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How Gravity Causes Landslides — Reading Comprehension

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This engaging Grade 4-5 science reading passage explains how gravity causes landslides. Students will learn key concepts such as gravity, slope, erosion, weathering, and the role of water in landslides. The passage defines important science terms in bold and provides real-world examples, such as landslides in mountains and along roadways. Students will discover how heavy rainfall and human activities can increase the risk of landslides. The passage ends with an interesting fact and includes a Spanish translation, glossary, multiple-choice quiz, and writing prompts. This resource aligns with NGSS standards and is audio integrated, making it accessible for diverse learners. The included activities build reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking, while the illustration prompt helps visualize the science behind landslides.

CONTENT PREVIEW

landslide, landslip, erosion, road, steep, grass, rocks, soil, earth, fall, danger, landslide, landslide, landslide, landslide, landslide — Many hills and mountains have steep slopes. by sandid /
Source: Pixabay.

Erosion is the process where wind, water, or gravity moves rocks and soil from one place to another. When erosion happens too quickly, it can wash away good soil that plants need to grow, damage buildings, and harm the land. People have developed many methods to slow down erosion and protect the earth.

Farmers use windbreaks, which are rows of trees planted to block strong winds. These trees act like a fence that stops wind from blowing soil away from farm fields. Construction workers build retaining walls, which are strong walls made of concrete or stone that hold soil in place on steep slopes. Without these walls, gravity would pull the soil downhill.

Engineers place large rocks along coastlines to absorb the energy from ocean waves. The rocks break up the waves before they can wash away the beach. On steep hillsides, people create terracing, which means cutting the slope into flat steps like a staircase. Water flows slowly across each flat step instead of rushing straight down the hill and carrying soil with it.

One of the simplest methods anyone can use is planting grass on bare soil. Grass roots hold soil particles together like tiny fingers gripping the earth. The leaves and stems also slow down rainwater so it soaks into the ground instead of running off and taking soil with it.

Interesting Fact: In the 1930s, poor farming practices and drought caused massive wind erosion in the Great Plains called the Dust Bowl, where huge dust storms buried homes and farms under mountains of soil!

What is erosion?

When plants grow in soilWhen rocks and soil move placesWhen farmers plant treesWhen rain falls from clouds

What do windbreaks do?

They hold water in lakesThey block wind from blowing soilThey make plants grow fasterThey create rain for farms

What are retaining walls made of?

Wood and leavesGrass and flowersConcrete or stoneSand and water

Why do engineers place rocks along coastlines?

To make the beach prettierTo absorb wave energyTo help fish swim betterTo collect rainwater

How does terracing help prevent erosion?

It makes water flow quickly downhillIt removes all plants from hillsIt makes water flow slowly across stepsIt stops all rain from falling

How do grass roots help prevent erosion?

They hold soil particles togetherThey make soil blow away fasterThey stop all water from soaking inThey remove nutrients from soil