Open Up - Grade 5 - ELA - Module 4 - Mid Unit 1 Assessment - Formative Library | Library

Directions: Read the article “On Shaky Ground” by Britt Norlander and answer the questions that follow.

On Shaky Ground
By Britt Norlander

Powerful earthquakes struck Haiti and Chile this year. Find out what caused them, and how teens are helping survivors.

Darlene Etienne was 16 years old when she almost died. She was at her cousin’s house in Haiti when a powerful earthquake struck. The house crashed down around her.

Darlene was trapped. Fifteen days passed before neighbors heard her calling. A rescue team dug her out.

Darlene was lucky to survive. More than 220,000 people died in the earthquake that struck Haiti in January.

Less than two months later, another earthquake shook the ground in Chile. The quake was more powerful than the one in Haiti. But fewer than 1,000 people died.

The two earthquakes were very different. But they both started the same way.

Moving Rocks

Underneath the Earth’s surface are rock plates. These giant slabs of rock are always slowly moving. The shifting rocks meet along the edges of the plates. Where they meet, there are underground cracks called faults. Both Haiti and Chile are located near faults.

The rocks don’t move smoothly along a fault. They rub against each other and get stuck. Over time, pressure builds up along the stuck parts of the fault.

When the pressure becomes too high, the rocks snap. The sudden breaking apart shakes the ground, causing an earthquake.

Built to Last

Scientists measure the strength of an earthquake based on how much shaking occurs. The earthquake in Haiti had a magnitude of 7.0. The earthquake in Chile had a magnitude of 8.8. Even though the quake in Chile was stronger, it caused less damage than the one in Haiti.

One reason for the difference in damage is that the buildings in Chile are stronger. Quakes hit Chile often. Buildings there are made to stand up to shaking. There hadn’t been an earthquake in Haiti in more than 200 years. Buildings there weren’t as strong.

Danger Zone

The Haiti earthquake also caused more damage because of its location. An earthquake’s epicenter is the point on Earth’s surface directly above the spot where the quake starts.

“Usually, the epicenter is where the shaking is the strongest,” explains Michael Hamburger, a geologist at Indiana University.

The epicenter of the Chile earthquake was located away from places where many people live. In Haiti, the epicenter was only 10 miles from the capital city of Portau-Prince. “The area of highest shaking was very close,” says Hamburger. The violent shaking destroyed more than half of the city’s buildings.

Helping Hands

People in Haiti and Chile are trying to clean up the ruins and help the victims. In Haiti, the quake left about 1.5 million people homeless. All those people need food and other supplies.

Teens at schools around the U.S. are working to help the victims. At Evans High School in Orlando, Florida, students have been gathering supplies to send to Haiti. “We have collected a lot of canned goods, water, and other items,” says Rosemonde Emile, 17.

Many students in the school are originally from Haiti. Others, like Rosemonde, have family members who live there. “Everyone is coming together to help,” says Rosemonde.

You can help too. Visit www.scholastic.com/actionlink. There, you’ll find out how to support organizations that are helping earthquake victims.

Words in Action

Content-Area Vocabulary 

plates: giant slabs of rock that slowly move under the surface of Earth 
faults: giant cracks under Earth’s surface 
magnitude: a number that describes the strength of an earthquake
epicenter: the point on Earth’s surface directly above the place where an earthquake starts
geologist: a scientist who studies rocks

What evidence supports the author’s point that the earthquake in Haiti was more destructive than the earthquake in Chile? (RI.5.8)

Haiti had not had an earthquake in 200 years.

The earthquake in Haiti had a magnitude of 7.0.

More than 220,000 people died in Haiti.

Only Haiti is near a fault line.

According to the author, which of the following reasons explain why the earthquake in Haiti caused more damage than the earthquake in Chile? Underline all that apply. (RI.5.8)

The buildings in Chile are stronger.

The earthquake in Haiti had a higher magnitude.

The epicenter of the earthquake in Haiti was near the capital city.

Haiti is located near a fault line.

What evidence supports the author’s point that location was one reason that the earthquake in Haiti caused so much damage? (RI.5.8)

The shaking destroyed more than half of the buildings in the capital city.

The earthquake’s epicenter was 10 miles away from Port-au-Prince.

1.5 million people are homeless.

Haiti is located in the Western Hemisphere.

Read the following quote from the text and answer the question that follows:

“The earthquake in Haiti had a magnitude of 7.0. The earthquake in Chile had a magnitude of 8.8.”

How does the author use this evidence in the article? (RI.5.8)

to support the point that the earthquake in Chile was more destructive

to support the point that all earthquakes are extremely powerful and dangerous

to support the points that location and building strength were major factors in the destruction in Haiti

to support the point that both countries are located on fault lines

Read this sentence from the section “Moving Rocks”: “Underneath the surface are rock plates.”

What is the meaning of the word plates as it is used in this sentence? Underline the correct answer. (RL.5.4, L.5.4a)

a dish from which food is served or eaten

large, moving pieces under the Earth’s land and water

a metal tag containing numbers or letters used to identify a vehicle

a thin sheet of metal

RL.5.4

L.5.4.a

Which phrase in the text best helps you understand the meaning of the word plate? (RL.5.4, L.5.4a)

“Where they meet, there are underground cracks called faults.”

“The giant slabs of rock are always slowly moving.”

“When the pressure becomes too high, the rocks snap.”

“The violent shaking destroyed more than half of the city’s buildings.”

RL.5.4

L.5.4.a

Read this sentence from the section “Built to Last”: “The earthquake in Haiti had a magnitude of 7.0.”

What is the meaning of the word magnitude as it is used in this sentence? Underline the correct answer. (RL.5.4, L.5.4a)

a measure of how much damage an earthquake causes

a measure of the strength of an earthquake

a measure of how long an earthquake lasts

a measure of how many square miles an earthquake affects

RL.5.4

L.5.4.a

Which phrase in the text best helps you understand the meaning of the word magnitude? (RL.5.4, L.5.4a)

“The earthquake in Chile had a magnitude of 8.8.”

“Scientists measure the strength of an earthquake based on how much shaking occurs.”

“Buildings there weren’t as strong.”

“The violent shaking destroyed more than half of the city’s buildings.”

RL.5.4

L.5.4.a

Source: Open Up Resouces (Download for free at openupresources.org.)