Boats resting at low tide near Lindisfarne. Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Free levelled English reading practice. Read for meaning first, then use the full Speed Reading tool to time yourself and track your progress.
At many beaches, the sea level changes during the day. The water moves higher up the shore at high tide and farther away at low tide. Tides are mainly caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon. The Sun also affects them, but the Moon has the stronger influence because it is much closer to Earth. As Earth rotates, different coastlines move through areas where ocean water is slightly pulled and raised. Most coastal places experience two high tides and two low tides in about 24 hours and 50 minutes, although local geography can change the pattern. When the Sun, Moon and Earth line up, the difference between high and low tide becomes larger. Tides are important for ships, fishing, coastal wildlife and people exploring beaches, because an area that is dry at one time may later be covered by water.
Comprehension questions
What mainly causes tides?
What other object affects tides?
What happens at high tide?
How many high tides do many places experience each day?
