The Hidden Costs of Making It Rain
When a severe drought dries up rivers and cracks farm soil, people naturally look for a fast solution. In several dry regions, scientists use a method called cloud seeding. Small airplanes fly into clouds and release tiny particles of a chemical called silver iodide. Water droplets cling to these particles, freeze, and fall as snow or rain. While making rain sounds like a miracle for thirsty towns, cloud seeding creates more ecological problems than it solves.
First, cloud seeding puts foreign chemicals into the environment. Silver iodide is used because its crystal structure looks a lot like natural ice. Supporters point out that the amount used in a single storm is very small. However, when states seed clouds winter after winter, that silver does not just disappear. It washes into mountain streams, settles into the soil, and enters the water supply. Over many years, a buildup of silver could harm tiny aquatic insects, fish, and the plants that depend on clean mountain runoff.
- drought:
- A long period of time with very little or no rain.
- ecological:
- Related to how living things interact with each other and their environment.
- aquatic:
- Living or growing in or near water.
- runoff:
- Water from rain or melting snow that flows over the ground into streams and rivers.
- ecosystems:
- Communities of plants and animals interacting with their natural environment.
- precipitation:
- Water that falls to the ground from clouds, such as rain or snow.
- reservoirs:
- Large natural or artificial lakes used to store water for people to use.
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
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
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.
Fact & Opinion
Distinguish verifiable statements from judgments, beliefs, and preferences in context.
Claims & Evidence
Trace and evaluate how claims are supported by reasons and evidence.
Language & Tone
Interpret nonliteral language and analyze how word choice shapes tone and meaning.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
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
- 1What is the author's main claim about cloud seeding?
- 2According to the passage, how does silver iodide help create rain or snow?
You Might Also Like
About this opinion piece passage for Upper Elementary
“The Hidden Costs of Making It Rain” is a opinion piece reading passage about Cloud Seeding, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (337 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.