Earthquakes and Their Impact

According to the text, what happens to plates in the earth's crust when earthquakes occur?

• The plates shake and sway.

• The plates travel to Las Vegas.

• The plates rub together.

• The plates strike a place.

A problem in this text is being on a top floor of a high-rise building during an earthquake. What is the solution for this problem?

• Plates in the earth's crust rub together.

• Try to get out of the building safely.

• Buildings can be destroyed, and people can die.

• Study earthquakes in foreign countries.

Read these sentences from the text. Las Vegas is in the western state of Nevada, which is right next to California. The epicenter was actually in California, but we still felt it over 100 miles away. Based on this information, what can you conclude about earthquakes?

• People who are located 200 miles away from the epicenter of an earthquake won't feel it.

• Usually you cannot feel an earthquake if you are in the same area where it started.

• You may be able to still feel an earthquake even if you are not in the same area where it started.

• Every earthquake you can feel in Nevada has an epicenter in California.

What can be inferred from this text?

• Earthquakes are predictable.

• Earthquakes are unpredictable.

• It's safe to be in an earthquake.

• People always die in earthquakes.

What is this text mostly about?

• earthquakes and the author's experience with one

• how scientists can predict the next earthquake

• the difference between earthquakes in Japan and America

• safety steps you can take during an earthquake

Read this sentence from the text. Earthquakes occur when plates in the earth's crust rub together. As used in the sentence, what does the word 'occur' most nearly mean?

• stop

• predict

• finish

• happen

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. There isn't much warning when an earthquake might occur, they are very scary and surprising.

• such as

• so

• yet

• but

According to the text, what causes an earthquake to happen?

Based on the text, why might being high up in a building be dangerous during an earthquake? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.