly about?
A. different species of cactus in the
American Southwest
B. the unique and colorful features of the Painted Desert
C. the wilderness trails and information centers in the Painted Desert
D. different types of organic material layered in the rocks of the Painted
Desert
2. What effect has erosion had on the Painted Desert?
A. It has uncovered colorful rock layers and petrified wood.
B. It has carved out a large canyon river.
C. It has stained the landscape with dark clay.
D. It has eroded buttes and mesas to leave a flat desert landscape.
3. The Painted Desert most likely gets its name from. . .
A. the soft clay, sandstone and shale.
B. the nearby Petrified Forest National Park.
C. the colorful desert flowers and cactus plants.
D. the brightly banded layers of material in the rocks.
4. What can the reader conclude about the rocks' layers?
A. They are made of clay, sandstone and shale.
B. They compacted quickly to create the effect.
C. Those at the bottom are the oldest.
D. Those at the top are petrified wood.
1. The passage is mainly about the unique and colorful features of the Painted Desert (B).
2. Erosion has uncovered colorful rock layers and petrified wood in the Painted Desert (A).
3. The Painted Desert most likely gets its name from the brightly banded layers of material in the rocks (D).
4. The reader can conclude that the rocks' layers are made of clay, sandstone, and shale (A). The passage does not provide information about the compaction of the layers or the age of the rocks. So, options B and C cannot be concluded from the passage. The rocks at the top are petrified wood, but it is not mentioned whether they are the oldest or not. Therefore, option D cannot be concluded from the passage.
1. The passage is mainly about the unique and colorful features of the Painted Desert. (B)
2. Erosion has uncovered colorful rock layers and petrified wood in the Painted Desert. (A)
3. The Painted Desert most likely gets its name from the brightly banded layers of material in the rocks. (D)
4. The reader can conclude that the rocks' layers consist of different types of organic material and minerals that have been deposited over millions of years. (Not given)