2nd Grade Science : Speed of Various Earth Events
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Use Sources To Show That Some Earth Events Occur Quickly
Which Earth event happens quickly?
Events take place on Earth every day that change and shape our land. The three wrong answer choices show changes that happen over many years and are very slow. Beach erosion, the formation of a lake or canyon, all happen after thousands, if not millions of years. A tornado is a rapid event. The tornado forms quickly and ends quickly. It changes the land around it in minutes.
Example Question #2 : Use Sources To Show That Some Earth Events Occur Quickly
Pompeii is an ancient city in Italy. It was a very popular and busy city. There were restaurants, shops, farms, and lots of people. That changed in the year 79 A.D. A nearby volcano called Mount Vesuvius erupted. When it exploded, it threw ash and rock into the air for two days. Tons of ash covered Pompeii. The city was covered in twenty-three feet of debris. Thousands of people died. No one was expecting the volcano to erupt. Even with technology, today, scientists cannot accurately predict when a volcano will erupt. Residents near the volcano do not get much of a warning to escape the danger.
What three sentences in this text hint that this event happened quickly?
"That changed in the year 79 A.D. A nearby volcano called Mount Vesuvius erupted. When it exploded, it threw ash and rock into the air for two days. Tons of ash covered Pompeii."
"Pompeii is an ancient city in Italy. It was a very popular and busy city. There were restaurants, shops, farms, and lots of people."
"Tons of ash covered Pompeii. The city was covered in twenty-three feet of debris. Thousands of people died."
"No one was expecting the volcano to erupt. Even with technology, today, scientists cannot accurately predict when a volcano will erupt. Residents near the volcano do not get much of a warning to escape the danger."
"No one was expecting the volcano to erupt. Even with technology, today, scientists cannot accurately predict when a volcano will erupt. Residents near the volcano do not get much of a warning to escape the danger."
Volcanic eruptions are an Earth even that happens very quickly. The three sentences in the text that give information about the speed of the event include keywords like, "no one was expecting," "cannot predict," and "not much of a warning." These all let readers know that this event happened quickly, and because of that, there were devastating consequences.
Example Question #3 : Use Sources To Show That Some Earth Events Occur Quickly
Pompeii is an ancient city in Italy. It was a very popular and busy city. There were restaurants, shops, farms, and lots of people. That changed in the year 79 A.D. A nearby volcano called Mount Vesuvius erupted. When it exploded, it threw ash and rock into the air for two days. Tons of ash covered Pompeii. The city was covered in twenty-three feet of debris. Thousands of people died. No one was expecting the volcano to erupt. Even with technology, today, scientists cannot accurately predict when a volcano will erupt. Residents near the volcano do not get much of a warning to escape the danger.
Why did the residents not leave the area, so they were safe?
This event happened very quickly, so residents had no time to escape.
The residents ignored all of the warnings.
They did not know what a volcano was, so they didn't think it was dangerous.
This event happened very slowly, so they were not paying attention.
This event happened very quickly, so residents had no time to escape.
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius was devastating to Pompeii. The residents did not leave the area and head for safety because this event happened so quickly they had no time to escape. Some Earth events happen very quickly, and there is little time to prepare or protect oneself, others happen slowly so we can prepare.
Example Question #4 : Use Sources To Show That Some Earth Events Occur Quickly
Earthquakes are a natural disaster caused by the Earth’s surface moving. The Earth’s crust is made of plates called tectonic plates. They usually move slowly, but sometimes they get stuck. When the plates pull apart, energy is released, and this causes an earthquake. The larger the amount of energy released, the more massive the quake. Earthquakes usually only last for 30 seconds or less. Despite earthquakes being very quick, they can be very destructive. Strong earthquakes can damage homes, towns, bridges, roads, and more. Earthquakes can also be deadly. Earthquakes are very hard to predict, so we don’t know when they are going to happen. Often people don’t have time to leave the area before it happens.
Which two sentences support the idea that earthquakes are an event that happens quickly?
"They usually move slowly, but sometimes they get stuck. When the plates pull apart, energy is released, and this causes an earthquake."
"Strong earthquakes can damage homes, towns, bridges, roads, and more. Earthquakes can also be deadly."
"Earthquakes are a natural disaster caused by the Earth's surface moving. The Earth's crust is made of plates called tectonic plates."
"Earthquakes are very hard to predict, so we don’t know when they are going to happen. Often people don’t have time to leave the area before it happens."
"Earthquakes are very hard to predict, so we don’t know when they are going to happen. Often people don’t have time to leave the area before it happens."
Earthquakes are an event that cause a lot of destruction very quickly. Many people have supplies ready in their homes, but there is no time to escape. The sentences in the text that support this idea include the phrases "hard to predict" and "people don't have time to leave the area." These phrases tell readers that the event is happening quickly.
Example Question #5 : Use Sources To Show That Some Earth Events Occur Quickly
Which photo shows an Earth event that would happen quickly (in days or weeks)?
Three of these photos depict events that happen very slowly over time. Beach erosion and the creation of canyons or rock formations take thousands, if not millions of years. The photo showing what looks like a severe tropical storm would happen quickly. The storm may build or form over a week or so, but within a day or so, the bad weather will pass. The way the storm changes the landscape may stay around longer, but the event itself happens quickly.
Example Question #6 : Use Sources To Show That Some Earth Events Occur Quickly
Which Earth event happens suddenly and can have no warning?
The Earth event that can happen suddenly and have no warning is a volcanic eruption. Scientists can monitor volcanos but cannot predict precisely when they will erupt. It happens quickly and with little time to prepare. Islands forming, mountainside waterfalls, and canyons all take thousands, even millions of years to develop.
Example Question #1 : Use Sources To Show That Some Earth Events Occur Quickly
Pompeii is an ancient city in Italy. It was a very popular and busy city. There were restaurants, shops, farms, and lots of people. That changed in the year 79 A.D. A nearby volcano called Mount Vesuvius erupted. When it exploded, it threw ash and rock into the air for two days. Tons of ash covered Pompeii. The city was covered in twenty-three feet of debris. Thousands of people died. No one was expecting the volcano to erupt. Even with technology, today, scientists cannot accurately predict when a volcano will erupt. Residents near the volcano do not get much of a warning to escape the danger.
What conclusion can readers draw about the events at Pompeii?
The eruption happened slowly, and everyone was prepared.
The events at Pompeii did not affect the residents or landscape.
The events at Pompeii had a minimal effect on the residents.
The eruption happened quickly, and no one was prepared.
The eruption happened quickly, and no one was prepared.
Volcanic eruptions are an Earth even that happens very quickly. The text gives information about the speed of the event, including keywords like, "no one was expecting," "cannot predict," and "not much of a warning." These all let readers know that this event happened quickly, and because of that, there were devastating consequences. The text explains that thousands of people died, and scientists cannot predict when it will erupt, so residents get minimal warning.
Example Question #2 : Use Sources To Show That Some Earth Events Occur Quickly
Earthquakes are a natural disaster caused by the Earth’s surface moving. The Earth’s crust is made of plates called tectonic plates. They usually move slowly, but sometimes they get stuck. When the plates pull apart, energy is released, and this causes an earthquake. The larger the amount of energy released, the more massive the quake. Earthquakes usually only last for 30 seconds or less. Despite earthquakes being very quick, they can be very destructive. Strong earthquakes can damage homes, towns, bridges, roads, and more. Earthquakes can also be deadly. Earthquakes are very hard to predict, so we don’t know when they are going to happen. Often people don’t have time to leave the area before it happens.
Why are earthquakes so dangerous to people and cities?
People are afraid of earthquakes, so they forget to hide.
They happen quickly, so people cannot prepare.
Earthquakes cause massive rainstorms to form with lightning.
The damage earthquakes cause can never be repaired.
They happen quickly, so people cannot prepare.
Earthquakes are an event that cause a lot of destruction very quickly. Many people have supplies ready in their homes, but there is no time to escape. The sentences in the text that support this idea include the phrases "hard to predict" and "people don't have time to leave the area." These phrases tell readers that the event is happening quickly.
Example Question #5 : Use Sources To Show That Some Earth Events Occur Quickly
California had two significant events that took place today that shook residents up. The first was a sudden earthquake that rocked downtown Los Angeles and terrified residents! It was over as soon as it started but did pretty severe damage to many homes and buildings. There were no injuries or deaths, luckily. The other event was not as damaging to homes and buildings but to the coast. Today a large piece of cliffside slid downwards onto the beach below after decades of wind and water beating against it. Scientists had been monitoring for many years the damage to the cliffside by Mother Nature.
Which keywords/phrases from the text allude to an event happening quickly?
"sudden" and "over as soon as it started"
"decades" and "many years"
"earthquake that rocked downtown"
"no injuries or deaths"
"sudden" and "over as soon as it started"
In the case of these two events, the earthquake happened quickly. Some events like natural disasters happen very rapidly, and there is little time to prepare. In the case of the cliffside breaking, this was said to have been after "decades" and that "scientists were monitoring it for many years," which means it was happening slowly. The author uses language like "sudden" and "over as soon as it started" to show that the earthquake was something that happened fast, and there was no delay.
Example Question #6 : Use Sources To Show That Some Earth Events Occur Quickly
Which photo shows an Earth event that would happen quickly (in days or weeks)?
All of the photos are of events that happen quickly
All of the photos are of events that happen quickly
Three of these photos depict events that happen very quickly over time. The images showing clouds forming, a giant wave, and a hurricane all happen quickly. The storm may build or develop over a week or so, but within a day or so, the bad weather will pass. The way the storm changes the landscape may stay around longer, but the event itself happens quickly. Waves cause changes to the land over time, but things like tsunamis can occur rapidly. Clouds form and dissipate all day in a continual cycle.
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