Reading Comprehension Test

Submitted by Phasin Ngamthanaphaisarn (Team) 1004

It might seem like baseballs would have an easier time zipping through dry air. But in
reality, hitters should have better luck batting balls in sweaty Miami than in arid
Phoenix. The reason has to do with the weight of gaseous molecules in the air. As air
becomes more humid, it holds more water molecules. That gaseous water vapor is
really light, and it displaces heavier gases like nitrogen and oxygen.
Line 5
“By kicking out those heavy gases, the air density goes down,” says Terry Bahill, a
professor emeritus of engineering at the University of Arizona. Air density is a
measure of molecules in a given amount of space; Bahill says it’s a way of saying how
heavy the air is. “If air has higher density, it’s harder for the ball to go through it,” he
says. “There’s more drag.”
Line 10
Humid conditions only nudge the ball a few inches farther in the air, but they can have
indirect effects, too. The yarn inside of a baseball can hold water pretty easily, so
when stored in hyper-humid environments, they get heavier and much less bouncy.
The Colorado Rockies purposefully store their balls in such an environment—in
something called a humidor—to quell the sky-high number of home runs hit at Coors
Line 15
Field.
Source : Jessica, B. (2018).The best weather for hitting a homerun, according to scientists
Retrieved from https://www.popsci.com/best-weather-for-hitting-home-run-baseball
Summary
This passage talks about the baseball sport. The best weather that helps to play
baseball easier is humid weather. In scientific term, it is because humid condition has lower
density by the weight of gaseous molecule in the air. However, there are some effects through
the humid condition which baseball hold water easily.

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

a. The best weather to play baseball is summer.
b. Humid weather helps to hit home-run easier
c. Air density of playing baseball
d. Humid is the best condition to play baseball
2. Which of the following is the best weather to play baseball?
a. Spring
b. Summer
c. Few rain
d. Humid
3. What gases help and increase weight of baseball in the atmosphere?
a. Oxygen
 b. Oxygen and Nitrogen
c. Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen
d. Oxygen and Neon
4. What happen to the air density if the baseball go slowly?
a. It change to low pressure
b. It increase the motion
c. It get higher
d. Air density does not used
5. The word “Nudge” in line 11 is closest in meaning to...
a. Cross
b. Spin
c. Touch
d. Move
6. The word “Drag” in line 10 is closest in meaning to...
a. Force
b. Pull
c. Gravity
d. Gases
7. The word “It” in line 4 refers to...
a. Air
b. Baseballs
c. Weight of molecule
d. Homerun
8. According to the passage, what is true about Air density?
a. If air density is low, baseball will move easily
b. Low density help to hit home-run
c. Baseball will move faster with high density
d. Air density is not effect with baseball
9. Which of the following statement is true?
a. Direction is very important to hit home-run
b. We only have to play baseball in humid weather
c. Weather affects how baseball move
d. Baseball players do not have to practice much if they play in a humid weather.
10. All of the following are the factors that affect baseball EXCEPT:
a. Weather
b. Air density
c. Place
d. Player

Answer Key
1. D
2. D
3. B
4. C
5. D
6. B
7. A
8. A
9. C
10. D