Nonfiction Reading Comprehension: Wizard Island

Read all about the origins of Oregon’s fascinating Wizard Island in this engaging passage! First, students will learn about the different explanations for Wizard Island’s existence, including Native American legend, later speculation, and the modern scientific understanding. Then, they will answer a series of questions about the passage, including both multiple choice comprehension questions and short answer questions that require students to explain their reasoning. 

This worksheet was designed for middle school students learning to read nonfiction about science, geology, and history. As they answer the questions, learners can practice finding the main idea of a passage, making inferences, examining the author’s purpose, and using text evidence. 

For more practice reading informational passages, check out Nonfiction Reading Comprehension: Biosphere 2: A Model for Human Survival in Space? and Extended Informational Reading Comprehension: Weird, Wild Weather: Lightning.