Chernobyl:
A Nuclear Disaster
In the 1970s, the Chernobyl nuclear plant
located in the Ukraine, was one of the largest
nuclear power plants on the planet. In 1986,
the facility would experience an explosion
that would forever change how much of the
world viewed nuclear power. The effects of
one fateful day would change the
surrounding
area forever.
Not until years after the incident would
those investigating the cause finally be
able to understand the origins of the
disaster. An explosion in the reactors
created a power surge that eventually
led to an explosion that blew the lid off
the nuclear reactor.
This explosion caused radioactive material to spread to
surrounding areas. Many of those areas were inhabited
by civilians who were now exposed to dangerous levels
of radiation.
Discussion:
Do you think there
could have been a
solution to help
save the people after
the explosion?
Thirty-two people died as an immediate result of the
explosion. The radiation that spread out from the
facility would contaminate millions of acres. Eventually
thousands of people died and thousands of
others suffered from radiation poisoning and cancers
caused from the nuclear explosion.
Those people who
lived near Chernobyl
but did not die all lost
their homes because
of the contamination.
Chernobyl was
officially shut down in
2000, but the
disastrous results
of the nuclear
meltdown remain even
today.
Which statement is Because of the Chernobyl disaster,
true about the text? A nuclear power is no longer used today.
After the meltdown, scientists managed
to contain radiation within the area of the
B nuclear facility.
Inhabitants of the area surrounding
C Chernobyl were not affected by the
nuclear explosion.
Thirty-two people died as an immediate result of the
D explosion, but many more would die as a result of
the nuclear meltdown.
Which sentence in In the 1970s, the Chernobyl nuclear plant,
the first paragraph A located in the Ukraine, was one of the largest
nuclear power plants on the planet.
best foreshadows the
fact that the nuclear In 1986, the facility would experience an
meltdown would have B explosion that would forever change how much
of the world viewed nuclear power.
long-term effects?
The effects of one fateful day would
C change the surrounding area forever.
Those people who lived near Chernobyl but did
D not die all lost their homes because of the
contamination.
According to the text,
which event most A a loss of electricity in the facility
likely caused the
nuclear meltdown? a bird flying into some electrical wires outside
B the plant
an unexpected freeze that caused a
C sudden drop in temperatures
an explosion in the reactors that caused a
D power surge
After reading this
text, what can one A The plant will reopen within the next decade.
conclude about the
nuclear plant at It will continue to provide power from the
Chernobyl? B portions of the plant that were not affected by
the explosion.
The people living in the area hope to see
C the facility providing nuclear power within
the near future.
D The plant is no longer in operation.
Why were people
outside of the plant A Nuclear radiation spread through the air.
affected by the
explosion? People came to the site to see what had
B happened.
Vehicles leaving the plant unknowingly
C carried radiation outside of the facility.
Birds flying in the vicinity of the facility carried
D radiation to other areas.
