Weather-Resistant Engineering

Question 1

Harvest Valley is preparing for two possible extreme‑weather events: a tornado and a sudden flash flood. Which answer correctly describes two engineering solutions the town could use, and explains how each design feature helps keep the community safe?

Accepted Answer

Build underground tornado shelters with reinforced steel doors that keep wind out, and construct a raised earthen levee with a pump station that lifts water over the levee when the river rises more than 2 feet, preventing floodwater from entering homes.

Answer

Install large wind‑catching fans on rooftops to push the tornado away, and paint streets bright blue so rainwater will be more visible during a flood.

Answer

Put up a tall metal fence around the town to block the tornado, and dig shallow ditches around houses so floodwater can flow under them.

Answer

Create a community garden on the riverbank to absorb rainwater, and build houses with extra windows that can be opened during a tornado.

Question 2

Maple Creek built a new elementary school with a roof that has small, evenly spaced vents along the top edge. During a tornado, how does this vented‑roof design help keep the building safe?

Accepted Answer

The vents let wind pass through the roof, reducing the pressure that can lift the roof off the walls.

Answer

The vents trap rainwater so it cannot flood the classrooms.

Answer

The vents strengthen the roof beams so they can hold more weight.

Answer

The vents keep the inside of the school cooler on hot days.

Question 3

Sunnyvale wants to protect its homes from two different extreme‑weather threats. Which statement correctly names two engineering solutions they could use and explains how each one reduces damage?

Accepted Answer

They could build a retractable floodgate that is lowered when the river rises 2 feet above its normal level, and install a roof made of flexible metal panels that bend and let strong winds pass through during a tornado.

Answer

They could paint all houses bright white so the sun’s heat is reflected and put a tall fence around the town to keep storm clouds away.

Answer

They could construct a solid concrete seawall to stop any rain from reaching the town and add a solar‑panel roof that keeps houses safe during hurricanes.

Answer

They could dig underground tunnels for people to hide in when a tornado hits and place large umbrellas on every roof to catch the rain.

Try three questions

Harvest Valley is preparing for two possible extreme‑weather events: a tornado and a sudden flash flood. Which answer correctly describes two engineering solutions the town could use, and explains how each design feature helps keep the community safe?

Maple Creek built a new elementary school with a roof that has small, evenly spaced vents along the top edge. During a tornado, how does this vented‑roof design help keep the building safe?

Sunnyvale wants to protect its homes from two different extreme‑weather threats. Which statement correctly names two engineering solutions they could use and explains how each one reduces damage?

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