About 126,000 gallons of oil spilled along Calif. coast in “potential ecological disaster”

About 126,000 gallons of oil spilled along Calif. coast in “potential ecological disaster”

by Mrs. Brooks Austin

​Around 126,000 gallons (573,000 liters) of crude oil have spilled into the ocean. The spill happened near the Southern California coast. Crude oil is a liquid found beneath Earth's surface. People use it for different types of fuel. This includes gasoline.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story tells you what crude oil is?

• "Around 126,000 gallons (573,000 liters) of crude oil have spilled into the ocean."

• "The spill happened near the Southern California coast."

• "Crude oil is a liquid found beneath Earth's surface."

• "People use it for different types of fuel. This includes gasoline."

Multiple Choice

According to the story, where did this happen?

• California

• Arizona

• Oregon

• Washington

​Boaters first noticed the spill on October 2. Then, the oil began washing up on beaches, along with several dead animals. As of October 4, the oil spill had covered around 13 square miles. That is 33.7 square kilometers. Officials closed down several beaches, including Huntington Beach.

Multiple Choice

According to the story, when was the spill first seen?

• October 2nd

• November 2nd

• September 2nd

• December 2nd

Multiple Choice

According to the story, how many square miles did the oil spill cover?

• 13 square miles

• 33.7 Square Kilometers

• 31 square miles

• 3 square miles

​"This oil spill constitutes one of the most devastating situations that our community has dealt with in decades," said Kim Carr, who is the mayor of Huntington Beach. She said that the spill could become a disaster for wildlife in the area.

Multiple Select

​"This oil spill constitutes one of the most devastating situations that our community has dealt with in decades," said Kim Carr, who is the mayor of Huntington Beach."

What are two synonyms for the word devastating?

• Destructive

• Disastrous

• Protective

• Harmless

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story tells you which beach that this happened at?

• ​"This oil spill constitutes one of the most devastating situations that our community has dealt with in decades," said Kim Carr, who is the mayor of Huntington Beach.

• "She said that the spill could become a disaster for wildlife in the area."

• There is no sentence that tells you.

Wide-Scale Cleanup

Officials believe the oil came from a leak in an underwater pipeline. Pipelines are systems of pipes used to transport oil. Connected to the pipeline was an oil drilling facility run by the company Amplify Energy.​

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story tells you where the oil spill came from?

• "Officials believe the oil came from a leak in an underwater pipeline."

• "Pipelines are systems of pipes used to transport oil."

• "Connected to the pipeline was an oil drilling facility run by the company Amplify Energy.​"

Multiple Choice

According to the story, who owned the pipeline?

• California

• Amplify Energy

• Arizona

• Microsoft

​After the spill, the company shut off the pipeline. They suctioned out all the remaining oil to prevent further spillage. The company also sent a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to the site of the leak. ROVs are underwater robots. People use them to explore the ocean. The ROV will determine what went wrong, according to the company.

Multiple Choice

According to the story, what are ROV'S?

• Underwater Robots

• A boat

• The pipeline where they store oil

• A type of car

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story tells you what they did with the remaining oil?

• "​After the spill, the company shut off the pipeline."

• "They suctioned out all the remaining oil to prevent further spillage."

• "The company also sent a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to the site of the leak."

• "ROVs are underwater robots. People use them to explore the ocean."

​A wide-scale cleanup is now underway. The cleanup efforts will continue until officials determine that the response to the oil spill is complete, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is a branch of the military that protects and enforces laws on seas, lakes and rivers.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story tells you what the coast guard is?

• "The Coast Guard is a branch of the military that protects and enforces laws on seas, lakes and rivers."

• "A wide-scale cleanup is now underway."

• "The cleanup efforts will continue until officials determine that the response to the oil spill is complete, according to the U.S. Coast Guard."

Multiple Select

"A wide-scale cleanup is now underway."

What are two synonyms for the word wide-scale?

• Extensive

• Expansive

• Small

• Limited

​However, the spill could have huge effects on ocean wildlife. Already, several dead oil-covered fish and birds have been found. Wildlife experts are also warning of long-term environmental problems. The spill could have long-lasting effects on animals. It can affect their ability to have offspring, or babies.

Multiple Select

"Wildlife experts are also warning of long-term environmental problems."

What are two synonyms for the word environmental?

• Climate

• Atmosphere

• Nothing

• Void

Multiple Select

Which sentence from the story tells you what can happen to the animals after an oil spill?

• ​"However, the spill could have huge effects on ocean wildlife."

• "Already, several dead oil-covered fish and birds have been found."

• "Wildlife experts are also warning of long-term environmental problems."

• "The spill could have long-lasting effects on animals. It can affect their ability to have offspring, or babies."

​Local conservationists are also worried. Conservationists are people who work to preserve and protect the natural environment. They have concerns about several wetland areas. Wetlands are low-lying areas of land that are either soaked or covered with water much of the year.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story tells you what a conservationist is?

• "Local conservationists are also worried."

• "Conservationists are people who work to preserve and protect the natural environment."

• "They have concerns about several wetland areas."

• "Wetlands are low-lying areas of land that are either soaked or covered with water much of the year."

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story tells you what a wetland is?

• "Wetlands are low-lying areas of land that are either soaked or covered with water much of the year."

• "Local conservationists are also worried."

• Conservationists are people who work to preserve and protect the natural environment.

• "They have concerns about several wetland areas."

​The local wetlands are home to many types of birds. This includes the snowy plover and the California least tern. These birds are endangered species. These are living things that have become so rare they are in danger of disappearing completely.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story tells you what an endangered species?

• "The local wetlands are home to many types of birds."

• "These are living things that have become so rare they are in danger of disappearing completely."

• "These birds are endangered species."

• "This includes the snowy plover and the California least tern."

Multiple Select

According to the story, what are TWO birds that are being affected in California?

• Snowy Plover

• California Least Tern

• Pigeons

• Seagulls

​The oil has already affected many local wetlands, said Katrina Foley. She works for Orange County, where the oil spill happened. She said they want to prevent the oil from intruding further into the area.

Multiple Choice

According to the story, where did the oil spill happen?

• Orange County

• Maricopa County

• Los Angeles County

• Sacramento County

Multiple Select

"She said they want to prevent the oil from intruding further into the area."

What are two synonyms for the word prevent?

• Stop

• Fend off

• Allow

• Promote

​Officials have released 2,000 feet (610 meters) of protective booms in the wetlands. These booms are floating barriers that contain oil spills. The goal is for the booms to limit the amount of oil that is currently polluting the wetlands.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story tells you what a boom is?

• "​Officials have released 2,000 feet (610 meters) of protective booms in the wetlands."

• "These booms are floating barriers that contain oil spills."

• The goal is for the booms to limit the amount of oil that is currently polluting the wetlands.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story tells you the goal of the boom's?

• "Officials have released 2,000 feet (610 meters) of protective booms in the wetlands."

• "These booms are floating barriers that contain oil spills."

• "The goal is for the booms to limit the amount of oil that is currently polluting the wetlands."

​The Coast Guard is also using booms. They are trying to remove oil from the ocean water's surface. As of October 4, they have only removed around 3,000 gallons (11,400 liters) of oil. This is less than 3 percent of the amount of oil that spilled.

Multiple Choice

According to the story, how many gallons have been removed from the ocean? 

• 3,000 gallons

• 300 gallons

• 30 gallons

• 3 gallons

Multiple Choice

What is the authors purpose?

Open Ended

What is one thing you would do to help if there was an oil spill near where you lived?

Something that I would do to help is_______