Non-fiction: Lights Out!
Lights Out!
Learn what to do—and not to do—during a power outage.
After a long day of school and homework, you decide to wind down by
watching TV. You put some popcorn in the microwave and settle down on
the couch. Mmm, you can smell the popcorn already, and the new episode of
The Voice looks really interesting. Suddenly, everything stops. The popcorn
stops popping. The TV turns off. You flip the switch on the wall. The lights
don't work either. It's a power outage. What should you do?
Many power outages don't last long. However, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you're trapped without electricity
for a long time, you should do certain things to stay safe. (You didn't think
we'd leave you in the dark, did you?)
Lights And Electricity


Use a flashlight to find your way around. Don't use candles; open
flames could cause a fire.
Turn off all electric appliances.
Heat And Cold


If the blackout occurs during the summer or in a hot climate, you
could be in danger of fainting or heat stroke. The CDC says you should
wear loose-fitting clothes and drink a lot of fluids to keep yourself cool.
In the winter or in a cold climate, you could be at risk of hypothermia
(hiy-poh-THERmee-uh) when the heat goes off. Hypothermia occurs
when a person's body temperature drops way below average. Wear
lots of layers, and continue moving to keep yourself warm.
Food And Water



If the power is out for less than two hours, eating food from the
refrigerator is safe, according to the CDC.
Food in the freezer will keep longer than food in the fridge does. The
food in a full freezer is safe to eat for up to 48 hours after the power
has gone out.
You can pack milk, eggs, meat, and other things that could spoil in a
cooler with ice in the fridge during a blackout. That will help the food
last longer. If you are not sure whether the food has gone bad, throw
it out.
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Article: Copyright © 2008 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Lights Out!

If you normally use a water purification system, it might not work
during a power outage. Stay safe by using bottled water for drinking,
cooking, and brushing teeth.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can come from ovens,
grills, or energy generators. The gas can be deadly. During a power outage,
carbon monoxide detectors might not work.



Do not use the stove.
Never use a charcoal grill inside.
Keep a window open.
Credits from left to
right: Jupiter
Images;
Shutterstock(2);
Jupiter Images

If the house is too hot or too cold, try to go somewhere else for
shelter.
Prepare A Kit
To make sure you are prepared for a power outage, prepare an emergency
kit. It should include a flashlight, batteries, a portable radio, and water.
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© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2008 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Questions: Lights Out!
Name:
_____________ Date: _______________________
1. According to the passage, hypothermia happens when
A
B
C
D
you are wearing many layers to keep warm
a person’s body temperature drops way below average
the electricity goes out
someone is in danger of fainting or heat stroke
2. The passage provides a list of things from the CDC about what to do when there is a
power outage. Which of the following does the CDC NOT recommend doing?
A
B
C
D
find candles to use for light
turn off all electronic appliances
drink lots of fluids if it happens during the summer
keep a window open
3. Based on the passage, why might someone most likely be in danger of fainting or a
heat stroke during a summer blackout?
A Because during
B Because during
conditioning.
C Because during
hypothermia.
D Because during
a summer blackout, there is not enough food to eat.
a summer blackout, there is no electricity to run fans or air
a summer blackout, people might get too cold and get
a summer blackout, people may not have loose-fitting clothes.
4. Read the following sentence: “Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can
come from ovens, grills, or energy generators.” As used in the passage, odorless means
you cannot
A
B
C
D
see the gas
feel the gas
taste the gas
smell the gas
5. This passage is mostly about
A
B
C
D
what TV episodes you might miss if the power goes out
what to do to keep safe when the power goes out
how to save the food in your refrigerator when the power goes out
what games to play when the power goes out
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Questions: Lights Out!
6. According to the CDC, how long can you safely keep food in a refrigerator when the
power has gone out?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. Based on the passage, why does the CDC most likely recommend keeping a window
open when the electricity goes out?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes
the sentence.
Food can only last for up to two hours in the refrigerator, _____ food in the freezer can
last up to 48 hours after the power goes out.
A
B
C
D
after
although
because
so
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
When the power goes out, you should not use the oven because the carbon monoxide
detectors may not work.
Who? you
What? _________________________________________________________________
When? ________________________________________________________________
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Questions: Lights Out!
Why? _________________________________________________________________
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below to complete questions 10a,
10b, and 11.
Vocabulary Word: fluid (flu·id): (noun) liquid. (adjective) describes something that is
smooth and graceful.
10a. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word fluid.
After exercising it’s important to drink more fluids to replace all that you lost
while sweating.
1.
2.
The paint in a can is more fluid than the paint that comes out of a tube.
The poet recited his poems to the audience in such a fluid way they got lost in
his words.
3.
Watching an eagle flying smoothly and gracefully, would lead one to say the
eagle has fluid movement.
4.
The snake slithered along the ground in even fluid movements so the frog did
not see it coming.
5.
10b. Which image shows fluid movement?
11. Which of the following would be described as more fluid? Play-Doh or Jell-O? Why?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide & Answers: Lights Out!
Teacher Guide and Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 870
Featured Text Structure: Enumerative – the writer includes a list, giving examples of something. This
text structure is often combined with cause/effect or problem/solution.
Passage Summary: This passage provides a list of things you should do to stay safe during an electricity
blackout, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
1. According to the passage, hypothermia happens when
A
B
C
D
you are wearing many layers to keep warm
a person’s body temperature drops way below average
the electricity goes out
someone is in danger of fainting or heat stroke
2. The passage provides a list of things from the CDC about what to do when there is a power outage.
Which of the following does the CDC NOT recommend doing?
A
B
C
D
find candles to use for light
turn off all electronic appliances
drink lots of fluids if it happens during the summer
keep a window open
3. Based on the passage, why might someone most likely be in danger of fainting or a heat stroke during
a summer blackout?
A
B
Because during a
Because during
conditioning.
C Because during a
D Because during a
summer blackout, there is not enough food to eat.
a summer blackout, there is no electricity to run fans or air
summer blackout, people might get too cold and get hypothermia.
summer blackout, people may not have loose-fitting clothes.
4. Read the following sentence: “Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can come from ovens,
grills, or energy generators.” As used in the passage, odorless means you cannot
A
B
C
D
see the gas
feel the gas
taste the gas
smell the gas
5. This passage is mostly about
A
B
C
D
what TV episodes you might miss if the power goes out
what to do to keep safe when the power goes out
how to save the food in your refrigerator when the power goes out
what games to play when the power goes out
6. According to the CDC, how long can you safely keep food in a refrigerator when the power has gone out?
Suggested answer: The CDC says that you can safely keep food for up to two hours when the power has
gone out. [paragraph 5]
1
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ReadWorks®,
Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide & Answers: Lights Out!
7. Based on the passage, why does the CDC most likely recommend keeping a window open when the
electricity goes out?
Suggested answer: The CDC most likely recommends keeping a window open because when the
electricity goes out, sometimes carbon monoxide detectors may not work. Because carbon monoxide is
odorless and colorless, people can’t see or smell when it is around. A way to make sure there isn’t a lot of
carbon monoxide building up inside is to keep a window open for fresh air. [paragraph 7]
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
Food can only last for up to two hours in the refrigerator, _____ food in the freezer can last up to 48
hours after the power goes out.
A
B
C
D
after
although
because
so
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
When the power goes out, you should not use the oven because the carbon monoxide detectors may not
work.
Who? you
What? should not use the oven
When? when the power goes out
Why? because the carbon monoxide detectors may not work
To the Teacher: ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the whole class out loud
using the four steps listed below.
Vocabulary Word: fluid (flu·id): (noun) liquid. (adjective) describes something that is smooth and
graceful.
Step 1: Introduce the word
a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (flu·id)
b. Teacher says: “This word is fluid. What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “fluid.”]
Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition
a. Teacher says: “Fluid is another word for liquid. It can also mean something has a smooth or
graceful quality.”
b. Teacher says: “The passage advises people to drink lots of fluids, or liquids, during a blackout in
the summer. It is important to drink fluids so you don’t faint or feel sick. You can also use fluid as
an adjective. The ballerina spun around the stage with such fluid movement that she seemed to
float on the stage.”
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ReadWorks®,
Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide & Answers: Lights Out!
c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “fluid.”]
Step 3: Practice the word
Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first sentence out
loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary word prompt students
to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence out loud to your students.
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below to complete questions 10a, 10b, and 11.
Vocabulary Word: fluids (flu·id): (noun) liquid. (adjective) describes something that is smooth and
graceful.
10a. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word fluid.
1.
After exercising it’s important to drink more fluids to replace all that you lost while sweating.
2.
The paint in a can is more fluid than the paint that comes out of a tube.
3.
The poet recited his poems to the audience in such a fluid way they got lost in his words.
Watching an eagle flying smoothly and gracefully, would lead one to say the eagle has fluid
movement.
4.
5.
The snake slithered along the ground in even fluid movements so the frog did not see it coming.
Step 4: Check for student understanding
To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice.
10b. Which image shows fluid movement?
11. Which of the following would be described as more fluid? Play-Doh or Jell-O? Why?
Suggested answer: Jell-O would be described as more fluid because in a bowl the Jell-o moves and
jiggles in a smooth way. On the other hand, Play-Doh has very little movement. It is not a fluid (noun)
and it does not move in a smooth fluid way (Adjective) when you poke it.
Suggested Additional Vocabulary: wind, settle, episode, outage, appliances, climate, spoil, odorless,
portable, shelter
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ReadWorks®,
Inc. All rights reserved.