Text Structures

A hurricane is a large storm with heavy winds and rain that begins in the ocean and builds up strength as it moves across the water. While some of the damage caused by hurricanes is from high winds, most of it is usually from tidal surge, flooding entire cities, and killing large numbers of people. A tornado is a storm that develops on land, with no warning, and moves in a circular motion with heavy winds with a funnel shape, picking up and carrying dirt, dust, and even objects. The damage caused by tornadoes is from the high velocity winds, which are extremely destructive and deadly. They can demolish entire neighborhoods in a matter of a few seconds to a few minutes.  Tornadoes can form when hurricanes make landfall, as their winds at ground level slow down, while the winds near the top keep their momentum, but a hurricane cannot be created by a tornado.
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Lightning and thunder are related events.  Lightning is a sudden, violent flash of electricity that occurs between a cloud and the ground or between two clouds in the sky. A lightning bolt can be several miles long and can be straight or forked. It is very hot, with an average temperature of 34 000 degrees Celsius. This causes the air around the electric bolt to expand, producing lots of sound energy. It is this sound energy that we hear as thunder.  So, lightning and thunder are caused by the same event, but lightning is light energy, or electromagnetic energy, whereas thunder is sound energy.  Thus, we see lightning and hear thunder.
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When a river receives a lot of extra water it may flood.  During a flood there is plenty of water, and most people wouldn't think that dehydration was a serious risk, but flood waters are mostly polluted and not safe to drink.  People who drink the contaminated water may suffer from illnesses or diseases such as typhoid.  You can prepare for flooding by filling many containers with fresh clean drinking water.  You can also use sandbags to protect your house and to soak up the water.  Be prepared and be safe.
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Lots of students fail classes every semester.  Some students fail because the work is too hard for them.  Other times they may fail because they are lazy, and don’t do any work.  Another reason why students may fail is they don’t go to school.  If you’re not in class you may miss a lot of work. 
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The Mona Lisa is a painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. It was painted between 1503 and 1506. Today, it is thought to be the most well known painting in the world. You can see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. About six million people view the famous painting each year.
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The beloved children's writer, Shel Silverstein is well known for his three books of children's poems. The first book, Where the Sidewalk Ends was first published in 1974. The second book, A Light in the Attic, came out seven years later in 1981. The final book, Falling Up, was published in 1996.

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Marsupials are a kind of mammal. Most female marsupials have a pouch to carry their babies. A newborn marsupial is very small and underdeveloped. It will spend the first part of its life in its mother's pouch. Kangaroos, wombats, and koalas are all marsupials.
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To make a snowman, start by rolling a big ball for the body. Then roll a smaller ball and put it on top of the big ball to use as the head. Next, find two sticks to use as arms. Then you can use objects such as coal, a carrot, and raisins to make the face. Add a hat and your snowman is complete!

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When farmers use fertilizer to fertilize their crops, the left over fertilizer can run into nearby ponds, streams and rivers. The result is that the nutrient-rich fertilizer causes way too much algae to grow. All that algae is bad for the plants and animals that live there.
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Next time you are thirsty, try drinking a glass of water instead of a soda. Although both will quench your thirst, soda is full of sugar and chemicals. Water, on the other hand, is a much healthier choice. Water helps your digestive system to function properly and keeps you immune system strong so you won't get sick.

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