G4-2_Mid/T_SS_Midwest

In western parts of the Midwest, the land is higher and drier, as it stretches toward the Rocky Mountains. This area is called the (1) _____ ______.

Much of the Great Plains is (2)_______.

(2)______ is level or gently rolling land covered in grasses, with few trees.

The eastern part of the Midwest is called (3) the _______ ______.

(a)  

Glaciers also left behind ________ when they melted.

A _______ is a mound or ridge of rock and gravel.

(a)  

The nation’s two longest rivers run through the Midwest.

What are the great rivers of the region?

(a)  

There are five Great Lakes: Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, and Lake Superior.

All the lakes are connected to each other.

All but Lake Ontario are in the Midwest.

The Great Lakes account for ___ _____ of the world’s fresh water.

(a)  

Winters are especially cold in states like North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Snow is common there.

Blizzards sometimes sweep through the region.

A (a)   is a heavy snowstorm with powerful winds.

Summers can bring heat waves and hot temperatures.

The western part of the Midwest tends to be much drier than the eastern part.

That’s because of the (a)   Mountains.

The Rockies block moisture-filled air.

Rain falls to the west of the Rockies, and then dry air passes into the Midwest.

When dry Midwestern air meets hot, wet air coming up from the Gulf of Mexico, (1) ___ _____________ can result.

So can (2) _________.

(2) _________ are both common and dangerous in the Midwest.

A (2) ________ is a destructive column of spinning air with winds that can reach more than 300 miles per hour.

Part of the Midwest is located in an area called (3) _______ _____. Tornadoes are common there in spring and summer.

(a)  

The Midwest is home to a great variety of wildlife.

Deer, sheep, and snakes live in the dry, rocky hills of the ________.

The ________ is an area of rough land in western South Dakota.

(a)  

To successfully grow crops, a farmer needs sunshine, water, rich soil, level ground, and a long growing season.

In the (a)   , all of these resources are plentiful.

With its plains, prairies, and low hills, much of the Midwest is perfect for _______.

Deep soil that contains many nutrients is also important.

_________ are substances that help plants grow.

Some of the richest soil in the country is found in the Midwest.

(a)