Tornadoes

Tornadoes are storms with very strong turning winds and dark clouds. These winds are perhaps the strongest on earth. They reach speeds of 300 miles per hour. The dark clouds are shaped like a funnel — wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. The winds are strongest in the center of the funnel.

Tornadoes are especially common in the United States, but only 4n certain parts. They occur mainly in the central states. A hot afternoon in the spring is the most likely time for a tornado. Clouds become dark. There is thunder, lightning, and rain. A cloud forms a funnel and begins to twist. The funnel moves faster and faster. The faster the winds, the louder the noise. Tornadoes always move in northeastern direction. They never last longer than eight hours.

A tornado's path is narrow, but within that narrow path a tornado can destroy everything. It can smash buildings and rip up trees. Tornadoes can kill people as well.

The worst tornado swept through the states of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana in 1925, killing 689 people. Modern weather equipment now makes it possible to warn people of tornadoes. People have a much better chance of protecting themselves. But nothing can stop tornadoes from destroying everything in their path.

Vocabulary

Replace the underlined words in the sentences with the words: a funnel, likely, occur, path, rip up, swept, twist, warned.

1. A tornado has the shape of something that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom.

2. A tornado is so strong that it can pull up trees.

3. The most probable time for a tornado is on a hot afternoon in spring.

4. The worst tornado moved quickly and powerfully through Missouri in 1925, killing many people.

5. A cloud forms a funnel and it begins to turn.

6. With modern weather equipment people can be told of something bad before it happens.

7. A tornado's line along which it moves is narrow.

8. Tornadoes happen mainly in the central states.

Comprehension

A. Looking for Main Ideas

Write the questions to these answers.

1. What _________________________________?

They are storms with very strong winds and dark clouds.

2. Where ________________________________?

They are especially common in the central states of the United States.

3. When ________________________________?

The most likely time for a tornado is a hot afternoon in spring.

B. Looking for Details

One word in each sentence is not correct. Cross out the word and write the correct answer above it.

1. The winds are strongest in the center of the earth.

2. A tornado always moves in southeastern direction.

3. A tornado cannot kill people.

4. A tornado never lasts longer than eight days.

5. A tornado can reach speeds of 689 miles per hour.

6. Equipment can stop tornadoes from destroying everything in their path.

7. Clouds become hot in a tornado.

8. A tornado can kill buildings and rip up trees.

Roadrunner, rattlesnakes and opossums

THE ROADRUNNER

This strange bird gets its name because it runs along roads. It runs very fast – up to twenty miles an hour on its long legs – but it can fly too. The roadrunner is usually brown and white and has several feathers on top of its head. It is about two feet long with its long tail. Roadrunners live in the desert parts of the United States. They eat insects, and they also kill and eat snakes like the rattlesnake.

THE RATTLESNAKE

The rattlesnake is famous for the sound it makes – a rattle. When you surprise the snake, it shakes the end of its tail. This makes a sound like a rattle – a lot of quick little noises. The rattlesnake usually lives in dry parts of the United States. It can be about eight feet long, and is dangerous. It goes out at night to kill small animals. The rattlesnake has bad eyes, but it can feel the heat of an another animal from a long way.

THE OP0SSUM

The opossum is the only animal in North America that keeps its babies in a pouch, or bag, on its stomach. The opossum looks like a very big, fat mouse, except it is as big as a cat. When another animal wants to kill it, the opossum ties down, closes its eyes, hangs out its tongue, and does not move. The other animal thinks the opossum is dead and goes away.