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Listen to an Academic Talk Test #005
Listen to an Academic Talk
1. What is the primary purpose of the talk?
A) To compare different types of hot springs
B) To explain the conditions that create a geyser
C) To describe the dangers of volcanic regions
D) To discuss how geysers affect the environment
2. According to the professor, what does the underground plumbing system do?
A) It cools the underground water source
B) It filters impurities from the water
C) It traps water and creates pressure
D) It provides a direct path to the magma
3. What can be inferred about the locations where geysers are found?
A) They are very common all over the world
B) They typically have high levels of rainfall
C) They are geologically active areas
D) They are usually found at high altitudes
4. Why does the professor mention that water becomes "superheated"?
A) To explain that the water is unusually clean
B) To highlight the role of intense pressure
C) To suggest the water is unsafe for plants
D) To compare geysers to regular volcanoes
Professor: Let's discuss geysers, those incredible columns of hot water and steam that erupt from the ground. While they seem mysterious, their formation depends on a very specific set of three conditions. If any one of these is missing, you won't get a geyser.
First, you need a plentiful source of groundwater that can seep deep into the earth. Second, you need an intense heat source nearby, like a body of magma. This is why geysers are only found in volcanically active regions.
The third, and most crucial, ingredient is a special underground plumbing system. This consists of a series of channels and chambers with narrow points, or constrictions. As water at the bottom gets heated, the constrictions trap it, and the weight of the cooler water above creates immense pressure. This pressure allows the deep water to get superheated, well past its normal boiling point. Eventually, the pressure is released in a chain reaction, causing an eruption.
First, you need a plentiful source of groundwater that can seep deep into the earth. Second, you need an intense heat source nearby, like a body of magma. This is why geysers are only found in volcanically active regions.
The third, and most crucial, ingredient is a special underground plumbing system. This consists of a series of channels and chambers with narrow points, or constrictions. As water at the bottom gets heated, the constrictions trap it, and the weight of the cooler water above creates immense pressure. This pressure allows the deep water to get superheated, well past its normal boiling point. Eventually, the pressure is released in a chain reaction, causing an eruption.
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