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Grade 5 nonfiction reading passage about Earth Systems. Marine Biologist theme. 6 comprehension questions covering main idea, inference, vocabulary, text evidence and more. Answer key included (NGSS.5-ESS2-1).
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Page 1 — Reading Passage
Page 2 — Answer Key
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What is included
Before reading, display the word 'sediment' on the board and ask students to predict its meaning from context after the first paragraph — this activates prior knowledge and models how skilled readers use context clues, directly supporting NGSS.5-ESS2-1 discussions about how Earth's systems interact.
What is this passage mostly about?
What evidence from the passage shows that sediment builds up over a long period of time?
What does the word sediment mean as it is used in this passage?
+ 4 more questions in the full worksheet
Zoe pulled on her wetsuit and dove into the cold Pacific Ocean as a junior marine biologist. She carried a waterproof notebook to record everything she saw. The ocean floor was covered in layers of sand, rock, and shell pieces. These layers are called sediment. Over thousands of years, sediment buil...
Download the full worksheet to read the complete passage and answer comprehension questions.
About this Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Passage
This printable reading comprehension passage is designed for Grade 5 students. The Marine Biologist theme makes reading engaging while students build essential comprehension skills. Six questions cover a range of reading strategies including main idea, text evidence, vocabulary in context, inference, cause and effect, and author's purpose (NGSS.5-ESS2-1).