The nuclear tourist

Question 1

What is the exclusion zone?

Answer 1

The exclusion zone is a quarantined area around
Chernobyl that contains protected plants and
wildlife.

Question 2

What are some characteristics that draw tourists to areas like Chernobyl?

Answer 2

Tourists are drawn to Chernobyl to experience
the chilling results of a nuclear accident and a
small slice of what the atomic bomb produced in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Question 3

What elements caused the explosion at Chernobyl in 1986?

Answer 3

The explosion was caused when a scheduled
safety test experienced a power surge and
overheated the reactor.

Question 4

What is the current condition of the towns of Pripyat and Chernobyl?

Answer 4

At the time the article was written, Pripyat is
full of broken glass on the ground, abandoned
buildings, and materials from the reactor
explosion, while Chernobyl houses simple
buildings where the tourists and others can stay.

Question 5

Do you agree or disagree with the author that “There is
something deeply rooted in the human soul” that compels people to visit
places like Chernobyl? Explain

Answer 5

Students may agree that
people may be compelled to visit a place like
Chernobyl based on a deep-rooted feeling of
sorrow, guilt, or regret over the tragedy.