Ancient Energy Reading Worksheet
Ancient Energy: Reading Quest
Earth and Life History • Reading Comprehension & Critical Thinking
Name:
Date:
Period:
Directions: Use facts from the Fossil Fuels text to answer each question. Write explanations in full sentences.
PART 1
Key Details • Multiple Choice
1. What two forces changed ancient organic remains into fossil fuels?
A. Wind currents and freezing ice
B. Intense heat and heavy pressure
C. River mud and rapid flooding
D. Direct exposure to sunlight
2. What does crude oil look like when it first comes out of the earth?
A. Dry gray powder like chalk
B. Clear golden liquid
C. Thick black water
D. Hard crystalline rock
3. How is coal used to create electricity for homes and buildings?
A. Burned to heat water into steam that turns gears
B. Pieces are placed directly into battery packs
C. Crushed coal is mixed into electric wiring
D. It creates light chemically without any heat
4. Why isn't natural gas used everywhere instead of coal and oil?
A. It releases far more black smoke than coal
B. It is hard to move, leaks easily, and can explode
C. It is impossible to catch fire or heat houses
D. It is only found under deep ocean trenches
PART 2
Fact Verification • True or False + Evidence
Circle T or F • Explain your reasoning
1. Every single organism that lived millions of years ago became a burnable fossil fuel.
T F
Text Evidence / Why:
2. The energy stored in fossil fuels originally began as food made by plants using sunlight.
T F
Text Evidence / Why:
3. Carbon dioxide is released when fossil fuels are burned, making air dirtier and harder to breathe.
T F
Text Evidence / Why:
Earth and Life History Unit • Fossil Fuels Page 1 of 2
Ancient Energy: Reading Quest | Part 3 • Scientific Explanations & Big Ideas
Name:
PART 3
Short Answer • Explaining the Science
5. The article states: "The same energy that made a T-rex run helps your car speed down the street." Trace how that energy traveled across time in three clear steps:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
6. Natural gas is cleaner than coal or oil, but why is it tricky and risky to handle? Explain two specific hazards from the reading:
PART 4
Fossil Fuel Trade-Off Matrix
Fuel Type
Primary Everyday Use
Major Environmental or Safety Drawback
Coal
Burned to heat water into steam for electricity
Oil (Petroleum)
Refined into gasoline for cars and buses
Natural Gas
Piped into homes to provide heating
PART 5
The Great Dilemma: "What Would You Do?"
The article closes: "Without them, we could not drive cars, heat our houses, or use as much electricity... Other kinds of fuels cost a lot more money and do not work as well. It's a hard situation with no easy answer. What would you do?"
Imagine you advise your city council. How would you balance affordable energy with clean air? Write your proposal below:
Earth and Life History Unit • Fossil Fuels Page 2 of 2
