The Way Things Work, David Macaulay
The kind of nuclear reaction that happens inside a nuclear reactor is called nuclear fission. The fuel is uranium or
plutonium, two very heavy elements which have many protons and neutrons in their nuclei. Fission starts when a fast-
moving neutron strikes a nucleus. The nucleus cannot take in the extra neutron, and the whole nucleus breaks apart into
two smaller nuclei.
2. What is Macaulay's tone in this passage? Underline three words that impact the tone.
A) uncertain/confused
B) scared/apprehensive
Cfactual/unbiased