Atoll

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/atoll

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Atoll?Primarily in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
2. How big is Atoll?Varies greatly; land area of motus is typically small
3. How many people live in Atoll?Ranges from uninhabited to thousands of people per atoll
4. What is the capital of Atoll?Varies by nation; often the largest settlement on an atoll
5. What language do people speak in Atoll?Diverse, including indigenous languages and official languages like English, French, or Spanish
6. What is Atoll known for?Ring-shaped coral reefs, central lagoons, unique ecosystems, and vulnerability to sea-level rise

Darwin's Subsidence Theory: The geological explanation for atoll formation involving volcanic island sinking and coral growth.
Endemism: The ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS): A group of developing countries facing unique social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities.
Ocean Acidification: The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide.