Can We Control the Weather?

Part A. Based on Passage 1, why is cloud seeding a beneficial practice?

• A. It helps create a safer, non-toxic environment.

• B. It helps farmers produce rain whenever they need it.

• C. It helps scientists predict which clouds will produce the most rain.

• D. It helps with water management and the prevention of destructive weather.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Part B. Which sentence from Passage 1 best supports the answer to Part A?

• A. "More rain when you want it and less hail both reduce crop damage and make life better." (paragraph 1)

• B. "cloud seeding with silver iodide appears to be safe for the environment." (paragraph 3)

• C. "Meteorologists now know much more about cloud origin, development, and decay." (paragraph 5)

• D. " 'you make it rain and the farmers get through the summer without a famine.' " (paragraph 8)

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS3-1

Based on the passage, why do power plants find cloud seeding helpful?

• A. because it helps protect them from property damage

• B. because it helps them use their power to grow crops

• C. because it helps fill the rivers that power the plants

• D. because it helps the people work comfortably

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

How does the overall structure of the passage contribute to the development of ideas?

• by detailing the positive effects of cloud seeding

• by describing the types of clouds that can be seeded

• by explaining the effects of silver iodine on the environment

• by comparing how power plants and countries like Canada use cloud seeding

In the passage, what reason does the author give for the controversy surrounding cloud seeding?

• A. The dangers of flooding outweigh the benefits of cloud seeding.

• B. The cloud seeding has negatively impacted other forms of weather.

• C. The overall effectiveness of cloud seeding has been difficult to prove.

• D. The meteorologists find that it interferes with their weather predictions.

Read the sentence from the passage. "However, seeding clouds in drought-prone areas before droughts begin might be the answer." (paragraph 9) How does the author support his claim?

• by detailing the findings of meteorologists

• by quoting a research professor of meteorology

• by explaining that the rain will help maintain water levels

• by describing the situation experienced by the meteorologists

Tags

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

Read the sentence from the passage. "Cloud seeding is seen as part of a water management strategy to ensure that crops will grow, reservoirs won't dry up, and power plants that run on waterpower will keep running." (paragraph 7) What is another word for strategy as it is used in the passage?

• A. plan

• B. policy

• C. organization

• D. approach

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Which statement is a central idea of the passage?

• A. Droughts cannot be stopped because clouds are too small.

• B. Technology has helped meteorologists influence the weather.

• C. Certain types of clouds are referred to as "rainmakers".

• D. Weather on earth is unpredictable and should be feared.

Which of the following phrases from paragraph 9 helps the reader understand the meaning of the word drastically as it is used in the passage?

• A. "...usually not enough clouds..."

• B. "Taking advantage of the clouds..."

• C. "...produce rain on their own..."

• D. "...cause crop failure..."

Part A. What is the author's view of cloud seeding?

• The author has concerns about cloud seeding.

• The author believes cloud seeding is promising.

• The author prefers natural rainfall to cloud seeding.

• The author believes that clouds seeding is expensive.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3