ZIP code

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

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/zip-code

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. What is the system name?Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) code
2. What is the date of introduction?July 1, 1963
3. What is a ZIP code and why was it created?A ZIP code is a five‑digit number that helps mail find its way faster. It was introduced in 1963 by the U.S. Postal Service to handle the growing amount of mail and make sorting easier.
4. How does a ZIP code help mail get to the right place?The first digit shows a large region, the next two digits narrow it to a city or county, and the last two digits point to a specific delivery area. Machines read these numbers to route mail quickly.

Mechanization and Automation: The use of machines and technology to perform tasks previously done by hand.
Geocoding: The process of converting addresses or place names into geographic coordinates.
Market Segmentation: Dividing a broad consumer or business market into sub-groups of consumers based on shared characteristics.
Logistical Planning: The detailed coordination and management of complex operations, especially the movement of resources.