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Factual passages · Question 174 of 435

Why do scientists discourage the name "tidal wave"?

Question 174

HardOriginal question

A tsunami is not one wave but a of waves, and it is caused not by the weather but by movement under the sea: an earthquake beneath the ocean floor, or an undersea volcano erupting.

Out in the deep ocean, a tsunami can be hard to notice. Its waves do not rise much higher than ordinary waves there. The danger comes as they travel towards land. As the water grows , the waves slow down and build up, higher and higher, until they strike the coast with terrible force.

Their speed depends on the depth of the water, not on how far they are from where they began. Over deep water, tsunami waves can travel as fast as a jet plane, slowing down only when they reach the shallows near the shore.

People often call a tsunami a "tidal wave", but scientists who study the ocean the name. , the regular daily rise and fall of the sea, have very little to do with these giant waves. Calling them tidal waves suggests a cause that is not the real one, and understanding the real cause matters to anyone who lives by the sea.

Why do scientists discourage the name "tidal wave"?

Options for question 174

Show the answer and explanation
CorrectNot quiteAnswer B

Correct answer: B

Explanation

  1. The last paragraph says tides "have very little to do with these giant waves".

  2. "Tidal wave" suggests a cause that is not the real one, which could mislead people about the danger.

Worth noting

The passage gives the reason directly: the name suggests the wrong cause.

Concept
Identifying a reason given in the passage
Typical time
55 s
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The rule this testsWhat the passage suggests
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Ten questions from Factual passages, at your own pace.