Grade 4 Reading Comprehension Worksheet - Why Does the Ocean Have Waves?

Oct 12, 2026

A Grade 4 reading comprehension worksheet centers on a short explanatory passage, “Why Does the Ocean Have Waves?”. It teaches how waves form by energy moving through water, clarifies that water transmits energy rather than traveling with the wave, and explains major wave causes such as wind, storm surge, and underwater disturbances. It also distinguishes tsunamis from storm-driven waves and corrects misconceptions by describing tides and the gravitational pull of the sun and moon.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Questions

Question 1: What creates waves?

Question 2: What could be an obstruction to waves?

Question 3: Why do you think wind is the most common cause of wave creation?

Question 4: What are some causes of hazardous waves?

Question 5: What is another name for a certain type of wave?

Answers

Answer 1

Answer 2

Answer 3

Answer 4

Answer 5

Grade 4 Reading Comprehension Worksheet Read the short story. Then answer each question. Why Does the Ocean Have Waves? The ocean is never still . Whether observing from the beach or a boat, we expect to see waves on the horizon. Waves are created by energy passing through water , causing it to move in a circular motion. However , water does not actually travel in waves. Waves transmit energy , not water , across the ocean and if not obstructed by anything , they have the potential to travel across an entire ocean basin. Waves are most commonly caused by wind. Wind-driven waves , or surface waves , are created by the friction between wind and surface water. As wind blows across the surface of the ocean or a lake , the continual disturbance creates a wave crest. These types of waves are found globally across the open ocean and along the coast. More potentially hazardous waves can be caused by severe weather , like a hurricane. The strong winds and pressure from this type of severe storm causes storm surge , a series of long waves that are created far from shore in deeper water and intensify as they move closer to land. Grade 4 Reading Comprehension Worksheet Other hazardous waves can be caused by underwater disturbances that displace large amounts of water quickly such as earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions. These very long waves are called tsunamis. Storm surge and tsunamis are not the types of waves you imagine crashing down on the shore. These waves roll upon the shore like a massive sea level rise and can reach far distances inland. The gravitational pull of the sun and moon on the earth also causes waves. These waves are tides or, in other words, tidal waves. I t is a common misconception that a tidal wave is also a tsunami. The cause of tsunamis are not related to tide information at all but can occur in any tidal state. [Via National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] Grade 4 Reading Comprehension Worksheet Questions: 1. What creates waves? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2. What could be an obstruction to waves? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3. Why do you think wind is the most common cause of wave creation? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 4. What are some causes of hazardous waves? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 5. What is another name for a certain type of wave? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Grade 4 Reading Comprehension Worksheet Answers: 1. What creates waves? Waves are created by energy passing through water, causing it to move in a circular motion. 2. What could be an obstruction to waves? Answers will vary, but the answer could be an island or a beach. 3. Why do you think wind is the most common cause of wave creation? Wind is the most common cause of wave creation as we get wind all over the world. 4. What are some causes of hazardous waves? Severe weather or underwater disturbances are some causes of hazardous waves. 5. What is another name for a certain type of wave? Another type of wave is called a tide.

FAQs

What creates waves according to the passage?

Waves are created by energy passing through water, causing water to move in a circular motion.

How can waves be blocked or obstructed?

An island or a beach could obstruct waves.

What is the difference between tsunamis and tidal waves?

Tsunamis are caused by underwater disturbances like earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions, while tidal waves are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. A tidal wave is not a tsunami.

Oct 12, 2026

Uploaded by Emma Wilson