RI5.2 Main Idea "Pluto"

#1, Part A - What is the main idea of the science article by Tyrone Nielson?

• A group of astronomers decided that Pluto is a dwarf planet.

• Pluto is large enough to be a moon, but too small to be a planet.

• Many astronomers are pleased that Pluto is not a planet anymore.

• Some astronomers still believe Pluto should be called a Planet.

#1, Part B - Which statement from the text BEST supports the answer to Part A?

• "For decades, people believed our solar system had nine planets."

• "And it's true that Pluto is small compared with the planets."

• "In August 2006, astronomers came up with a new definition of planet."

• "It has to be massive enough for its own gravity to pull it into the shape of a ball."

# 2 - Which of these is MOST CLEARLY a key detail of the passage?

• "And it's true that Pluto is small compared with the planets."

• "If Earth were the size of a basketball, Pluto would be the size of a golf ball."

• "It hasn't cleared its neighborhood the way the planets have."

• "Not all astronomers accept the change to Pluto's status."

# 3. What is the main idea of paragraph 3?

• an object must orbit the sun in order to be a planet.

• an object must meet three conditions to be a planet.

• A planet must be massive enough for gravity to pull it into the shape of a ball.

• A planet must clear its neighborhood of smaller objects around its orbit.