EARTH: CHART READING
Name:
FINDING FERTILIZER
In “Name That Element!” (p. 20), you learned that potassium is one of the main components in artificial fertilizer. Much of the
potassium used in fertilizers comes from potash, a salt that contains potassium. Potash is usually mined deep underground.
The table below shows how much potash different countries mined in 2011. Use the data to answer the questions that follow.
MAJOR POTASH SOURCES
IN 2011
Country
Amount of
Potash Mined
(millions of
metric tons)
Belarus
5.5
Canada
11.2
China
3.2
Germany
3.3
Israel
2
Jordan
1.4
Russia
7.4
United States
1.1
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity
Summaries, January 2012
ANALYZE IT
1. Which country mined the most potash in 2011?
2. If the United States were to continue mining as much
potash as it did in 2011 every year, how many years would
it take to collect the same amount of potash that Belarus
mined in 2011?
4. What percentage of the world total of 37 million metric
tons of potash came from Germany in 2011?
5. As the global population rises, more food is needed
to feed everyone. How might this trend affect how much
potash is mined?
3. The total amount of potash mined in 2011 was
37 million metric tons. Is every source of potash included
on this chart? Explain your answer.
Permission granted by Science World to reproduce for classroom use only. Copyright ©2013 by Scholastic Inc.
JANUARY 14, 2013
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
Name:
SCIENCE NEWS
Directions: Read the “Science News” section on pages 2–7.
Then test your knowledge, filling in the letters of the correct answers below.
1. The world’s largest Ferris wheel is scheduled to
open in _____ in 2015.
A Chicago
B London
C New York
D Singapore
2. A newly identified dinosaur named Pegomastax
africanus was about the size of a(n) _____.
A cat
B elephant
C cow
D frog
3. What do scientists think Pegomastax’s unusual
adaptations were for?
A to attract a mate
B to defend itself against predators
C to catch prey
D to blend in with its surroundings
4. Which of the following is NOT a property of
camouflage paint currently used by the military?
A It is waterproof.
B It is non-irritating.
C It repels insects.
D It is easy to remove.
5. _____ are large molecules made up of long chains
of smaller repeating units.
A Polymers
B Compounds
C Oxides
D Silicones
7. Which of the following is NOT true about the
DeltaWing race car?
A It can reach high speeds using half as much fuel as a
regular race car.
B Its engine is only slightly more powerful than that of
a family sedan.
C It has a more aerodynamic design than a traditional
race car.
D It’s modeled after the triangular delta wing found on
some rocket ships.
8. A mutation in a gene causes cats’ spots to _____.
A change from black to brown
B become blotchy
C disappear
D grow smaller
9. _____ is a slowing force caused by air pushing
against an object.
A Torque
B Friction
C Drag
D Gravity
10. Scientists have found that consuming 200
milligrams of caffeine helps the brain _____.
A solve puzzles in less time
B answer simple math problems faster
C identify words more quickly and accurately
D remember faces better
6. Which part of the eye causes the pupil to widen
and shrink?
A cornea
B iris
C lens
D retina
Permission granted by Science World to reproduce for classroom use only. Copyright ©2013 by Scholastic Inc.
reset answers
JANUARY 14, 2013
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING, page 1
Name:
SUBMERGED CITY, Page 8
DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. Which three U.S. cities are considered most vulnerable to hurricanes? _______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. When and where do Atlantic hurricanes usually form? ____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How does New York City’s geography make it particularly vulnerable to storm surge? ___________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. How did the actual storm surge from Hurricane Sandy compare with the worst-case scenario Gary Conte described
back in 2008? _________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. How can coastal cities protect themselves from hurricane damage? Give two examples. _________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
ARE YOU SURE THAT’S HONEY?, Page 12
DIRECTIONS: Read each statement and decide whether it is true (T) or false (F). Write your response in the space
provided.
______ 1. Milk that’s diluted with water is one example of a counterfeit food.
______ 2. In 2010, the FDA confiscated honey from China because it contained high-fructose corn syrup.
______ 3. Scientists check sushi’s boiling point to determine if it is counterfeit.
______ 4. “Honey laundering” is when honey producers strain the pollen out of their products.
______ 5. Regular people can help detect food fraud.
Permission granted by Science World to reproduce for classroom use only. ©2012 by Scholastic Inc.
DECEMBER 10, 2012
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING, page 2
Name:
PENGUIN COUNT DOUBLES!, Page 16
DIRECTIONS: Fill in the blanks in the following sentences.
1. For the first time ever, scientists have used _____________ to count the population of penguins in Antarctica.
2. Emperor penguins live in large groups called ____________ during the breeding season.
3. In the winter, temperatures in Antarctica can drop to _________ °C ( _______°F).
4. Scientists now estimate that about ____________ emperor penguins live in Antarctica.
5. Emperor penguins have many ___________ that help them survive Antarctica’s cold, harsh climate.
6. Male emperor penguins huddle close together in winter to share one another’s __________ __________.
7. To keep their bodies off the ice, penguins balance like a ___________ on their cushioned feet and heels.
8. Scientists are concerned that more of Antarctica’s ice will permanently ___________ as climate change warms
the planet.
9. Penguin chicks need to grow ___________ adult feathers before they can survive off the ice.
10. Emperor penguins are a __________ __________: They eat smaller animals, which in turn survive on even smaller
organisms.
NAME THAT ELEMENT! Page 20
DIRECTIONS: Match each word in the left column below with its definition in the right column.
_____ 1. collagen
a. the center of an atom
_____ 2. electrolyte
b. a fluffy pie topping made from egg whites
_____ 3. cream of tartar
c. a type of connective tissue found in skin
_____ 4. electrolysis
d. a salt solution that conducts electrical charge
_____ 5. tanning
e. a substance made of two or more elements that are chemically combined
_____ 6. electron
f. a negatively charged particle
_____ 7. group
g. a process that uses an electric current to break chemical bonds
_____ 8. meringue
h. the elements in one column of the periodic table
_____ 9. nucleus
i. the process that turns animal skin into leather
_____ 10. compound
j. a powdery baking ingredient
Permission granted by Science World to reproduce for classroom use only. ©2012 by Scholastic Inc.
DECEMBER 10, 2012