15.2 End of Unit Reading Comprehension Assessment

Akwankyerɛ

Today you will read two selections related to geology. After reading the first selection, you will answer several questions based on it. Then, you will read the second selection and answer several questions based on it. Some of the questions have two parts. You should answer Part A of the question before you answer Part B.

1

What causes earthquakes in Japan every year?

A. Namazu, the giant catfish

B. weather patterns

C. the Richter scale

D. plate movements

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A and then answer Part B.

1

Part A: Rank the three major earthquakes Japan has experienced in the past hundred years or so in order of strength, putting the strongest earthquake on the top and the weakest on the bottom.

1923, earthquake badly damaged the cities of Tokyo and Yokohama
1995, earthquake devastated the port city of Kobe
2011, the Great Tohoku earthquake

2

Part B: Why was the earthquake you labeled as the strongest in Part A also the most destructive earthquake?

1

In paragraph 5, what does the word advanced mean in the following sentence?
It has one of the most advanced earthquake early warning systems in the world.

A. traditional

B. out-of-date

C. highly developed

D. simple

1

How does Japan’s earthquake early warning system detect movements in the earth?

A. When people feel the earth shake, they tell others around them.

B. Seismographs across Japan send information about the slightest movements to a central location.

C. Scientists wait to see if a tsunami forms off the coast as a result of an earthquake.

D. Scientists look for earthquake epicenters on the ocean floor of the coast of Japan.

2

Why did Japan’s earthquake early warning system only give 15 seconds of warning to people in the city of Sendai before the 2011 earthquake?

1

How is the volcano on the island of Niishima off Japan’s coast acting as a creative force?

A. The volcano is causing terrible destruction in Japan, just like earthquakes.

B. The volcano continues to erupt, creating new rock that makes the island bigger.

C. The volcano creates new minerals, gases, and seafloor sediments.

D. The volcano has stopped erupting.

1

In paragraph 8, the author says that the world’s youngest island is a volcanic work in progress. What does volcanic work in progress mean?

A. The island is getting smaller due to volcanic activity.

B. The island is a dangerous place to visit due to volcanic activity.

C. The island is not done growing due to volcanic activity.

D. The island is no longer close to Japan due to volcanic activity.

1

What does the word tremble mean in the following sentence from paragraph 2?
The myths tell of times when these animals moved or fought, making the earth tremble.

A. remain still

B. be afraid

C. shake

D. sink

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A and then answer Part B.

1

Part A: In paragraph 7, the author says the turtle was true to his word. What does this mean about the turtle?

A. The turtle swam away and never returned.

B. The turtle did what he said he would do.

C. The turtle told the truth to the Great Spirit.

D. The turtle didn’t listen to the Great Spirit.

2

Part B: How was the turtle true to his word?

1

Why did the Great Spirit tell the turtles not to move?

A. If the turtles moved, they would destroy the land the Great Spirit created.

B. If the turtles moved, they would get angry.

C. If the turtles moved, their legs would get stiff and their minds would get bored.

D. If the turtles moved, they would help the Great Spirit create land.

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A and then answer Part B.

1

Part A: Why did the turtles get angry?

A. Their legs got stiff and their minds got bored.

B. The Great Spirit told them not to move.

C. They wanted to swim.

D. They couldn’t agree on which direction to go.

2

Part B: What happened when they got angry?

1

What causes earthquakes according to this Gabrielino Indian myth?

A. The Great Spirit creates land on turtle shells.

B. The turtles start moving in different directions.

C. The Great Spirit tells the turtles not to move.

D. The turtles agree on which direction to swim in.

1

In the Hoh myth, why does Thunderbird grab Whale out of the water?

A. Whale provided food and oil for the Hoh people.

B. Whale got along well with the other whales in the ocean, which helped the Hoh people.

C. The Hoh people were suffering because Whale was destroying the other whales they depended on.

D. Thunderbird wanted Whale to live on land instead of in the ocean to help the Hoh people.

1

What caused earthquakes according to this Hoh myth?

A. Thunderbird grabbed Whale and yanked him out of the water.

B. Thunderbird stayed high in her mountaintop nest while Whale stayed in the ocean.

C. Whale grabbed Thunderbird and yanked her into the water.

D. Whale and Thunderbird fought as Thunderbird tried to keep her claws gripped around Whale.

15.2 End of Unit Reading Comprehension Assessment

What causes earthquakes in Japan every year?

Part A: Rank the three major earthquakes Japan has experienced in the past hundred years or so in order of strength, putting the strongest earthquake on the top and the weakest on the bottom.

Part B: Why was the earthquake you labeled as the strongest in Part A also the most destructive earthquake?

In paragraph 5, what does the word advanced mean in the following sentence?It has one of the most advanced earthquake early warning systems in the world.

How does Japan’s earthquake early warning system detect movements in the earth?

Why did Japan’s earthquake early warning system only give 15 seconds of warning to people in the city of Sendai before the 2011 earthquake?

How is the volcano on the island of Niishima off Japan’s coast acting as a creative force?

In paragraph 8, the author says that the world’s youngest island is a volcanic work in progress. What does volcanic work in progress mean?

What does the word tremble mean in the following sentence from paragraph 2? The myths tell of times when these animals moved or fought, making the earth tremble.

Part A: In paragraph 7, the author says the turtle was true to his word. What does this mean about the turtle?

Part B: How was the turtle true to his word?

Why did the Great Spirit tell the turtles not to move?

Part A: Why did the turtles get angry?

Part B: What happened when they got angry?

What causes earthquakes according to this Gabrielino Indian myth?

In the Hoh myth, why does Thunderbird grab Whale out of the water?

What caused earthquakes according to this Hoh myth?

What causes earthquakes in Japan every year?

Part A: Rank the three major earthquakes Japan has experienced in the past hundred years or so in order of strength, putting the strongest earthquake on the top and the weakest on the bottom.

Part B: Why was the earthquake you labeled as the strongest in Part A also the most destructive earthquake?

In paragraph 5, what does the word advanced mean in the following sentence?It has one of the most advanced earthquake early warning systems in the world.

How does Japan’s earthquake early warning system detect movements in the earth?

Why did Japan’s earthquake early warning system only give 15 seconds of warning to people in the city of Sendai before the 2011 earthquake?

How is the volcano on the island of Niishima off Japan’s coast acting as a creative force?

In paragraph 8, the author says that the world’s youngest island is a volcanic work in progress. What does volcanic work in progress mean?

What does the word tremble mean in the following sentence from paragraph 2? The myths tell of times when these animals moved or fought, making the earth tremble.

Part A: In paragraph 7, the author says the turtle was true to his word. What does this mean about the turtle?

Part B: How was the turtle true to his word?

Why did the Great Spirit tell the turtles not to move?

Part A: Why did the turtles get angry?

Part B: What happened when they got angry?

What causes earthquakes according to this Gabrielino Indian myth?

In the Hoh myth, why does Thunderbird grab Whale out of the water?

What caused earthquakes according to this Hoh myth?

In paragraph 5, what does the word advanced mean in the following sentence?
It has one of the most advanced earthquake early warning systems in the world.

What does the word tremble mean in the following sentence from paragraph 2?
The myths tell of times when these animals moved or fought, making the earth tremble.

In paragraph 5, what does the word advanced mean in the following sentence?
It has one of the most advanced earthquake early warning systems in the world.

What does the word tremble mean in the following sentence from paragraph 2?
The myths tell of times when these animals moved or fought, making the earth tremble.