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Why Do Deserts Form Next To Tall Mountains?

Interactive passage with audio narration, comprehension questions, and printable PDF.

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Format: Interactive (Online), Printable (PDF)
Grades: 6
Subjects: science
Languages: English, Spanish

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What's included

Reading passage

Reading comprehension

Audio narration

With word word highlighting

Comprehension quiz

Auto-graded

Writing activity

Open-ended response

Glossary & flashcards

Vocabulary practice

Differentiated version

Adapted for varied levels

Spanish translation

Bilingual support

About this reader

This engaging passage, 'Why Do Deserts Form Next To Tall Mountains?', delves into the fascinating phenomenon of the rain shadow effect. Students will learn how mountains influence weather patterns and climate, leading to the formation of dry, desert regions. Key concepts like **windward** and **leeward** sides, **moisture**, and **precipitation** are explained in simple language. The passage aligns with NGSS MS-ESS2-5, helping students understand how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions. This educational content includes a reading passage, multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and a glossary, all designed for Grade 6 students. All content is audio integrated for enhanced learning.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

Sample passage and quiz content

CONTENT PREVIEW

Diagram showing the rain shadow effect with a rainy side and a dry desert side. — Mountains create deserts through the rain shadow effect.

Have you ever wondered why some of the driest places on Earth, like deserts, are often found right next to very tall mountains? It seems strange, doesn't it? This interesting weather pattern is due to something called the rain shadow effect. Understanding this effect helps us see how mountains, air, and moisture interact to create different climates.

It all starts with air that holds a lot of moisture, like air coming from an ocean. When this moist air moves towards a tall mountain range, it's forced to rise. As the air rises, it gets cooler. Think about what happens when warm, moist air cools down – clouds form! This cooling causes the water vapor in the air to condense into tiny water droplets, forming clouds and leading to precipitation, which is rain or snow.

The side of the mountain that faces the incoming moist air is called the windward side. This side gets a lot of rain and is often lush and green. As the air continues to rise over the mountain, it loses most of its moisture through precipitation. By the time the air reaches the top of the mountain and starts to descend down the other side, it's much drier.

The side of the mountain away from the wind, where the dry air descends, is called the leeward side. As this dry air sinks, it warms up. Warm, dry air is not good for making rain. In fact, it tends to pull moisture out of the land, making the ground very dry. This is why the leeward side of mountains often has a dry climate and can become a desert. The Rocky Mountains in North America and the Andes Mountains in South America are great examples of places where you can see the rain shadow effect in action, creating nearby deserts.

So, the next time you see a desert next to a mountain, remember the rain shadow effect and how it changes the weather. It's a powerful example of how Earth's features create unique environments.

Interesting Fact: The Atacama Desert in Chile, one of the driest places on Earth, is located on the leeward side of the Andes Mountains.

What is the main topic of the passage?

Ocean currentsDesert animalsRain shadow effectMountain heights

Which side of the mountain receives a lot of rain?

Leeward sideWindward sideTop of mountainBottom of valley

What happens to moist air as it rises over a mountain?

It gets warmerIt gets coolerIt disappearsIt speeds up

Why does the leeward side of a mountain become dry?

Air collects thereIt gets more sunDry air descendsIt has no plants

Deserts are usually found on the leeward side of mountains.

TrueFalse

If a region has lush forests next to a mountain, what kind of air mass is likely hitting that side of the mountain?