Asthma is caused by poor air quality. In the last decade, the number of asthma attacks has increased, even though there has been no increase in the number of bad air quality days or in the number of people diagnosed with asthma during this time.
Which of the following, if true, best explains the increase in asthma attacks?
(A) The number of people living in urban areas, where air pollution is typically worse, has increased significantly over the last decade.
(B) In the last decade, buildings have become increasingly airtight, allowing pollutants to accumulate more easily indoors.
(C) The criteria for diagnosing asthma have become more stringent in the last decade, resulting in fewer people being officially diagnosed.
(D) A new medication introduced in the last decade has allowed people with asthma to engage in more strenuous outdoor activities.
(E) Public awareness of asthma and its symptoms has increased over the last decade, leading to more people reporting asthma attacks.
Some people argue that it is unfair to make everyone pay taxes to subsidize public transportation since not everyone benefits from it directly. However, the author believes it is fair because even those who drive cars benefit from reduced traffic congestion when more people take public transit.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the author's argument?
(A) A recent study found that a majority of the city's residents regularly use public transportation.
(B) The revenue generated from taxes on car owners alone is insufficient to fully fund the public transportation system.
(C) The city's air quality has improved significantly since the introduction of the public transportation subsidy.
(D) People who commute to work via public transportation report higher levels of satisfaction compared to those who drive.
(E) The decreased traffic congestion resulting from increased public transit usage has led to shorter travel times for car drivers.
BE
2.DI
Vienna, the capital of Austria, has long been a magnet for tourists from around the globe, captivating visitors with its stunning architecture, rich musical heritage, and vibrant cultural scene. In recent years, the city has experienced an unprecedented surge in tourism, with the number of overnight stays reaching a record-breaking 17.6 million in 2019, a 5.6% increase from the previous year. This growth has been fueled by a combination of factors, including increased air connectivity, a thriving economy, and the city's enduring appeal as a destination for both leisure and business travelers.
The tourism industry has become a vital pillar of Vienna's economy, generating an estimated €4.4 billion in direct and indirect revenues annually and supporting over 100,000 jobs in the city. The sector's success has been bolstered by the city's strategic location at the heart of Europe, its well-developed infrastructure, and its reputation as a safe and welcoming destination. Moreover, Vienna's status as a global hub for international organizations, such as the United Nations and OPEC, has contributed to its popularity among business travelers and conference attendees.
However, the rapid growth of tourism has not been without its challenges. Like many popular destinations worldwide, Vienna has grappled with the consequences of overtourism, including overcrowding at popular attractions, strain on public transportation, and the displacement of local residents by short-term rental properties. The city has also faced criticism for its reliance on low-cost air travel, which has been identified as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
In response to these challenges, the Vienna Tourist Board has implemented a range of measures aimed at promoting sustainable and responsible tourism. These initiatives include encouraging visitors to explore lesser-known neighborhoods and attractions, promoting the use of public transportation and bicycle rentals, and supporting local businesses and cultural institutions. The city has also introduced stricter regulations on short-term rental platforms, such as Airbnb, to mitigate their impact on the housing market and ensure a more equitable distribution of tourism revenues.
One notable example of Vienna's commitment to sustainable tourism is the "Vienna Coffeehouse Conversations" initiative, which aims to promote authentic cultural experiences and foster meaningful interactions between visitors and locals. The program, launched in 2019, invites tourists to participate in guided discussions on topics ranging from art and music to politics and philosophy, held in traditional Viennese coffeehouses. By showcasing the city's intellectual and cultural heritage, the initiative seeks to offer a more immersive and enriching travel experience while supporting local businesses and communities.
Looking to the future, Vienna's tourism industry faces both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, the city's strong brand identity, coupled with its investments in sustainable infrastructure and cultural initiatives, positions it well to attract a growing number of environmentally and socially conscious travelers. On the other hand, the ongoing global pandemic has had a profound impact on the tourism sector, with international arrivals plummeting by over 80% in 2020. While the industry is expected to recover gradually as vaccination rates increase and travel restrictions ease, the crisis has underscored the need for greater resilience and adaptability in the face of future shocks.
In the long term, the success of Vienna's tourism industry will depend on its ability to strike a delicate balance between economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity. This will require close collaboration between policymakers, industry stakeholders, and local communities, as well as a willingness to embrace innovation and adapt to changing consumer preferences. By prioritizing the well-being of both residents and visitors, and by leveraging its unique cultural assets and sustainable practices, Vienna has the potential to serve as a model for responsible urban tourism in the 21st century.
Questions:
The passage suggests that Vienna's tourism industry has experienced significant growth in recent years due to:
A. The city's strategic location at the periphery of Europe
B. Increased air connectivity and a thriving economy
C. The decline of other popular tourist destinations in Europe
D. The city's reputation as an affordable destination for budget travelers
E. The passage does not provide sufficient information to determine the factors contributing to Vienna's tourism growth
According to the passage, which of the following best describes the economic impact of tourism on Vienna?
A. Tourism has generated an estimated €4.4 billion in direct and indirect revenues annually
B. The tourism sector has had a minimal impact on job creation in the city
C. The economic benefits of tourism have been evenly distributed among all residents and neighborhoods
D. The growth of tourism has led to a decline in other important sectors, such as manufacturing and technology
E. The passage suggests that the economic impact of tourism on Vienna has been largely negative
The Vienna Tourist Board has implemented measures to promote sustainable and responsible tourism, such as:
A. Limiting the total number of tourists allowed to visit the city each year
B. Encouraging visitors to explore lesser-known neighborhoods and attractions
C. Restricting the development of new hotel properties in the city center
D. Banning the use of short-term rental platforms, such as Airbnb
E. Promoting the use of private car rentals over public transportation
The passage mentions the "Vienna Coffeehouse Conversations" initiative as an example of:
A. The city's efforts to promote authentic cultural experiences and meaningful interactions between visitors and locals
B. A marketing campaign aimed at attracting a younger, more budget-conscious demographic of travelers
C. The city's attempt to compete with other popular coffee destinations, such as Amsterdam and Seattle
D. A controversial program that has been criticized for displacing local residents and businesses
E. An initiative designed to promote the city's reputation as a global hub for innovation and technology
The primary purpose of the passage is to:
A. Provide a comprehensive history of Vienna's tourism industry from its origins to the present day
B. Compare and contrast Vienna's tourism industry with those of other major European cities
C. Analyze the various factors contributing to the growth of tourism in Vienna and the challenges and opportunities the industry faces
D. Argue in favor of stricter regulations on the tourism industry to mitigate its negative impacts on the city
E. Highlight the unique cultural and historical attractions that make Vienna a popular destination for international travelers
Based on the information provided in the passage, which of the following can be inferred about the relationship between tourism growth and the well-being of local communities in Vienna?
A. The growth of tourism has had a uniformly positive impact on the well-being of all local communities in Vienna
B. The passage suggests that there is no clear relationship between tourism growth and the well-being of local communities
C. The rapid growth of tourism has created challenges, such as overcrowding and displacement of local residents
D. The Vienna Tourist Board has prioritized the well-being of local communities over the economic benefits of tourism
E. The passage does not provide enough information to make an inference about this relationship
The author mentions the impact of the global pandemic on Vienna's tourism industry to:
A. Emphasize the need for greater resilience and adaptability in the face of future shocks
B. Suggest that the city's reliance on tourism has made it particularly vulnerable to economic downturns
C. Argue that the pandemic will lead to a permanent decline in international travel and tourism
D. Criticize the city's response to the crisis and its failure to support the tourism sector adequately
E. Predict that Vienna's tourism industry will quickly recover to pre-pandemic levels once travel restrictions are lifted
According to the passage, Vienna's commitment to sustainable tourism practices includes:
A. Encouraging the use of electric vehicles and bike rentals for transportation within the city
B. Limiting the number of international conferences and events held in the city each year
C. Promoting the development of eco-friendly accommodations and green spaces throughout the city
D. Introducing stricter regulations on short-term rental platforms to mitigate their impact on the housing market
E. Investing in renewable energy sources to reduce the city's carbon footprint and mitigate the impacts of climate change
The passage suggests that the long-term success of Vienna's tourism industry will depend on:
A. The city's ability to attract a younger, more budget-conscious demographic of travelers
B. The development of new, cutting-edge attractions and experiences to differentiate Vienna from other popular destinations
C. Striking a balance between economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity
D. The continued growth of low-cost air travel and the expansion of the city's airport infrastructure
E. The city's ability to maintain its reputation as a safe and welcoming destination in the face of increasing global instability
Which of the following best describes the tone of the passage?
A. Highly critical of Vienna's tourism industry and its negative impacts on the city and its residents
B. Optimistic about the future of Vienna's tourism industry, despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic
C. Neutral and objective in presenting information about the growth, challenges, and opportunities facing Vienna's tourism industry
D. Deeply pessimistic about the long-term sustainability of tourism as a driver of economic growth in Vienna and other cities
E. Strongly advocating for a complete overhaul of the tourism industry to prioritize environmental conservation and social justice
Squeaking sand produces sounds with very high frequencies—between 500 and 2,500 hertz, lasting less than a quarter of a second. The peals are musically pure, often containing four or five harmonic overtones. Booming sand makes louder, low-frequency sounds of 50 to 300 hertz, which may last as long as 15 minutes in larger dunes (although typically they last for seconds or less). In addition, they are rather noisy, containing a multitude of nearby frequencies. Booms have never been observed to contain more than one harmonic of the fundamental tone.
These dramatic differences once led to a consensus that although both types of sand produce acoustic emissions, the ways in which they do so must be substantially different. In the late 1970s, however, Peter K. Haff, then at the California Institute of Technology, produced squeaks in booming sand, suggesting a closer connection between the two.
Both kinds of sand must be displaced to make sounds. Walking on some sand, for example, forces the sand underfoot to move down and out, producing squeaks. In the case of booming sand, displacement occurs during avalanches.
It is within the avalanche that sound begins and where the answers must be hiding. Before an avalanche can occur, winds must build a dune up to a certain angle, usually about 35 degrees for dry desert sand. Once the angle is achieved, the sand on the leeward side of the dune begins to slump. Intact layers of sand slip over the layers below, like a sheared deck of cards. At the same time, the individual grains in the upper layers tumble over the grains underneath, momentarily falling into the spaces between them and bouncing out again to continue their downward journey. Their concerted up-and-down motion is believed to be the secret source of sound. Fully developed avalanches, in which sliding plates of sand remain intact for most of their motion, have the greatest acoustic output. In some places, where large amounts of sand are involved, booming can be heard up to 10 kilometers away.
The mysteries of the vibrations are many. To begin with, the multiple frequencies of booming sand are not well understood. In the 1970s David R. Criswell and his collaborators at the University of Houston found that each frequency seems to exhibit its own rise-and-fall time, independent of the others. Taken together, these frequencies can cover a fairly broad range, the width of which is determined by various factors. For example, Sand Mountain booms at roughly 50 to 80 hertz; sands at Korizo, Libya, drone at between 50 and 100 hertz; and in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa, the frequencies range from 130 to 300 hertz. Such output—presumably caused by multiple modes of vibration within the shearing plates—is often unmusical and jarring.
Because it is caused by large volumes of shearing sand, the roaring is also loud. In fact, sounds made by booming sand can be nearly deafening, and the vibrations causing them can be so intense that standing in their midst is nearly impossible.
A good place to start in exploring the vibrational properties of sand is with the grains themselves. The mean diameter of most sand grains, whether acoustically active or not, is about 300 microns. Usually the grains in a booming dune are very similar in size, especially near the leeward crest, where the sound most often originates; such uniformity allows for more efficient shearing. Otherwise, the smaller grains impede the smooth motion of the larger ones.
Similar sizes do not alone allow sand to boom. On the contrary, the booming sands of Korizo and Gelf Kebib, also in Libya, feature an uncharacteristically broad range of particle sizes. Moreover, silent dune sand often contains grains somewhat similar to nearby booming sand.
Grains of booming sand also tend to have uncommonly smooth surfaces, with protrusions on the scale of mere microns. Booming dunes are often found at the downwind end of large sand sources; having bounced and rolled across the desert for long distances, the sand grains in these dunes are usually highly polished. Over time a grain can also be polished by repeated shifts within a moving dune. And squeaking sand as well tends to be exceptionally smooth.
Close inspection of Sand Mountain and Kalahari booming sand, however, reveals that not all grains are highly spherical or rounded. And in 1936 A. D. Lewis in Pretoria, South Africa, even claimed to have produced booming in the cubed grains of ordinary table salt. Conversely, spherical glass beads cannot be made to boom. These findings show that although smoothness and roundness are essential to producing sound, so is some degree of roughness.
Another important factor is humidity, because moisture can modify the friction between the grains or cause sand to clump together, thus precluding shearing. Sounds occur in those parts of the dune that dry the fastest. Precipitation may be rare in the desert, but dunes retain water with remarkable efficiency. Sand near the surface dries quickly, however, and sand around a dune’s crest tends to dry the fastest.
Near the leeward crest, the combination of smooth, well-sorted grains and lack of moisture leads to conditions more likely to produce sounds during shearing. And because wind usually deposits more sand closer to the top of the lee face, sand accumulates there faster than in lower regions, thereby slowly increasing the dune’s incline to where avalanches occur.
Typically, large platelike slabs of sand break off near the crest. In booming sand, these plates tend not to slow into loose flows as they encounter gentler slopes. Instead their upper parts collapse or telescope violently into the lower parts. The plates’ eventual breakup is unusually turbulent.
Learning more about sound-producing sand has not been easy. Research has been hindered by the rarity of the phenomenon—especially booming sand —and the difficulty in reproducing sounds in laboratories. In addition, for years researchers did not clearly differentiate between booming and squeaking sands, making the early literature on the topic less than reliable.
Q1. The passage suggests that the sounds produced by booming sand and squeaking sand were once thought to be caused by
(A) similar mechanisms, as both involve displacement of sand
(B) different mechanisms, due to their contrasting acoustic properties
(C) the telescoping collapse of sand plates during avalanches
(D) the polished surfaces of sand grains moving against each other
(E) moisture content modifying friction between sand grains
Q2. According to the passage, which of the following is true about the frequencies of booming sand?
(A) They exhibit uniform rise-and-fall times, dependent on each other
(B) They are caused by a single mode of vibration within the shearing plates
(C) They are determined solely by the mean diameter of the sand grains
(D) They can vary significantly across different locations
(E) They are always accompanied by multiple harmonics of the fundamental tone
Q3. The passage indicates that standing in the midst of the vibrations caused by booming sand is nearly impossible because
(A) the low-frequency sounds can last for up to 15 minutes
(B) the sounds can be heard from as far as 10 kilometers away
(C) the intensity of the vibrations is extremely high
(D) the acoustic output is often highly unmusical and jarring
(E) the multiple frequencies are not well understood by researchers
Q4. The author mentions the findings of A. D. Lewis and the experiments with glass beads in order to
(A) emphasize the importance of grain smoothness in producing sound
(B) suggest that booming can occur in a wide variety of granular materials
(C) demonstrate that both smoothness and roughness play a role in sound production
(D) question the relevance of grain shape in the phenomenon of booming sand
(E) highlight the challenges in reproducing sand sounds in laboratory settings
Q5. The passage suggests that moisture content affects the acoustic properties of sand by
(A) allowing for more efficient shearing between sand grains
(B) causing the sand grains to become more polished over time
(C) increasing the friction between sand grains or causing clumping
(D) facilitating the formation of large platelike slabs near the crest
(E) promoting the breakup of sand plates into turbulent flows
Q6. According to the passage, which of the following factors contribute(s) to the occurrence of avalanches in sand dunes?
(A) The deposition of more sand near the top of the lee face by wind
(B) The presence of moisture deep within the dune retaining water efficiently
(C) The build-up of the dune to a certain angle by wind
(D) A broad range of particle sizes, especially near the leeward crest
(E) The highly spherical and rounded nature of the sand grains
Q7. The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
(A) Squeaking sand and booming sand produce sounds through entirely different mechanisms.
(B) The mean diameter of sand grains is the primary factor determining their acoustic properties.
(C) Researchers have a complete understanding of the multiple frequencies exhibited by booming sand.
(D) Acoustically active sand tends to have a combination of smooth and rough surface characteristics.
(E) Precipitation plays a minor role in the acoustic behavior of desert sand dunes.
Q8. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) compare and contrast the acoustic properties of squeaking and booming sand
(B) argue for the importance of grain size and shape in the production of sand sounds
(C) describe the mechanisms behind the production of sounds by different types of sand
(D) highlight the challenges and limitations in the scientific study of acoustic sand phenomena
(E) explain the role of environmental factors such as wind and moisture in the occurrence of sand avalanches