Task 1:

1. Read this article two times.

i. The first time, use your smartphone to time yourself reading the article.
Do not check any new words in your dictionaries. Just read and try to
understand as much as you can. Now answer these questions:
How long did it take you? ….. minutes ….. seconds
Example: 5 minutes 32 seconds = 5.5 minutes approx.
818  6 [minutes] = 136 words/minute)

What % do you think you understood?

I understood …..% of the article.

You will need to know the following words as you read the story:
pumice: a type of rock that is very light in weight
stalactites: icicle-shaped formations on a cave’s ceiling

THE APE CAVES

Mount St. Helens erupted with the force of a nuclear explosion on May 18,
1980. Volcanic ash shot 14 miles into the air and fell over the entire Pacific
Northwest, from Eugene, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington, and beyond.
I could have safely watched the cataclysm a mere four miles away, from the
entrance to the Ape Caves in what is now Mount St. Helens National Volcanic
Monument, but the force of the blast would have made the top of the mountain
simply disappear.
In fact, the explosion sent ash in the opposite direction from the caves, and
later eruptions lightly dusted the cave’s area with pumice. At that point, I might
have sought refuge in the underground Ape Caves, or lava tube, below. At nearly
two-and-a-half miles long, this is the longest such tube in the Western
Hemisphere.
The Ape Caves were formed about 2,000 years ago, but they were not
discovered until 1951. Early explorations of the caves were made by a local Boy
Scout troop, which named themselves the “Mount St. Helens Apes.”
Standing in that same location recently, I felt the wind whistle past me, into
the cool depths of the cave. My hiking group had chosen to hike the lower part of
the Ape Caves first. Most casual visitors prefer this section. It has a downward
slope with a sandy floor. Its highlight is the “meatball,” a huge, round ball of lava
wedged ten feet above the cave floor. Beyond it, the cave ends in a low series of
crawlways.
As we descended 40 feet below ground by stairs, the change of
environment was striking—from the warmth, greenery, and birdcalls above, to the
cool, dark silence below. Sound seemed to be swallowed up by the volcanic
walls, and the temperature dropped to a cool and damp 42°. The darkness was
so jet black that the beams of our flashlights seemed weak and outmatched by
the inescapable inkiness.
Old lava flows had left a variety of markings in their passage. Large gas
bubbles had popped at the surface of the molten flows, leaving circular rings,
frozen ripples, and deep gutters in the hardened lava on the floor. This made
walking an unusual task. On the ceiling, which rose as high as 20 feet in places,
small stalactites pointed their mineral deposits down at us from above.
There’s a rumor that a local jogger has carefully paced out the Lower Cave
and, in doing so, has developed a mental map that allows him to run the route
without the aid of a lantern or flashlight. How disturbing it would be for a few cave
explorers like us to hear quickly advancing footsteps and then see a jogger
appear out of nowhere, run past, and then disappear once more.
After lunch, we elected to try the Upper Cave. This cave is twice the length
of the Lower Cave and a much more challenging climb—not a good choice for the
timid or unskilled underground adventurer. In the Upper Cave, when our
conversation ceased, only the drip, drip, drip of seeping water and our breathing
could be heard. Our flashlights soon became an obstacle. There were spots
where we needed both hands for climbing over the increasingly large and jagged
rockfalls. Where were some miners’ helmets when we needed them?
We met two other groups that had turned back after encountering a nine-
foot wall of stone in a narrow passageway. The daunting, smooth stone face rose
before us. It had once been a dramatic lava waterfall. Refusing to turn back, we
boosted one person up over the top. This person got to the next level and then
turned to assist the rest of us. Dirty, scraped, and unstoppable, we pressed on.
Just about then, my flashlight went dead. (The guidebook had suggested
that we carry three sources of light per person but that had seemed overly
cautious.) I found myself fervently wishing for an old-fashioned lantern, or even a
book of matches. Our passage slowed to a crawl as we picked our way carefully
through the gloom, relying on the beams of our companions’ flashlights, anxious
not to suffer a fall or twisted ankle.
Fortunately, we were near the exit, close to the end of the Upper Cave. Our
tired party had readied itself to climb the ladder into the blinding light when we
thought we heard hurried footsteps rushing toward us. Perhaps it was just cave
anxiety, but we flew up the rungs in an orderly panic.
Looking back down into dimness, we saw a man walk past in brisk,
measured strides, keeping track of something on his digital watch. He wore a
sweat suit and carried a tiny flashlight. Looking up, he gave us a quick nod and
was quickly swallowed by the dark. We looked up then, too, and blinked in
wonder at the dazzling south view of Mt. Saint Helens.
Task 2: Questions
1. Read the first two paragraphs of the 4. How do the members of the hiking group get
passage beyond the wall of stone?
again. Then think about this sentence from the a. by boosting one member at a time up to the
second paragraph. next level
by crawling over the stalactites one at a time
I could have safely watched the cataclysm a c. by pressing on the stone wall with all their
mere four miles away, from the entrance to the strength
Ape Caves in what is now Mount St. Helens d. by finding a route that goes around the wall
National Volcanic Monument. of stone

As it is used in this article, what does the word 5. The author suggests that the Upper Cave is best
cataclysm mean? explored by someone who
a. is young and quick.
a. a creative and dramatic performance b. has had previous experience as a jogger.
b. a sudden, violent change in the earth c. has had previous experience as a rock
c. a new discovery about the earth climber.
d. an exploration of new territory d. has patience and confidence.

2. The author probably wrote this article to 6. Based on the article, which of the following
a. encourage people to explore the Ape statements about the Ape Caves is false?
Caves. a. They were explored by a Boy Scout troop.
b. inform people about volcanoes. b. They were formed about 2,000 years ago.
c. inform people about the Ape Caves. c. They were discovered about 50 years ago.
d. persuade people to visit Mount St. Helens. d. They were buried by the 1980 eruption of
Mount St. Helens.
3. Read this sentence from the article.
7. Which of the following sentences from the
Our flashlights soon became an obstacle. passage expresses an opinion?
a. Mount St. Helens erupted with the force of a
Based on this sentence, the writer believes that nuclear explosion on May 18, 1980.
the flashlights are an obstacle because b. At nearly two-and-a-half miles long, this is
the longest such tube in the Western
a. their batteries wear out quickly, leaving Hemisphere.
everyone in darkness. c. This cave is twice the length of the Lower
b. it is easier to explore the cave with a Cave and a much more challenging climb—
lantern than with a flashlight. not a good choice for the timid or unskilled
c. flashlights are heavy and add to the weight underground adventurer.
that the hikers must carry. d. On the ceiling, which rose as high as 20
d. it is harder to climb rocks with only one feet
free hand. in places, small stalactites pointed their
mineral deposits down at us from above.

10. The style of this passage is best described as

a. distant and matter-of-fact, providing only c. full of short, choppy sentences that create
essential information to readers. sense of excitement
b. very detailed, using description to create a d. dry and repetitive, with little variation in
picture of what it’s like inside the cave. sentence structure.