Question

Passage: Life in Australia
Australia is a large country surrounded by oceans. Many people in Australia live near the coast. The
coast has nicer weather, more rain, and more towns and cities. It is easier to find jobs, houses, food,
and water near the coast.
The middle of Australia is called the Outback. The Outback is very hot and dry. There are few towns
and not many people live there because it is hard to farm and hard to find water.
Australia trades with other countries. Because Australia is an island, ships are used to carry goods
across the ocean. Australia has many natural resources, like coal and iron ore. These are mined in
the Outback, taken to the coast, and shipped to other countries.
Australia’s climate, location, and natural resources all affect where people live and how the country
trades.
Comprehension Questions
1. What is the author’s viewpoint?
(What does the author believe about Australia?)
2. Circle or write TWO details that support the author’s viewpoint.
• People live near the coast because the weather is nicer.
• The Outback is cool and rainy.
• Australia uses ships to trade because it is surrounded by water.
• Many people live in the Outback.
3. Why do most Australians live near the coast?
4. Why do people avoid living in the center of Australia?
Vocabulary Questions
1. What is climate?
2. What is one natural resource Australia has?
3. What is the coast?
4. Describe the Outback using one vocabulary word.
5. Why does Australia trade using ships?

Answer 1

Comprehension Questions
1. The author believes that Australia’s climate, location, and natural resources affect where people live and how the country trades (so most people live near the coast and goods are shipped overseas).
2. Two supporting details:
- People live near the coast because the weather is nicer.
- Australia uses ships to trade because it is surrounded by water.
3. Most Australians live near the coast because the coast has nicer weather, more rain, more towns and cities, and it’s easier to find jobs, houses, food, and water there.
4. People avoid living in the center (the Outback) because it is very hot and dry, has few towns, and it is hard to farm and find water.

Vocabulary Questions
1. Climate is the usual pattern of weather in a place over time.
2. One natural resource Australia has is coal (or iron ore).
3. The coast is the land along the edge of the sea or ocean.
4. One word to describe the Outback: dry.
5. Australia trades using ships because it is an island surrounded by oceans, so ships carry goods across the water to other countries.