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The paragraphs in the following article have been labelled a-e. Read the article and then choose which sentence below best summarises each paragraph.

a) The volcano's first recorded eruption was in 1500 BC, and it is believed to have erupted about 200 times since.

b) One of the mountain's most dramatic eruptions lasted four months, from March to July of 1669. That eruption caused great damage to surrounding areas, submerging a dozen villages in western Catania, including the village of Nicolosi, which is currently under threat by lava from the latest eruption.

c) But Etna's eruptive behaviour has changed over the past 400 years.

d) For nearly a century following the 1669 eruption, Etna's output is believed to have been very low. A flank eruption in 1755, however, brought about several years of volcanic activity, including overflow of lava.

e) A huge eruption in 1865 was among the largest since 1669. A few weeks after the end of that eruption, a devastating earthquake (measuring about 4.7 on the Richter scale) in the area killed more than 70 people near the village of Macchia.

From 'Etna: the Stuff of Myths' - Tamar Shiloh (BBC News Online, July 2001)

Which paragraph do the following sentences best summarise?

Choose which writing style would be best suited to the following examples.

You scored 5 out of 5

1. Description of one of the most dramatic eruptions.

You said: b
Correct. Paragraph b is a description of one of the most dramatic eruptions.



2. Explanation of how the volcano's activity has changed

You said: d
Correct. Paragraph d is an explanation of how the volcano's activity has changed.



3. Description of a more recent, huge eruption.

You said: e
Correct. Paragraph e is a description of a more recent, huge eruption.



4. When the volcano first erupted.

You said: a
Correct. Paragraph a states when the first volcano erupted.



5. Statement that the volcano's activity has changed.

You said: c
Correct. Paragraph c is a statement that the volcano's activity has changed.