Speed of Various Earth Events - 2nd Grade Science

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Question

Which Earth event happens quickly?

Answer

Events take place on Earth every day that change and shape our land. The three wrong answer choices show changes that happen over many years and are very slow. Beach erosion, the formation of a lake or canyon, all happen after thousands, if not millions of years. A tornado is a rapid event. The tornado forms quickly and ends quickly. It changes the land around it in minutes.

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Question

Pompeii is an ancient city in Italy. It was a very popular and busy city. There were restaurants, shops, farms, and lots of people. That changed in the year 79 A.D. A nearby volcano called Mount Vesuvius erupted. When it exploded, it threw ash and rock into the air for two days. Tons of ash covered Pompeii. The city was covered in twenty-three feet of debris. Thousands of people died. No one was expecting the volcano to erupt. Even with technology, today, scientists cannot accurately predict when a volcano will erupt. Residents near the volcano do not get much of a warning to escape the danger.

What three sentences in this text hint that this event happened quickly?

Answer

Volcanic eruptions are an Earth even that happens very quickly. The three sentences in the text that give information about the speed of the event include keywords like, "no one was expecting," "cannot predict," and "not much of a warning." These all let readers know that this event happened quickly, and because of that, there were devastating consequences.

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Question

Pompeii is an ancient city in Italy. It was a very popular and busy city. There were restaurants, shops, farms, and lots of people. That changed in the year 79 A.D. A nearby volcano called Mount Vesuvius erupted. When it exploded, it threw ash and rock into the air for two days. Tons of ash covered Pompeii. The city was covered in twenty-three feet of debris. Thousands of people died. No one was expecting the volcano to erupt. Even with technology, today, scientists cannot accurately predict when a volcano will erupt. Residents near the volcano do not get much of a warning to escape the danger.

Why did the residents not leave the area, so they were safe?

Answer

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius was devastating to Pompeii. The residents did not leave the area and head for safety because this event happened so quickly they had no time to escape. Some Earth events happen very quickly, and there is little time to prepare or protect oneself, others happen slowly so we can prepare.

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Question

Earthquakes are a natural disaster caused by the Earth’s surface moving. The Earth’s crust is made of plates called tectonic plates. They usually move slowly, but sometimes they get stuck. When the plates pull apart, energy is released, and this causes an earthquake. The larger the amount of energy released, the more massive the quake. Earthquakes usually only last for 30 seconds or less. Despite earthquakes being very quick, they can be very destructive. Strong earthquakes can damage homes, towns, bridges, roads, and more. Earthquakes can also be deadly. Earthquakes are very hard to predict, so we don’t know when they are going to happen. Often people don’t have time to leave the area before it happens.

Which two sentences support the idea that earthquakes are an event that happens quickly?

Answer

Earthquakes are an event that cause a lot of destruction very quickly. Many people have supplies ready in their homes, but there is no time to escape. The sentences in the text that support this idea include the phrases "hard to predict" and "people don't have time to leave the area." These phrases tell readers that the event is happening quickly.

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Question

Which photo shows an Earth event that would happen quickly (in days or weeks)?

Answer

Three of these photos depict events that happen very slowly over time. Beach erosion and the creation of canyons or rock formations take thousands, if not millions of years. The photo showing what looks like a severe tropical storm would happen quickly. The storm may build or form over a week or so, but within a day or so, the bad weather will pass. The way the storm changes the landscape may stay around longer, but the event itself happens quickly.

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Question

Which Earth event happens suddenly and can have no warning?

Answer

The Earth event that can happen suddenly and have no warning is a volcanic eruption. Scientists can monitor volcanos but cannot predict precisely when they will erupt. It happens quickly and with little time to prepare. Islands forming, mountainside waterfalls, and canyons all take thousands, even millions of years to develop.

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Question

Pompeii is an ancient city in Italy. It was a very popular and busy city. There were restaurants, shops, farms, and lots of people. That changed in the year 79 A.D. A nearby volcano called Mount Vesuvius erupted. When it exploded, it threw ash and rock into the air for two days. Tons of ash covered Pompeii. The city was covered in twenty-three feet of debris. Thousands of people died. No one was expecting the volcano to erupt. Even with technology, today, scientists cannot accurately predict when a volcano will erupt. Residents near the volcano do not get much of a warning to escape the danger.

What conclusion can readers draw about the events at Pompeii?

Answer

Volcanic eruptions are an Earth even that happens very quickly. The text gives information about the speed of the event, including keywords like, "no one was expecting," "cannot predict," and "not much of a warning." These all let readers know that this event happened quickly, and because of that, there were devastating consequences. The text explains that thousands of people died, and scientists cannot predict when it will erupt, so residents get minimal warning.

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Question

Earthquakes are a natural disaster caused by the Earth’s surface moving. The Earth’s crust is made of plates called tectonic plates. They usually move slowly, but sometimes they get stuck. When the plates pull apart, energy is released, and this causes an earthquake. The larger the amount of energy released, the more massive the quake. Earthquakes usually only last for 30 seconds or less. Despite earthquakes being very quick, they can be very destructive. Strong earthquakes can damage homes, towns, bridges, roads, and more. Earthquakes can also be deadly. Earthquakes are very hard to predict, so we don’t know when they are going to happen. Often people don’t have time to leave the area before it happens.

Why are earthquakes so dangerous to people and cities?

Answer

Earthquakes are an event that cause a lot of destruction very quickly. Many people have supplies ready in their homes, but there is no time to escape. The sentences in the text that support this idea include the phrases "hard to predict" and "people don't have time to leave the area." These phrases tell readers that the event is happening quickly.

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Question

California had two significant events that took place today that shook residents up. The first was a sudden earthquake that rocked downtown Los Angeles and terrified residents! It was over as soon as it started but did pretty severe damage to many homes and buildings. There were no injuries or deaths, luckily. The other event was not as damaging to homes and buildings but to the coast. Today a large piece of cliffside slid downwards onto the beach below after decades of wind and water beating against it. Scientists had been monitoring for many years the damage to the cliffside by Mother Nature.

Which keywords/phrases from the text allude to an event happening quickly?

Answer

In the case of these two events, the earthquake happened quickly. Some events like natural disasters happen very rapidly, and there is little time to prepare. In the case of the cliffside breaking, this was said to have been after "decades" and that "scientists were monitoring it for many years," which means it was happening slowly. The author uses language like "sudden" and "over as soon as it started" to show that the earthquake was something that happened fast, and there was no delay.

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Question

Which photo shows an Earth event that would happen quickly (in days or weeks)?

Answer

Three of these photos depict events that happen very quickly over time. The images showing clouds forming, a giant wave, and a hurricane all happen quickly. The storm may build or develop over a week or so, but within a day or so, the bad weather will pass. The way the storm changes the landscape may stay around longer, but the event itself happens quickly. Waves cause changes to the land over time, but things like tsunamis can occur rapidly. Clouds form and dissipate all day in a continual cycle.

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Question

One of the slowest events on Earth that can change the shape of the land is erosion.

What does the term erosion mean? Example: The erosion of the beach left many homes at risk for collapse. The sand is still sliding and moving closer to the ocean.

Answer

Erosion is an event that happens daily on Earth, but it happens very slowly. Erosion is the movement of the broken down materials from weathering. The dirt, plant matter, rocks, and other materials are moved to a new location, and new landforms are created while others are destroyed or changed.

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Question

The Grand Canyon is one of the United State’s best examples of erosion. Wind, rain, and the Colorado River slowly created it. These forces cut and shaped the area into what it is today. The Appalachian Mountains were a towering mountain range millions of years ago. Today their highest point is 6,684 feet tall. That same peak used to be an estimated 20,000 feet high. Erosion over time has worn the mountains down and changed them forever.

Which keywords or phrases from this text show that these events happened slowly?

Answer

Erosion is an extremely slow process, but the results are extraordinary. The clues in the text that let readers know this is a slow-moving process is "slowly," "were a towering mountain range millions of years ago," "erosion over time," and "used to be." These words and phrases all hint to something taking a long time to happen. Some processes on earth happen quickly, but not erosion!

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Question

Which photo shows an Earth event that happens slowly (in months or years)?

Answer

The photo that shows a slowly occurring Earth event would be the cliffsides of a beach. These have been worn away over many years (millions) as the dirt, sand, and rocks eroded. Lightning strikes, tropical storms, and wildfires are all quickly occurring events.

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Question

Why is this photo an example of an event on Earth that happens slowly?

Creek, Canyon, Stream, Wilderness, Cliff

Answer

The provided photo depicts a stream or river racing through a carved out section of a canyon. This process is called weathering and erosion and takes millions of years to happen. The river beating into the sides of the canyon breaks apart small pieces of rock and sand, and the water pushes it downstream. The results are a carved section with deposits of debris downstream.

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Question

What is the definition of weathering? Example: Weathering is an important factor in the creation of new landforms.

Answer

Weathering is the process of breaking down or wearing down the Earth with wind or water. As rivers move through areas banks and canyons are formed. Wind and rain beat on the cliffsides and cause pieces to break away. These are examples of the slow-moving process of weathering.

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Question

The Grand Canyon is one of the United State’s best examples of erosion. Wind, rain, and the Colorado River slowly created it. These forces cut and shaped the area into what it is today. The Appalachian Mountains were a towering mountain range millions of years ago. Today their highest point is 6,684 feet tall. That same peak used to be an estimated 20,000 feet high. Erosion over time has worn the mountains down and changed them forever.

What conclusion can the reader make about the formation of mountains?

Answer

Erosion is a prolonged process, but the results are extraordinary. The clues in the text that let readers know this is a slow-moving process is "slowly," "were a towering mountain range millions of years ago," "erosion over time," and "used to be." These words and phrases all hint to something taking a long time to happen. Some processes on Earth happen quickly, but not erosion!

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Question

California had two significant events that took place today that shook residents up. The first was a sudden wildfire that struck the forested area outside of Los Angeles and terrified residents! It didn't rage for very long before firefighters put it out. A flick of a match is all it takes to start a massive fire. There were no injuries or deaths, luckily. The other event was a slippery mess. Northern California had been experiencing heavy rains for days, and because of years of erosion to cliffsides and roads, a terrible mudslide began. It is still ongoing, and there is no real way to stop it, it has to run its course. Unfortunately, when land is broken down over time, it becomes more dangerous in the case of prolonged rainstorms.

What are the keywords/phrases in this text that allude to an event that happens slowly?

Answer

In the passage given, the event that happened slowly was the mudslide. Events on Earth can happen at different speeds. The wildfire is described as "sudden," "didn't rage for long," and "a flick of a match" can start them. This is all language that shows how quickly the fire started. The mudslide, on the other hand, is described as happening after "heavy rain for days," and that "years of erosion" led to the right conditions. The text also states that the mudslide is "still ongoing" and that "when land is broken down over time," conditions become more dangerous. This demonstrates an event that takes a long time or happens slowly.

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Question

Why is this photo an example of an event on Earth that happens slowly?

Cyprus, Coast, Cliff, Cavo Greko

Answer

Cliffsides are formed over thousands, if not millions of years of weathering and erosion. Waves, wind, rain, and possible vegetation and ice wear away the rock and break it over the years. Water and wind carry the broken pieces away to new places. This is a very slow-moving process.

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Question

Tsunamis are severe oceanic storms that cause extreme devastation. They are a series of waves that can be miles long, up to 100 feet high, and can travel at 400 miles per hour. They are caused by significant and sudden disturbances of the sea’s surface. Volcanic eruptions, landslides, earthquakes can trigger a tsunami. A massive wall of water will wash ashore, and there is very little time or warning for those who live in the communities nearby. The series of waves can last for hours, and massive flooding adds to the problem. If you find yourself in a tsunami, get to high ground, keep calm, do not drive, and follow instructions from local officials.

What words/phrases let readers know these are events that do NOT happen slowly?

Answer

Volcanic eruptions, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis are all events that happen quickly. Events that occur slowly are weathering and erosion, creating new landforms. The keywords that let readers know this event does NOT occur slowly are "sudden" and "very little time or warning."

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Question

Erosion happens very slowly over time. It is the movement of broken rocks, dirt, and sediment caused by weathering. Which answer choice gives an example of erosion?

Answer

Erosion is the movement of broken materials, and only once answer choice mentions moving the pieces, "A river carrying broken rocks downstream." This example shows that water in the form of a river is moving the broken parts of the material. The other examples are weathering, which is the process of breaking the materials.

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