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WorksheetsHurricanes: The Science Behind Killer Storms
Total questions: 27
Worksheet time: 2hrs 15mins
What genre is Hurricanes: The Science Behind Killer Storms?
Realistic Fiction
Mystery
Fantasy
Informational
What does the word "hurricane" mean and where does it come from?
The term hurricane comes from "Huracan," the god of evil, named by an ancient Central American Indian group. Spanish colonists later changed the spelling to "hurricane."
The term hurricane comes from "Hercules," the mortal son of the greek god, Zeus. He is said to be the most powerful mortal being of all time.
The term hurricane comes from "Hurry," because you must move quickly to avoid damage from a hurricane.
The term hurricane comes from "Hurriac," the last name of Dr. Eric Hurriac, the scientist who first discovered hurricanes.
Where do hurricanes first form?
above land
above ocean water
in the mountains
above jungles
What is the first stage of the life cycle of a hurricane?
Tropical disturbance
Tropical depression
Tropical storm
Hurricane
What part do heat and water play in a hurricane’s life?
They protect it.
They give energy to it.
They scatter it.
They lower the pressure of it.
When does a tropical storm become a hurricane?
When the storm finally reaches land from the ocean.
When several thunderstorms join to form one single storm.
When the wind speed of the storm gets to 74 miles per hour.
When the temperature around the storm becomes 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the eye of a hurricane?
the top of a hurricane where there is a collection of clouds
the center of a hurricane where there is little action
the outer part of a hurricane where there is heavy rain
the inner part of a hurricane where there are strong winds
How does the author support the idea that hurricanes are destructive?
by explaining how hurricanes can sometimes cause tornadoes to be formed
by discussing how hurricanes are named
by listing the number of people in the United States who live near the southern coast
by explaining what happened when past hurricanes reached land
Under what heading can you find information about the four stages of a hurricane?
Emergency Plan
Naming Hurricanes
Whipping Winds
A Hurricane's Life Cycle
Select ALL the text features that can be found in Hurricanes: The Science Behind Killer Storms.
Subheadings
Captions
Pictures
Graphs
timelines
How are hurricanes named?
The president decides on the name.
The people vote on the name.
Meteorologists use a special alphabetical list of names.
Anyone can name a hurricane.
Under what subheading could a reader find information about why certain names will no longer be used to name hurricanes?
Whipping Winds
Naming Hurricanes
A Hurricane's Life Cycle
Heavy Rains
"Heavy rains can also cause mudslides. Rain mixes with the soil on mountains and hillsides and forms mud."
What text structure is this an example of?
Problem/Solution
Description
Sequence
Cause/Effect
Where could a reader find the height of the storm surge for a category 4 hurricane?
In the caption of the picture on page 228
Under the subheading "Emergency Plan"
In the picture on page 229
In the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
What can be learned from reading the information under the heading "Staying Safe?"
information on creating an emergency plan and knowing what to do if a hurricane is coming
information about heavy rains, storm surges, and whipping winds
information about how hurricanes are named
information about the devastating impacts of Hurricane Andrew
What is the main idea (or central idea) of the section titled "When a Hurricane Hits?"
how hurricanes and tornadoes are similar and different
historical information about hurricanes
how to stay safe from a hurricane
the effects of hurricanes
According to the text, what items should be included in a disaster supply kit?
First Aid Kit
Emergency food and water
Toys and games
Blankets
Flashlight and batteries
How fast can hurricane winds blow?
165mph
90mph
200mph
300mph
Why do scientists believe hurricanes have gotten worse in recent years?
Better technology has allowed scientists to better detect and track hurricanes.
Global warming is causing oceans to get cooler, which fuels hurricanes.
It is possible that global warming has made hurricanes more severe, but better technology may have just made it easier to detect and track hurricanes.
Global warming is causing oceans to get warmer, which fuels hurricanes
All of the following are things that can be done to protect your home and family during a hurricane EXCEPT..
Nail boards over your home's windows.
Stock up on water before the storm.
Stay inside your home even if there is an evacuation order so you can make sure everything is OK.
Prevent flooding by putting sandbags around your house.
Which are true about the way hurricanes spin?
(Select the two correct answers.)
In the Northern Hemisphere, the winds in a hurricane blow counterclockwise.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the winds in a hurricane blow counterclockwise.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the winds in a hurricane blow clockwise.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the winds in a hurricane blow clockwise.
What is the difference between hurricanes and tornadoes?
Hurricanes are only several thousand feet wide, while tornadoes are often hundreds of miles wide.
Tornado winds are not as powerful as hurricane winds.
Tornadoes can last for up to two weeks, but hurricanes last only a few hours.
Hurricanes form over the ocean, but most tornadoes form over land
Look at the map on page 223. Why is the caption important?
It helps you visualize how hurricanes start.
It provides information about the map by explaining what the shaded areas, arrows, and lighter color of the ocean represent.
It shows how everything works together with details in the text.
It gives the reader a visual representation of what is taking place.
Read the paragraph.
The object was covered with minerals deposited by small sea animals and plants. It was the size of a shoebox and had a rotten wooden frame. The object itself was composed of pieces of connected metal.
Think about the prefix com-. What does composed mean in the sentence above?
made up
taken off
falling short
placed inside
A __________ is a sudden powerful movement forward or upward.
regions
surge
mobile
anchored
Which graphic feature is MOST helpful in showing the reader the path of the hurricane?
map
photograph
diagram
satellite image
When is hurricane season?
June 1 - October 30 and May 15 - August 30
July 1 - November 30 and April 15 - November 30
July 1 - September 30 and June 15 - October 30
June 1 - November 30 and May 15 - November 30
