It Rained Cement: PSSA Questions

How are the first three paragraphs under the heading “A Cleansing Rain” organized?

• order of importance
• sequence of events
• comparison and contrast
• question and answer

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

On the morning of September 3, 1999, I saw a huge plume of ash shoot from the volcano. The mushroom-shaped cloud rose to a height of more than three miles.
Which word from the sentences best helps the reader know the meaning of the word plume?

• huge
• shoot
• cloud
• height

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

Even cities miles away from Quito were blanketed in ash.
What does the phrase “blanketed in ash” mean?

• The cities were kept warm by ash.
• The cities were covered with ash.
• The cities spread out from Quito in many directions.
• The cities needed help from the people of Quito.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

The eruption blasts the bits into the air while they are still hot, and they cool as separate particles, forming a fine dust.
What does the word particles mean as used in the passage?

• warm gas
• watery clouds
• tiny pieces
• round spots

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

How does the author feel when she first sees the rain clouds coming toward Quito?

• comforted
• amused
• puzzled
• curious

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.6

CCSS.RI.3.6

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RI.2.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

What does the author mean by saying, “It was as if the sky had rained cement”?

• The fallen ash hardened on her clothes and hair.
• The volcano caused ash to fly into the sky.
• The sky looked like the color of cement.
• The rain was falling very hard.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

What does the illustration in the text box help the reader understand?

• what causes volcanoes to erupt
• what types of volcanoes exist
• how tall volcanoes are
• how some volcanoes form

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.K.5

Based on the passage, what is the relationship between volcanoes and earthquakes?

• Earthquakes cause volcanoes to erupt.
• Earthquakes are stronger when volcanoes erupt.
  
• Magma coming to the surface of a volcano can cause earthquakes.
• Water boiling inside a volcano lessens the effects of earthquakes.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

Which information can be found in the text box?

• how Guagua Pichincha is like the Empire State Building
• what type of volcano Guagua Pichincha is
• how often Guagua Pichincha erupts
• where Guagua Pichincha is located

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.K.5

What is a main idea of the passage?

• Volcanoes do not regularly erupt.
• Volcanoes do not usually erupt in or near cities.
• An erupting volcano often causes earthquakes.
• An erupting volcano can cause serious problems.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.4.2