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Small Whale · Reading worksheet

List of U.S. states and territories by elevation

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/list-of-us-states-and-territories-by-elevation

Step 2 · Questions

1. How high is List of U.S. states and territories by elevation?
2. What is the geodetic datum?
3. What is the tallest point in the United States?
4. Which states have the highest average elevations?

Step 3 · Words to know

Write what each word means, using the article.

Geodetic Datum
Arithmetic Mean Elevation
Topographic Relief

Step 4 · Two facts in your own words

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

1.

2.

Answer key (teacher copy)

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

1. How high is List of U.S. states and territories by elevation?Denali, Alaska, at 20,310 feet (6,190 m)
2. What is the geodetic datum?North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88)
3. What is the tallest point in the United States?Denali in Alaska is the highest peak, standing at 20,310 feet.
4. Which states have the highest average elevations?Colorado and Wyoming have very high mean elevations because of the Rocky Mountains.

Geodetic Datum: A reference system used to measure locations on Earth's surface.
Arithmetic Mean Elevation: The average height of all points within a given geographic area.
Topographic Relief: The difference between the highest and lowest elevations in an area.