Words in Context
"The evacuation moved families out of the danger zone." What does evacuation mean?
Moving people away from danger to a safer place.
The root geo means Earth. What does geology study?
Earth, including its rocks, structure, and processes.
Before storm season, a town checks its shelters. Families gather supplies. Schools practice emergency plans.
What is the central idea of this passage?
Communities prepare for storms in several ways.
Which text feature explains symbols on a map?
A map key or legend.
A text explains how hurricanes form and gives scientific facts. What is the author's main purpose?
To inform or explain.
"The storm caused widespread damage across several towns." What does widespread mean?
Spread over a large area.
The root rupt means break or burst. How does that help explain eruption?
An eruption involves material bursting out, such as rock, gas, and lava from a volcano.
Scientists noticed more tremors near the volcano and shared the information with local leaders. Officials closed a nearby trail. A photographer took a picture of the mountain.
Which detail best supports the idea that careful observation can help people prepare?
Scientists noticed more tremors and shared the information, which led officials to close the trail.
Heavy rain soaked the hillside. As a result, loose soil slid downhill.
Which text structure is used here?
Cause and effect.
Identify the figurative language: "The wind howled like a hungry wolf." What does it help you imagine?
A simile comparing the wind to a wolf; it suggests a loud, fierce sound.
"A small earthquake triggered a landslide." What does triggered mean here?
Caused something to begin or happen.
The suffix -logist means a person who studies a subject. What does a seismologist study?
Earthquakes and seismic waves.
Rain fell for two days. The river rose steadily. After officials warned that roads could flood, residents packed bags and drove to higher ground.
What can you infer about why the residents left? Support your inference with a detail.
They believed flooding might become dangerous. Evidence: the river was rising and officials warned that roads could flood.
First, scientists collected readings. Next, they compared the data. Finally, they reported their findings.
What text structure is used here? Name one clue.
Sequence / chronological order. Clues include first, next, and finally.
A video combines a map, an expert's explanation, and footage of waves. How can the map help viewers?
It can show where the waves traveled or which places were affected, adding location information to the explanation and footage.
"The earthquake's magnitude was greater than that of the earlier quake." What does magnitude describe?
The size of an earthquake, related to the energy released.
The prefix inter- means between or among. What does international mean?
Between or involving nations.
A team measured new cracks and rising gas levels near a volcano. The scientists shared their findings. Officials moved nearby residents away before the eruption.
Give an objective one-sentence summary.
Scientists found signs of volcanic activity and warned officials, who moved nearby residents to safety.
Why would an author include a labeled diagram of a volcano?
To show its parts and their positions, making its structure or processes easier to understand.
The wave slammed into the empty seawall.
How does the word slammed affect the tone?
It creates a forceful, intense or urgent tone and emphasizes the wave's power.
"The wave's force was alarming. Officials sounded an alarm." Explain the meaning of alarming in the first sentence.
Causing fear or worry. Context shows that the wave's force concerned people; alarming is describing the force, while alarm in the second sentence is a warning signal.
The root graph means write or record. Explain how it helps you understand seismograph.
A seismograph records ground vibrations. The root graph points to its recording function.
A. Scientists measured rainfall and river height to estimate flood risk.
B. Town leaders use elevation maps to find low areas that may flood and plan routes to higher ground.
Use BOTH passages to explain how different kinds of information help communities prepare.
Measurements help identify changing conditions; maps help locate areas at risk. Together they support decisions about where and when to move people. Cite a detail from each passage.
The only bridge out of town often flooded. Town leaders marked another evacuation route and practiced using it with residents.
Which text structure fits this passage? Explain your choice.
Problem and solution: the problem is the bridge flooding; the solution is planing and practicing another route.
A. "I enjoy making lists."
B. "Planning meeting places ahead of time helps family members know where to reunite if separated."
A writer claims, "Every family should make an emergency plan." Which is stronger support, A or B? Explain.
B is stronger because it explains a specific benefit of making a plan. A is a personal preference without relevant support.