ready Full of Rigorous, STAAR Formatted Items Covers Revised TEKS Earth and Space Lesson 4: Seasons Reading Comprehension

Seasons

1 Four seasons are recognized in most parts of the world: spring, summer, autumn (or fall), and winter. Different parts of the Earth have different seasons at the same time of the year because of the tilt of Earth on its axis. Earth is divided into northern and southern hemispheres by the equator. A hemisphere is any half of the earth. The Northern Hemisphere is the half of the Earth located north of the equator, and the Southern Hemisphere is the half of Earth located south of the equator. The equator is an imaginary line that divides Earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

2 The distance, in degrees, north or south of the equator is called latitude. Latitude is expressed in degrees, which start at 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles. Many maps show lines of latitude, called parallels, which run parallel to the equator. A distance of 39° north of the equator is expressed as 39°N. Denver, Colorado, is located at about 39°N. Parts of Argentina in South America are located at 39°S.

3 Earth can also be divided into eastern and western hemispheres. The line that divides Earth into the Eastern and Western hemispheres is called the prime meridian, which runs through Western Europe and Africa and both poles.

4 Distances east or west of the prime meridian are measured in degrees, just like latitude. Longitude is the distance, in degrees, east or west of the prime meridian. On many maps, lines of longitude, called meridians, run north and south around Earth, passing through both poles. Thus, meridians do not run parallel to the prime meridian.

5 The International Date Line is found at 180°E and 180°W from the prime meridian. This is the farthest distance from the prime meridian, located on the opposite side of Earth from the prime meridian. The International Date Line runs through the Pacific Ocean and marks a change between days. On the east side of the line it is one day earlier than the west side of the line.

6 In the previous lesson you learned that Chinese astronomers discovered that Earth is tilted on its axis. The tilt of Earth and Earth’s revolution around the sun cause the seasons found on Earth. A season is a period of the year that is marked by changes in weather. For example, the season called summer has the warmest weather of the year, while winter has the coldest weather.

7 Seasons officially change four times during a year, either on a solstice or an equinox, as Earth revolves in orbit around the sun. A solstice occurs when Earth is either fully tilted toward the sun or fully tilted away from the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice marks the first day of summer and occurs when Earth is fully tilted toward the sun. The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere marks the first day of winter and occurs when Earth is fully tilted away from the sun.

8 The summer solstice marks the longest day, or the day with the most sunlight, of the year. This is because Earth receives the most direct sunlight at this time. As Earth continues to revolve around the sun, daylight hours decrease as Earth tilts further away from the sun. The winter solstice marks the shortest day, or day with the least amount of sunlight, of the year.

March 21

June 21 December 21

September 22

9 An equinox occurs when Earth is not tilted toward or away from the sun, and the sun shines directly on the equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal (spring) equinox marks the beginning of spring, when Earth begins to tilt toward the sun. The autumnal (fall) equinox marks the beginning of autumn, when Earth begins to tilt away from the sun.

10 The earth is tilted about 23.5 degrees. When Earth is fully tilted toward the sun, the sun’s rays shine directly on a line of latitude called the Tropic of Cancer, which is located about 23.5° north of the equator. Similarly, when Earth is fully tilted away from the sun, the sun’s rays shine directly on a parallel known as the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located at a latitude of about 23.5°S.

11 As stated earlier, different parts of the world have different seasons at the same time of year. When Earth is tilted toward the sun, the Northern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight and more hours of sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere. As a result, when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, winter is occurring in the Southern Hemisphere. Areas along the equator do not experience such changes in seasons, however, since the equator receives roughly the same amount of sunlight year round.

Content Questions

1 An equinox occurs when: 5 The Northern Hemisphere receives the most daylight hours on: A Earth is tilted toward the sun B Autumn turns into winter A the spring equinox C Earth is tilted away from the B the summer solstice sun C the fall equinox D Earth is not tilted toward or D the winter solstice away from the sun

6 What season occurs in the 2 Which answer lists the correct Northern Hemisphere when it is longitude of the International Date summer in the Southern Hemisphere? Line? A Spring A 23.5°E B Summer B 23.5°W C Autumn C 180°E D Winter D 0°W

7 The fall equinox in the Northern 3 A line of latitude is also called: Hemisphere occurs on:

A a longitude A March 21 B a meridian B June 21 C a parallel C September 22 D a date line D December 21

4 Which answer best describes a 8 Which is not responsible for the difference between lines of longitude seasons found on Earth? and lines of latitude? A The tilt of Earth on its axis. A Lines of latitude are parallel B The rotation of Earth on its axis. with each other, while lines of C The revolution of Earth around longitude intersect each other. the sun. B Lines of latitude run north and D The amount of direct sunlight south, while lines of longitude Earth receives. run east and west. C Lines of longitude run parallel to each other, while lines of latitude intersect each other. D Lines of latitude are marked by degrees, while lines of longitude are marked by kilometers.

Vocabulary Questions

1 The fall equinox in the 4 The prime meridian is: Northern Hemisphere occurs when: A a line that divides Earth into A Earth is fully tilted away from the Northern and Southern the sun hemispheres B Earth is fully tilted toward the B a line that divides Earth into sun the Eastern and Western C Earth begins to tilt away from hemispheres the sun C half of the Earth D Earth begins to tilt toward the D a period of the year marked by sun changes in weather

2 The equator is: 5 An equinox is best defined as:

A an imaginary line that divides A a period of the year that is Earth into the Northern and marked by changes in weather Southern hemispheres B a period of the year when the B any half of the Earth sun shines directly on the C a line that divides Earth into equator the Eastern and Western C a period of the year when Earth hemispheres is fully tilted away from the sun D an imaginary line that runs D a period of the year when Earth through both poles is fully tilted toward the sun

3 Which answer best describes 6 The vernal equinox occurs on: the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere? A March 21 B June 21 A Earth is fully tilted away from C September 22 the sun. D December 21 B Earth begins to tilt away from the sun. C Earth begins to tilt toward the sun. D Earth is fully tilted toward the sun.

Vocabulary Questions

1 A solstice is best described as: 3 A hemisphere is defined as: A a period of the year when Earth is not tilted toward or away A an imaginary line that divides from the sun Earth in half B the first day of spring or fall B any half of the Earth C a period of the year when Earth C a line of latitude is either fully tilted toward the D a line of longitude sun or fully tilted away from the sun D a period of the year when the 4 The winter solstice occurs in sun shines directly on the the Northern Hemisphere when: equator A Earth is not tilted toward or away from the sun 2 Which answer best defines a B Earth is either fully tilted season? toward the sun or fully tilted away from the sun A A period of the year when C Earth is fully tilted away from Earth is not tilted toward or the sun away from the sun D Earth is fully tilted toward the B A period of the year when the sun sun shines directly on the equator C The first day of winter D A period of the year that is marked by changes in weather

Vocabulary Practice

Match the words in Column A with the definitions in Column B by writing the letter next to a definition on the blank line next to its match in Column A.

Column A Column B

_____ 1) Winter Solstice A Any half of the Earth

B Marks the beginning of spring, _____ 2) Hemisphere when Earth begins to tilt toward the sun

C Occurs when Earth is not tilted _____ 3) Season toward or away from the sun, and the sun shines directly on the equator

D A period of the year that is _____ 4) Autumnal Equinox marked by changes in weather

E Marks the first day of winter _____ 5) Equator and occurs when Earth is fully tilted away from the sun

F Marks the first day of summer _____ 6) Equinox and occurs when Earth is fully tilted toward the sun

G An imaginary line that divides _____ 7) Solstice Earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres

H Occurs when Earth is either _____ 8) Vernal Equinox fully tilted toward the sun or fully tilted away from the sun

I A line that divides Earth into _____ 9) Summer Solstice the Eastern and Western hemispheres

_____ 10) Prime Meridian J Marks the beginning of fall, when Earth begins to tilt away from the sun

Vocabulary Quiz

Directions: Write the correct vocabulary word(s) on the blank line underneath its definition.

1) The line that divides Earth into the Eastern and Western hemispheres

2) Marks the first day of summer and occurs when Earth is fully tilted toward the sun

3) Marks the beginning of autumn, when Earth begins to tilt away from the sun

4) Occurs when Earth is not tilted toward or away from the sun, and the sun shines directly on the equator

5) Any half of the earth

6) Marks the first day of winter and occurs when Earth is fully tilted away from the sun

7) Occurs when Earth is either fully tilted toward the sun or fully tilted away from the sun

8) Marks the beginning of spring, when Earth begins to tilt toward the sun

9) An imaginary line that divides Earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres

10) A period of the year that is marked by changes in weather

Final Test

1 Which answer best describes 5 Which answer best describes latitude? the location of a line of longitude halfway between the prime meridian A The distance, in degrees, north and the international date line in the or south of the equator Western Hemisphere? B The distance, in degrees, east or west of the prime meridian A 90°W C A line that intersects with the B 45°W equator C 90°N D The distance, in degrees, D 45°N between the poles

6 In the Southern Hemisphere, 2 Which answer best describes a the summer solstice occurs when: latitude in the Southern Hemisphere? A Earth is fully tilted toward the A Tropic of Cancer sun B Equator B the sun shines directly on the C Tropic of Capricorn equator D Prime meridian C it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere D the sun’s rays shine directly on 3 Which two imaginary lines are the Tropic of Capricorn located on opposite sides of the Earth? 7 A line of longitude is also A Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of known as: Capricorn B International Date Line and A a latitude prime meridian B a meridian C Prime meridian and equator C a parallel D Equator and International Date D the equator Line

8 Which answer best describes 4 Which best describes the the latitude of the equator? amount of tilt of the Earth on its axis? A 0°E or 0°W A 39° B 0°N or 0°S B 180° C 90°N or 90°S C 23.5° D 180°E or 180°W D 90°

SCIENCE CVP STAAR Grade 8

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