Science · Level 1 · 121 words

How Sandpaper Smooths Wood

Original passage © Studio AM, written for Fluency.

Sandpaper feels rough because hard grains cover its surface. Each grain acts like a tiny cutting edge. When the paper moves across wood, the grains shave off high spots and leave small scratches. Coarse paper has larger grains, so it removes material quickly.

Fine paper has smaller grains. It removes the deeper marks left by coarse paper and makes the surface feel smoother. A worker often begins coarse and changes to finer paper in steps. Dust can hide scratches, so wiping the wood helps reveal the result. As grains break or fill with dust, the sheet cuts less well and must be cleaned or replaced. Sandpaper does not press bumps flat. It slowly cuts them away until the surface is even.

Comprehension questions

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4 questions
1. What is the main idea of the passage?

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A. Sandpaper smooths wood by using hard grains to cut away uneven material in stages.
The passage explains how abrasive grains cut wood and why workers move from coarse to fine paper for a smoother surface.

2. Why does a worker change from coarse paper to fine paper?

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B. Fine paper removes the deeper scratches left by coarse paper.
The text says fine paper removes the deeper marks from coarse paper, so changing grades improves the surface step by step.

3. What does “coarse” mean in this passage?

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C. Rough, with larger grains
The passage contrasts coarse paper's larger grains with fine paper's smaller grains, showing that coarse means rougher.

4. What action helps a worker see scratches hidden by dust?

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D. Wiping the wood
The passage directly says that wiping the wood helps reveal the result when dust hides scratches.

Source: Written for Fluency. Original passage © Studio AM, written for Fluency.