Danger! Earthquakes Test Review

What does the word damage mean in this sentence from Danger! Earthquakes?

The Mercalli scale tells us how much damage an earthquake caused.

• harm

• noise

What does the word collapse mean in this text from Danger! Earthquakes?

Other buildings nearby collapse.

• rise up

• fall down

What does the word level mean in this sentence from Danger! Earthquakes?

You would not feel a Level 1 quake.

• flat surface

• point on a scale

Studying Earthquakes

On April 18, 1906, there was a huge earthquake. It happened in San Francisco, California. The earthquake shook the city. The shaking lasted for forty-five seconds to a minute. People felt the earthquake as far north as southern Oregon. Even people in central Nevada felt it.

The strongest shaking happened near the San Francisco Bay. This area used to be under water. People had filled the water with soil and rocks. They did this to make more land. They had built houses and businesses on this land. Unfortunately, the land was not as strong as people thought. During the earthquake, the land moved back and forth. The buildings on it fell. After the shaking ended, this disaster had caused over 2,100 deaths.

Soon people realized that studying earthquakes was important. Today, special tools measure shaking all over California. Scientists use computers to figure out what the data means. Experts use this information to learn about the hundreds of faults in California. Faults are cracks in the Earth’s surface. Scientists use information about faults to predict where earthquakes will happen. They can also predict how strong the earthquakes will be.

City planners use this information, too. They decide where buildings should or should not be built. Then engineers design buildings and bridges that can handle strong shaking. Lawmakers use information about earthquakes to make building rules. These rules make sure that people are prepared for earthquakes in the future.

What is the main topic of the text?

• tools scientists use to study earthquakes

• earthquakes and why it is important to study them

Studying Earthquakes

On April 18, 1906, there was a huge earthquake. It happened in San Francisco, California. The earthquake shook the city. The shaking lasted for forty-five seconds to a minute. People felt the earthquake as far north as southern Oregon. Even people in central Nevada felt it.

The strongest shaking happened near the San Francisco Bay. This area used to be under water. People had filled the water with soil and rocks. They did this to make more land. They had built houses and businesses on this land. Unfortunately, the land was not as strong as people thought. During the earthquake, the land moved back and forth. The buildings on it fell. After the shaking ended, this disaster had caused over 2,100 deaths.

Soon people realized that studying earthquakes was important. Today, special tools measure shaking all over California. Scientists use computers to figure out what the data means. Experts use this information to learn about the hundreds of faults in California. Faults are cracks in the Earth’s surface. Scientists use information about faults to predict where earthquakes will happen. They can also predict how strong the earthquakes will be.

City planners use this information, too. They decide where buildings should or should not be built. Then engineers design buildings and bridges that can handle strong shaking. Lawmakers use information about earthquakes to make building rules. These rules make sure that people are prepared for earthquakes in the future.

What happened on April 18, 1906?

• People decided to study earthquakes.

• A huge earthquake shook San Francisco.

Studying Earthquakes

On April 18, 1906, there was a huge earthquake. It happened in San Francisco, California. The earthquake shook the city. The shaking lasted for forty-five seconds to a minute. People felt the earthquake as far north as southern Oregon. Even people in central Nevada felt it.

The strongest shaking happened near the San Francisco Bay. This area used to be under water. People had filled the water with soil and rocks. They did this to make more land. They had built houses and businesses on this land. Unfortunately, the land was not as strong as people thought. During the earthquake, the land moved back and forth. The buildings on it fell. After the shaking ended, this disaster had caused over 2,100 deaths.

Soon people realized that studying earthquakes was important. Today, special tools measure shaking all over California. Scientists use computers to figure out what the data means. Experts use this information to learn about the hundreds of faults in California. Faults are cracks in the Earth’s surface. Scientists use information about faults to predict where earthquakes will happen. They can also predict how strong the earthquakes will be.

City planners use this information, too. They decide where buildings should or should not be built. Then engineers design buildings and bridges that can handle strong shaking. Lawmakers use information about earthquakes to make building rules. These rules make sure that people are prepared for earthquakes in the future.

Based on context clues, what does the word faults mean?

• cracks in the Earth's surface

• earthquakes that happen in California

Studying Earthquakes

On April 18, 1906, there was a huge earthquake. It happened in San Francisco, California. The earthquake shook the city. The shaking lasted for forty-five seconds to a minute. People felt the earthquake as far north as southern Oregon. Even people in central Nevada felt it.

The strongest shaking happened near the San Francisco Bay. This area used to be under water. People had filled the water with soil and rocks. They did this to make more land. They had built houses and businesses on this land. Unfortunately, the land was not as strong as people thought. During the earthquake, the land moved back and forth. The buildings on it fell. After the shaking ended, this disaster had caused over 2,100 deaths.

Soon people realized that studying earthquakes was important. Today, special tools measure shaking all over California. Scientists use computers to figure out what the data means. Experts use this information to learn about the hundreds of faults in California. Faults are cracks in the Earth’s surface. Scientists use information about faults to predict where earthquakes will happen. They can also predict how strong the earthquakes will be.

City planners use this information, too. They decide where buildings should or should not be built. Then engineers design buildings and bridges that can handle strong shaking. Lawmakers use information about earthquakes to make building rules. These rules make sure that people are prepared for earthquakes in the future.

Based on context clues, what does the word data mean?

• collect facts

• ways of studying

Studying Earthquakes

On April 18, 1906, there was a huge earthquake. It happened in San Francisco, California. The earthquake shook the city. The shaking lasted for forty-five seconds to a minute. People felt the earthquake as far north as southern Oregon. Even people in central Nevada felt it.

The strongest shaking happened near the San Francisco Bay. This area used to be under water. People had filled the water with soil and rocks. They did this to make more land. They had built houses and businesses on this land. Unfortunately, the land was not as strong as people thought. During the earthquake, the land moved back and forth. The buildings on it fell. After the shaking ended, this disaster had caused over 2,100 deaths.

Soon people realized that studying earthquakes was important. Today, special tools measure shaking all over California. Scientists use computers to figure out what the data means. Experts use this information to learn about the hundreds of faults in California. Faults are cracks in the Earth’s surface. Scientists use information about faults to predict where earthquakes will happen. They can also predict how strong the earthquakes will be.

City planners use this information, too. They decide where buildings should or should not be built. Then engineers design buildings and bridges that can handle strong shaking. Lawmakers use information about earthquakes to make building rules. These rules make sure that people are prepared for earthquakes in the future.

Based on context clues, what does the word predict mean?

• to study and observe nature

• to make a guess based on observation

Which word has the same middle sound as shook?

• hood

• unicorn

• play

Which word has the same middle sound as push? 

• pancake

• read

• book