On maps, the world is divided into regions. A region is an area that shares similar weather, plants, or landforms. For example, the desert region is dry and sandy, while the rainforest region is warm and rainy. Scientists group places into regions so they can compare them. When they study a region, they look for patterns that repeat, such as long dry seasons or tall evergreen trees. These clues help them explain why certain animals live there. A camel is adapted to the desert region because it can store water. A poison dart frog fits the rainforest region because it needs constant moisture. Thinking about each region as a connected area makes it easier to understand our planet.

What does the word region most likely mean as used in the passage?

Many homes use solar panels to capture energy from the sun. Energy is the power that makes things work, like the force that runs lights, fans, and computers. The dark panels sit on a roof and soak up sunlight. Inside each panel, tiny parts turn light into electrical energy. Wires carry this power into the house, where it can charge devices or keep a refrigerator cold. On bright days, the system may create more energy than the home needs, so the extra can be stored in batteries. When clouds cover the sky, the stored power helps. By using the sun's energy, families can reduce pollution and lower their electric bills.

What does the word "energy" most likely mean as used in the passage?

In our state park, different regions can be explored in a single day. The desert region is dry and open; in this area, rainfall is rare, and only tough shrubs grow. Hikers who drive twenty minutes reach the mountain region, where the air is cooler and tall pines cover the slopes. Each region is an area with similar weather, plants, and animals. Rangers study these areas to learn how living things adapt. By comparing one region to another, they can explain why a lizard thrives in the desert but not on the windy peaks.

What does the word "region" most likely mean as used in the passage?

A wind turbine changes moving air into energy that we can use. When the wind blows, the blades spin, turning a shaft connected to a generator. The generator makes electricity, which can power lights at a school or run computers in a library. Without energy from the wind, the blades would not turn and no electricity would be made. In nature, your body also uses energy from food to run, jump, and think. Energy is what makes things happen, whether it comes from wind, sunlight, or the meals we eat.

What does the word energy most likely mean as used in the passage?

At our science fair, we showed the process of making recycled paper. First, we tore old sheets into tiny pieces and soaked them in warm water. Next, we blended the soggy bits into a soft pulp. Then we poured the pulp over a screen and pressed out the water. Finally, we peeled off a new, thin sheet and let it dry. A process is a series of steps that leads to a result, and each step matters. If we skip one, the paper tears easily. When we follow the steps, we produce sturdy pages we can draw on.

What does the word "process" most likely mean as used in the passage?

Beavers build dams to slow the flow of a stream and create a deep pond. Their work follows a clear process, or set of steps that happen in order. First, a beaver gnaws small trees so the trunks fall across the water. Next, the animals pack mud and leaves around the branches to plug the gaps. Over time, the pile grows and water collects behind it. Finally, the beavers check for leaks and add more sticks where the current is strongest. This process keeps repeating as seasons change. By following this step-by-step method, beavers create a safe home where they can swim, hide from predators, and store food for winter.

What does the word "process" most likely mean as used in the passage?

Water on Earth moves in a cycle that repeats. This process has steps that follow one another. First, sunlight warms lakes and oceans, and some water changes into vapor and rises. Next, the vapor cools and forms clouds. When the clouds grow heavy, water falls as rain or snow. Finally, the water flows through rivers back to larger bodies of water, and the cycle begins again. Scientists study each step of the process to understand weather patterns and to explain why some places are dry while others are rainy.

What does the word process most likely mean as used in the passage?

Recycling plastic bottles is a process that changes old items into useful new ones. First, workers collect and sort the bottles by type. Next, machines wash and chop the plastic into tiny flakes. Then the flakes are melted and squeezed into long strands, which are cut into small pellets. Factories use these pellets to make things like toys, benches, or even warm jackets. Because the steps must happen in order, the process saves resources and reduces trash. If one step is skipped, the final product will not turn out right.

What does the word process most likely mean as used in the passage?

When geographers describe the United States, they divide it into regions. A region is a part of a larger area that shares similar features. For example, the Southwest region has many deserts and little rain, while the Northeast has four seasons and thick forests. By grouping states into regions, scientists and travelers can compare weather, landforms, and plants more easily. Even though each state is unique, the common traits within a region help people plan trips, choose crops suited to the climate, and understand how people live there.

What does the word "region" most likely mean as used in the passage?

A seed's journey to becoming a plant happens through a process. First, the seed absorbs water and swells. Next, a tiny root pushes into the soil. Then a small stem rises toward the light, and leaves begin to unfold. This sequence continues until the plant is strong enough to make flowers and new seeds. Each step depends on the one before it, so the process must occur in order. When gardeners understand this process, they know when to water, when to give light, and when to move the plant to a bigger pot.

What does the word "process" most likely mean as used in the passage?