Practice Test 4

Read the two texts about the causes of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.

Text A (history textbook): The Dust Bowl was caused by a combination of severe drought and farming practices that removed deep-rooted grasses from the Great Plains. When rains stopped, dry topsoil was exposed and strong winds created massive dust storms. The textbook emphasizes human choices—overplowing and poor land management—as the main factor that turned a drought into a disaster.

Text B (environmental article): The Dust Bowl happened mostly because of an unusually long drought and natural climate patterns. The article says farmers did make mistakes, but argues the drought was so extreme that dust storms would have occurred even with better farming methods. It describes the Dust Bowl as mainly a natural disaster made slightly worse by people.

Is the main disagreement between the texts factual or interpretive?

Read the two texts about the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

Text A (science magazine, 2015): The May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens began after a magnitude 5.1 earthquake triggered a massive landslide on the volcano’s north side. The sideways “blast” that followed flattened forests for miles. Scientists estimate about 1 cubic mile of material was removed from the mountain, leaving a large crater. The article argues the eruption changed how the U.S. monitors volcanoes, leading to better warning systems and new hazard maps.

Text B (local-history website, 2020): On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake. The eruption mainly shot ash straight upward, and the damage was worst because people ignored clear warnings. The site says about 2 cubic miles of rock and ash were blown away. It claims the event did not significantly change volcano monitoring because funding stayed low for years.

Which option best identifies one factual conflict and one interpretive conflict between the texts?