Main Idea: What Causes An Earthquake

Which statement describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• A. Earthquakes are caused by the moving plates of the Earth's surface.

• B. Earthquakes cause the ground to tremble and rumble.

• C. Earth's crust is made up of 20 pieces called "plates."

• D. Earthquakes feel like a train rolling through your backyard!

Which sentence from the paragraph best supports your answer in Part A?

• "Each puzzle piece is called a 'plate.'"

• "...the 'crust,' is not one whole piece but more like 20 pieces of a giant puzzle."

• "Earthquakes occur when a plate scrapes, moves away from, or bumps into another plate."

• "...the ground will tremble and rumble, almost as if a train was rolling..."

Which detail best explains what an earthquake feels like?

• "Earthquakes occur when a plate scrapes, moves away from, or bumps into another plate."

• "Shake! Shake! Shake!"

• "These plates constantly move, but very slowly..."

• "...the ground will tremble and rumble, almost as if a train was rolling through your backyard!"

Earthquakes happen when a plate....

Select all that apply!

• scrapes against another plate

• bumps into another plate

• moves away from another plate

• melts completely in the mantle

Which sentence in the paragraph explains how fast Earth’s plates move?

• The Earth's surface is moving!

• These plates constantly move, but very slowly (6 inches a year at most).

• Each puzzle piece is called a "plate."

• Earthquakes occur when a plate scrapes, moves away from, or bumps into another plate