Our Warming Planet and Disappearing Animals with Main Idea Questions

1. One‐Part Hot Text
2. Multiple Choice
3. Open Response
4. Multi‐Select
5. Evidence‐Based Selected Response
6. Two‐Part Hot Text
7. Editing Task Questions
8. Technology Enhanced Constructed Response (TECR) Grid Select
9. Prose Constructed Response (PCR)

Our Warming Planet and Disappearing Animals

Our planet is getting warmer. This is called global warming. It is caused by gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat from the sun. Where does this carbon dioxide come from? A lot of it comes from burning fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas. We burn them to power our cars, heat our homes, and make electricity.

As the planet warms, ice melts at the North and South Poles. Glaciers melt too. Sea levels rise as more water enters the oceans. Weather gets more extreme with bigger storms. Some places become hotter and drier. Other places see more rain and flooding.

Global warming puts many plants and animals in danger. It changes their habitats - the areas where they live. Some species may go extinct. That means every single animal of that type dies out.

Polar bears live on sea ice in the Arctic. As ice shrinks, it's harder for them to hunt seals. Koalas in Australia are suffering from heat waves, droughts, and wildfires. Warming oceans threaten coral reefs. Reefs are home to 25% of all ocean life. As reefs die, the fish leave to find new homes.

So what can we do? Using less fossil fuel energy would help slow global warming. We can turn lights off when we leave a room. Walk or bike for short trips instead of driving. Tell your family to set the thermostat a few degrees lower in winter and higher in summer. Small acts by many people add up!

We can also speak up about climate change. Let leaders know we want clean energy solutions. Together, our actions and voices can make a difference. We all share this warming planet. It's up to all of us to protect it.

Main Idea Questions:

1. Multiple Choice: What is the main idea of the article?

A. Kids should bike instead of driving. B. Global warming is causing problems for polar bears.
C. Burning fossil fuels causes global warming leading to habitat loss. D. Coral reefs are home to many fish.

2. Open Response: According to the article, how does global warming affect polar bears and koalas?
3. Multi-Select: Which of the following are effects of global warming described in the article? Select all that apply.

A. Melting glaciers B. Rising sea levels C. More extreme weather D. Loss of coral reefs E. Fewer fossil fuels

4. Evidence-Based Selected Response: Which sentence from the article best supports the idea that global warming is putting animals in danger?

A. "As ice shrinks, it's harder for them to hunt seals." B. "Koalas in Australia are suffering from heat waves, droughts, and wildfires." C. "Warming oceans threaten coral reefs." D. "Reefs are home to 25% of all ocean life."

5. Two-Part Hot Text: Select the sentence from the article that gives two examples of fossil fuels. Then, explain why burning fossil fuels contributes to global warming.
6. Editing Task: The article states: "As reefs day, the fish leave to find new homes." Choose the correct word to replace "day" to fix this sentence.

A. live B. shrink C. die D. stay

7. TECR Grid Select: Complete the grid by placing an X in the box that matches each cause from the article with its effect on global warming and species.

Causes	Melting Ice and Glaciers	Extreme Weather	Habitat Loss
Burning Fossil Fuels
Rising Temperatures

8. PCR: Explain two ways kids and families can help slow global warming described in the article. Use details from the article in your response.

Here is an expanded article with more details, new questions, and a glossary:

Our Warming Planet and Disappearing Animals

Our planet is heating up. This global warming happens when gases like carbon dioxide trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere. Where does all this carbon dioxide come from? A lot of it is from burning fossil fuels including oil, coal, and natural gas. We use these fuels to power cars, heat buildings, and generate electricity.

Burning fossil fuels releases billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the air every year. Methane is another potent greenhouse gas. It comes from rotting food waste in landfills, belches of cattle, and leaks in natural gas pipelines. Growing forests take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen through photosynthesis. But we are cutting down huge areas of forest for agriculture and development. This means there are fewer trees to absorb the carbon dioxide.

As greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere, more heat gets trapped. This causes global temperatures to rise steadily. The early 1900s were colder than today. Since then, the average global temperature has increased by 1.4°F (0.8°C). That may not sound like much, but it's speeding up changes to the climate.

What happens as the planet warms? Polar ice sheets and glaciers start melting faster. There is less snow cover and sea ice, too. Melting ice flows into the oceans, causing sea levels to rise around the world. Warming also leads to extreme weather like hurricanes, floods, and heat waves. Some regions get much drier, while others see increased rainfall. Plants and animals across the globe are affected.

Let's look at a few examples. Polar bears in the Arctic hunt mostly on sea ice. They wait by holes and catch seals when they surface. But sea ice cover has declined over 30% in the last 30 years. As ice shrinks and thins, it's harder for bears to find food. They have to swim longer distances between ice patches. Cubs and young bears struggle to survive. As a result, polar bear numbers are decreasing.

Koalas in Australia are experiencing more days over 100°F due to climate change. Extended high heat stresses koalas and leads to dehydration. Droughts in koala habitats are killing eucalyptus trees that koalas rely on for food and shelter. Devastating bushfires in recent years

have wiped out millions of acres of koala habitat. Koala populations are in crisis.

Warming ocean waters threaten the world's coral reefs. Corals have a symbiotic relationship with colorful algae that live inside them. But when water gets too warm, corals expel the algae causing them to turn white. This "coral bleaching" leaves corals weak and prone to disease. Over 75% of Earth's reefs were affected by bleaching during 2015-2018. Australia's Great Barrier Reef lost over 50% of its corals. As reefs die, the 25% of ocean species that depend on them lose their homes and shelter.

So what can we do to help? Burning less coal, oil, and gas will help limit emissions. We can switch our home and school electricity to wind or solar. Unplug devices when not in use to save energy. Walk, bike, or carpool for transportation. Eat more plant foods since meat production releases greenhouse gases. Protect forests by buying sustainable wood and paper.

Let your family and leaders know you care about our planet's future. Support laws to expand public transit and renewable energy. Learn how climate change may affect water supplies, wildfires, or storms in your area. Our individual choices add up. Together, we can take action so all life on Earth will thrive for generations to come.

Glossary

Carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels Fossil fuels - fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas that formed underground from dead plants and animals over millions of years Greenhouse gas - gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat in Earth's atmosphere Global warming - the steady heating of Earth's climate due to greenhouse gases Habitat - the natural area where a plant or animal lives

Main Idea Questions:

1. Multiple Choice: What is the main topic of the article?

A. Effects of global warming B. How koalas are affected by climate change C. Why glaciers are melting D. Problems caused by greenhouse gases

2. Open Response: Describe how warming oceans affect coral reefs, according to the article.
3. Multi-Select: Which of the following are evidence that Earth's temperature is increasing? Select all that apply.

A. More hurricanes B. Melting glaciers C. Higher sea levels D. Loss of sea ice E. Hotter ocean temperatures

4. Evidence-Based Selected Response: Which fact from the article best supports the idea that koalas are threatened by climate change?

A. "Koalas in Australia are experiencing more days over 100°F due to climate change." B. "Extended high heat stresses koalas and leads to dehydration." C. "Droughts in koala habitats are killing eucalyptus trees." D. "Koala populations are in crisis."

5. Two-Part Hot Text: Select two sentences from the article that explain what coral bleaching is. Then explain why coral bleaching threatens reef ecosystems.
6. Editing Task: The article states: "Earth's average temperature has increased by 1.4°C since the early 1900s." Choose the correct measurement to replace "1.4°C" to fix this sentence.

A. 1.4°F B. 0.8°F
C. 1.8°F D. 0.8°C

7. TECR Grid Select: Complete the grid by placing an X in the box that matches each cause from the article with its effect on species and habitats.

Causes	Sea Ice Loss	Habitat Destruction	Extreme Heat
Burning Fossil Fuels
Rising Temperatures
Droughts

8. PCR: Explain why the article recommends using less fossil fuel energy. Use two details from the article to support your explanation.