Name ______________________________ Class __________________ Date __________________
Skills Worksheet
Active Reading
Section: Acid Precipitation
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Thousands of lakes throughout the world are victims of acid
precipitation, which is also known as acid rain. Acid precipitation is
precipitation such as rain, sleet, or snow that contains a high
concentration of acids. When fossil fuels are burned, they release
oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. When the oxides combine with water in
the atmosphere, they form sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which fall as
acid precipitation. This acidic water flows over and through the
ground, and into lakes, rivers, and streams. Acid precipitation can kill
living things, and can result in the decline or loss of some local animal
and plant populations.
A pH (power of hydrogen) number is a measure of how acidic or
basic a substance is. The lower the number on a pH scale, the more
acidic a substance is; the higher a pH number is, the more basic a
substance is. Each whole number on the pH scale indicates a tenfold
change in acidity.
IDENTIFYING MAIN IDEAS
One reading skill is the ability to identify the main idea of a passage. The main
idea is the main focus or key idea. Frequently, a main idea is accompanied by
supporting information that offers detailed facts about main ideas.
In the space provided, write the letter of the term or phrase that best completes
each statement or best answers each question.
_____ 1. In which of these forms does acid precipitation reach the surface of
Earth?
a. light
c. precipitation
b. energy
d. oxides
_____ 2. What is harmed by acid precipitation?
a. lakes, rivers, and streams
c. animal populations
b. plant populations
d. all of the above
_____ 3. What does acid precipitation contain that is harmful to living things?
a. particulate matter
c. sulfuric acid and nitric acid
b. fossil fuels
d. calcium carbonate
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
Read each question and write the answer in the space provided.
4. What three forms can acid precipitation take?
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Name ______________________________ Class __________________ Date __________________
Active Reading continued
5. When an author puts something in parentheses, he or she is often explaining
the word or term that came just before. How does this author use parentheses
to explain pH?
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_______________________________________________________________
6. What does a pH number tell you?
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SEQUENCING INFORMATION
One reading skill is the ability to sequence information, or to logically place items
or events in the order in which they occur.
Sequence the statements below to trace the path of acid precipitation. Write “1” on
the line in front of the first step, “2” on the line in front of the second step, and so
on.
_____ 7. The oxides combine with water in the atmosphere.
_____ 8. Acid precipitation falls.
_____ 9. Sulfuric acid and nitric acid are formed.
_____ 10. The decline or loss of plant and animal populations can occur.
_____ 11. Fossil fuels are burned, releasing sulfur and nitrogen oxides.
_____ 12. Acidic water runs over and through the ground, and into lakes, rivers,
and streams.
RECOGNIZING SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
One reading skill is the ability to recognize similarities and differences between two
phrases, ideas, or things. This is sometimes known as comparing and contrasting.
Read the question and write the answer in the space provided.
13. What does it mean when something has a high pH level? a low pH level?
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RECOGNIZING CAUSE AND EFFECT
One reading skill is the ability to recognize cause and effect.
Read each question and write the answer in the space provided.
14. What is the basic cause of acid precipitation? What are some effects?
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ANSWER KEY
18. Accept any reasonable response. Sample
answer: The power plants in Country A
give off oxides of sulfur and nitrogen that
combine with water in the air to make
acid precipitation. The wind carries the
acid precipita-tion over the border away
from Country A, and it falls into Country
B, where it acidifies the lake water. The
two countries could reach an agreement
for Country A to install scrubbers in the
power plants, or take other measures to
reduce emissions.
19. Accept any reasonable response.Sample
answers: Agree. It would be impossible to
maintain our society without any
pollution. Many businesses would fail,
and many people would lose their jobs if
businesses were banned from producing
any pollution. Even non-industrialized
societies produce pollution in the form of
smoke from fires. It makes more sense for
our society to work toward drastically
reducing pollution rather than completely
eliminating it.
SECTION: AIR, NOISE, AND LIGHT
POLLUTION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11
12.
13.
14.
c
d
b
a
long, thin fibers that are valued for their
strength and resistance to heat
a potentially fatal disease that arises from
exposure to asbestos
2
1
5
3
6
4
Asbestos is a good insulator and fire
retardant.
Exposure to asbestos can lead to the
disease asbestosis, which can be
fatal.School officials don’t want to take
the chance that a child might inhale
asbestos fibers.
SECTION: ACID PRECIPITATION
Active Reading
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
SECTION: WHAT CAUSES AIR
POLLUTION?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
d
d
a
c
a
chemical compounds that form toxic fum
Harmful; they pollute the air.
They burn fossil fuels, which releases
huge amounts of sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides into the air.
9. oil refineries, chemical manufacturing
plants, furniture refinishers, and
automobile repair shops
10. two-thirds of all sulfur dioxide and more
than one-third of all nitrogen oxides that
pollute the air
11. use fewer products that contain VOCs
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
c
d
c
rain, sleet, and snow
The author writes “power of hydrogen” in
parentheses to explain what the letters in
pH stand for.
how acidic or basic a substance is
2
4
3
6
1
5
It is more basic; it is more acidic.
the burning of fossil fuels; decline or loss
of plant and animal populations
Map Skills
1.
2.
3.
4.
low
Barnstable
over cities, especially over Boston
Answers may vary but should mention
that air pollution concentrations are higher
over cities.
5. Answers will vary.
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