Understanding Nonfiction: The Wonders of the Ocean
A Grade 5 ELA worksheet focusing on nonfiction comprehension strategies using a passage about oceans.
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Understanding Nonfiction: The Wonders of the Ocean
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Read the passage below carefully and answer the comprehension questions that follow. Use evidence from the text to support your answers.
The Ocean: A Vast and Mysterious World
The ocean covers more than 70% of Earth's surface and holds about 97% of all Earth's water. It is a vast and mysterious place, home to an incredible diversity of life, from microscopic plankton to the largest animal on Earth, the blue whale. The ocean is divided into five main oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (or Antarctic), and Arctic Oceans. Each has unique characteristics and supports different ecosystems.
Deep within the ocean, sunlight cannot reach, creating a dark and cold environment. Yet, even here, life thrives. Creatures like anglerfish use bioluminescence, producing their own light to attract prey. Hydrothermal vents, cracks in the seafloor that release hot, mineral-rich water, support unique communities of organisms that do not rely on sunlight for energy. These discoveries have expanded our understanding of where life can exist.
The ocean also plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate. It absorbs a large amount of heat from the sun and distributes it around the globe through currents, influencing weather patterns worldwide. Additionally, marine plants, especially phytoplankton, produce a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe. Protecting our oceans is vital for the health of our planet and all its inhabitants.
1. What percentage of Earth's surface is covered by the ocean?
About 50%
More than 70%
Exactly 97%
Less than 25%
2. How do anglerfish survive in the deep ocean where sunlight cannot reach?
They eat plants that grow there.
They produce their own light (bioluminescence).
They hibernate for long periods.
They travel to the surface for food.
1. The ocean plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's .
2. Marine plants, especially , produce a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe.
1. The blue whale is the smallest animal on Earth.
True
False
2. Hydrothermal vents support life that relies on sunlight for energy.
True
False
1. Name two ways the ocean is important to Earth's climate and atmosphere.
2. Explain why the deep ocean is considered a 'dark and cold environment', but still supports life.