Cross-Curricular Reading Cross-Curricular ReadingE-29

Comprehension Worksheets: Comprehension

of 36 Worksheets: E-29 of 36

Stalagmite, Stalactite
�
Stalagmite, Stalactite Name:__________________________________
Name: ______________________________________
Cross-Curricular Focus: Earth Science
Cross-Curricular Focus: Earth Science

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Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico is a world famous collection of limestone Answer the following questions based on the reading
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Limestone caves often have some unusual rock formations. Rain passage. Don’t forget to go back to the passage
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caves. It has some rather unusual rock formations. Rain soaks through the soil
soaks throughand therocks
soilonandland.rocks on land.
It becomes It becomes
groundwater, groundwater,
stored below Earth’s surface. ����������
whenever necessary to find or confirm your answers.
which is waterSometimes
stored below Earth’s issurface.
the groundwater Sometimes
located above a limestonethe
cave. Drops of water
1) In your own words, explain how a stalactite forms:
groundwater isfind their way
located throughatiny
above openings and
limestone cracks
cave. in the roof
Drops of the cave.
of water find
Microscopic particles of limestone from the roof are worn away as the drops ________________________________________________
their way through tiny openings and cracks in the roof of the cave.
of water travel. The water carries them along with it. Eventually, water 1) In your own words, explain how a stalactite forms:
Microscopic particles
evaporates, ofleaving
limestone from the
the limestone roof
deposit are Over
behind. worntime,
awaymany asdrops ________________________________________________
follow travel.
the drops of water the sameThepath.water
They add to the limestone
carries formation,
the particles bit bywith
along bit. By the ___________________________________________
________________________________________________
time thousands of years have passed, all the tiny deposits add up to a large
it. Eventually the water evaporates, leaving the limestone deposit
����������. A stalactite is a pointed rock formation that hangs down from the
2) Explain how a stalagmite differs from a stalactite.
___________________________________________
behind. Over time,
roof of many
the cavedrops follow
and points thethesame
toward path. They add to
ground. ________________________________________________
the limestone formation bit by bit. By the time thousands of years ___________________________________________
________________________________________________
If the drops of water fall to the ground before they evaporate, the
have passed, limestone
all the tiny deposits add up to a large stalactite. A
formation starts to build from the floor of the cave upward instead. 3) Why do you think that the caves at Carlsbad Caverns
stalactite is a pointed
Drop after rock formation.
drop adds It hangs
to the formation overdown fromWhen
many years. the roof
the deposits ___________________________________________
remained undiscovered for many years?
of the cave and occur on thetoward
points floor of the
thecave pointing up instead of on the roof of the cave
ground.
pointing down, the limestone formation is called a ����������. The rarest of ________________________________________________
If the drops of water fall to the ground before they evaporate, the 2) Explain how a stalagmite differs from a stalactite.
all the cave formations occurs when a stalactite and a stalagmite form ________________________________________________
limestone formation
separately starts to build
over time, from
but then the
meet floor
in the of the
middle and cave upward
fuse together. This ___________________________________________
instead. Drop kind
afterof drop adds
formation to the
is known as formation over many years.
a single column. ________________________________________________
4) What mistake led to the discovery of the caves?
When the deposits occur
Located onGuadalupe
in the the floorMountains
of the caveof Newpointing
Mexico, theupvast
instead
46,766 ___________________________________________
of from the roofacreofcollection
the cave pointing
of caves knowndown, the Caverns
as Carlsbad limestone formation
is home to some of the ________________________________________________
most amazing
is called a stalagmite. Thestalactites
rarestand of stalagmites
all the cave on Earth. The cavesoccurs
formations were ___________________________________________
________________________________________________
discovered in 1901. A large formation of bats flying upward from the caves
when a stalactite and a stalagmite form separately over time, but
was mistaken for smoke. Cowboy Jim White went to investigate, and ________________________________________________
then meet in thediscovered theand
middle fuserock
amazing together.
formations.This kind of formation
He photographed them, and isvisitors 5)3)Why
What is the formation called when a stalagmite and
do you think Carlsbad Caverns became so popular
known as a single column.
began to come from all over the world to see their natural beauty. In 1995, with tourists? join together?
stalactite
Carlsbad Caverns was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations
Carlsbad Caverns in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico is
Scientific and Cultural Organization. ___________________________________________
________________________________________________
a world famous collection of limestone caves. The vast 46,766 acre
________________________________________________
collection of caves is home to some of the most amazing stalactites 4) What mistake led to Jim White exploring the caves?
and stalagmites on Earth. ________________________________________________
About 1898 a cowboy named Jim White saw smoke
Copyright ©2011rising ___________________________________________
from- http://www.k12reader.com�
K12Reader
�
the ground. When he went to investigate, he found it was not smoke
but a large formation of bats flying upward from the caves. He began ___________________________________________
to explore the caves and saw the amazing rock formations. Later,
the caves were photographed, and visitors began to come from all 5) Carlsbad Caverns is located in what state?
over the world to see their natural beauty. Carlsbad Caverns became ___________________________________________
a national park in 1930. In 1995, it was named a World Heritage Site
by the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization. ___________________________________________

Copyright ©2012 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com

 Cross-Curricular Reading Cross-Curricular ReadingE-29
Comprehension Worksheets: Comprehension
of 36 Worksheets: E-29 of 36

Stalagmite, Stalactite
�
Stalagmite, Stalactite Name:__________________________________
Key
Name: ______________________________________
Cross-Curricular Focus: Earth Science
Cross-Curricular Focus: Earth Science

��������������������������������������������
Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico is a world famous collection of limestone Answer the following questions based on the reading
������������������������������������������������
Limestone caves often have some unusual rock formations. Rain passage. Don’t forget to go back to the passage
���������������������������������������������������
caves. It has some rather unusual rock formations. Rain soaks through the soil
soaks throughand therocks
soilonandland.rocks on land.
It becomes It becomes
groundwater, groundwater,
stored below Earth’s surface. ����������
whenever necessary to find or confirm your answers.
which is waterSometimes
stored below Earth’s issurface.
the groundwater Sometimes
located above a limestonethe
cave. Drops of water
1) In your own words, explain how a stalactite forms:
groundwater isfind their way
located throughatiny
above openings and
limestone cracks
cave. in the roof
Drops of the cave.
of water find Actual wording of answers may vary.
Microscopic particles of limestone from the roof are worn away as the drops ________________________________________________
their way through tiny openings and cracks in the roof of the cave.
of water travel. The water carries them along with it. Eventually, water 1) In your own words, explain how a stalactite forms:
Microscopic particles
evaporates, ofleaving
limestone from the
the limestone roof
deposit are Over
behind. worntime,
awaymany asdrops ________________________________________________
follow travel.
the sameThepath.water
They add to the limestone formation, bit bywith
bit. By the
Groundwater from above a limestone caves
___________________________________________
the drops of water carries the particles along ________________________________________________
time thousands of years have passed, all the tiny deposits add up to a large
it. Eventually the water evaporates, leaving the limestone deposit
����������. A stalactite is a pointed rock formation that hangs down from the
2) travels
Explain howthrough
a stalagmitecracks
differs from
ina the
cave.
___________________________________________
stalactite.
roof of the
behind. Over time,
roof of many
the cavedrops follow
and points thethesame
toward path. They add to
ground. ________________________________________________
the limestone formation bit by bit. By the time thousands of years The water evaporates and leaves a deposit of
___________________________________________
If the drops of water fall to the ground before they evaporate, the ________________________________________________
have passed, limestone
all the tiny deposits add up to a large stalactite. A
formation starts to build from the floor of the cave upward instead. 3) Why do you think that the caves at Carlsbad Caverns
stalactite is a pointed
Drop after rock formation.
drop adds It hangs
to the formation overdown fromWhen
many years. the roof
the deposits
limestone. The limestone builds up over time.
___________________________________________
remained undiscovered for many years?
of the cave and occur on thetoward
points floor of the
thecave pointing up instead of on the roof of the cave
ground.
pointing down, the limestone formation is called a ����������. The rarest of ________________________________________________
If the drops of water fall to the ground before they evaporate, the 2) Explain how a stalagmite differs from a stalactite.
all the cave formations occurs when a stalactite and a stalagmite form ________________________________________________
limestone formation
separately starts to build
over time, from
but then the
meet floor
in the of the
middle and cave upward
fuse together. This A stalagmite is made of limestone particles
___________________________________________
instead. Drop kind
afterof drop adds
formation to the
is known as formation over many years.
a single column. ________________________________________________
4) that have led
What mistake built up
to the fromofthe
discovery floor of the cave. A
the caves?
When the deposits occur
Located onGuadalupe
in the the floorMountains
of the caveof Newpointing
Mexico, theupvast
instead
46,766 ___________________________________________
of from the roofacreofcollection
the cave pointing
of caves knowndown, the Caverns
as Carlsbad limestone formation
is home to some of the ________________________________________________
most amazing stalactites stalactite builds up from the roof toward the floor.
___________________________________________
is called a stalagmite. The rarestand of stalagmites
all the cave on Earth. The cavesoccurs
formations were
________________________________________________
discovered in 1901. A large formation of bats flying upward from the caves
when a stalactite and a stalagmite form separately over time, but
was mistaken for smoke. Cowboy Jim White went to investigate, and ________________________________________________
then meet in thediscovered theand
middle fuserock
amazing together.
formations.This kind of formation
He photographed them, and isvisitors 5)3)Why
What is the formation called when a stalagmite and
do you think Carlsbad Caverns became so popular
known as a single column.
began to come from all over the world to see their natural beauty. In 1995, with tourists? join together?
stalactite
Carlsbad Caverns was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations
Carlsbad Caverns in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico is a single column
Scientific and Cultural Organization. ___________________________________________
________________________________________________
a world famous collection of limestone caves. The vast 46,766 acre
________________________________________________
collection of caves is home to some of the most amazing stalactites 4) What mistake led to Jim White exploring the caves?
and stalagmites on Earth. ________________________________________________
About 1898 a cowboy named Jim White saw smoke
Copyright ©2011rising He saw bats leaving the cave and thought it
___________________________________________
from- http://www.k12reader.com�
K12Reader
�
the ground. When he went to investigate, he found it was not smoke
was smoke.
___________________________________________
but a large formation of bats flying upward from the caves. He began
to explore the caves and saw the amazing rock formations. Later,
the caves were photographed, and visitors began to come from all 5) Carlsbad Caverns is located in what state?
over the world to see their natural beauty. Carlsbad Caverns became New Mexico
___________________________________________
a national park in 1930. In 1995, it was named a World Heritage Site
by the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization. ___________________________________________

Copyright ©2012 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com

 Cross-Curricular Reading Comprehension Worksheets: E-25 of 36

The Water Cycle

Name: ______________________________________
Cross-Curricular Focus: Earth Science
Answer the following questions based on the
reading passage. Don’t forget to go back to the
Water on Earth can be found in three different forms, or states. These states are passage whenever necessary to find or confirm
solid, liquid and gas. When it is frozen, it is solid ice. When it is liquid, it is liquid water. your answers.
When it is a gas, it is water vapor. The water cycle is the set of processes that water
goes through as it changes from one state to another.
When the heat of the sun shines on the water in oceans, lakes, rivers and 1) How does the water cycle ensure that
streams, the water evaporates, rising up into the air as water vapor. As it moves we have water?
higher into the sky, it cools. The cooled water vapor begins to form liquid drops, which
gather together as clouds. This process is called condensation. Little by little, more
_______________________________
microscopic drops of water join together in the cloud. Finally, the cloud becomes so _______________________________
heavy that the drops start to fall. Any form of water that falls from the sky is
called precipitation. 2) What are the three stages of the
Precipitation will take on different forms. The form depends on the conditions that
exist inside the clouds and the condition of the air the water travels through on its way water cyle? _____________________
to the ground. Drops of liquid water fall as rain, the most common form of precipitation. _______________________________
If the drops of water fall through air that is warmer than water’s freezing point, they will
remain as rain. Sometimes cold temperatures inside clouds produce ice crystals that _______________________________
melt in warmer air on their way down, ending up as rain as well.
3) Describe the conditions that are
If raindrops fall through air that is below the freezing point of water, they form tiny
frozen drops known as sleet. If the air inside the cloud and the air on the way down are
necessary for snow to fall.
both below the freezing point, ice crystals will form and fall as snowflakes. There is a _______________________________
lot of variation in snow, depending on how cold it is when it falls. Warmer temperatures
mean “wetter” snow, while colder temperatures mean drier, fluffier snow. _______________________________
Perhaps the most interesting form of precipitation is hail. Hail forms when windy
conditions combine with freezing temperatures. Drops of frozen rain begin to fall, and 4) How does precipitation return to the
are then repeatedly caught up by the wind and pushed back up through the clouds
water cycle?_____________________
where they gather more and more layers of ice. When they become too heavy for the
wind to lift, they fall to the ground as hail. _______________________________
No matter what form the precipitation takes, much of it will become runoff and find
its way back to the sea. Most of the rest will join surface water in lakes and streams or 5) What is your favorite form of
soak into the ground and become groundwater. Some will spend some time atop tall precipitation? Why? _______________
mountains as ice and snow.
All water awaits its turn to participate once again in each state of the water cycle. _______________________________
Water continually changes from one state to another. The water cycle never ends.
_______________________________

Copyright ©2012 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com

 Cross-Curricular Reading Comprehension Worksheets: E-25 of 36

The Water Cycle Key

Name: ______________________________________
Cross-Curricular Focus: Earth Science
Answer the following questions based on the
reading passage. Don’t forget to go back to the
Water on Earth can be found in three different forms, or states. These states are passage whenever necessary to find or confirm
solid, liquid and gas. When it is frozen, it is solid ice. When it is liquid, it is liquid water. your answers.
When it is a gas, it is water vapor. The water cycle is the set of processes that water Actual wording of answers may vary.
goes through as it changes from one state to another.
When the heat of the sun shines on the water in oceans, lakes, rivers and 1) How does the water cycle ensure that
streams, the water evaporates, rising up into the air as water vapor. As it moves we have water?
higher into the sky, it cools. The cooled water vapor begins to form liquid drops, which because water eventually changes
gather together as clouds. This process is called condensation. Little by little, more
_______________________________
microscopic drops of water join together in the cloud. Finally, the cloud becomes so into precipitation
_______________________________
heavy that the drops start to fall. Any form of water that falls from the sky is
called precipitation. 2) What are the three stages of the
Precipitation will take on different forms. The form depends on the conditions that The air inside the
exist inside the clouds and the condition of the air the water travels through on its way water cyle? _____________________
to the ground. Drops of liquid water fall as rain, the most common form of precipitation. cloud and the air on the way down are
_______________________________
If the drops of water fall through air that is warmer than water’s freezing point, they will
remain as rain. Sometimes cold temperatures inside clouds produce ice crystals that below freezing.
_______________________________
melt in warmer air on their way down, ending up as rain as well.
3) Describe the conditions that are
If raindrops fall through air that is below the freezing point of water, they form tiny
frozen drops known as sleet. If the air inside the cloud and the air on the way down are
necessary for snow to fall.
both below the freezing point, ice crystals will form and fall as snowflakes. There is a evaporation, condensation and
_______________________________
lot of variation in snow, depending on how cold it is when it falls. Warmer temperatures
mean “wetter” snow, while colder temperatures mean drier, fluffier snow. precipitation
_______________________________
Perhaps the most interesting form of precipitation is hail. Hail forms when windy
conditions combine with freezing temperatures. Drops of frozen rain begin to fall, and 4) How does precipitation return to the
are then repeatedly caught up by the wind and pushed back up through the clouds It evaporates into
water cycle?_____________________
where they gather more and more layers of ice. When they become too heavy for the
wind to lift, they fall to the ground as hail. a vapor.
_______________________________
No matter what form the precipitation takes, much of it will become runoff and find
its way back to the sea. Most of the rest will join surface water in lakes and streams or 5) What is your favorite form of
soak into the ground and become groundwater. Some will spend some time atop tall precipitation? Why? _______________
mountains as ice and snow.
All water awaits its turn to participate once again in each state of the water cycle. student’s choice
_______________________________
Water continually changes from one state to another. The water cycle never ends.
_______________________________

Copyright ©2012 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com