Water Worries

What does the phrase "dry spell" mean in the sentence, "A drought is a long period with little or no rainfall or snowfall, leading to a shortage of water. The current long dry spell has hit farmers especially hard. (paragraph 6)

• A magical spell cast upon farmers to dry up crops.

• A period of time when there is little or no precipitation.

• A shortage of water caused by dry winds and hot air.

• A basin used to catch and store water to be used during periods of drought.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

Why does the author include Joe Del Bosque's story in passage 1?

• To describe how crops are harvested.

• To show how people are trying to solve the drought problem.

• To show how farmers have been hurt by the drought.

• To illustrate how water gets to farms in Central California.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

What is the text structure in the section labeled A Dry Disaster (paragraphs 8-11) and how does the text structure contribute to the central idea?

• Cause and effect illustrates the effects of drought on farmworkers, California's economy and the rest of the country.

• Problem and solution explains how farmers are finding creative ways to water plants even during the drought.

• Compare and contrast details the conditions that farmworkers work under in California as compared to other states.

• Description shows how the drought has impacted Del Bosque and other farmers who need more water to grow their crops.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

What is the text structure of the section Water Works and how does it contribute to the central idea?

• Description describes the intricate system of streams and rivers that connect with canals to carry water to farms.

• Problem and solution describes the problems caused by the drought and solutions for how water can be stored in reservoirs or pumped from groundwater to irrigate plants.

• Cause and effect shows how weather patterns cause precipitation to fall in the Sierra Nevada mountains which is then collected for irrigation.

• Sequence describes the steps of how water is collected, stored and then carried in streams and rivers to canals to irrigate crops in California.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

Paragraph 16 reads, "It's important to grow these crops," he says. "California agriculture is important to the whole country." What does the word agriculture mean?

• The culture that farmers live in

• farming: growing and harvesting crops

• The way that plants are watered

• The system by which water is stored and used during drought

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

What is the author's perspective about droughts in the west?

• The author feels hopeful that the drought will end soon and all the workers will be employed again.

• The author feels troubled about the effects of drought on farming.

• The author feels concerned because of the price of produce but is certain that the government will solve the problem.

• The author feels anxious about using too much water from the Colorado River.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

What is the most likely reason that the author included the side bar "Top Crops" in passage 1?

• To show that honeydew and grapes require a lot of water since they are juicy fruits.

• To show that other states produce a lot of fruits and vegetables.

• To show that all honeydew grown in the US comes from California.

• To show the impacts that drought in California could have on the produce that Americans rely on.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RI.4.7

CCSS.RL.6.7

Which details from the article supports the author's perspective that drought is a problem in the Western US?

• 395,000 acres of land unplanted last year. That cost the state's agriculture industry more than $1 billion and nearly 9,000 jobs.

• "By the time I was 10, I was on a tractor, working in the field," Del Bosque, now 72 recalls. In 1985, he started his own farm in Firebaugh, California.

• The loss of crops could also affect people across the US. More than two-thirds of the nation's fruits and nuts and one-third of its vegetables come from California.

• During this crucial period, reservoirs store water for the drier months ahead. Melting snow from the Sierra Nevada mountains also helps fill the reservoirs.

• Much of the water is supplied through the Central Valley Project, a 400-mile network of dams, reservoirs, and waterways.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

How are the passage "Water Worries" and the passage "Water Shortage" the same and different? (3 correct answers)

• "Water Shortage" focuses on supply cuts to farmers due to water shortage on the Colorado River while Water Worries focuses on the impact of drought on farmers.

• "Water shortage" explains California's Central Valley Project while "Water Worries" focuses on the worries of farmers.

• Both texts state that climate change and drought are responsible for the shortage of water to US farms.

• Both texts express concern about the drought affecting the Western Us.

• "Water Shortage" tells the story of how drought impacts individual farmers while "Water Worries" provides a broader perspective.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

Which statement best supports the author's perspective that people must work together to solve the problem of drought in passage 2?

• "The communities that depend on the Colorado River will have to work together to conserve the area's resources. 'Now is the time to take action.'"

• Farmers in Arizona will see the biggest decreases, about 20%

• The shortage is a result of a drought in the Southwest. Scientists say it is one of the worst droughts in 1,200 years.

• If its levels continue to fall, the SU government could make further cuts. These could affect 40 million people in seven states and Mexico.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.6.9