The Town Underground

What way does the phrase "a curtain of darkness" in paragraph 1 impact the meaning in the passage?

"...a curtain of darkness descended on the camp, and still Willie had not returned...but the men had,"

• The words highlight that the campers were unable to rest comfortably at night.

• The words suggest the campers were fearful so far from the city.

• The words highlight the depth of affection Willie's father has for his son.

• The words help explain why the men heard Willie's approach before they saw him.

Which detail from the passage best supports the idea that mining in South Australia in the early 1900's was challenging?

• "A soft clatter of pebbles"

  paragraph 3

• "only a handful of men worked"

  paragraph 7

• "Lack of housing was a big problem"

  paragraph 8

• "abandoned those craters"

  paragraph 12

What is the meaning of the word spacious in paragraph 13?

The dugouts can be spacious and well furnished. (Some even have indoor swimming pools!)

• fancy

• large

• temporary

• cool

Which sentence best helps the reader determine the meaning of spacious?

• "Some have indoor swimming pools!"

• "Each dugout is made underground."

• "The water comes from an underground source 15 miles away."

• 
  Living under the earth keeps the temperature around a comfortable temperature.

How do paragraphs 1-7 mainly contribute to the overall structure of the passage?

• They introduce the methods used to mine in the sandy desert around Coober Pedy.

• They introduce the remoteness of the prospecting camps in Coober Pedy.

• They introduce the idea that Coober Pedy was already famous for another valuable resource before becoming famous for opals.

• They introduce the event that led to Coober Pedy becoming famous for opals.

What is the meaning of "boring" in the following sentence?

"Boring machines can dig a four-bedroom residence in just a day!"

• expanding

• sealing

• drilling

• transporting

How does paragraph 18 contribute to the overall structure of the passage?

"Oh yes, and the main street in Coober Pedy? It's call Hutchison Street, named after the boy who first discovered opals there, inadvertently bringing people from all over the world to build the town underground."

• It mentions the existence of a main street to show that the town has grown over time.

• It shows that the boy mentioned in the first few paragraphs is important to the history of the town.

• It develops the idea that opals were discovered accidentally, as hinted at in the first paragraph.

• It emphasizes the idea that the town initially became famous for opals, but now underground living is what makes it special.

What is the author's main purpose in writing the passage?

• to describe a unique town in Australia and provide information about it's history

• to establish an interesting town in Australia as an enjoyable place to visit

• to teach creative ways to adapt to and overcome challenges in the environment

• to inspire the reader with a story of a boy who made an interesting discovery

Which statement is the best summary of the passage?

• A boy unexpectedly discovered opals in an Australian desert, and soon people rushed to the area to get rich and build underground houses.

• The discovery of opals led to the creation of a town in Australia, and it had to be underground because of the conditions of the environment.

• A town in Australia has been built mostly underground, and it provide shelter to the miners who created thousands of holes as they dug for opals.

• A town in Australia is considered unique because it has an interesting beginning, and its landscape looks like the surface of the moon.

What does the word inadvertently mean in the following sentence:

"It's called Hutchison Street, named after the boy who first discovered opals there, inadvertently bringing people from all over the world to build the town underground."

• bringing something

• to do without meaning to or without intent

• discovering opals

• knowingly and intentionally