Noting Details 1

ROCKS FROM OUTER SPACE

The pieces of rocks that come from outer space have three names: meteor, meteorite, and meteoroid.

A meteoroid is a piece of matter moving in space. It moves as fast as 40 miles a second. It may be large or small. Most meteoroids are smaller than a grain of sand.

As a meteoroid comes into the air near the earth, it catches fire. Most meteoroids burn up before they hit the earth. The flash of light from the burning meteoroid is called a meteor. If a piece of meteoroid falls to the ground, it is called a meteorite.

People have studied these rocks for many years. They wanted to research ways to keep meteoroids from making holes in spacecrafts. Thick walls may help. Or perhaps spacecrafts can be covered with a metal skin that will seal itself.

Where do the meteoroids originate?

• from the outer layer of the earth

• from the other planets

• from the outer space

• from the moon

A meteoroid catches fire when

• it hits the earth

• it falls to the ground

• it collides with a spacecraft

• it comes into the air near the earth.

When is a meteoroid dangerous?

• when it falls to earth and burns down houses

• when it makes holes in a spacecraft

• when it hits the airplanes

• when it catches fire

The rocks from outer space are studied to find out ________________.

• the time that they fall on earth

• how these rocks could be used

• how to avoid their fall on earth

• how to keep them from making holes in spacecraft

What is true of meteoroids, meteorites, and meteors?

• They are all small.

• They are all rocks.

• They all fall to the earth.

• They all turn into balls of fire.

When one sees a flash of light in space, he may exclaim _____________.

• "That’s a meteor.”

• “There’s a meteorite.”

• “That’s a meteoroid.”

• “A meteoroid hit a spacecraft.”

Which is the best definition of a meteorite?

• a flash of light from a burning meteoroid

• a piece of meteoroid that falls to the ground

• a piece of rock from outer space that hit a spacecraft

• a piece of rock from outer space that burn up before hitting the ground

In the sentence, “They research ways to keep meteoroids from making holes in the spacecraft,” another word for research is ____________.

• study

• solve

• conclude

• experiment