What is Speed? — Reading Comprehension

Speed tells us how fast something moves. It shows how quickly an object changes its position. If you walk slowly across the playground, your speed is low. If you run quickly, your speed is high.

We measure speed by looking at two things: how far something goes and how long it takes. For example, if a car travels 10 miles in 10 minutes, it is moving faster than a bike that takes 30 minutes to travel the same distance.

Different objects can move at different speeds. A snail crawls very slowly, while a cheetah runs very fast. Even people can change their speed depending on whether they are walking, jogging, or sprinting.

Speed is not the same as direction. If two people run at the same speed but one goes north and the other goes south, their speeds are the same even though they move in different directions.

Reference points also help when thinking about speed. Imagine you’re on a train. If you walk down the aisle, your friend inside the train says you’re moving slowly. But to someone watching outside, you’re moving at the train’s speed plus your walking speed.

Understanding speed helps us compare motion and make predictions. Whether it’s cars on a road, athletes in a race, or rockets in space, speed tells us how fast they move.

Fun Fact: The fastest land animal is the cheetah, which can reach speeds of about 70 miles per hour—but only for short bursts!

What does speed tell us?

Which moves very slowly?

What two things describe speed?

Why does a cheetah have high speed?

If two runners move at the same speed but in opposite directions, what is true?

A bike takes 40 minutes to go 10 miles. A car takes 10 minutes to go the same distance. Who is faster?

On a moving train, why do you seem slower to a friend inside?

Which best shows changing speed?