The Earth's Oceans

The Earth's Oceans

The earth's oceans hold 97% of the planet's water and cover about 70% of the planet's surface. There is an incredible amount of life in the oceans. There are thousands and possibly millions of animal and plant species living in the earth's oceans.

The earth has five oceans. They are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Oceans. The Pacific Ocean is the largest, and the Arctic Ocean is the smallest. The five oceans are connected, and together they make up one large "world ocean." 

Multiple Choice

According to the text, what makes up the "world ocean"?

• The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

• The Pacific and Arctic Oceans

• the earth's five oceans

• The Pacific Ocean - the largest

The world ocean is important to the earth. It distributes heat all over the earth, and the world ocean's currents regulate the earth's climates. Without the world ocean, the hotter areas of the earth would be even hotter, and the colder areas would be even colder.

Changes in the earth have affected the oceans. For example, some human activities release greenhouse gases into the air. These gases trap heat in the earth. As a result, the world ocean has been getting warmer. This can cause the earth's climates to change. 

Our actions on land also have affected life in the oceans. For example, when people litter or when oil drips from cars onto streets, the litter and oil often end up in the oceans. This has caused harm to many living things in the world ocean, and a lot of marine animals have died as a result.

We need to do our best to take good care of the oceans. The world ocean supports our lives, and it supports the lives of many other living things. We should support the ocean too.

Multiple Choice

What is the text mostly about?

• where water comes from and how it is used

• how some oceans are different from others

• all the environmental issues facing the earth

• the world ocean and how it is important

Multiple Choice

Which of the following conclusions is supported by the text?

• It is unclear how the earth's oceans affect the earth's climates.

• Enough is being done to protect the world ocean.

• Litter and oil do not affect the world ocean.

• Many living beings, including humans, depend on the oceans.

Multiple Choice

What is the cause of the world ocean getting warmer?

• The earth's oceans cover about 70% of the earth's surface.

• Thousands of animal and plant species live in the earth's oceans.

• The world ocean distributes heat all over the earth.

• Greenhouse gases released by human activities trap heat in the earth.

Multiple Choice

Read these sentences from the text:

"Some human activities release greenhouse gases into the air. These gases trap heat in the earth. As a result, the world ocean has been getting warmer. This can cause the earth’s climates to change.

What can you conclude about the earth's oceans based on this information?

• The earth's oceans are not affected by human activities.

• The earth’s oceans impact the climates on the earth.

• Greenhouse gases usually change the color of the earth’s oceans.

• If it snows enough, the earth’s oceans will become cooler again.

Multiple Choice

Read these sentences from the text:

Changes in the earth have affected the oceans. For example, some human activities release greenhouse gases into the air. These gases trap heat in the earth. As a result, the world ocean has been getting warmer.

As used in the text, what does the word "affected" most nearly mean?

• caused a change in

• disturbed

• helped or supported

• got rid of

Multiple Choice

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence.

The oceans are very important to life on the earth ________ so many plants and animals live in the ocean.

• thus

• therefore

• although

• because

Open Ended

Why might it be important to take good care of the world ocean?

Think about what we just read from the text to support your answer.