Question 146
MediumOriginal questionAsk most people why summer is hot and they will say that the Earth is closer to the Sun at that time of year. The idea sounds , and it is wrong.
It is true that the Earth's path around the Sun is not a perfect circle, so the distance between them changes a little during the year. But the northern half of the planet has its winter when the Earth is closest to the Sun, and its summer when the Earth is farthest away. Compared with how far away the Sun is, the change in distance is too small to make much difference to our weather.
The real cause is the Earth's . The planet spins around an imaginary line, its , which runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. That axis does not stand straight up; it leans to one side. As the Earth travels round the Sun, first one half of the planet and then the other is tipped towards the Sun and receives its most rays. When the North Pole leans towards the Sun, it is summer in the northern half of the world; when it leans away, it is winter there.
Because the poles are at ends of the planet, the two halves of the world always have opposite seasons. When it is summer in India, it is winter in Australia.
What is the main point of the passage?
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The passage first shows that the common explanation, distance from the Sun, is wrong, and then explains that the real cause is the Earth's tilt.
Everything in it leads to that one point.
Worth noting
The passage says the Earth's path is not a perfect circle, so that option contradicts it. Always check an option against what the text actually says.
- Concept
- Finding the central idea of a passage that corrects a mistaken belief
- Typical timeTypical
- 50 s
- Your timeYours
- —
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