Question
The Earth's atmosphere can be divided into five specific layers. The troposphere, the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, is the densest, and it is the site of all the weather phenomena in the atmosphere. The density of this layer varies—growing denser as one goes from the poles to the equator.
The stratosphere, the layer above the troposphere, contains the ozone layer that acts as a shield for the ultraviolet rays of the Sun. The temperature pattern in the stratosphere differs from the troposphere. The temperature increases with altitude in this layer because the air turbulence here is negligible. Due to low air turbulence, the stratosphere is suitable for the flying of commercial jets.
In the mesosphere, the layer above the stratosphere, the atmosphere becomes less dense and is marked by very low temperatures as well as air pressure that decreases with altitude. The meteors burn up in this thin layer. The density of the atmosphere becomes lower in the subsequent layer called the thermosphere, which absorbs most of the rays—both X-rays and UV rays—from the Sun.
It is difficult to clearly demarcate the ionosphere, a layer that abounds in ionized atoms and molecules, as it envelops the mesosphere and thermosphere. This layer derives its name from the ionized atoms or ions formed here by a process called ionization. By this process, a neutral atom, which has an equal number of protons and electrons, either gains or loses an electron to form ions that are positively or negatively charged.
The density of the exosphere, the uppermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere, is so low that it is almost like a vacuum. In this region of the atmosphere, there are sharp variations in temperature—immensely hot in parts that receive the Sun's heat and freezing cold in others. There is no clear upper limit for this layer.
2
What does the term ionized mean in the context of the passage?
A.
electrically neutral
B.
negatively charged
C.
electrically charged
D.
positively charged
The stratosphere, the layer above the troposphere, contains the ozone layer that acts as a shield for the ultraviolet rays of the Sun. The temperature pattern in the stratosphere differs from the troposphere. The temperature increases with altitude in this layer because the air turbulence here is negligible. Due to low air turbulence, the stratosphere is suitable for the flying of commercial jets.
In the mesosphere, the layer above the stratosphere, the atmosphere becomes less dense and is marked by very low temperatures as well as air pressure that decreases with altitude. The meteors burn up in this thin layer. The density of the atmosphere becomes lower in the subsequent layer called the thermosphere, which absorbs most of the rays—both X-rays and UV rays—from the Sun.
It is difficult to clearly demarcate the ionosphere, a layer that abounds in ionized atoms and molecules, as it envelops the mesosphere and thermosphere. This layer derives its name from the ionized atoms or ions formed here by a process called ionization. By this process, a neutral atom, which has an equal number of protons and electrons, either gains or loses an electron to form ions that are positively or negatively charged.
The density of the exosphere, the uppermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere, is so low that it is almost like a vacuum. In this region of the atmosphere, there are sharp variations in temperature—immensely hot in parts that receive the Sun's heat and freezing cold in others. There is no clear upper limit for this layer.
2
What does the term ionized mean in the context of the passage?
A.
electrically neutral
B.
negatively charged
C.
electrically charged
D.
positively charged
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In the context of the passage, the term "ionized" refers to atoms or molecules that have either gained or lost electrons, resulting in a net electrical charge. Therefore, the correct answer is:
C. electrically charged
C. electrically charged