The Great Barrier Reef:
A Living Structure
A Living Structure
How many individual reefs make up the Great Barrier Reef system?
A. 1,400
B. 1,500
C. Nearly 3,000
D. Exactly 900
C. Nearly 3,000
What is the scientific name for the lights seen in the Southern Hemisphere?
A. Aurora Borealis
B. Solar Magnetism
C. Aurora Australis
D. Nitrogen Glow
C. Aurora Australis
What was the name of the leather cover used to carry the mail?
A. A relay pack
B. A swing bag
C. A mochila
D. A saddle-purse
C. A mochila
What are the tiny openings on leaves called?
A. Chlorophyll
B. Stomata
C. Glucose
D. Roots
B. Stomata
What was Thomas Edison's nickname?
A. The Father of Light
B. The Inventor of New Jersey
C. The Wizard of Menlo Park
D. The King of Patents
C. The Wizard of Menlo Park
What are the tiny organisms that build the reef's structure?
A. Algae
B. Coral polyps
C. Giant clams
D. Sea turtles
B. Coral polyps
At what altitude do the Northern Lights typically occur?
A. 10 to 15 miles
B. 60 to 200 miles
C. 1,400 miles
D. Right at ground level
B. 60 to 200 miles
Why were riders required to be lightweight?
A. So they could fit in the swing stations
B. To allow the horses to run at faster speeds
C. Because the leather mail bags were very heavy
D. To make it easier for them to hide from danger
B. To allow the horses to run at faster speeds
What is the name of the sugar that plants create for energy?
A. Carbonate
B. Oxygen
C. Glucose
D. Chlorophyll
C. Glucose
What material did Edison eventually use to make a long-lasting filament?
A. Copper wire
B. Carbonized bamboo
C. Cotton string
D. Pure gold
B. Carbonized bamboo
Why is the reef nicknamed the "rainforest of the sea"?
A. Because it receives a lot of underwater rain
B. Because it is green and full of trees
C. Because of the vast diversity of life that lives there
D. Because it is located near the Australian rainforest
C. Because of the vast diversity of life that lives there
How does Earth's magnetic field contribute to the creation of the lights?
A. It changes the oxygen into nitrogen.
B. It heats up the atmosphere to create fire.
C. It pulls solar particles toward the Earth's poles.
D. It reflects the sun's light like a mirror.
C. It pulls solar particles toward the Earth's poles.
What was the main difference between a "swing station" and a "home station"?
A. Swing stations were for horses; home stations were for switching riders.
B. Swing stations were for sleeping; home stations were for eating.
C. Swing stations were in the desert; home stations were in the mountains.
D. Swing stations were for telegraphs; home stations were for mail.
A. Swing stations were for horses; home stations were for switching riders.
What is the primary role of chlorophyll in the photosynthesis "factory"?
A. To release oxygen into the air
B. To absorb water from the soil
C. To capture energy from the sunlight
D. To open and close the stomata
C. To capture energy from the sunlight
Besides the light bulb, what other invention mentioned in the text influenced the entertainment industry?
A. The telegraph
B. The steam engine
C. The motion picture camera
D. The battery
C. The motion picture camera
According to the passage, what is the specific cause of coral bleaching?
A. Overcrowding of fish species
B. The loss of algae due to warm water
C. Pollution from outer space
D. The age of the limestone skeletons
B. The loss of algae due to warm water
Why might a person see a red aurora instead of a green one?
A. Because nitrogen was hit instead of oxygen
B. Because the sun’s particles were moving slower
C. Because the collision happened at a very high altitude
D. Because they are looking at the lights from Norway
C. Because the collision happened at a very high altitude
Compare the Pony Express to the stagecoach. How much faster was the Pony Express?
A. It was 10 days slower.
B. It was about 15 days faster.
C. It was 25 days faster.
D. It was the same speed, but used fewer horses.
B. It was about 15 days faster.
How do the roots and the stomata work together to help the plant?
A. Roots take in water while stomata take in carbon dioxide.
B. Roots take in sunlight while stomata take in water.
C. Roots release oxygen while stomata release sugar.
D. Both parts are responsible for making the plant look green.
A. Roots take in water while stomata take in carbon dioxide.
What does Edison’s quote, "I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work," tell us about his process?
A. He was bad at following directions.
B. He viewed mistakes as part of the learning process.
C. He liked to waste time on purpose.
D. He was lucky to finally find the right answer.
B. He viewed mistakes as part of the learning process.
Based on the text, what would most likely happen to the 1,500 species of fish if bleaching continues?
A. They would adapt and start eating the white coral.
B. They would thrive because there is more room to swim.
C. Their population would decrease as their habitat and food source disappear.
D. They would begin building their own reefs out of limestone.
C. Their population would decrease as their habitat and food source disappear.
What can you conclude about the role of the sun in this phenomenon?
A. The sun provides the energy particles that trigger the light display.
B. The sun’s heat is what makes the colors change.
C. The sun only creates lights during the daytime.
D. The sun’s gravity is more important than Earth’s magnetism.
A. The sun provides the energy particles that trigger the light display.
Why did the telegraph cause the Pony Express to go out of business?
A. The telegraph was cheaper because it didn't use horses.
B. The telegraph was safer because it didn't require riders to travel.
C. The telegraph could send information instantly, making 10-day delivery look slow.
D. All of the above.
D. All of the above.
If a plant were kept in a dark room with no light, which part of the photosynthesis process would fail first?
A. The plant would stop absorbing water.
B. The plant would be unable to capture the energy needed to combine water and gas.
C. The stomata would stay open too long.
D. The plant would start breathing like a human.
B. The plant would be unable to capture the energy needed to combine water and gas.
Why was the invention of the phonograph and motion picture camera considered just as important as the light bulb?
A. They all used the same bamboo filament.
B. They all helped people see better at night.
C. They all changed how people experienced daily life and communication.
D. They were all invented in less than 18 months.
C. They all changed how people experienced daily life and communication.