Determine and Analyze Central Ideas Practice Test
•10 QuestionsRead the passage and answer the question.
In many cities, summer nights are getting warmer faster than nearby rural areas. One reason is the “urban heat island” effect. Dark roofs and roads absorb sunlight during the day and release that heat slowly after sunset, keeping neighborhoods warmer. Tall buildings can also block wind, which would otherwise carry heat away. Scientists measure this by comparing temperatures from weather stations placed in downtown areas and in parks or farmland outside the city.
City planners are not limited to simply noticing the problem; they can reduce it. Planting more trees adds shade and cools the air through evaporation from leaves. Some cities replace black asphalt with lighter pavement that reflects more sunlight, and they encourage “cool roofs” made from reflective materials. These changes can lower local temperatures and reduce the need for air conditioning.
The passage also explains why this matters for people’s health and budgets. Hotter nights make it harder for bodies to recover from daytime heat, increasing the risk of heat illness, especially for older adults and people without reliable cooling. Higher air-conditioning use can raise electricity bills and strain power grids during heat waves. By combining temperature data with design changes, cities can protect residents and manage energy demand.
Question: Which option best states two central ideas of the passage?
Read the passage and answer the question.
In many cities, summer nights are getting warmer faster than nearby rural areas. One reason is the “urban heat island” effect. Dark roofs and roads absorb sunlight during the day and release that heat slowly after sunset, keeping neighborhoods warmer. Tall buildings can also block wind, which would otherwise carry heat away. Scientists measure this by comparing temperatures from weather stations placed in downtown areas and in parks or farmland outside the city.
City planners are not limited to simply noticing the problem; they can reduce it. Planting more trees adds shade and cools the air through evaporation from leaves. Some cities replace black asphalt with lighter pavement that reflects more sunlight, and they encourage “cool roofs” made from reflective materials. These changes can lower local temperatures and reduce the need for air conditioning.
The passage also explains why this matters for people’s health and budgets. Hotter nights make it harder for bodies to recover from daytime heat, increasing the risk of heat illness, especially for older adults and people without reliable cooling. Higher air-conditioning use can raise electricity bills and strain power grids during heat waves. By combining temperature data with design changes, cities can protect residents and manage energy demand.
Question: Which option best states two central ideas of the passage?