Cold Read Assessment

4th Grade Science and Social Studies

Unit 1: Natural Disasters

Name:_____________________

Read the excerpt from Tsunamis by Shaun Taylor, then answer the questions that follow to
help you write an essay.

1. Part A
Read the sentence from page 1 of "Tsunami."
Tsunamis can be devastating when they occur.

What does the word devastating mean as it is used in the sentence? (L4.4)
a. Providing comfort
b. Allowing prediction
c. Causing ruin
d. Preventing damage

2. Identify two details from the text that best support the answer to Part A. (RI4.1)

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3. Part A
What could cause a tsunami to form? (RI4.1)
a. An earthquake with a force of at least 6.75 on the Richter Scale.
b. Surface waves that take on speed and transform into tsunami waves.
c. The seafloor bulges and creates a pocket on water and air.
d. The sea recedes and the tsunami waves crash onto shore.

4. Part B
Which quotation from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
a. "First, the sea recedes as the wave approaches."
b. "They can travel from one side of the Pacific Ocean to the other in less than a
day."
c. "Earthquakes occur when sections of Earth’s crust suddenly slide against
each other along a fault."
d. "It depends on the strength of the earthquake and the kind of movement
that occurs in Earth’s crust."

Except as otherwise noted, © 2015-2022 Fishtank Learning, and licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
 5. How are surface waves different from tsunami waves? Use details from the text and
diagram to support your answer. (RI4.3)
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6. How do the diagrams on page 4 contribute to the overall understanding of the

article? (RI4.7)
a. They clarify what happens when two plates of the Earth’s crust pull apart.
b. They illustrate how quickly tsunami waves spread away from the fault line.
c. They show the steps that happen when a tsunami forms.
d. They explain how pressure is released and how the pressure can cause a
volcano.

7. Identify two details the author includes to show that Tsunami’s are fast moving.
Make sure to include one detail from the text and one detail from the diagram.
(RI4.1, RI4.7)

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8. Explain what causes a tsunami. Include at least 3 details from the text. (RI4.3)

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Except as otherwise noted, © 2015-2022 Fishtank Learning, Inc., and licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
9-12. Explain why Tsunamis are hazardous. Make sure to brainstorm and write a
well-structured paragraph. (RI4.3, W4.2, W4.4, L4.1, L4.2)

Brainstorm:

Written Answer:

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Except as otherwise noted, © 2015-2022 Fishtank Learning, Inc., and licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.