Question

Fill in the blank with the correct words from the word bank.



Word bank: wildfires, habitats, earthquake, hurricane, flood



1. A _____________ is a sudden shaking of the ground caused by movements under the Earth’s surface.

2. During a _____________, heavy rain can cause rivers to overflow onto the land.

3. _____________ are huge storms with strong winds and rain that form over warm ocean water.

4. When a _____________ happens, fire spreads quickly through forests or grasslands.

5. Natural disasters can destroy _____________, which are homes for plants and animals.



Choose the correct answer from the choices for each question:



6. Which of the following is NOT a natural disaster?

a) Earthquake

b) Flood

c) Building collapse

d) Hurricane



7. What can happen to animals during a wildfire?

a) They might move to a new area

b) They build new homes instantly

c) They cause the fire to stop

d) They become stronger



8. What is one-way hurricanes affect the environment?

a) They make plants grow faster

b) They can cause flooding and damage trees

c) They make the air cleaner

d) They improve animal habitats



9. Which natural disaster is caused by too much water and often happens after heavy rain?

a) Earthquake

b) Flood

c) Wildfire

d) Tornado



10. How can people help the environment recover after a natural disaster?

a) Ignore the damage

b) Litter the area

c) Plant new trees and clean up debris

d) Build more roads



11. Which sentence shows a text structure that lists causes and then explains their effects?

A. First, heavy rains flooded the fields. As a result, many crops were destroyed and animals lost their habitats.

B. The stormy weather was scary; however, people stayed calm and helped each other.

C. On Saturday, the town celebrated its annual fair with music and games.

D. The author describes the earthquake using a lot of sensory details to create tension.



12. Which question would help a reader identify the author's use of cause-and-effect structure in an article about hurricanes?

A. How are hurricanes similar to tornadoes?

B. What steps did the community take after the hurricane?

C. What caused the storm surge and what were the results?

D. Who is the main character in the story about the rescue team?



13. An article explains: "After the flood, chemicals from damaged factories entered the river. Consequently, fish died and the water became unsafe for drinking." Which signal word in this excerpt most clearly indicates cause-and-effect structure?

A. "After"

B. "Consequently"

C. "For"

D. "And"



14. "Wildfires can spread quickly because of dry conditions, strong winds, and lots of fuel from dead plants. These fires burn trees, destroy homes, and force animals to flee." Which text structure best matches this excerpt?

A. Compare and contrast

B. Cause and effect

C. Problem and solution

D. Sequence (chronological order)



Short answer questions

15. Choose one type of natural disaster and describe how it changes the environment.

16. What are the characteristics of a tornado?

17. How are hurricanes generally formed?

18. Why is it good to have an emergency kit at home?

19. Why is it important for people to learn about natural disasters?

20. What are some ways communities can prepare for natural disasters to protect the environment?

Answer 1

1. earthquake

2. flood

3. Hurricanes (hurricane)

4. wildfire (wildfires)

5. habitats

6. c) Building collapse

7. a) They might move to a new area

8. b) They can cause flooding and damage trees

9. b) Flood

10. c) Plant new trees and clean up debris

11. A

12. C

13. B

14. B

Short answers

15. Floods: Flooding can wash away soil, destroy plant life, kill or displace animals, contaminate water supplies with pollutants, and deposit layers of silt that change the shape of the land and waterways.

16. Tornado characteristics: a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground; funnel-shaped cloud; very high wind speeds in a relatively small, narrow path; short-lived (minutes to an hour); can cause severe, localized damage and carry debris.

17. Hurricanes form over warm ocean water when heat and moisture rise from the surface, creating a low-pressure area. Thunderstorms organize around that low pressure, the Coriolis effect makes the system rotate, and continued heat from the ocean strengthens the cyclone into a hurricane with strong winds and a central eye.

18. An emergency kit provides water, food, medical supplies, flashlights, batteries, important documents, and other essentials so people can survive and stay safe for several days after a disaster, reducing panic and reliance on immediate outside help.

19. Learning about natural disasters helps people recognize risks, prepare and respond safely, reduce injuries and loss of life, protect property and the environment, and assist neighbors and the community more effectively.

20. Community preparedness measures: enforce flood- and quake-resistant building codes; protect and restore wetlands and forests as natural buffers; create evacuation routes and shelters; run emergency drills and public education; maintain early-warning systems; plan debris and hazardous-waste cleanup; use prescribed burns and fuel management to reduce wildfire risk.