Earth Day Reading Comprehension

Printable Reading Passage with Interactive Review Questions. Read and test comprehension online or print and use offline as a worksheet. For 4th or 5th Grade and up.


Global Warming

Global warming refers to the increase of the earth's average temperature due to increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists agree that the burning of fossil fuels like oil and coal causes greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide to escape into the air and act like a warm blanket over the earth.

There are already some changes happening because of global warming. Sea level is rising, climate is changing, and some animals are moving to new homes because their natural habitat is disappearing.

If the warming gets worse, as scientists expect, there may be some kinds of plants and animals that become extinct. Heat waves and droughts will increase, leading to wildfires, and some areas may become too dry for farming.

Warmer ocean temperatures lead to more big storms which damage homes and cause floods. Sea levels may rise so much that people have to move away from the coasts.

All humans contribute to global warming by burning fossil fuels when they drive a car, fly in an airplane, heat or cool their houses and cut down trees to clear land.

One way to reduce greenhouse gases is to reduce deforestation, the cutting down of trees. Trees soak up carbon dioxide from the air, so having lots of trees around is good for the atmosphere. We can also plant more trees.

The best way to help slow down global warming and is to put less carbon into the air by using less fossil fuel - something that is easy to say, but hard to do! But by driving less, turning down the heat and air conditioning, and using more solar, wind and hydroelectric power, we can all reduce greenhouse gases and help fight global warming and climate change.

Source: wordville.com/ReadingComp/ED8GlobalWarming.html Global Warming
©Courseware Solutions  Wordville.com for Fun English Language Arts Learning

Which of these is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions?
carbon dioxide
carbon monoxide
oxygen
carbon dioxide Burning which of these fuels puts carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
coal
oil
Both are correct.
Both are correct. Trees give off carbon dioxide.
True
False
It doesn't say in the story.
False Trees soak up carbon dioxide.
True
False
It doesn't say in the story.
True What's the best way to slow down global warming?
Work all the air conditioners harder.
Use more coal.
Use less fossil fuel.
Use less fossil fuel. What is deforestation?
the cutting down of trees
the planting of trees
a station set up to measure CO2 in the forest
the cutting down of trees What is global warming?
a rise in temperature in the earth's core
when the average air temperature reaches 80°F
the earth heating due to build-up of greenhouse gases
the earth heating due to build-up of greenhouse gases Why would sea levels rise because of global warming?
water pollution
melting of the polar ice caps
too many large ships
melting of the polar ice caps Why would animals become extinct because of global warming?
Their natural habitat would change or disappear.
They would drown.
Hunters would kill them.
Their natural habitat would change or disappear.

©Courseware Solutions   Wordville.com for Fun English Language Arts Learning

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