Forecasting storms and earthquakes, and how warnings keep people safe

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Ari reads about four natural hazards. Which one can forecasters usually see coming days ahead?

   • A volcano eruption, to the exact hour
   • An earthquake
   • A hurricane
   • A tornado, a week ahead
2. 2.

   "Can you predict earthquakes?" (USGS question page). Which statement about earthquakes is true, by the USGS page Bo reads?

   • Scientists give chances over years, not a date
   • Earthquakes give a week of warning
   • Scientists can name the day of the next big one
   • Earthquakes happen mostly in summer
3. 3.

   A time strip from minutes to days, with no marks yet. When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning, about how much time does it usually give, by Kira's reading?

   • Several days, like a hurricane
   • No time; tornadoes give no warning of any kind
   • Minutes, so act right away
   • A full week
4. 4.

   The National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane watch for Jun's stretch of coast. What does it mean?

   • The storm has already ended
   • Hurricane conditions are possible; get ready
   • Hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours
   • A hurricane is arriving right this minute
5. 5.

   Drawing of a house plan with an inside room on the lowest floor marked SAFE ROOM. A tornado warning is issued for Luz's county. What should Luz's family do?

   • Plan to check the news tomorrow
   • Open the windows to let the air out
   • Keep an eye on the sky and wait
   • Go to the safe room right away
6. 6.

   A flood watch is issued for Milo's town after days of rain upstream. What does it mean?

   • Flooding is happening now; move at once
   • The river has already gone down
   • It is safe to ignore it until water arrives
   • Flooding is possible; stay alert and be ready
7. 7.

   Thunder rumbles during Pia's soccer practice. What does the National Weather Service say to do?

   • Keep playing until rain starts
   • Stand under a tall tree
   • Wait until a lightning warning comes
   • Go indoors right away
8. 8.

   At the beach, Ren feels strong, long shaking, and the sea pulls far back from shore. What is the safe move, according to NOAA?

   • Wait on the beach for an official warning
   • Stay on the beach until an hour passes
   • Move to high ground or inland right away
   • Walk out to look at the bare sea floor

9. Read this first

   Table (NHC, Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale), with columns Category and Sustained wind

   Category 1, 74–95 mph; Category 2, 96–110 mph; Category 3, 111–129 mph; Category 4, 130–156 mph; Category 5, 157 mph or higher.

10. 9.

    A hurricane has sustained winds of 120 mph. Using the National Hurricane Center table, which category does Tala find?

    • Category 1, the strongest
    • Category 4
    • Category 3
    • Category 2
11. 10.

    Another hurricane has sustained winds of 100 mph. Which category is it, by Zee's reading of the same table?

    • Category 3
    • Category 2
    • Category 1
    • Category 4, since a higher number is weaker