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Rotorua: A Land That Steams — Explanation Comprehension — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 8 reading comprehension comprehension exercise.

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Year 8 · English · Reading Comprehension

Rotorua: A Land That Steams — Explanation Comprehension — Answers

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Part A — Find the facts

1.What causes the rotten-egg smell in Rotorua?[1 mark]

Answer: Hydrogen sulphide gas released with the steam.

2.In which volcanic area is Rotorua located?[1 mark]

Answer: The Taupō Volcanic Zone.

3.Why can underground water become hotter than 100 °C without boiling?[1 mark]
  1. Abecause it is salty
  2. Bbecause it is trapped under pressure
  3. Cbecause it is moving fast
  4. Dbecause it is mixed with mud

Answer: because it is trapped under pressure

The text says 'Because the water is trapped under pressure, it can become far hotter than 100 °C without boiling.'

4.How high can Pōhutu geyser shoot water?[1 mark]

Answer: Up to about 30 metres.

5.Give two ways Māori have used geothermal heat.[1 mark]

Answer: Any two of: cooking food in boiling pools or steam boxes; bathing; healing.

Part B — Explain it

6.Explain, in order, how a geyser erupts. Use four steps.[4 marks]

Answer: 1. Hot water collects in an underground chamber connected to the surface by a narrow channel. 2. The water at the bottom heats up and pressure builds. 3. Water near the top boils and turns to steam, lowering the pressure below. 4. The water below suddenly flashes into steam and the column bursts upward.

7.Why is geothermal energy described as renewable?[1 mark]

Answer: Because the heat is constantly replaced from deep within the Earth.

8.The writer says geothermal energy 'must be managed carefully'. Explain two problems that can happen if it is not.[2 marks]

Answer: Taking too much fluid too quickly can cool the geothermal field and can make the ground sink. It can also affect geysers and hot springs.

Part C — Language and structure

9.Magma is...[1 mark]
  1. Acold groundwater
  2. Bmelted rock beneath the Earth's surface
  3. Ca type of mineral
  4. Dsteam from a geyser

Answer: melted rock beneath the Earth's surface

Hot magma lies beneath the surface in volcanic zones.

10.In paragraph 3, flashes into steam suggests the change happens...[1 mark]
  1. Aslowly
  2. Bsuddenly
  3. Conly at night
  4. Donly in winter

Answer: suddenly

'Suddenly flashes' describes a very fast change.

11.Find two words or phrases the writer uses to show cause and effect.[1 mark]

Answer: Any two of: because, as it rises, which lowers, eventually, as a result, so.

Part D — Write about it

12.Should New Zealand build more geothermal power stations? Write a paragraph giving your view, using at least two pieces of information from the text.[4 marks]

Model answer: New Zealand should build more geothermal power stations, but only with careful limits. Geothermal energy is renewable because heat is constantly replaced from deep inside the Earth, and it already produces close to a fifth of our electricity. However, the text warns that taking too much fluid too quickly can cool a field, make the ground sink and harm the geysers and hot springs that attract visitors. New stations should therefore be planned so they protect these taonga while still giving us clean power.

Success criteria:

  • Clear position
  • At least two accurate pieces of information from the text
  • Considers a benefit and a challenge
  • Organised, formal paragraph
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Marking tips

  • Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
  • For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
  • Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.

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