houston affects the earth...houston affects the earth when houston’s mayor bill white went to work...

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Houston Affects the Earth

When Houston’s mayor Bill White went to work in 2008, he knew the city needed to make some changes.

The city of Houston, Texas, is home to over two million people. It is the fourth most populous city in the

United States and it takes up about six hundred square miles of land. The city is located in the southeastern

part of Texas. It sits on the Gulf of Mexico.

Houston is sometimes called the “Energy Capital of the World.” This is because a lot of oil re�neries, natural

gas production, and other energy companies are in Houston. Energy runs Houston. It creates jobs and

powers local businesses and homes. But energy also makes an impact on the local environment. The ships

that come to Houston to deliver petroleum disrupt local marine environments by producing waste

emissions, noise and pollution. The processes that turn crude oil into gasoline and other petrochemicals

release chemicals into the air. Too many chemicals in the air lead to air pollution. This a�ects people in

Houston as well as the animals that live in or �y through the area.

In 2008 Mayor White started a campaign to reduce pollution in Houston. He made local factories and oil

re�neries reduce pollution. Mayor White worked to reduce the impact of energy consumption in Houston. In

2008, he increased the use of solar energy in the city. He put solar panels on several city buildings. The sun

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shines a lot in Houston, so capturing energy from the sun is easy. The energy it produces does not create the

kind of pollution created by coal, gas and oil. It can be stored in batteries for use at night.

People in Houston were coming to understand their impact on the Earth’s environment. People in Houston,

like people all over the United States, need gasoline in order to drive their cars. They also need natural gas

and electricity to run their homes and businesses. This energy consumption increases the amount of carbon

dioxide released into the atmosphere and changes the air quality.

People also need water to drink, bathe, wash their clothes, and prepare their food. People in Houston were

starting to see that the water and food they used were taken out of the Houston-area environment. It was

therefore not available for non-human use. These people started to ask themselves if they could use less.

Could Houston have less impact on the environment?

In 2010 the people of Houston elected Annise Parker to be mayor. Mayor Parker wanted to build on the work

Mayor White had done. She wanted Houston to be called the “Energy Conservation Capital of the World.”

She started a “Bike to Work Day” to encourage people to drive less. Driving less means people use less

gasoline. That means less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.

Businesses worked with Mayor Parker to start “Lights Out Houston,” a program that gets o�ce buildings

downtown to turn o� their lights at night. Turning o� the lights helps conserve electricity. Turning o� the

lights is also good for wildlife. A city that is bright at night can a�ect the way birds migrate. At night a large,

bright city like Houston is even visible from outer space!

The people of Houston have applied the ideas of energy conservation to other areas, including water use and

farming. The water in Houston comes from Lake Houston. Lake Houston is a reservoir, a holding facility for

water that was created by building a dam on the San Jacinto River. The reservoir was completed in 1953 when

the city needed to guarantee more water for its growing population. (A dam stops the �ow of water in a river

and creates a lake or reservoir. The lake or reservoir must be managed to make sure it does not over�ow, and

to protect the wildlife that live in the river.)

As Houston grows in terms of population, so will its need for water. The city of Houston now sells rain

barrels for rainwater collection. Rain barrels can be used to collect rainwater. This water can be used for

watering gardens and lawns. Doing so will reduce the amount of water the city takes from Lake Houston.

The city has started community gardens. These gardens allow Houston residents to grow their vegetables in

containers in the city. This way they do not have to rely as much on farms. Land that was used for farms

might someday be allowed to rest. The animals that lived on the land before it was a farm could return. The

water that was used to grow the plants on the farm would not be used.

Life in Houston has changed since 2008. The changes have been good for the environment.

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Comprehension Questions

1. What was the goal of the campaign Mayor White started in 2008?

2. The city of Houston started more community gardens. What has been one effect of these gardens?

3. Which of the following sentences provides evidence that the people of Houston took action to make theircity a better place?

4. What can be concluded about the way the recent mayors of Houston have viewed the issue of pollution?

5. What is the passage mostly about?

A. to produce more coal, gas, and oil in HoustonB. to get people in Houston to drive less

C. to reduce pollution in Houston

D. to stop the ships from delivering petroleum to Houston

A. Vegetables are readily available to people that live in the city.

B. Animals are leaving the farms and going to the city gardens.C. More farm land is being used to grow fruits and vegetables.

D. More water used on farms that grow fruits and vegetables is wasted.

A. People in Houston were coming to understand their impact on the Earth’s environment.

B. People in Houston, like people all over the United States, need gasoline in order to drive their cars.C. People in Houston were starting to see that the water and food they used were taken out of the Houston-area environment.

D. The people of Houston have applied the ideas of energy conservation to other areas, including water useand farming.

A. Pollution is an issue that should be actively addressed.

B. Pollution is an issue which the people of Houston can do nothing about.

C. Pollution is an issue which politicians do not have the resources to address.D. Pollution is an issue which can only be addressed at the state level.

A. how the people of Houston are conserving water

B. how the people of Houston took steps to reduce their impact on the local environment

C. how the people of Houston elected Mayors that were focused on reducing pollution

D. how the people of Houston plan to deal with population growth

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6. Read this sentence: “The ships that come to Houston to deliver petroleum disrupt local marineenvironments by producing waste emissions, noise, and pollution.”

Which word could best replace the word disrupt as it is used in this sentence?

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

Energy is good for Houston in that it creates jobs and powers homes and companies; _________, this sameenergy has a huge impact on the local environment.

8. List at least two things Mayor White did to reduce pollution in Houston.

9. Houston is sometimes called the “Energy Capital of the World”. Mayor Parker wanted Houston to be calledthe “Energy Conservation Capital of the World.”

Explain the meaning of both titles and how they are connected.

10. Explain Mayor White’s role in the efforts to reduce pollution in Houston that started in 2008. What mighthave happened had he not been elected? Use evidence from the passage to support your answer.

Audio by

A. assist

B. upsetC. interfere

D. reduce

A. particularly

B. thus

C. secondD. however

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Me and My Habits

The �rst thing I do every morning, before I stretch or get out of bed, is rub my eyes three times with closed

�sts. Then I get out of bed and tap my right big toe on the �oor three times before walking to the bathroom

to brush my teeth.

It’s not that I enjoy the odd habits or anything. I’m just used to them, and they’re kind of a part of me. As I

brush my teeth, I look at myself in the mirror. I like to inventory things about me that relate to my family. I

have light green eyes and thick eyebrows like my dad’s, a short nose like my mom’s, and a ton of freckles,

like my older brother Joey. If you look at my face closely, you will see that I am really not my own person. I’m

just someone made up of the di�erent parts of everyone else in my family.

My friend Susanna says that’s kind of a morbid way of thinking about my life, but I don’t think she knows

the correct way to use the word “morbid.”

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After I’m done brushing my teeth, I walk back to my bedroom, toe-to-heel, very slowly. Then I get dressed

for school. We have to wear a uniform, so I wear the same thing every day: a blue and green plaid skirt with a

navy blue polo shirt and black loafers. Susanna �nds the uniform boring (she says it infringes on her self-

identity), but I don’t mind it so much. It’s just one less thing I have to worry about in the morning.

I eat the same thing for breakfast every day: oatmeal with bananas and a few spoonfuls of brown sugar. My

mom prepares breakfast for Joey and me because our dad has usually already left for work by the time we’re

ready for breakfast.

Joey sits at the head of the table, and I sit at the foot of the table. He always reads the sports section of the

newspaper, and I always get the front page.

On the way to school, I buckle and unbuckle the seat belt two times. My mom doesn’t ever say anything, but

my habit seems to really annoy Joey.

“Rose, stop it!” he says, turning around to glare at me from the front seat.

“Just ignore it!” I respond, and click once more.

“Settle down, settle down,” Mom says.

We are all quiet on the rest of the way to school. My mom says it takes her a while to wake up in the morning;

otherwise she’d be chattier. I don’t mind though. It’s sometimes nice just to watch the streets go by out the

car window, with the people walking along the sidewalks. We always listen to the same radio show, “The

Darnell Owens Show,” whose emcees talk about movies. They especially love �lm noir.

When we get to school, Joey slams the door behind him, and I reach between the front seats to give my mom

a kiss good-bye.

In school, I meet Susanna by our lockers. They’re right next to each other in a prime spot by our classroom,

because Susanna complained to the principal that she didn’t feel comfortable “expressing herself” on the

inside of her locker next to any other person in our grade. (Susanna’s dad is a lawyer, and her mom is an

artist.)

I open and close the locker three times before I reach inside to grab my books for social studies and math.

Susanna is chattering on about this new painting she and her mom did in her mom’s studio when the long

shadow of William Jones crosses over us.

“Hey, freaks,” he says.

Susanna and I glance at each other.

“What do you want, William?” Susanna says de�antly.

I’m always in such awe of her bravery. William started making fun of us when we were in �rst grade. That’s

when my habit really picked up, and he noticed that I was tapping the doorway three times every time we left

the classroom or sneezing three times, even when I didn’t have to. Well, Susanna started sticking up for me,

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which is how we became such great friends, but it only made things worse with William. Soon William

started mimicking Susanna when she raised her hand to answer a question (which she did often), and

mocking the way she walked, always with one hand on her hip.

“Just wanted to say good morning. Just wanted to say good morning. Just wanted to say good morning,” he

says, smiling and curling his lip. “Three times… Right, loser?”

I shake my head and turn back to my locker, like what he says doesn’t hurt my feelings. I can’t help my habit

—it just pops up when I least expect it. My mom says the people who make fun of me are ignorant, but she

still takes me to see Dr. P. every week to try to help me get over my habit.

“Doesn’t it get old?” Susanna asks.

“Nope!” William bares his teeth at us and then walks into the classroom.

“Just forget him,” Susanna says, patting me on the back. I’m glad Susanna is on my side.

Joey and I take the bus home together after school. At the bus stop, Joey always gets o� �rst. He’s supposed

to wait for me to get o� the bus before starting to walk home, but he rarely does. I end up walking a few

yards behind him, watching his dirty backpack move up and down as he moves.

Mom has a snack waiting for us when we get home—carrots and ranch dressing—and every day we have to

eat it and then do our homework right away. Joey says he does his homework in his room, but he’s just

playing video games. Mom lets him get away with it.

I sit down at the kitchen table and pull my worksheets out of my backpack to start in on my math homework.

Mom sits next to me, takes a carrot out of the plastic dish, and dips it in ranch.

“How was school?”

“It was okay. William was teasing me again.” Mom looks sad when I say this.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. Things will get better,” she says.

“I know,” I say. I do my homework and then go read in my room until it’s time for dinner.

I wonder if I will ever “kick my habit,” as Dr. P. likes to say. Dr. P. thinks that my habit is something I can

train myself to give up. She thinks that with a little bit of e�ort on my part and with lots of help from her, I

can learn not to need my habit to feel comfortable. Most of the time, I believe her and even want to kick my

habit. Maybe then, Joey wouldn’t be embarrassed of me, and William wouldn’t tease me. But without my

habit, I don’t think that Susanna and I would have become friends. I also don’t think that I’d feel the same

sense of happiness I feel when I touch things or do things three times. There’s something very back and

forth about my relationship to my habit—I’m not sure I’m ready to give it up. Maybe someday in the future.

“Rose, dinner!” Mom calls.

I go to the bathroom, look at my face in the mirror, and wash my hands three times before going downstairs

to eat.

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1. Who is the narrator of this passage?

2. Rose describes her “odd habits” throughout the passage. Which habit does she do each morning beforebrushing her teeth?

3. Rose shares a lot of information about Susanna, including things she has said, kind things she has done,and information about her life. Based on this, what conclusion can be made?

4. Rose experiences some negative consequences because of her habits. Which detail from the textsupports this conclusion?

5. What is this passage mainly about?

A. WilliamB. Rose

C. Susanna

D. Joey

A. rubs her eyes and taps her right big toe on the floor three times

B. eats three bowls of oatmeal and bananas for breakfastC. buckles and unbuckles the seat belt three times

D. opens and closes her locker three times

A. Rose and Susanna are the same age.

B. Rose and Susanna are close friends.C. Rose and Susanna have a lot in common.

D. Rose and Susanna are strangers.

A. Rose’s friend Susanna thinks Rose has a morbid way of thinking about her life.

B. William Jones makes fun of Rose.

C. Rose’s mother reassures Rose that things will get better.D. Rose thinks she wouldn’t be friends with Susanna without her habit.

A. an argument between two close siblings

B. how the narrator’s habits affect her life

C. a friendship between two classmates

D. a visit to the principal’s office

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6. Read the following sentences: “I like to inventory things about me that relate to my family. I have lightgreen eyes and thick eyebrows like my dad’s, a short nose like my mom’s, and a ton of freckles, like myolder brother Joey.”

As used in the passage, what does the word “inventory” mean?


Rose thinks that if she kicked her habits, maybe Joey wouldn’t be embarrassed of her and William wouldn’ttease her. ___________, she also thinks that without her habit, she wouldn’t have become friends withSusanna or feel the same sense of happiness she feels when she touches things or does things three times.

8. How have Rose’s habits affected her relationship with her brother Joey? Use evidence from the passageto support your answer.

9. According to Rose, how did she and Susanna become great friends?

10. At the end of the passage, Rose concludes, “There’s something very back and forth about myrelationship to my habit.” Explain why Rose says this by using evidence from the text.

Audio by

A. to ignore

B. to criticizeC. to make a list of

D. to learn about

A. In conclusion

B. However

C. FrequentlyD. So

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Paired Text Questions

Use the article "Preparing for a Disaster" to answer questions 1 to 2.

1. The article says that people who live in places where earthquakes are likely to occur know what to dowhen the ground begins to shake. If these people are indoors when the ground begins to shake, what willthey do?

Answers will vary.

2. Read this sentence from the text: "With proper preparation, we can minimize the disaster's impact." Whatevidence from the article supports this claim?

Answers will vary.

Use the article "Watch for Steady Rocks" to answer questions 3 to 4.

3. Partway up the mountain, Luke trips over the edge of the trail. How does he stop his fall?

Answers will vary.

4. What is the purpose of the walls that Mr. Wade's class is building? Use evidence from the article tosupport your answer.

Answers will vary.

Use the articles "Watch for Steady Rocks" and "Preparing for a Disaster" to answer question 5.

5. Can preparation help people stay safe from dangerous events? Use evidence from both texts to supportyour argument.

Answers will vary.

Audio by

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Preparing for a Disaster

Some disasters cannot be stopped. These disasters include earthquakes and tornadoes. Tornadoes ruin

whatever is in their path. They can destroy houses and other buildings. Earthquakes have a wider range of

intensity—some are so small that no one even notices them, except for the people checking earthquake

monitoring equipment. Others have leveled cities. It is very hard to deal with these disasters, and it can take

a very long time for life to get back to normal.

Because earthquakes and tornadoes are forces of nature, people have to deal with them as they come. The

time or intensity of an earthquake cannot usually be predicted. Tornadoes form when the right conditions

are met, so a warning would be given once the conditions are detected. But there is still very little time to get

ready once a tornado warning is issued. That’s why planning for disaster ahead of time is so important. With

proper preparation, we can minimize the disaster’s impact.

Earthquakes cannot be reliably predicted. While volcanic activity sometimes triggers earthquakes, many

other earthquakes happen without warning. Fortunately, we do know the areas where earthquakes are most

likely to occur. The people who live in these places, such as California, Japan, or Italy, know what to do when

the ground begins to shake. If they are indoors, they will get away from windows and exterior walls and take

cover under a desk or table. If there is no desk around, they can stand against an interior wall, that is, a wall

whose other side is not the outside of the building. It is important to take cover in an area that is safe from

potential falling objects, such as wall decor, appliances, or furniture. As you can see, people who live in an

earthquake territory need to be very aware of their surroundings.

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If people are outside during an earthquake, it is best to get into an open spot. They should get away from

buildings, power lines, and anything else that may fall and hurt them. Electrical lines which have already

fallen are also dangerous—they may be capable of electrocuting people!

Earthquakes can be incredibly destructive, even if they do not last very long. The majority last less than a

minute, but there are often aftershocks—smaller earthquakes that occur minutes or hours after the �rst

one. Of course, it all depends on the size of the quake; most are small and don’t have much impact. But the

big ones can wreak havoc, especially if the area is not prepared. In places where earthquakes often strike,

there are strict codes for buildings with the goal that earthquakes would not cause serious damage. These

buildings must be built in such a way that they likely would not fall apart as a result of a big quake. Places

like Japan and California have much stricter building codes than places without such a high earthquake risk.

But even these rigorous codes sometimes fail to protect people; the disastrous 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji

Earthquake destroyed the city of Kobe, Japan, and killed over 5,500 people.

Knowing what to do when earthquakes happen usually saves lives. The same goes for tornadoes. While some

places get tornadoes more than others, it is not easy to predict them. There may be warnings that they will

happen, but tornadoes cannot be predicted in the same way rainstorms can, days before they happen.

In order to be safe when a tornado does strike, people must already know where they will �nd shelter.

Families and schools must have tornado drills and discuss where to go once a tornado has been spotted. The

best place to go to is a basement. If there is no basement, then people should go into hallways or rooms with

no windows on the ground �oor. Tornadoes can be strong enough to break windows, which can injure

anyone nearby. Even after �nding shelter in a basement or windowless room, people should cover

themselves with a mattress or other padding in case the tornado damages the ceiling and debris falls

through.

People who are outdoors when a tornado hits should seek shelter in a building. If that isn’t possible, they

must lie �at on low ground away from vehicles, trees, or anything else the tornado might �ing about. As

with an earthquake, it is important to protect one’s head and neck by covering them with one’s arms. One of

the worst places to be during a tornado is in a car, truck, or bus, because those can easily be thrown around,

or simply hit with other �ying debris. Tornadoes are very powerful and can even move trailer homes.

Anyone in a mobile home during a tornado should leave and seek shelter elsewhere immediately.

Just as places with earthquakes have special building codes, places plagued by tornadoes often have building

codes designed to protect buildings from strong winds. People can also build extra-strong safe rooms to

weather the storm in. But often nothing can stop this natural disaster from doing a lot of damage.

Although scientists are trying to �nd better ways to predict these two natural disasters, it is still very hard to

know exactly when they will hit and how much damage they will do. In the meantime, people must always be

aware that an earthquake or tornado can happen without warning. The important thing is to be prepared and

take precautions to stay safe from harm. Buildings can be restored, but lives cannot.

®

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Tornado Scientists

Tornadoes form when strong winds spin. Wind is invisible, but we can see tornadoes because the spinning

wind picks up water, dust, and debris. The spinning wind forms a funnel that connects thunderstorm clouds

with the ground.

When a tornado is close, watch out. They can spin over 200 miles per hour and cause a lot of damage. As they

move across the land, they can easily pick up cars, trucks, and even houses, and then throw them very far. It

is important to �nd a safe place to take shelter if a tornado gets close.

A safe place could be a basement or the lowest �oor, depending on where you are. If you are in a home

without a basement, try to �nd a �rst-�oor closet or bathroom without windows in the middle of your

house. You should curl up into a ball and cover your head and neck with your hands. Stay in a safe place until

the tornado passes.

But there are some people who actually want to get close to tornadoes. They are scientists who want to learn

more about tornadoes. One of the best ways to do this is to get as close as possible to these twisters. They use

special equipment and instruments to measure what is happening in and around a tornado.

One special instrument these scientists use is called a tornado probe. It is about six inches tall and looks like

a short, orange construction cone. Inside the tornado probe, there are sensors to measure wind speed,

temperature, pressure, and direction. Some probes even have cameras, so the scientists can see and

understand what it’s like to be in a tornado.

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To be able to get these measurements, the scientists have to get a tornado probe near or into a tornado.

Scientists will try to guess where a tornado will go next. Then they drive to that location and put down the

probe. If they do not guess correctly, they pick up their probe and try another spot. If they are right, the

tornado will go near or even right over the probe. Then they take all of the measurements from the probe

and use them to predict where future tornadoes may form and travel.

Tornadoes are extremely dangerous, and the scientists who study them up-close are bold and brave. Their

work is very important and has saved lives by giving people some warning to get out of the way of a

destructive tornado.

®

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1. What is a tornado?

2. What sequence of events is described in the passage?

3. Tornadoes are dangerous.

What evidence from the passage supports this statement?

4. What can information about one tornado tell scientists?

5. What is this passage mainly about?

A. a sensor that measures wind speed, temperature, pressure, and directionB. a first-floor room without windows in the middle of a house

C. a person who studies winds and shares his or her findings with others

D. spinning wind that forms a funnel and can cause a lot of damage

A. the steps scientists take to get measurements from tornado probes

B. the steps involved in the formation of a tornadoC. the steps people take to build tornado probes

D. the steps people should take if their house is destroyed by a tornado

A. Some scientists use special equipment and instruments to measure what is happening in and around atornado.

B. As tornadoes move across the land, they can easily pick up cars, trucks, and even houses, and then throwthem very far.

C. If scientists do not guess correctly where a tornado will go, then they pick up their tornado probe and tryanother spot.D. Tornado probes are about six inches tall and look like short, orange construction cones.

A. Information about one tornado can tell scientists how old a tornado probe is.

B. Information about one tornado can tell scientists where another tornado may happen.

C. Information about one tornado can tell scientists how many people took shelter from it in their basement.

D. Information about one tornado can tell scientists whether closets or bathrooms are better for taking shelterin.

A. wind speed, temperature, pressure, and direction

B. cars, trucks, and houses that have been picked up by tornadoes

C. tornadoes and people who study them

D. the formation of a tornado’s funnel

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6. Read the following sentences: “Inside the tornado probe, there are sensors to measure wind speed,temperature, pressure, and direction. Some probes even have cameras, so the scientists can see andunderstand what it’s like to be in a tornado.”

What does the word probe mean?


Most people take shelter during a tornado; ______, some scientists try to get close to tornadoes.

8. What should you do during a tornado?

9. How do scientists use the measurements they get from tornado probes?

10. How can the work of scientists who want to get close to tornadoes help people who want to take shelterfrom tornadoes? Support your answer with evidence from the passage.

Audio by

A. something that gathers information

B. a strong wind that spins in a funnelC. a place where people go for shelter

D. a prediction about where something will happen

A. moreover

B. in particular

C. in contrastD. therefore

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Spinning ThunderstormsThis article is provided courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History.

On a spring night in 2007, disaster struck a small town in Kansas called Greensburg. Shortly before 10 p.m., a

siren went o�. A mile-wide tornado was approaching Greensburg. And it wasn’t just any tornado. It was a

category EF5, the most powerful kind there is.

Its winds were estimated to be more than 200 miles per hour. In less than ten minutes, the town was

destroyed and ten people lost their lives.

When the fury had passed, people clambered through the rubble. Cars and trucks had been thrown about.

Homes were crushed, or simply ripped from the ground. “I’m in downtown Greensburg. There’s really

nothing left,” said one resident.

FEMA Photo by Michael Raphael

The tornado destroyed much of the town. Many residents needed temporary housing.

How do tornadoes form?A tornado is a swirling, funnel-shaped column of wind that gets its start from a thunderstorm.

Thunderclouds form when warm, wet air collides with cool, dry air. Then, strong winds form into a wide

tube of spinning air. When the tube touches the ground, it becomes a tornado.

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Credit: NOAA

A tornado is a swirling, funnel-shaped column of wind. It stretches from a thunderstorm clouddown to the ground. A tornado gets its start when strong winds at high altitudes set a

thunderstorm’s winds rotating.

Credit: The Field Museum

The 200-plus-mph winds of a tornadocan bend a stop sign.

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Kansans are used to tornadoes. The people of Greensburg live smack in the middle of “Tornado Alley,” an

area that spans eight states in the Central United states. This region is a perfect thunderstorm factory. It has

just what storms need to get started: cool, dry air from the Arctic mixing with warm, humid air from the Gulf

of Mexico. Above the �at Great Plains, far from mountains and coastal weather, thunderstorms can form

undisturbed. These conditions spawn more than 600 tornadoes, on average, in “Tornado Alley” every year.

Credit: The Field Museum

More than 75% of all tornadoes in the world take place in “Tornado Alley.”

How do scientists predict dangerous storms?Meteorologists are scientists who study and forecast weather. They use a technology called radar to track

storms. Weather radar works by detecting the precipitation (rain, snow, or hail) in approaching storms. The

radar unit sends out a radio wave towards the storm. The radio wave bounces o� the raindrops, hail or snow

that is in the storm, and then returns to the radar unit. The amount of time it takes for the wave to return

tells meteorologists how far away the storm is. Most radar units send out about 1,000 radio waves per

second. This gives them detailed, up-to-the-minute information about the storm.

Using radar, forecasters can track the formation and path of severe storms like tornadoes. When a tornado

takes shape, its winds blow raindrops in a circular pattern. When scientists see that pattern on a radar

screen, they know that a tornado is developing. Although tornadoes have fast swirling winds, tornadoes

themselves move relatively slowly across the land (18-30 miles per hour). So scientists can make reasonable

forecasts about where they are headed. A system of tornado watches and warnings are used to alert the

public to danger. A tornado “watch” means thunderstorm conditions exist that could spawn tornadoes. A

“warning” means a tornado has touched down and been spotted.

4/6/2020 ReadWorks


© 2014 American Museum of Natural History. All rights reserved. Used by Permission

Credit: NOAA

Doppler radar map shows the tornado shortly before it leveled most of Greensburg, Kansas.

This system saved many lives in Greensburg. After the tornado sirens shrieked, people had 20 minutes to

escape to their basements and storm shelters before the tornado destroyed their town.

4/6/2020 ReadWorks


Bryant's Stars


1. What happened to the town of Greensburg in 2007?

2. What does this article explain?

3. Read this sentence from the article: “Kansans are used to tornadoes.”

What evidence in the article supports this statement?

4. What might be a reason why scientists track tornadoes?

5. What is the main idea of this article?

A. It was destroyed by a fire.B. It was destroyed by a tornado.

C. It was destroyed by a hurricane.

D. It was destroyed by an earthquake.

A. how scientists use radar to track storms

B. how the town of Greensburg was rebuiltC. how the system of tornado watches and warnings developed

D. how cool, dry air moves from the Arctic to the middle of the United States

A. The tornado that destroyed Greensburg was a mile wide and had winds that were moving faster than 200miles an hour.

B. A tornado came through Greensburg and destroyed the town 20 minutes after tornado sirens went off.

C. Kansans live in an area of the United States where a lot of tornadoes happen.D. “Tornado Alley” has cool, dry air from the Arctic that mixes with warm, wet air from the Gulf of Mexico.

A. to encourage more people to use radar technology

B. to warn people against living in “Tornado Alley”

C. to lower the number of tornadoes that happen every year

D. to gather information that is used to warn people that a tornado is approaching

A. Tornadoes are dangerous spinning storms, but storm tracking and a system of watches and warnings canlessen their danger.

B. “Tornado Alley” is an area in the middle of the United States where cool, dry air mixes with warm, wet air.

C. The tornado that struck Greensburg threw cars and trucks through the air, pulled homes out of the ground,and killed 10 people.

D. Radio waves give scientists information about approaching storms by traveling from a radar unit toward astorm and then returning to the radar unit.

4/6/2020 ReadWorks


6. Why might the author use headings such as “How do tornadoes form?” and “How do scientists predictdangerous storms?”

7. Select the word that best completes the sentence.

A tornado warning saved many lives in Greensburg ___________ the town itself was destroyed.

8. What is a tornado?

9. Explain how radar could be used to track a tornado. Support your answer with evidence from the article.

10. Could using radar to track a tornado help save lives? Explain why or why not, using evidence from thearticle.

Audio by

A. to make readers think more deeply about the effects of tornadoesB. to suggest that there is still a lot to be learned about tornadoes

C. to provide information about the pictures included with the article

D. to help organize the information in the article

A. after

B. althoughC. because

D. for example

houston affects the earth...houston affects the earth when houston’s mayor bill white went to work...

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