FCAT-style Reading Activity


Rationale/Objectives/Purpose:
To provide practice in reading comprehension.
Time Required:
30 minutes
Safety Issues:
None.
Materials:
Printout of reading and questions
Procedures:
Teacher: Distribute copy of reading to each student.
Students: Read and answer questions.
Reading:
El Niño's Secret

 
El Niño is the abnormal accumulation of warm water in the eastern Pacific Ocean by the coast of South America. This causes less fish to be caught in the region. There is an increase in rainfall in this region due to the evaporation of the warmer water.

 
Air pressure in the western Pacific near Australia is normally low. Air pressure in the eastern Pacific near South America is normally high. Winds normally blow from the high pressure area, South America, towards the low pressure area, Australia. These normal winds are called the trade winds.

 
Winds blow surface water. Surface water is warmer than deeper water. Usually, warm water is blown by the trade winds from the coast of South America towards the coast of Australia. The accumulation of warm water found in the western Pacific near Australia as a result is called the warm pool.

 
During an El Niño event, the air pressure decreases near South America while it also increases near Australia. This slows down or reverses the trade winds. Warm water is not blown away from the coast of South America. The warm pool moves away from the western Pacific. There is less rainfall in that area.

 
We know that the see-saw of air pressure on opposite ends of the Pacific occurs periodically, every two to seven years. We have observed that sometimes the event is more severe and at other times not so bad. Warm moist air has less air pressure than dryer cool air. But precisely what triggers the El Niño event is not clear.

 
Scientists are studying El Niño events in order to try and figure out what causes them and in order to predict them so that governments and people can prepare for the effects of an El Niño.
Assessment:
  1. During an El Niño event, where is there a build up of warm water?
  2. Name two effects of an El Niño event in the region around South America.
  3. Do winds blow from high pressure to low pressure or from low pressure to high pressure?
  4. Which direction do the trade winds blow?
  5. Explain why the trade winds blow in that direction.
  6. Which statement best explains how winds affect warm water.

    7. a. Winds cool off warm water.
    b. Winds blow warm water because it is on the surface.
    c. Winds cause a change in air pressure, cooling the surface water.
  7. During an El Niño event, what happens to the amount of rainfall in the western Pacific? Why?
  8. Why is the title of this article 'El Niño's Secret'?
  9. Name two reasons why scientists study El Niño events.
  10. If you lived in Peru and an El Niño was predicted to occur in a few months, what types of changes would you prepare for and how would you prepare.