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Reading Comprehension

The document provides information about obsidian. Obsidian is an igneous rock that forms when molten rock cools rapidly without crystallizing. It is found in many parts of the world near volcanic areas. Obsidian has been used for thousands of years to make mirrors, jewelry, masks, sculptures and opal doublets/triplets due to its hardness and reflective properties.

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43 views10 pages

Reading Comprehension

The document provides information about obsidian. Obsidian is an igneous rock that forms when molten rock cools rapidly without crystallizing. It is found in many parts of the world near volcanic areas. Obsidian has been used for thousands of years to make mirrors, jewelry, masks, sculptures and opal doublets/triplets due to its hardness and reflective properties.

Uploaded by

Thomaz Judea
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reading

Comprehension

Member of Groups;
1. Afifah Yunia Zahra (068)
2. Rizky Agung Yulianto (
3. Thomas Candra Yudha (059)
Obsidian

Obsidian is an igneous rock that forms when molten rock material cools so rapidly
that atoms are unable to arrange themselves into a crystalline structure. It is an
amorphous material known as a "mineraloid." The result is a volcanic glass with a
smooth uniform texture that breaks with a conchoidal fracture.
Obsidian is usually an extrusive rock - one that solidifies above Earth's surface.
However, it can form in a variety of cooling environments, along the edges of a lava
flow and a volcanic dome, around the edges of a sill or a dike, where lava contacts
water and cools while airborne.
Obsidian is found in many locations worldwide. It is confined to areas of geologically recent
volcanic activity. Obsidian older than a few million years is rare because the glassy rock is
rapidly destroyed or altered by weathering, heat, or other processes.

Significant deposits of obsidian are found in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Greece,
Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru,
Russia, United States, and many other locations.

In the United States it is not found east of the Mississippi River, as there is no geologically
recent volcanic activity there. In the western US it is found at many locations in Arizona,
California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Most obsidian
used in the jewelry trade is produced in the United States.
Black is the most common color of obsidian. However, it can also be brown, tan, or green. Rarely,
obsidian can be blue, red, orange, or yellow. The colors are thought to be caused mainly by trace
elements or inclusions. Occasionally two colors of obsidian will be swirled together in a single
specimen. The most common color combination is black and brown obsidian swirled together -
that's called "mahogany obsidian“.

As a "glass," obsidian is chemically unstable. With the passage of time, some obsidian begins to
crystallize. This process does not happen at a uniform rate throughout the rock. Instead it begins
at various locations within the rock. At these locations, the crystallization process forms radial
clusters of white or gray cristobalite crystals within the obsidian.

Rarely, obsidian has an iridescent or metallic "sheen" caused by light reflecting from minute
inclusions of mineral crystals, rock debris, or gas. These colored specimens are known as
"rainbow obsidian," "golden obsidian," or "silver obsidian," depending upon the color of the
sheen or iridescence. These specimens are very desirable for the manufacture of jewelry.
Most obsidians have a composition similar to rhyolite and granite. Granites and rhyolites can
form from the same magma as obsidian and are often geographically associated with the
obsidian. Rarely, volcanic glasses are found with a composition similar to basalt and gabbro.
These glassy rocks are named "tachylyte."

Pumice, scoria, and tachylyte are other volcanic glasses formed by rapid cooling. Pumice and
scoria differ from obsidian by having abundant vesicles - cavities in the rock produced when
gas bubbles were trapped in a solidifying melt. Tachylyte differs in composition - it has a
composition similar to basalt and gabbro.
Obsidian is a popular gemstone. It is often cut into beads and cabochons or used to
manufacture tumbled stones. Obsidian is sometimes faceted and polished into highly
reflective beads. Some transparent specimens are faceted to produce interesting gems.

The use of obsidian in jewelry can be limited by its durability. It has a hardness of about 5.5
which makes it easy to scratch. It also lacks toughness and is easily broken or chipped upon
impact. These durability concerns make obsidian an inappropriate stone for rings and
bracelets. It is best suited for use in low-impact pieces such as earrings, brooches, and
pendants.

Obsidian is also used in making opal doublets and opal triplets. Thin slices or chips of opal are
glued to a thin slice of obsidian to make a composite stone. The black obsidian provides an
inexpensive and color-contrasting background that makes opal's colorful fire much more
obvious. It also adds mass and stability to the opal that facilitates cutting it into a gem.

Freshly broken pieces of obsidian have a very high luster. Ancient people noticed that they
could see a reflection in obsidian and used it as a mirror. Later, pieces of obsidian were ground
flat and highly polished to improve their reflective abilities. Obsidian's hardness of 5.5 makes
it relatively easy to carve. Artists have used obsidian to make masks, small sculptures, and
figurines for thousands of years.
Question

– What is the main idea of the text?


Obsidian is an igneous rock that forms when molten rock material cools so rapidly
that atoms are unable to arrange themselves into a crystalline structure.
– What is the purpose of the text
To inform the readers what is obsidian
– What things can be form by using obsidian?
Obsidian usually are used in making a mirror, jewelry, masks, opal doublets, opal
triplets, small sculptures, and figurines for thousands of years.
Tips Tricks for Reading
Comprehension

– 1.Take a Quick look


Take a bird's eye view and find out the overall context of the passage. There is no need to read the whole passage in
examination hall where every second is very crucial. Pick questions in which you are sure.
– 2. Read the Questions First
In examination hall where time plays a pivotal role, proper strategy plays a crucial role. Do not waste time reading the
whole passage, instead start from reading questions first. Once you get the needed lines of the answer in the RC, then
compare it with the options given in the question. If you are unable to locate an answer then move to the next
question, do not get stuck on any question!! Through this approach, you will be able to find the theme and flow of
passage in the shortest span of time.
• Pick out the keywords and then go the passage and locate your answer.
• This reverse approach saves your time.
– 3. Look out for Vocabulary based questions
– Again, if you are running out of time and thriving for few more marks than Vocabulary based
question in Reading Comprehension are the best choice. Even if you don’t have time to go
through the passage, you can take chance and pick out the correct word from options alone.
– 4. What do the authors view in this passage
– Stay away from questions like what is the author’s view in this passage, or what is the author
trying to say, as these questions are usually controversial and time-consuming as you need to
read and understand the whole passage.
– 5. Focus
– Focus on the content. Don’t let your mind go away from there. If it starts daydreaming...bring
it back into reality. Tell yourself that you have plenty of time to dream after the exam. Else
even after you read it completely, you will grasp nothing.
– 6. Improve reading Speed
– Do not move your lips while reading, it slows you down. Reading
Comprehension requires you to be smart and smartness comes from practice.
– 7. Practice a lot
– “Normally, students who believe themselves to be weak in Reading
Comprehension, are unwilling to practice. Most of them try to avoid solving at
home. They make a lot of excuses. But remember excuses don’t bring you
success. Success won’t be available unless you confront your fears and
weaknesses.

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