Little is known about the elusive section of the earth’s atmosphere known as the mesosphere. Located between the stratosphere (the maximum altitude that airplanes can achieve) and the thermosphere (the minimum altitude of spacecraft), the mesosphere is poorly understood and little explored. The most significant feature of the mesosphere is the various tides and waves that propagate up from the troposphere and stratosphere. The dissipation of these waves is largely responsible for propelling the mesosphere around the globe. These wave patterns are further affected when gas particles in the mesosphere collide with meteoroids, producing spectacular explosions, which usually generate enough heat to consume the meteor before it can fall to earth. The conflagration leaves behind traces of iron and other metals and fuels the atmospheric tides radiating outward from the mesosphere.

The author primarily describes the mesosphere as

A. destructive
B. opaque
C. unfamiliar
D. radiant
E. anarchic

Consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply

The passage suggests that the mesosphere is influenced by

A. collisions with extraterrestrial debris
B. vibrations from the troposphere
C. oceanic tides