You may be surprised to hear that earthquakes are not rare. In fact, earthquakes happen every day somewhere in the world. Most of them are weak. There are times, however, when an earthquake is very powerful and causes a lot of damage. One strong earthquake can destroy houses, bridges, railroad tracks, and more.

Can you describe why earthquakes are so dangerous?

Did you know that tornadoes come from thunderstorms? Thunderclouds build up when cool, dry air runs into warm, wet air. If enough cool air runs into warm air, clouds can start to gain energy and power. A tornado can result from this energy. A tornado is a spinning column created by the thunderstorm’s strong winds. The winds are so strong that they can pick up water, dust, and scraps. A tornado can spin over 200 miles per hour, which means that it has a lot of force.

How do clouds gain enough energy to create a tornado?

“Tommy!” Mom called out as she walked in the front door. “Tommy,” she continued shouting, “I sure could use some help with these groceries. There was still no reply. Mom walked into the kitchen to put the grocery bags down on the counter when she noticed shattered glass from the window all over the living room floor and a baseball not far from there. “I’m so mad Tommy!” Mom yelled to herself as she realized that Tommy’s shoes were gone.

What details can you find in the text that shows that the window was broken?

Cassie rolled over in her bed as she felt the sunlight hit her face. The sun was warming the back of her neck when she slowly realized that it was a Thursday, and she felt a little too good for a Thursday. Struggling to open her eyes, she looked up at the clock. "9:48," she shouted,"Holy cow!"

Cassie jumped out of bed, threw on the first outfit that she grabbed, brushed her teeth, threw her books into her backpack, and then ran out the door.

Can you explain what is happening in the text?

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."

How would you describe what is happening in this passage?

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

When another old cave is discovered in the south of France, it is not usually news. Rather, it is an ordinary event. Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to them.

The words pays heed to are closest in meaning to _______.