Nancy took a breath and gathered her thoughts. She imagined that passing through the gray-zone door into Level 4 was like a spacewalk, except that instead of going into outer space, you went into inner space, which was full of the pressure of life trying to get inside your suit. People went into Level 4 areas all the time at the Institute, particularly the civilian animal caretakers. But going into a containment zone to perform a necropsy on an animal that had died of an amplified unknown hot agent was something a little different. This was high-hazard work.
–The Hot Zone,
Richard Preston
Read the passage, and highlight clues that reveal the meaning of the underlined words. Then, use the drop-down menus to answer the questions.
What is Level 4?
a. the next level of dimension after 3-D
b.a high-security area for a contagious specimen
c.a gray zone of inner space
What is a hot agent?
a. an extremely contagious disease or virus
b. a law enforcement officer with a weapon
c. a new energy source from outer space