VM I Cluster 2
The Storm Chasers
Part 1 Introduction:
The story you will read is about a TV program dealing with storm chasers. In the first part of this story,
you will learn that the TV program has to do with a group of people who went on a storm chasing
expedition. The narrator says that the program is very exciting.
The narrator also admits that the TV program made him afraid as it showed a tornado funnel forming and
touching down to the ground. The funnel caused a lot of damage and it demolished anything in its path.
Key Phrases:
You will read the phrase “it was beyond description.” This means that something was so out of the
ordinary that it was hard to describe.
You will read the phrase “descended out of a drenched sky.” To descend out of a drenched sky means to
come down from the wet, rainy sky to the earth.
Part 1:
I watched an interesting TV science feature on Cable TV. The feature had to do with a group of people
who went on a storm chasing expedition. I could not deny or disguise how exciting it was to watch this
show. It was beyond description.
I also could not disguise the fear I had as I watched the formation of a tornado funnel. It was amazing to
see what could happen when elements of the weather started to expand.
The funnel seemed to appear out of no where and I was amazed at what happened when it descended out
of a drenched sky and hit the ground. The damage caused was beyond description. It demolished anything
that was in its path, from dainty, delicate flowers, to rock solid granite buildings.
Fill-in-the-blank
1. I watched an interesting TV science _________________ on Cable TV.
fiction
feature
program
class
2. I could not deny or ____________________ how exciting it was to watch this show.
pretend
descend
disguise
feature
3. It was amazing to see what could happen when the _______________ of the weather started to expand.
elements
clouds
delicate
description
4. The funnel seemed to appear out of nowhere and I was amazed at what happened when it ___________
out of a drenched sky.
demolished
expedition
descended
damaged
5. It demolished anything that was in its path, from ___________ delicate flowers to rock solid granite
buildings.
delicate
disguised
forfeiting
Comprehension Questions
1. How did the narrator learn about the storm chasers?
a. The narrator used to be a storm chaser
b. The narrator watched a feature on TV about storm chasers
c. The narrator read a book about tornadoes
d. Someone told the narrator a story about storm chasers
2. What caused the narrator to feel fear?
a. watching the TV science feature
b. the drenched sky
c. the formation of a tornado funnel
d. the dainty, delicate flowers
3. What did the narrator say about the TV show?
a. it was beyond description
b. he was not very interesting
c. it was only a little exciting
d. the tornado funnel seemed unreal
dainty
4. What caused damage that was beyond description?
a. the storm chasers
b. the TV feature
c. the rock solid granite buildings
d. the tornado funnel
5. Which pair of words do not belong together, or mean much the same thing?
a. dainty, delicate
b. description, elements
c. disguise, hide
d. damage, demolish
Short Answer:
1. How did the narrator feel about the storm chaser show?
2. Describe what the narrator saw when the tornado appeared.
3. What did the tornado funnel demolish?
4. Where did the tornado funnel appear?
5. Where did the narrator see the storm chasers?
Part 2 Introduction:
In the next part of this story, the narrator talks about the danger the tornado funnel could cause. The
narrator says that anyone in its path was in danger of losing their life. The funnel was destroying
everything in its way.
The narrator thinks the storm chasers were very brave, showing great grit when they were chasing the
storm. Even though it was dangerous and they were tired, they did not give up.
Key Phrases:
You will read the phrase “forfeiting their lives.” This phrase means to take the chance of giving up their
lives, or risking death.
You will read the phrase “showed great grit.” It means to act courageously or to not be afraid or tired or
wanting to give up.
Part 2:
No one could flee from its path. Those in its path knew they were in danger of forfeiting their lives. The
bigger the funnel expanded, the more the funnel forged a gorge into the ground and destroyed anything
that stood in its way.
The storm chasers showed great grit as they chased the storm. They did not try to flee. They never
stopped. They would enable the funnel to trap them. They were exhausted, but they kept on going.
Fill-in-the-blank
1. No one could ____________ from its path.
run
flee
gorge
forfeit
2. Those in its path knew they were in danger of ___________________ their lives
saving
forging
forfeiting
descending
3. The storm chasers showed great _________________ as they chased the storm.
exhaustion
grit
funnels
fear
4. They would ___________________ the funnel to trap them.
enable
deny
disguise
flee
5. And the bigger the funnel expanded, the more then funnel forged a ______________ into the ground.
grit
path
funnel
Comprehension Questions
1. Those in the path of the tornado funnel knew what?
a. That they were very brave
b. that they were not smart for chasing the storm
c. that they were in danger of forfeiting their lives
d. that they could escape at any time
2. Who could flee from the path of the tornado funnel?
a. no one
b. anyone who tried
c. only professional storm chasers
d. the person watching the TV show
3. How did the storm chasers act when they were chasing the storm?
a. they acted like they were very afraid
b. they acted like they were ready to quit chasing the storm
c. they acted too tired to continue chasing the storm
d. they showed great grit and they never stopped
gorge
4. What is one thing the narrator says the storm chasers would do while they were chasing the storm?
a. they would give up if they got too exhausted
b. they would enable the funnel to trap them
c. they would flee
d. they would destroy everything in the funnel’s way
5. Out of the things the narrator explains in this part of the story, which one comes first?
a. The storm chasers were exhausted, but they kept on going
b. the storm chasers showed great grit
c. No one could flee from the tornado funnel’s path
d. the funnel forged a gorge into the ground
Short Answer:
1. What did those in the tornado’s path know?
2. When the funnel expanded, what happened?
3. Describe how the storm chasers acted when chasing the tornado.
4. What did the storm chasers show while chasing the tornado?
5. What did the storm chasers allow the tornado to do?
Part 3 Introduction:
In the last part of this story, the narrator explains that there is a rumor about the storm chasers. The
narrator once heard someone say that the storm chasers’ lives were fiction, or not real. The rumor was that
their courageous actions were a made-up fable.
The narrator does not want this lie to continue. The narrator says that the storm chasers allow us to get
important information about dangerous storms and help keep people safe, therefore we owe them
gratitude.
Key Phrases:
You will read the phrase “this lie needs to decay.” This lie needs to decay means that the lie needs to
disappear and people do not need to continue to hear something that is untrue.
You will read the phrase “fleece the public of the truth.” To fleece the public of the truth means to deprive
them of the truth, or not allow them to know what is true.
Part 3:
I once heard that someone spread a rumor that the storm chasers lives were not real. The gossip was that
their stories were just fiction and that their courageous actions were just a fable.
I cannot let this lie live. This lie needs to decay like the leaves on a dead tree. This lie cannot fleece the
public of the truth about the storm chasers and the gratitude we owe them. The storm chasers’ curiosity
helps us get important information about the formation of these dangerous storms and this important
knowledge contributes to the safety of those around them.
Fill-in-the-blank
1. I once heard that someone spread a ____________ that the storm chasers lives were not real.
rumor
fleece
curiosity
fact
2. The gossip was that their stories were just fiction and that their courageous actions were just a
________________.
story
lie
fable
decay
3. This lie needs to ________________ like the leaves on a dead tree.
descend
decay
gossip
formation
4. The storm chasers’ ____________ helps us get important information about the formation of these
dangerous storms.
lives
gratitude
rumors
curiosity
5. This lie cannot _____________ the public of the truth about the storm chasers and the gratitude we
owe them.
fleece
stop
destroy
demolish
Comprehension Questions
1. In this part of the story, what was the first thing the narrator says about the storm chasers?
a. they are always very courageous
b. we owe them gratitude
c. someone spread a rumor that their lives were not real
d. their curiosity helps us get information about the formation of dangerous storms
2. What was the gossip about the storm chasers’ lives?
a. they were very exciting all of the time
b. their stories were just fiction and their courageous action were just a fable
c. they were going to stop chasing storms
d. their stories were all true
3. What does the narrator say about the lie about the storm chasers?
a. it needs to decay like the leaves on a dead tree
b. it needs to be spread further to more people
c. it needs to be told to everyone who has curiosity about storms
d. it needs to continue to live
4. According to the story, what does the some chasers’ curiosity help us get?
a. shelter from bad storms
b. important information about the formation of dangerous storms
c. good shows to watch on TV
d. interesting fables to tell others
5. How does this story end?
a. the narrator tells us that the story is actually a fable
b. they narrator tells us that he is going to become a storm chaser
c. the narrator tells us that he is watching a TV feature on Cable TV
d. the narrator tells us that the storm chasers’ knowledge contributes to the safety of those around
them.
Short Answer:
1. What rumor did the narrator hear?
2. Describe what the narrator wants to happen to the lie.
3. What does the storm chasers’ curiosity give us?
4. What was said to be “just a fable”?
5. What does knowledge of these storms contribute to?
Cluster Story 2: The Storm Chasers
I watched an interesting TV science feature on Cable TV. The feature had to do with a group of
people who went on a storm chasing expedition. I could not deny or disguise how exciting it was
to watch this show. It was beyond description.
I also could not disguise the fear I had as I watched the formation of a tornado funnel. It was
amazing to see what could happen when elements of the weather started to expand.
The funnel seemed to appear out of no where and I was amazed at what happened when it
descended out of a drenched sky and hit the ground. The damage caused was beyond
description. It demolished anything that was in its path, from dainty, delicate flowers, to rock
solid granite buildings.
No one could flee from its path. Those in its path knew they were in danger of forfeiting their
lives. The bigger the funnel expanded, the more the funnel forged a gorge into the ground and
destroyed anything that stood in its way.
The storm chasers showed great grit as they chased the storm. They did not try to flee. They
never stopped. They would enable the funnel to trap them. They were exhausted, but they kept
on going.
I once heard that someone spread a rumor that the storm chasers lives were not real. The gossip
was that their stories were just fiction and that their courageous actions were just a fable.
I cannot let this lie live. This lie needs to decay like the leaves on a dead tree. This lie cannot
fleece the public of the truth about the storm chasers and the gratitude we owe them. The storm
chasers’ curiosity helps us get important information about the formation of these dangerous
storms and this important knowledge contributes to the safety of those around them.