Weather Words
What does the word humid tell you about the air?
It contains a lot of moisture, or water vapor.
What must a funnel cloud touch before it becomes a tornado?
The Ground
A loud, roaring sound.
What is the genre of this passage?
Informational Text
According to the text, where should someone go if their house has a basement?
To the basement.
What do we call a scientist who studies weather?
Meteorologist
It becomes bigger, louder, and more powerful.
Which classification describes the most violent tornadoes?
What is the author's main purpose for writing this selection?
To inform readers about tornadoes and how people can protect themselves.
According to the text, where should someone go inside a house without a basement?
An interior closet or bathroom, far from outside walls
What is an updraft?
Warm, humid air rising from the ground toward a storm cloud.
Tornadoes begin inside what kind of storm clouds?
Cumulonimbus Clouds
What two regions does the passage identify as places where tornadoes happen frequently?
Tornado Alley & Florida
How does the heading "What to Do When a Tornado Approaches" help readers?
It tells readers that the section gives tornado safety directions and helps them find that information.
What two things does the text tell people to stay away from during a tornado?
Windows and outside walls.
How is a downdraft different from an updraft?
A downdraft is cool air falling toward Earth. An updraft is warm air rising.
What two things about a tornado's damage help determine its classification?
The amount of damage and the type of damage.
How does the tree damage from an EF-0 tornado compare with the tree damage from an EF-3 tornado?
An EF-0 can break branches and blow over shallow-rooted trees. AN EF-3 can uproot a forest.
How do the arrows in the illustration on page 206 help explain the text?
They show warm air rising and cool air moving downward.
Why does the text suggest covering yourself with a mattress or heavy blankets?
To help protect you from falling debris.
What happens during condensation?
Water vapor cools and changes into liquid water.
Why are tornado wind speeds estimates instead of exact measurements?
Scientists cannot directly measure the winds in every tornado, so they estimate speeds using the damage.
According to the text, how do th emonth when most tornadoes occur differ between Tornado Alley and Florida?
Tornado Alley: April, May, and June.
Florida: January, February, and March
Give a short summary of the passage.
EX. Tornadoes form inside strong storms and can cause serious damage. The text explains how they form and are classified, where they often occur, and how people can prepare and protect themselves.
Why must people remain careful after a tornado has passed? Name two dangers from the text.
Dangerous conditions can remain.
EX: fallen electrical wires, broken glass, and unsafe structures.