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Comprehension Exercise8th GradeLevel 3 · Challenge

Free 8th Grade The 1900 Galveston Hurricane — Reading Comprehension

A history text about the hurricane that struck Galveston on September 8, 1900, the deadliest natural disaster in United States history, and how the city rebuilt with a seawall and by raising the level of the land. Students analyze causes and effects, evaluate why the death toll is given as a range, examine the writer's structure and word choice, and write an argument about the most important lesson of the disaster.

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Grade
8th Grade
Subject
English
Topic
Reading Comprehension
Difficulty
Level 3 · Challenge
Estimated time
40 minutes
Curriculum
Texas grade levels (TEKS)
Questions
16
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practice

  • analyzing cause and effect
  • evaluating how a writer uses evidence and numbers
  • analyzing text structure
  • writing an argument supported by evidence

Curriculum: Texas grade levels (TEKS). We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: The 1900 Galveston Hurricane — Reading Comprehension

  1. 1Volunteers Keep the Doors Open — Newspaper Report Comprehension
  2. 2Active and Passive Voice
  3. 3Relative Clauses: Essential and Non-Essential Information
  4. 4Parallel Structure: Keeping Lists and Comparisons Balanced
← Easier: Level 2 · Standard

How to use this comprehension exercise

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this comprehension exercise for?

8th Grade students (typically ages 13–14) working on reading comprehension. It is pitched at level 3 · challenge; an easier version is linked above.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 40 minutes for 16 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Volunteers Keep the Doors Open — Newspaper Report Comprehension.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheets8th Grade · English · Reading Comprehension

The 1900 Galveston Hurricane — Reading Comprehension

Name

Date

Score /

Read the text first. Then answer the questions in order.

Part A: Find the facts

1.On what date did the hurricane strike Galveston?[1 mark] (answer space)
2.What weakness did Galveston have before the storm?[1 mark] (answer space)
3.Name two tools that modern forecasters have that forecasters in 1900 did not.[1 mark] (answer space)
4.How high did the storm surge rise?[1 mark]
  1. Aabout 5 feet
  2. Babout 9 feet
  3. Cmore than 15 feet
  4. Dabout 100 feet
5.The first section of the seawall was completed in 1904. ☐ True   ☐ False
6.Historians know the exact number of people who died. ☐ True   ☐ False

Part B: Analyze the text

7.Explain two causes of the very high death toll. Use evidence from the text.[2 marks] (answer space)
8.Why does the writer give the death toll as a range (6,000 to 12,000) rather than one number? Why is this more honest?[2 marks] (answer space)
9.Explain how the seawall and the raising of the ground each protected the city in a different way.[2 marks] (answer space)
10.What evidence does the writer give that the rebuilding work was successful?[1 mark] (answer space)
11.Which best describes how the text is organized?[1 mark]
  1. Aproblem and solution: the disaster, then how the city rebuilt to prevent another
  2. Bcompare and contrast two different cities
  3. Ca list of instructions
  4. Da story told from one survivor's point of view
12.Why do you think the writer begins by describing Galveston as busy and wealthy before describing the storm?[2 marks] (answer space)
Free worksheets at worksheets.successtutoring.com · © Success Tutoring · Free for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.