Observing the Weather

What is the primary role of meteorologists as described in the passage?

• To study the weather and atmosphere

• To launch weather balloons

• To operate Doppler radar

• To volunteer as weather observers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a basic weather observation instrument?

• Thermometer

• Rain gauge

• Wind profiler

• Barometer

How many weather observations are processed daily in the United States according to the passage?

• Over 210 million

• 126 million

• 50 million

• 10 million

What do meteorologists combine with larger forecasts to make local weather forecasts?

• Local observations and knowledge of local weather patterns

• Satellite images

• Doppler radar data

• Weather balloon data

Which of the following is an example of sophisticated weather equipment mentioned in the passage?

• Anemometer

• Rain gauge

• Weather balloon

• Thermometer

What can weather forecasts predict according to the passage?

• Severe weather, volcanic ash, snow fall, and air quality

• Earthquakes and tsunamis

• Tornadoes and hurricanes only

• Floods and droughts only

Who contributes to the 210 million weather observations processed daily in the U.S.?

• Automated instruments, professional meteorologists, and trained volunteer observers

• Only professional meteorologists

• Only automated instruments

• Only trained volunteer observers

What do meteorologists study?

• 1. human bodies and evolution

• 1. the weather and atmosphere

• 1. animal and plant life

• 1. the sun and the stars

What does the author list at the beginning of the second paragraph?

• 1. factors that make meteorologists successful

• 1. different reasons why weather changes happen

• 1. different ways that storms develop in the atmosphere

• 1. factors that help meteorologists predict the weather

Read the following sentences from the text.

“Examples of more sophisticated equipment are wind profilers, weather balloons (radiosondes), Doppler radar, and satellites. Even with all this equipment available, human observations still provide important information about sky conditions, clouds, and the type, size, and amount of precipitation.”

What can you conclude about meteorologists based on this information?

• 1. Meteorologists use a combination of observation skills and equipment to predict the weather.

• 1. Meteorologists don’t like to use equipment to predict the weather because it’s less accurate.

• 1. Meteorologists usually just use equipment to predict the weather, not their own observations.

• 1. Meteorologists work in teams to think about what the weather might look like in the future