A Hole in the Planet!

Review the graphic of the inside of Earth. Which layer makes up the center of Earth?

• crust

• mantle

• outer core

• inner core

As described in the passage, what is Toby, the robotic device, helping scientists uncover?

• why Earth is made up of different layers

• the size of the large gap in Earth’s crust

• the reason why part of Earth’s surface has disappeared

• how many more holes in Earth’s crust are out there

Scientist Bramley Murton says “it is like a window into the interior of Earth”.

Why might the author have chosen to include this quote in the article? He chose the quote because

• the language illustrates how the hole offers a clear view into the crust.

• it explains why the hole occurred in that particular spot in the Atlantic Ocean

• it persuades more researchers to study the area

• the language illustrates the size of the hole in the earth’s crust

Read the following sentence from the passage: “The crew departed from the Canary Islands, which are located off the northwestern coast of Africa.”

In this sentence, the word departed most nearly means

• arrived

• left

• journey

• boarded

Which statement supports the main idea of this passage?

• A robotic device is helping scientist learn about the hole.

• Earth’s layers get hotter and hotter toward the center.

• The gap is located 2,300 miles southwest of the Canary Islands.

• Scientists are studying a mysterious hole in Earth’s surface.

The expedition was a rare opportunity for the scientists _______________ it isn’t often that they get to see the center of the earth!

• but

• finally

• because

• so

The author wrote this passage in order to

• encourage the reader to travel to the Canary Islands.

• inform the reader about the study of science.

• encourage the reader to take a boat trip.

• inform the reader about a hole discovered in Earth’s crust.

The author writes that the scientists are baffled. This means

• scientists are making a prediction.

• scientists are confused.

• scientists have a lot of education.

• scientists are hard at work.

The hottest part of the Earth is

• the inner core.

• the outer core.

• the mantle.

• the crust.

The author writes that the hole in the crust is situated near the Canary Islands. Situated means

• threatening.

• shrinking.

• located.

• expanding.