Cosmic Crash Site: Why Scientists and Tourists Flock to Arizona's Giant Crater
FLAGSTAFF, Arizona — In the middle of the flat Arizona desert, a massive bowl-shaped hole stretches across the landscape. This is Meteor Crater, one of the best-preserved impact sites on Earth. Today, this giant landmark is not just a scenic stop for travelers, but also a crucial outdoor laboratory for scientists studying the mysteries of space.
About 50,000 years ago, a fiery iron-nickel meteorite hurtling through space crashed into Earth. The impact was incredibly powerful, blasting away millions of tons of rock. It left behind a crater that is nearly one mile wide and over 550 feet deep. Because the Arizona desert is so dry, very little water erosion has occurred over the centuries. This dry climate has kept the crater looking almost exactly as it did shortly after the ancient crash.
For geologists, who are scientists that study rocks and the Earth, Meteor Crater is a goldmine of information. By examining the shattered rocks and melted metal found at the site, researchers can learn about the extreme heat and pressure created during cosmic collisions. This research helps scientists understand what happens when asteroids strike other planets, like Mars or the Moon.
- Meteorite:
- A solid piece of debris from space, such as rock or metal, that survives its passage through the atmosphere to collide with the surface of a planet.
- Geologist:
- A scientist who studies the Earth's structure, history, and the rocks of which it is composed.
- Erosion:
- The gradual wearing away or destruction of rocks and soil by natural forces like water, wind, or ice.
- Impact:
- The action of one object coming into forcible contact with another.
Educational example text · News Article
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Work out the meaning and effect of words by using clues in the passage.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where is Meteor Crater located?
- 2When and how was Meteor Crater formed?
Where this passage belongs
About this news article passage for Upper Elementary
“Cosmic Crash Site: Why Scientists and Tourists Flock to Arizona's Giant Crater” is a news article reading passage about Meteor Crater and Space Science, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (346 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.