reading comprehension

What inspired Tim Samaras to become a storm chaser?

• Watching a tornado destroy his house

• Reading a book about tornadoes

• Seeing a tornado in real life as a child

• Watching The Wizard of Oz

What is a storm chaser?

• A person who runs away from storms

• A scientist who studies weather from a lab

• A person who follows and studies storms

• A news reporter covering storm damage

How many tornadoes occur in the United States each year?

• About 500

• About 1,200

• About 2,000

• About 2,100

Why do so many tornadoes form in Tornado Alley?

• Mountains in the area create strong winds

• Warm ocean air meets cold desert air there

• The land is flat, and the air conditions create strong storms

• The region has very little wind activity

Why did Samaras want to study tornadoes?

• To become famous

• To help scientists understand tornadoes better

• To make money from his inventions

• To film exciting videos

What did Samaras design to study tornadoes?

• Weather satellites

• Special probes with cameras

• Storm shelters

• Wind tunnels

What could better tornado forecasts help people do?

• Chase tornadoes more safely

• Build taller houses

• Have more time to get to safety

• Create stronger thunderstorms

What was another goal of Samaras’s research?

• To measure wind speed near the ground

• To study hurricanes

• To stop tornadoes from forming

• To capture tornadoes in glass bottles

How could information about wind speed help people?

• It could help them build stronger homes

• It could stop tornadoes

• It could allow people to live in Tornado Alley safely

• It could make tornadoes weaker

How many tornadoes did Samaras chase in his career?

• Over 50

• Over 100

• Over 125

• Over 152