Black Sunday: The Worst Dust Storm in History — Reading Comprehension

On April 14, 1935, a huge dust storm swept across the Great Plains. This day became known as Black Sunday. The storm was part of a time called the Dust Bowl. During the 1930s, many farms in the center of the United States faced years of drought and strong winds.

Farmers had plowed the land for crops. Without enough rain, the soil became dry and loose. The strong wind picked up the dry dirt and carried it for many miles. Thick clouds of dust covered everything. People could not see the sun. In some places, the sky turned as dark as night in the middle of the day.

Many families tried to keep the dust out by hanging wet sheets over windows and doors. They wore wet cloths over their faces when they went outside. The dust made it hard to breathe. People worried about their health and their homes. A child from Kansas wrote, "It was so dark, I could not see my hand in front of my face."

On Black Sunday, the dust storm moved quickly. People hurried to find shelter. Cars could not drive, and animals ran for cover. The storm was so powerful that it carried away topsoil from the land. Crops were destroyed. Some farms were buried in dust up to the windows.

After Black Sunday, many families decided to leave their homes and move west. They hoped to find better land and safer places to live. Others stayed and worked together to save their farms. The government helped by teaching new ways to farm and planting trees to stop the wind.

Black Sunday showed the bravery of the people. They helped each other and did not give up. Their teamwork helped rebuild their communities. Over time, the land slowly healed.

Interesting Fact: Some dust from the Dust Bowl traveled all the way to cities on the East Coast, like New York and Washington, D.C.

When did Black Sunday happen?

What caused the Dust Bowl?

Where did many families move after Black Sunday?

Why did people hang wet sheets over windows?

How did the government help after the storm?

What happened to the land during the storm?

Black Sunday was part of the Dust Bowl. True or false?

What does 'bravery' mean in the passage?