1. Why is “In Hot Water” a good title for the article?
Sample response: “In Hot Water” is a good title for this article because coral reefs are in “hot water” as the oceans warm up. Also, the expression “in hot water” is sometimes used to mean “in trouble.” Coral reefs are in trouble because warmer ocean water is causing coral bleaching, which puts the reefs at risk.
(RI.4.2 Main Idea)
2. Based on the article, what is a main cause of the warming of oceans?
According to the article, a main cause of ocean warming is human activity. The article says that “we burn fossil fuels to create electricity and power our cars. That releases extra greenhouse gases, which are gases that trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere. This is contributing to Earth’s rising temperatures.”
(RI.4.5 Cause and Effect)
3. How does warmer ocean water affect corals?
Warmer ocean water affects corals by causing corals to release the algae that live inside them and create food for them. The article notes that “this process, called coral bleaching, can kill corals.”
(RI.4.5 Cause and Effect)