The ability of a building to withstand the stress of an earthquake depends upon its type of construction, shape, mass distribution, and rigidity. Different combinations are used. To reduce stress, first, the building's ground floor must be flexible.  One method is to support the ground floor with extremely rigid, hollow columns, while the rest of the building is supported by flexible columns located inside the hollow columns. A different method is to use rollers or rubber pads to separate the base columns from the ground, allowing the columns to shake parallel during an earthquake.  Next, the outdoor walls should be made with stronger and more reinforced materials such as steel or reinforced concrete. Then, to help prevent collapsing, the roof should be made out of light-weight materials. 

A hurricane is a large storm with heavy winds and rain that begins in the ocean and builds up strength as it moves across the water. While some of the damage caused by hurricanes is from high winds, most of it is usually from tidal surge, flooding entire cities, and killing large numbers of people. A tornado is a storm that develops on land, with no warning, and moves in a circular motion with heavy winds with a funnel shape, picking up and carrying dirt, dust, and even objects. The damage caused by tornadoes is from the high velocity winds, which are extremely destructive and deadly. They can demolish entire neighborhoods in a matter of a few seconds to a few minutes.  Tornadoes can form when hurricanes make landfall, as their winds at ground level slow down, while the winds near the top keep their momentum, but a hurricane cannot be created by a tornado.

Hurricane Katrina began as Tropical Depression Twelve over the southeastern Bahamas on August 23, 2005. The depression later strengthened into a tropical storm on the morning of August 24 where the storm was also named Katrina. Katrina continued to move into Florida, and became a Category 1 hurricane only two hours before it made landfall around Hallandale Beach on the morning of August 25. The storm weakened over land, but became a hurricane again while entering the Gulf of Mexico.  

What organizational pattern uses this graphic organizer?

What are the signal words for Compare and Contrast?

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Ferdinand was shot and killed. As a result, tensions between Serbia and Austria-Hungary rose. Consequently, the First World War began.
What is this paragraph an example of?

Which pattern uses the below signal words:
Because, Since, As a result, Consequently, Due to.

What term means a comparison using like or as?

Aficionados?

Integrity?

Guileless?

There is a legal battle raging and the judges are concerned that time is running out. Lawyers are being asked to expedite the matter by getting their paperwork in early. What does “expedite” mean?

If you count all the votes in an area that heavily supports candidate A, and only some of the votes in an area that heavily supports candidate B, you’ll skew the results in favor of candidate A. What does “skew” mean?

Kathy was looking for a strong but light material to use for making her water jugs. Unfortunately, she chose noodelite. It proved to too porous to hold jelly. A porous material _____.

We have rather lofty expectations for you, son. You will attend college. You will become rich and famous. You will be elected president of the United States before you turn forty.
Which word is a synonym of “lofty”?

Joseph and Caitlin were choosing the players for their teams. It was Caitlin's turn to choose, and only Jason was left. Caitlin said, "Jason."

We can infer that…

Which sentence suggests that Joanna rode her bike to school?

Mike had fun hiking in the woods and doing crafts.  He also really enjoyed the campfire sing-a-long and had made a lot of new friends. Still, he was glad that tomorrow he would be going home.
Where is Mike?

I have a head and a tail. My favorite number is one. I am made of copper. I am lucky if you pick me up. What am I?

As I walked in the door, I was amazed at the beautiful colors and smells. I knew it would be hard to decide what I would buy with my $3. The chocolate truffles looked delicious, but they were expensive. The jelly beans were not only cheaper, but so colorful! With so much to choose from, I knew I would be here a long time. Where am I?

As I walked in the door, I was amazed at the beautiful colors and smells. I knew it would be hard to decide what I would buy with my $3. The chocolate truffles looked delicious, but they were expensive. The jelly beans were not only cheaper, but so colorful! With so much to choose from, I knew I would be here a long time. Where am I?

Before the 1800's people didn't have right or left shoes.  They had shoes of just one shape that they used for both feet.  When people first saw right and left shoes, they laughed.  They called them "crooked shoes."  "What a silly idea," they said.  You can tell that shoes before 1800:

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." What is happening?

Joseph and Caitlin were choosing the players for their teams. It was Caitlin's turn to choose, and only Jason was left. Caitlin said, "Jason."

We can infer that…

Which sentence from the selection shows that the pet is a cat?

Trees were bent over, and branches flew through the air. Beach chairs, garbage cans, and several small items were blown down the streets like confetti. A few roofs of small sheds were already missing. Window frames that weren't boarded up held shards of glass. Several stores had bags of sand blocking the doors.
What was causing this to happen?

"Quiet" was the rule here. People whispered when they had a question. Computers were lined up against one long wall. There were shelves upon shelves lining the other walls throughout the room. A woman sat behind a desk with a computer.
What is the job of this lady?

Mr. Martin looked at his watch.  Then, he took a bus list out of his bag and looked at it for a moment.  A few minutes later, he looked at his watch again and sighed.
Why does Mr. Martin keep looking at his watch?

Which line from the play suggests that Linus does not take Lucy very seriously?    

What can the reader conclude about Linus and Lucy from their dialogue?     

Based on the dialogue in paragraphs 6 through 15, how does Lucy first respond when Linus tells her she cannot be a queen?     

Read the line from the excerpt.       LINUS: [He looks at his hand.] Why can’t you guys get organized like that?       The playwright includes this line in order to

12  [Lucy is still silent.]  
13  LINUS: I’m sorry, Lucy, but it’s true.  
14  LUCY: [Silence, and then.] . . . and in the summertime I will go to my summer palace and I’ll wear my crown in swimming and everything, and all the people will cheer and I will shout at them . . . [Her vision pops.] What do you mean I can’t be a queen?  
 15  LINUS: It’s true.
16  LUCY: There must be a loophole. This kind of thing always has a loophole. Nobody should be kept from being a queen if she wants to be one. IT’S UNDEMOCRATIC!  
17  LINUS: Good grief.  
  18  LUCY: It’s usually just a matter of knowing the right people. I’ll bet a few pieces of well-placed correspondence and I get to be a queen in no time.

What do paragraphs 12 through 18 suggest about Lucy?

How does Linus deal with the knowledge that Lucy is bossy?