48.The word "magnitude" in line 20 is closest in meaning to
(A) concern
(B) determination
(C)carelessness
(D) extent

44. The word "jolting" in line 5 is closest in meaning to (A) predicted (B) shocking (C)unknown (D) illuminating

45. The author mentions the reduction of the variety of species on Earth in lines 11 - 12 to suggest that (A) new habitats can be created for species (B)humans are often made ill by polluted water (C) some species have been made extinct by human activity (D)) an understanding of evolution can prevent certain species from disappearing

46. The author mentions all of the following as examples of the effect of humans oil the world's ecosystems EXCEPT (A) destruction of the tropical rain forests (B) habitat destruction in wetlands (C)damage to marine ecosystems (D)the introduction of new varieties of plant species

47.The author mentions the extinction of the dinosaurs in the second paragraph to emphasize that (A)the cause of the dinosaurs extinction is unknown (B)Earth's climate has changed significantly since the dinosaurs' extinction, (C)not all mass extinctions have been caused by human activity (D) actions by humans could not stop the irreversible process of a species' extinction

49. According to the passage, natural evolutionary change is different from changes caused by humans in that changes caused by humans (A) are occurring at a much faster rate (B) are less devastating to most species (C)affect fewer ecosystems (D) are reversible

50. With which of the following statements would the author be most likely to agree? (A)human influence on ecosystems should not be a factor in determining public policy. (B)The extinction of a few species is an acceptable consequence of human progress. (C)Technology will provide solutions to problems caused by the destruction of ecosystems. (D) humans should be more conscious of the influence they have on ecosystems

1. The word "modifying" in line 4 is closest in meaning to (A) changing (B) traveling (C) describing (D) destroying

2. The word "which" in line 5 refers to (A) clouds (B) oceans (C) continents (D) compounds

3. According to the passage, clouds are primarily formed by water (A) precipitating onto the ground (B) changing from a solid to a liquid state (C) evaporating from the oceans (D) being carried by wind

4. The passage suggests that the purpose of the "hydrographic network" (line 9) is to (A) determine the size of molecules of water (B) prevent soil erosion caused by flooding (C) move water from the Earth's surface to the oceans (D) regulate the rate of water flow from streams and rivers