It is one of the disadvantages of reading books about natural scenic

It is one of the disadvantages of reading books about natural scenic wonders that they fill the mind with pictures, often exaggerated, often distorted, often blurred, and, even when well drawn, injurious to the freshness of first impressions. Such has been the fate of most of us with regard to the Falls of Niagara. There was little accuracy in the estimates of the first observers of the cataract. Startled by an exhibition of power so novel and so grand, emotion leaped beyond the control of the judgment, and gave currency to notions which have often led to disappointment.

In the winter of 1678 and 1679 the cataract was visited by Father Hennepin, and described in a book dedicated to the King of Great Britain. He gives a drawing of the waterfall, which shows that serious changes have taken place since his time. He describes it as ‘a great and prodigious cadence of water, to which the universe does not offer a parallel.’ The height of the fall, according to Hennepin, was more than 600 feet. ‘The waters,’ he says, ‘which fall from this great precipice do foam and boil in the most astonishing manner, making a noise more terrible than that of thunder. When the wind blows to the south its frightful roaring may be heard for more than fifteen leagues.’ The Baron la Hontan, who visited Niagara in 1687, makes the height 800 feet. In 1721 Charlevois, in a letter to Madame de Maintenon, after referring to the exaggerations of his predecessors, thus states the result of his own observations: ‘For my part, after examining it on all sides, I am inclined to think that we cannot allow it less than 140 or 150 feet,’—a remarkably close estimate.

As regards the noise of the fall, Charlevois declares the accounts of his predecessors, which, I may say, are repeated to the present hour, to be altogether extravagant. He is perfectly right. The thunders of Niagara are formidable enough to those who really seek them at the base of the Horseshoe Fall; but on the banks of the river, and particularly above the fall, its silence, rather than its noise, is surprising. This arises, in part, from the lack of resonance; the surrounding country being flat, and therefore furnishing no echoing surfaces to reinforce the shock of the water.

1. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with doing which of the following?

(A) Discussing a problem associated with reading books about natural wonders before visiting them
(B) Refuting those who claimed that a natural wonder was of a particular height
(C) Describing how the initial descriptions of a natural wonder were greatly exaggerated
(D) Explaining why an expected aural phenomenon does not actually occur
(E) Marvelling at the grandeur of a natural wonder

2. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage about the height of the Niagara Falls?

(A) The Niagara Falls were higher than any other natural waterfall at the time of writing the passage.
(B) Hennepin lied about the height of the Niagara Falls in his book dedicated to the King of Great Britain.
(C) There are no mountains in the area surrounding the Niagara Falls.
(D) The actual height of the Niagara Falls is around 150 feet.
(E) The height of the Niagara Falls reduced considerably in the period between Father Hennepin’s and Charlevois’ visits.

3. According to the information in the passage, each of the following is true EXCEPT:

(A) The Niagara Falls does make a thunderous sound but it is not audible from everywhere.
(B) Reading books about natural scenery can be disadvantageous at times.
(C) A flat topography is not conducive to resonance.
(D) A person standing at the base of the Niagara Falls would actually be surprised at the silence that greets him.
(E) At times people tend to get carried away while describing the characteristics of a natural wonder.

4. If, after reading this passage, a person were to visit the Niagara Falls, which of the following would he NOT be surprised at?

(A) The Niagara Falls is 480 feet in height.
(B) There are several tall mountains in the vicinity of the Niagara Falls.
(C) There is absolute silence at the base of the Niagara Falls.
(D) There is a roaring sound above the Niagara Falls.
(E) There is a river flowing in the vicinity of the Niagara Falls.