Tuesday 3-2-21 Classwork Readworks Udated
Tuesday 3-2-21 Classwork Readworks Udated
Tuesday 3-2-21 Classwork Readworks Udated
Water is vital for our existence. Not only do we drink it for survival, the majority
of the human body is also composed of water. The earth’s weather patterns are
closely linked to water too, as they are determined by the complex patterns of
changes and movement of water in the atmosphere. Since the ocean covers 70%
of the earth’s surface, it plays a major role determining what happens in the
environment. One of its most important roles is distributing the heat around the
world; it soaks up energy in the form of heat, and releases it more evenly across
the earth.
However, the cold water doesn’t always stay at the bottom of the ocean. Instead,
it comes up at different places around the globe called upwelling. Since the ocean
floor contains many nutrients important for survival, the cold water that rises to
the surface brings these nutrients with it, attracting all forms of life. Usually every
level of the food chain is present at these upwellings, making them great spots for
fishing. In fact, upwellings are common in areas where winds blow water away
from the surface. In coastal areas, sometimes winds (called longshore winds)
blow perpendicular to the land over the ocean, pushing the warm water away
from the coast. This allows the cold water at the bottom to rise up and replace the
warmer water. Therefore, some coastal areas are effective places to fish due to the
upwelling that attracts more fish to the area.
Global Warming
Scientific evidence has shown that the earth has warmed since 1880. Global
warming is caused mainly by an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the
atmosphere. The increased temperatures have caused many of the ice caps in the
North and South Poles to melt, disrupting the global conveyor belt. Even though
the phenomenon is called “global warming,” it is more accurately described as
climate change—if the ice caps melt, there will be less dense water to move
around the globe. And if there’s less dense (and therefore cold) water to circulate
around the earth, the Gulf Stream will be slowed down. This will result in a
cooling of the Caribbean and Western Europe. Thus, global warming can in fact
result in colder temperatures in some areas.
QUESTIONS
1. Cold water rises from the bottom of the ocean to the surface of the ocean at different
A. global warming
B. climate change
C. upwelling
B. the role the ocean plays in redistributing heat around the globe
C. a globe-wide current that circulates cold and warm water around the earth
D. cold water rising from the bottom of the ocean to the surface of the ocean at different
A. Some ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream, have a direct effect on the climates of the
B. The gradual increase of the earth’s temperature has been a topic of much debate.
C. Cold water does not always stay at the bottom of the ocean.
D. As water freezes in the North and South Poles, the water surrounding the ice becomes
A. It helps the ocean absorb heat from the countries which it surrounds.
B. It circulates the warm and cold water that regulate the temperature of the earth.
C. It helps the polar ice caps stay frozen. This ice triggers the movement of ocean currents.
D. It is the cause of upwellings that provide nutrients to various forms of life in the ocean.
A. unimportant
B. essential
C. additional
D. minor
7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.
When ice freezes, the water around it becomes saltier and colder. _____________, its density
increases.
A. Therefore
C. In contrast
D. Especially
8. How does ice in the North and South Poles trigger the movement of ocean currents?
9. Explain why the phenomenon called global warming is more accurately described as
climate change. Use information from the passage to support your answer.
10. Explain how excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can ultimately change the
temperature of the earth. Use information from the passage to support your answer.