A2 plus: Reading 1

You may be surprised to hear that earthquakes are not rare. In fact, earthquakes happen every day somewhere in the world. Most of them are weak. There are times, however, when an earthquake is very powerful and causes a lot of damage. One strong earthquake can destroy houses, bridges, railroad tracks, and more.

Can you describe why earthquakes are so dangerous?

• Earthquakes are rare.

• It can destroy houses, bridges, railroad tracks and other things.

• They only happen in North America.

• Earthquakes are mostly weak.

You may be surprised to hear that earthquakes are not rare. In fact, earthquakes happen every day somewhere in the world. Most of them are weak. There are times, however, when an earthquake is very powerful and causes a lot of damage. One strong earthquake can destroy houses, bridges, railroad tracks, and more.

Can you describe why earthquakes are so dangerous?

• Earthquakes are rare.

• It can destroy houses, bridges, railroad tracks and other things.

• They only happen in North America.

• Earthquakes are mostly weak.

Did you know that tornadoes come from thunderstorms? Thunderclouds build up when cool, dry air runs into warm, wet air. If enough cool air runs into warm air, clouds can start to gain energy and power. A tornado can result from this energy. A tornado is a spinning column created by the thunderstorm’s strong winds. The winds are so strong that they can pick up water, dust, and scraps. A tornado can spin over 200 miles per hour, which means that it has a lot of force.

How do clouds gain enough energy to create a tornado?

• The wind provides energy.

• Water and dust help provide energy.

• If Cool air and warm air run into each other it could provide enough energy.

“Tommy!” Mom called out as she walked in the front door. “Tommy,” she continued shouting, “I sure could use some help with these groceries. There was still no reply. Mom walked into the kitchen to put the grocery bags down on the counter when she noticed shattered glass from the window all over the living room floor and a baseball not far from there. “I’m so mad Tommy!” Mom yelled to herself as she realized that Tommy’s shoes were gone.

What details can you find in the text that shows that the window was broken?

• There was glass all over the floor.

• A neighbor threw a ball through it.

• Tommy threw a baseball through it.

Cassie rolled over in her bed as she felt the sunlight hit her face. The sun was warming the back of her neck when she slowly realized that it was a Thursday, and she felt a little too good for a Thursday. Struggling to open her eyes, she looked up at the clock. "9:48," she shouted,"Holy cow!"

Cassie jumped out of bed, threw on the first outfit that she grabbed, brushed her teeth, threw her books into her backpack, and then ran out the door.

Can you explain what is happening in the text?

• Cassie headed out the door to go get pizza because she was hungry.

• Cassie struggled to open her eyes because she was tired.

• She threw on the first outfit she found, grabbed her books, and ran out the door to go to school.

• It was Thursday and she was going to the store for her mom.

Tim looked out the window. The house looked so lonely. Tim's father put the last suitcase in the trunk and started up the car. Thor, his dog, put his head on Tim's lap, like he understood how Tim was feeling. "It's okay Thor," he said, "Dad says we will like California."

How would you describe what is happening in this passage?

• Tim is sad because his dog doesn't have a home anymore.

• Tim is taking a trip to visit people he doesn't know and he is scared.

• Tim is taking Thor to live with his grandmother for a while.

• Tim is moving to California with his family.

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

• Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way

• Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

• They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

When another old cave is discovered in the south of France, it is not usually news. Rather, it is an ordinary event. Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to them.

The words pays heed to are closest in meaning to _______.

• discovers

• watches

• notices

• buys

It was raining outside. Sue got out of bed and got dressed for school. Then, she ate breakfast and grabbed her backpack.  Before Sue left the house, she probably ___________________.

• got her sunglasses
• made a sandwich
• picked up her umbrella
• put on sandals

Lucy was furious about her spelling grade. She kicked her desk and ran out of the classroom.
Why does the author use the word furious instead of mad in the example above?

• Furious is a fancier word than mad.
• Lucy was really upset.
• Lucy wasn't that mad at all.
• Lucy was going home.