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The impressive eagle is a national symbol in the

United States for patriotism and freedom. Because the
bald eagle was once hunted for sport, it is on the verge
of extinction. If you kill a bald eagle, you can go to jail.
Unfortunately, the bald eagle still maybe become
extinct.
Read the short story and find out the comparison and
differences of the idea in the passage.
Earthquakes and Tsunamis

By: Sue Peterson
Earthquakes are the sudden shock of the earth’s
surface that result in the earth shaking and rolling.
They can be felt over large geographical areas for brief
moments of time. This is a natural way for the earth to
release stress. Did you know that more than a million
earthquakes shock the world each year? Let’s look at
what causes this unpredictable phenomenon. There are
nearly 20 tectonic plates that are along the earth’s
surface that continuously move past each other. When
these plates stretch or squeeze, huge rocks form at their
edges and the rocks shift causing an earthquake. You
can visualize an earthquake by holding a pencil
horizontally in the air and applying force to both ends
by pushing down on them. Eventually, the pencil will
break somewhere Vocabulary tectonic plates subsided
terrifying horrified anxiety ridden urgent panic
reassemble equipped disorder imperative winding
aftershocks treacherous between the two pencil ends to
release the stress placed on it. This is exactly how the
earth’s crust reacts to produce an earthquake. The
plates move and put forces on each other so the earth’s
crust breaks for this stress to be released in the form of
energy. This energy then moves at a terrifying rate
through the earth as an earthquake. A seismograph is
an instrument used to record the strength of the
earthquake. It also measures how long the earthquake
occurs. Other significant terms to know concerning the
topic of earthquakes include the “epicenter” which is
the point on the earth’s surface above the source of the
earthquake; “seismic waves” which is the energy
created by the quake that causes building, structures,
and the earth to move horizontally; and the Richter
Scale, a measurement of an earthquake’s intensity. The
points on the Richter Scale correspond to the amount of
shaking of the earth (ten times the amount of shaking
and 33 times the amount of energy). It has been
reported that the energy released by a large earthquake
may be equal to 10,000 times the energy of the first
atomic bomb and cause anxiety-ridden victims to panic.
Following is a chart that shows the types of earthquakes
and the rating of each on the Richter Scale: Richter
Scale 4 Minor Earthquake 5 Moderate Earthquake 6
Strong Earthquake 7 Major Earthquake 8 Great
Earthquake.
If you live in a region of the world that has been known
to have a history of earthquakes, it is advised that you
assemble a well-equipped safety and emergency kit. It is
also imperative to have an established disaster plan so
everyone remains safe. During an actual earthquake, it
is advisable to get under a sturdy piece of furniture
where nothing can fall on you and to stay clear of glass
windows and larger objects. If you are outdoors, you
need to stay far away of buildings, trees, and power
lines. If you are in a car, it is important to drive to a safe
area and stay in the car until the trembles stop. There
may be aftershocks, movements after the earthquake.
Check for personal injuries and damage to your home
when all movement has subsided. Depending on the
strength of the earthquake, you may be horrified and
need someone for reassurance. It is urgent that you
remain calm. You may be able to reassemble some of the
items that were tossed about and repair the disorder
that has occurred during this disaster at a later time.
Tsunamis are formed by the displacement of water,
either a landslide, volcanic eruption or by the slippage
of the earth’s plates, rock about 15-200 kilometers
(50,000-650,000 feet) deep that carry the continents and
seas of the earth on an underground ocean of hot, semi-
solid material. Tsunamis are large ocean waves that
flow straight avoiding any winding and circular turns
like most every day waves. Tsunamis travel up to 965
kph (600 mph), thus capable of causing severe damage
with their treacherous speed alone. They travel the
fastest in deeper water, yet hit near the shoreline at 48-
64 kph (30-40 mph). © Sue Peterson 2012
Comprehension Questions:
1. How do an earthquake occur?
2. Explain the purpose of the Richter Scale. What do the
numbers mean?
3. How do tsunamis formed?
4. What are the likeness and
differences of earthquakes and tsunamis?
5. Use Venn diagram in getting the answer from the
pupils

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The impressive eagle is a national symbol in the

Earthquakes and Tsunamis

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