Question

reading: analyze text information
assess
read this excerpt from an atlas entry. then, answer the questions that follow.
mexico
quick facts
capital: mexico city
major language: spanish
population: 109,000
location
mexico forms a link between the united states, to its north, and central america, to its south. the pacific ocean borders mexico on the west, while the gulf of mexico and the caribbean sea form its eastern border.
place
mexico is a narrow country with large mountain ranges near its east and west coasts. because it lies on several of earth’s tectonic plates, mexico has many volcanoes and has been rocked by major earthquakes.
region
mexico’s terrain is so varied that it has several climate zones. the south has a tropical climate, while the north is more temperate. the north also has many dry areas, while the south has a higher annual rainfall. in addition, the climate in the mountains varies by altitude, with the lowest temperatures in the highest mountains and the highest temperatures near the coasts.

1. what is the main idea of this atlas entry?
2. what details support the main idea?
3. what is the author’s purpose? explain your answer.
4. what might you expect to see in the rest of this entry?

Explanation:

Question 1

The atlas entry provides an overview of Mexico, covering its basic facts (capital, language, population), location, physical features (terrain, tectonic activity), and climate zones. The main idea is to give a general introduction to Mexico's key characteristics.

To support the main idea of introducing Mexico, the text includes details like: capital (Mexico City), major language (Spanish), population (109,000); location (between US and Central America, bordered by Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea); physical features (narrow country, mountain ranges, volcanoes, earthquakes due to tectonic plates); climate zones (tropical in south, temperate in north, dry areas in north, higher rainfall in south, mountain climate varies by altitude).

The author's purpose is to inform readers about Mexico. The text presents factual information (capital, location, terrain, climate) in a descriptive manner, typical of an atlas entry which aims to educate readers about a place's characteristics.

Answer:

The main idea of this atlas entry is to provide an overview of Mexico, including its basic facts, location, physical features, and climate zones.

Question 2