Earthquakes

Have you ever been in an earthquake? How did it feel? An earthquake can be a scary experience.
What is an earthquake? An earthquake is really Earths way of getting rid of stress. The earth has
plates that shift back and forth. This stress and strain causes the surface of the earth to crack.
As the plates move, they put pressure on each other. When the force is strong enough, the crust breaks.
The stress is released as energy that moves through the earth in the form of waves. These waves are what
we call earthquakes.
Did you know that there are different types of earthquakes? They are called tectonic, volcanic, and
explosion earthquakes. A tectonic earthquake is the most common. These happen when the rocks on
Earths crust break because of the tectonic plates shifting. A volcanic earthquake takes place during
the eruption of a volcano. Explosion earthquakes happen when there has been a chemical or nuclear
detonation. These earthquakes take place in underground mines.
Earthquakes can be measured in many ways. One of the ways is to measure how intense an earthquake
is. Magnitude is another way to measure an earthquake. The Richter scale is used to measure the
magnitude.

Story Questions
1. Why are earthquakes likened to waves?
a. Earthquakes begin out in the ocean.
b. The waves of the ocean cause the earthquakes.
c. The force of energy released when the crust breaks is called a wave.
d. Nuclear chemicals form a wave.
2. What is the purpose of the third paragraph?
a. to explain how earthquakes are measured
b. to explain how earthquakes are formed
c. to explain how earthquakes are prevented
d. to explain how earthquakes are survived
3. Where would you read to find out about the three types of earthquakes?
a. first paragraph
b. end of the third paragraph
c. second paragraph
d. end of the second paragraph



Volcanoes
What is a volcano? Volcanoes are mountains, but they arent typical mountains. Volcanoes are formed
when magma (hot, liquid rock) rises up from beneath and leaks into the Earths crust, or surface level.
It forms a pool beneath the surface called a magma chamber.
The term volcano comes from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking. It was originally
believed that smoke and fire from volcanoes was evidence that Vulcan was doing his metalwork inside
of them. A small island was named Vulcano because of its many volcanoes.
Volcanoes erupt when the pressure of the magma beneath the surface becomes too great for the rock
above it to contain. At this point, the magma breaks through the surfacesometimes in a great
explosionat which point it is called lava.
The temperature inside a volcano is very hot. Scientists say it can get as hot as 2,120 degrees
Fahrenheit. Molten rock turns an orange-yellow color when it reaches 900 degrees. When it cools to
630 degrees, the color becomes dark to bright cherry red.

Story Questions
1. What does the word evidencemean as used in the passage?
a. argument c. instruction
b. proof d. plan
2. What does a volcanic eruption depend on?
a. It depends on the amount of air pressure around the volcano.
b. It depends on the amount of past action from the volcano.
c. It depends on the pressure of the magma against the surface above it.
d. It depends on how many years it has been since it last erupted.
3. Which paragraph helps answer the previous question?
a. first paragraph c. second paragraph
b. fourth paragraph d. third paragraph
4. Which of the following statements is a fact about volcanoes?
a. Volcanoes are made from erosion.
b. Volcanoes are mountains.
c. Volcanoes have a vent which is connected to molten rock.
d. The temperature inside a volcano is warm