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The Metric System
The MetricCross-Curricular
System Focus: Mathematics
Cross-Curricular Focus: Mathematics
Cross-Curricular
Reading Comprehension
Worksheets:
D-31 of 36
Cross-Curricular
Reading Comprehension
Worksheets: D-31
of 36
Name:__________________________________
Name: ______________________________________
Answer the following questions based on the
reading
Don’t
forget to go
back to
the
Answer
thepassage.
following
questions
based
on
the
passage whenever necessary to find or confirm
reading
passage. Don’t forget to go back to the
your answers.
There are two basic
systems
of
measurement:
metric
and
There are two basic systems of measurement: metric, and customary.
passage whenever necessary to find or confirm
The United
States,
and Myanmar
the only
countriesthat
that still use the
1) There is a lot of talk about the metric system being a
customary. The U.S.,
Liberia
andLiberia,
Myanmar
are theareonly
countries
your answers.
customary
system.Interestingly,
Interestingly, the
United
States
was involved
simpler system. What makes it simpler?
still use the customary
system.
the
United
States
was in the metric
system meetings from the beginning. Our representatives signed the 1875 Treaty
involved in world meetings
the metric
system
during
18th
_______________________________________________
of the Meter.on
Signing
was a vote
to recognize
thethe
meter
as acentury.
standard of
U.S. representatives
signed
the
1875
Treaty
of
the
Meter.
Signing
the
measurement. So where did the metric system come from, and why don’t we 1) Which system of measurement do you prefer:
_______________________________________________
it?
treaty was a vote use
to recognize
the meter as a standard of measurement.
metric or customary? Explain your answer.
2) Why do you think the United States did not
So where did the metric
system
come
from, Revolution
and whyhad
doesn’t
the inU.S.
In 1790,
just after
the French
just ended
France. The new
immediately switch to the metric system in 1800?
use it very much?French government commissioned the French Academy to develop a simpler ___________________________________________
metre
would
be
equal
to
one
system
of
measurement.
They
agreed
that
one
In 1790, the French Revolution had just ended in France. The new
_______________________________________________
___________________________________________
ten-millionth of the distance between the north pole and the equator, measuring
French government
commissioned
the
French
Academy
to
develop
a
along the Paris meridian. It took ten years to complete the survey and finalize
_______________________________________________
simpler system ofthe
measurement.
2) What three countries still use customary
metric system. They agreed that one metre would be
3) Do you think it was right for the U.S. to sign the Treaty
equal to one ten-millionth
the
distance
north
pole and
the The measurements?
Americaof
was
much
friendlierbetween
with Francethe
than
with England
in 1800.
of the Meter and then not switch to the metric system?
equator, measuring
alongRevolution
the Paris
meridian.
tookofalmost
tenonyears
to of the
American
was
fresh in theIt lives
the people
both sides
ocean.
President
Thomas
Jefferson
enjoyed a good relationship with the new ___________________________________________
complete the survey
and
finalize
the metric
system.
_______________________________________________
French
government.
During
this
time,
he made than
the Louisiana
Purchase. He
In 1800, America was much friendlier with France
with England.
_______________________________________________
bought a huge section of land from France, greatly enlarging the territory of the___________________________________________
The American Revolution
wasFora some
recent
memory
on both
ofimmediately
the
United States.
reason,
the United
Statessides
failed to
approve
4) Why
do you
suppose
the fields
science
and medicine
3) What
treaty
did
the U.S.
signofthat
recognized
the
ocean. France had
the U.S.
the
President Thomas
thehelped
new, simpler
metricduring
system at
its war.
first opportunity.
have
been
the
first
to
switch
to
the
metric
system?
Jefferson enjoyed a Approval
good relationship
the French
government.
for the U.S. towith
“go metric”
was granted
by Congress in 1866. The metric system as a standard of measurement?
During Jefferson’sU.S.
presidency,
the
U.S.
bought
a
huge
area
of land
in
_______________________________________________
had already signed the Treaty of the Meter in 1875.
The customary
system
___________________________________________
of measurement
would not
goLouisiana
quietly. Instead,
the U.S. greatly
added metric
North America belonging
to France.
The
Purchase
_______________________________________________
measurements
to our
system in 1959.
For example,
one inchwith
is exactly 2.54
enlarged the territory
of the U.S.
However,
despite
its friendship
___________________________________________
centimeters. But there is no direct comparison for the smaller unit, the
5) In your opinion, why are people so resistant to change?
France, the U.S. failed
to approve
new, simpler
system
at fitoward
rst. the
millimeter.
The U.S. the
government
still says metric
our nation
is working
4)
Name
three professional areas in the U.S. that use
Congress approved
a move
toFor
thenow,
metric
system
1866.
Then ininthe middle.
_______________________________________________
goal of going
metric.
we seem
to be in
stuck
somewhere
the metric system.
Many medical
and scientific
use However,
the metric system
already.
1875, the U.S. signed
the Treaty
of the measurements
Meter in 1875.
the use
_______________________________________________
However,
customary
units
are
still
seen
in
daily
places
such
as
marking
miles
and
of the customary system of measurement continued.
miles per hour rather than kilometers or kilometers per hour on our highways.___________________________________________
_______________________________________________
The U.S.increased
the use of metric measurements in the 1960s.
Change is difficult. It’s not the metric system we fear, but the change.
___________________________________________
The U.S. is still working toward the goal of using only the metric
system. Many medical, military and scientific measurements use the
Copyright ©2011 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com�
5) What metric measurement is similar to a mile?
metric system already.
However, customary units are still used in many
�
situations, such as marking miles rather than kilometers on roads. The
___________________________________________
change is made more difficult by the lack of direct comparisons for some
___________________________________________
units. For example, one inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters. There is no
direct comparison for the smaller metric unit, the millimeter.
Copyright ©2012 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com
�
The Metric System
The Metric
SystemFocus: Mathematics
Cross-Curricular
Cross-Curricular Focus: Mathematics
Cross-Curricular
Reading Comprehension
Worksheets:
D-31 of 36
Cross-Curricular
Reading Comprehension
Worksheets: D-31
of 36
Name:__________________________________
key
Name: ______________________________________
Answer the following questions based on the
Answer
the passage.
following
questions
the
reading
Don’t
forget to based
go backon
to the
passage
whenever
necessary
to
find
or
confirm
reading passage. Don’t forget to go back to the
your answers.
There are two basic
systems
of
measurement:
metric
and
passage whenever necessary to find or confirm
There are two basic systems of measurement: metric, and customary.
customary. The The
U.S.,
Liberia
and
Myanmar
are the
countries
United
States,
Liberia,
and Myanmar
areonly
the only
countriesthat
that still use the
There is a lot of talk about the metric system being a
your 1)
answers.
still use the customary
system.
Interestingly,
United
was in the metric
customary
system. Interestingly,
thethe
United
StatesStates
was involved
simpler system. What makes it simpler?
meetings
beginning.
Ourduring
representatives
signed
the 1875 TreatyActual wording of answers may vary.
involved in worldsystem
meetings
onfrom
the the
metric
system
the 18th
century.
_______________________________________________
of the Meter.
Signing
was a Treaty
vote to recognize
the meter
as a standard
U.S. representatives
signed
the 1875
of the Meter.
Signing
the of
measurement. So where did the metric system come from, and why don’t we 1) Which system of measurement do you prefer:
_______________________________________________
treaty was a vote
metric
or customary? Explain your answer.
usetoit?recognize the meter as a standard of measurement.
So where did the metric system come from, and why doesn’t the U.S.
2)
Why dochoice
you think the United States did not
In 1790, just after the French Revolution had just ended in France. The new student’s
___________________________________________
use it very much?
immediately switch to the metric system in 1800?
French government commissioned the French Academy to develop a simpler
In 1790, thesystem
French
Revolution had
ended
in France.
Thebenew
metre would
equal to one ___________________________________________
of measurement.
They just
agreed
that one
French government
commissioned
the between
Frenchthe
Academy
develop
a measuring _______________________________________________
ten-millionth
of the distance
north poletoand
the equator,
the Paris meridian.
It took
ten years
complete
surveybe
and finalize 2) What
simpler system along
of measurement.
They
agreed
thattoone
metrethewould
_______________________________________________
three countries still use customary
the
metric
system.
equal to one ten-millionth of the distance between the north pole and the
measurements?
3) Do you think it was right for the U.S. to sign the Treaty
America
friendlier
with France
with England
in 1800.
equator, measuring
alongwas
themuch
Paris
meridian.
It tookthan
almost
ten years
to The
of the Meter
and then and
not switch
the metric system?
Myanmar,
Liberia
the toU.S.
American
in the
lives of the people on both sides of the ___________________________________________
complete the survey
andRevolution
finalize was
the fresh
metric
system.
ocean. President Thomas Jefferson enjoyed a good relationship with the new
_______________________________________________
In 1800, America
was much friendlier with France than with England.
___________________________________________
French government. During this time, he made the Louisiana Purchase. He
The American Revolution
was
a recent
on greatly
both sides
of the
_______________________________________________
bought a huge
section
of landmemory
from France,
enlarging
the territory of the
3)
What
treaty did the U.S. sign that recognized the
ocean. France had
helped
the
U.S.
during
the
war.
President
Thomas
United States. For some reason, the United States failed to immediately approve
4) Why do you suppose the fields of science and medicine
the
new,
simpler
metric
system
at
its
first
opportunity.
metric system as a standard of measurement?
Jefferson enjoyed a good relationship with the French government.
have been the first to switch to the metric system?
During Jefferson’s Approval
presidency,
the
U.S.
bought
a
huge
area
of
land
in
for the U.S. to “go metric” was granted by Congress in 1866. The the Treaty of the Meter
___________________________________________
_______________________________________________
U.S. had already
signed the
of the Meter
in 1875.greatly
The customary system
North America belonging
to France.
TheTreaty
Louisiana
Purchase
of
measurement
would
not
go
quietly.
Instead,
the
U.S.
added
metric
enlarged the territory of the U.S. However, despite its friendship with
___________________________________________
_______________________________________________
to our system in 1959. For example, one inch is exactly 2.54
France, the U.S.measurements
failed
to
approve
the
new,
simpler
metric
system
at
fi
rst.
centimeters. But there is no direct comparison for the smaller unit, the
5) In your
opinion,
why are people
to change?
three
professional
areassoinresistant
the U.S.
that use
Congress approved
a The
move
the metric
1866.
Then intoward the 4) Name
millimeter.
U.S.togovernment
stillsystem
says ourinnation
is working
system.
1875, the U.S. signed
the Treaty
of the
in to
1875.
However,
theinuse
_______________________________________________
goal of going
metric. For
now,Meter
we seem
be stuck
somewhere
the middle. the metric
medical
scientific measurements
use the metric system already.
of the customaryMany
system
of and
measurement
continued.
the_______________________________________________
military, science and medicine
___________________________________________
However,
customary
units
are
still
seen
in
daily
places
such1960s.
as marking miles and
The U.S.increased the use of metric measurements
in the
per hour rather than kilometers or kilometers per hour on our highways.
_______________________________________________
___________________________________________
The U.S. is still miles
working
toward the goal of using only the metric
Change is difficult. It’s not the metric system we fear, but the change.
system. Many medical, military and scientific measurements use the
5) What metric measurement is similar to a mile?
metric system already. However, customary units are still used in many
Copyright on
©2011
K12Reader
kilometer
situations, such as marking miles rather than kilometers
roads.
The - http://www.k12reader.com�
___________________________________________
�
change is made more difficult by the lack of direct comparisons for some
___________________________________________
units. For example, one inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters. There is no
direct comparison for the smaller metric unit, the millimeter.
Copyright ©2012 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com