Who Can Find and Use Public Information?
A group of students wants to know why a nearby park floods after heavy rain. They could ask neighbors what they have noticed, but memories alone may not explain the problem. The students might also look for rainfall data, maps, and records of decisions about the park. Much of that information may be available to the public—even to people who did not collect it or pay to create it.
Public information can help people understand their communities and take part in decisions that affect them. Finding it, however, is not always as simple as typing a question into a search bar. People need to know where to look, what rules apply, and how to judge what they find.
A place to begin
A public library is often a useful starting point. Libraries offer more than shelves of books. Many provide internet access, newspapers, local history collections, and help finding government information. At a library table, the students can consult a librarian while examining a map and public records related to the park. The librarian may suggest which local office manages parks or where to look for meeting minutes.
- accessible:
- Able to be reached or used by people.
- assistive technology:
- Tools that help people with disabilities access information or perform tasks.
- agency:
- An organization responsible for a particular area of government work.
- sensitive:
- Needing careful protection because sharing it could cause harm.
- context:
- Background information needed to understand something accurately.
- reproduce:
- To make a copy of something.
- accountable:
- Expected to explain and take responsibility for actions.
- reliable:
- Dependable or worthy of trust.
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.
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
- 1Why does the article begin with students investigating a flooding park?
- 2How can a librarian help the students without deciding what they should conclude?
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About this explanatory article passage for Middle School
“Who Can Find and Use Public Information?” is a explanatory article reading passage about Access to public information, written for Middle School. It takes about 7 minutes to read (1,008 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.