Diary Details Passage 1
What woke Elena up in the morning?
A loud rumbling like a train / the earthquake
What caused the earthquake?
Movement along the San Andreas Fault
What does “ruptured” most nearly mean?
Broken or burst
Why did fires spread after the earthquake?
Gas lines broke and water pipes were damaged
Which passage tells a personal story?
Passage 1 (Diary)
Why was it hard for Elena to walk?
The ground was shaking/moving
How long did the strongest shaking last?
Less than one minute
What does “flexible” mean in the article?
Able to bend or move without breaking
What happened because water pipes burst?
Firefighters couldn’t stop the fires
Which passage includes scientific explanations?
Passage 2 (Article)
What did Elena save, and why was it important?
Her schoolbook; it reminded her of normal life
What did people use explosives for?
To create firebreaks to stop the fires
What does “organized response” mean?
People working together in a planned way
What caused buildings to collapse or lean?
Seismic waves shaking the ground
How are the tones of the two passages different?
Diary = emotional/personal; Article = factual/informational
How did people react after the earthquake?
Some cried, some stayed quiet, gathered in fields
Why do engineers study this earthquake today?
To improve building design
What does “pressure built” suggest?
Energy slowly increased before the quake
Explain how the earthquake led to long-lasting damage.
Shaking caused breaks in gas and water lines → fires spread for days
How do both passages show people helping each other?
Diary: families gather; Article: neighbors share food and help
What details show the destruction Elena witnessed?
Buildings leaning, walls collapsing, dust, fires
What are seismic waves?
Energy waves that move through the Earth causing shaking
What does “firebreak” mean?
A gap created to stop fire from spreading
Why were fires more damaging than the earthquake itself?
Because they burned for days and couldn’t be controlled
What is one main difference in purpose between the passages?
iary = share experience; Article = explain and inform