Science · Level 2 · 110 words
Why the Sea Rises and Falls
Original passage © Team AM, written for Hone Literacy.
Twice a day, the ocean creeps up the beach and then slides back down again. These changes are called tides, and they are caused mostly by the Moon. The Moon's gravity pulls on the water of the ocean. The side of Earth facing the Moon is tugged hardest, so the water there bulges outward. A matching bulge forms on the opposite side of the planet. As Earth spins, different coasts pass through these bulges, which is why high tide and low tide arrive at regular times. The Sun adds a smaller pull of its own. When the Sun and Moon line up, their pulls combine to make especially large tides.
Comprehension questions
1. What is this passage mainly about?
- A How the Moon formed
- B What causes ocean tides
- C Why the ocean is salty
- D How fish survive in the sea
Show answer
B. What causes ocean tides
The passage explains that tides are the rise and fall of the sea, caused mostly by the Moon's gravity.
2. According to the text, how many bulges of water form on Earth?
- A One
- B Two
- C Three
- D Four
Show answer
B. Two
The text says water bulges on the side facing the Moon and 'a matching bulge forms on the opposite side,' which is two.
3. In this passage, the word 'bulges' means areas that
- A sink inward
- B swell outward
- C dry up
- D freeze solid
Show answer
B. swell outward
The water is 'tugged' and 'bulges outward,' so a bulge swells outward.
Source: Written for Hone Literacy. Original passage © Team AM, written for Hone Literacy.