Cause and Effect
Grade 3 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the answer.
Read this first
Dust Storms on the Plains
In the early 1900s, many families moved to the Great Plains. This flat land stretches across the middle of the United States. Thick prairie grass had covered it for thousands of years. The grass had long, tangled roots. Those roots held the soil in place, even in strong winds.
The new farmers wanted to grow wheat. So they plowed up huge areas of grass. For a while, rain fell often, and the wheat grew well. Wheat prices were high, so farmers plowed even more land. New tractors let them plow faster than ever.
Then, in the early 1930s, the rain stopped. Year after year, very little fell. The wheat dried up. Farmers watched the sky, hoping for clouds. Without grass roots to hold it, the dry soil turned to dust.
The plains are a windy place. Strong winds lifted the loose dust high into the sky. Giant dust clouds rolled across the land. Some were so thick that day looked like night. Dust even drifted all the way to cities on the East Coast. People called the region the Dust Bowl.
The dust caused many problems. It piled up against houses and fences. It got into food, water, and people's lungs. Many farm families could not grow crops, so they had no money. Thousands packed up and moved west to look for work.
Government leaders studied the problem. They learned that bare soil blows away easily. As a result, they taught farmers new ways to care for the land. Farmers planted rows of trees to slow the wind. They plowed in curves that followed the shape of the hills. They let some fields rest under grass.
These changes helped. When the rain finally returned, the soil stayed in place better. Farmers on the plains still use many of these ideas today. The Dust Bowl taught people that caring for soil protects it from wind and dry weather.
Why did the soil stay in place before the farmers came?
- The wind was much weaker then.
- Rain fell almost every day.
- Rows of trees blocked the wind.
- Grass roots held it down.
Why did farmers plow even more land?
- The grass was drying up.
- Wheat prices were high.
- Leaders told them to.
- The rain had stopped.
What made the dry soil turn to dust?
- Strong winds blew the wheat plants away.
- Rows of trees used up all the water.
- No rain and no grass roots to hold it.
- New tractors crushed the soil into powder.
What was one effect of the strong winds on the loose dust?
- Wheat grew well for a few years.
- Farmers planted rows of trees.
- The rain returned to the plains.
- Dust clouds made day look like night.
Why did many farm families move west?
- They could not grow crops, so they had no money.
- They wanted to buy new tractors in the west.
- Prices for wheat were too high on the plains.
- Leaders asked them to let their fields rest.
Which list shows the causes in the right order?
- Grass is plowed, rain stops, soil blows away.
- Rain stops, grass is plowed, soil blows away.
- Soil blows away, grass is plowed, rain stops.
- Grass is plowed, soil blows away, rain stops.
What did leaders learn that led them to teach new ways of farming?
- Bare soil blows away easily.
- Tractors plow too slowly.
- Trees make more rain fall.
- Wheat needs a lot of rain.
Why did farmers plant rows of trees?
- to sell the wood
- to bring more rain
- to slow the wind
- to shade the wheat
What does "bare" mean in "bare soil blows away easily"?
- full of large rocks
- planted with wheat
- very wet and muddy
- not covered by plants
What happened as a result of the new farming ways?
- The rain came back right away.
- The soil stayed in place better.
- The plains were no longer windy.
- Farmers stopped growing wheat.