Academic Reading

What is the primary purpose of this passage?

• (A) To alert people to the dangers posed by the Sun

• (B) To discuss conditions on Earth in the far future

• (C) To present a theory about red giant stars

• (D) To describe changes that the Sun will go through

The word "fueled" in line 1 is closest in meaning to

• (A) powered

• (B) bombarded

• (C) created

• (D) propelled

The word "state" in line 3 is closest in meaning to

• (A) shape

• (B) condition

• (C) location

• (D) size

It can be inferred from the passage that the Sun ...

• (A) is approximately halfway through its life as a yellow dwarf

• (B) has been in existence for 10 billion years

• (C) is rapidly changing in size and brightness

• (D) will continue as a yellow dwarffor another 10 billion years

What will probably be the first stage of change as the Sun becomes a red giant?

• (A) Its core will cool off and use less fuel.

• (B) Its surface will become hotter and shrink.

• C) It will throw off huge amounts of gases.

• (D) Its center will grow smaller and hotter.

When the Sun becomes a red giant, what will conditions be like on Earth?

• (A) Its atmosphere will freeze and become solid.

• (B) It will be enveloped in the expanding surface of the Sun.

• (C) It will become too hot for life to exist.

• (D) It will be nearly destroyed by nova explosions.

As a white dwarf, the Sun will be ....

• (A) the same size as the planet Mercury

• (B) thousands of times smaller than it is today

• (C) around 35 million miles in diameter

• (D) cold and dark

According to the passage, which of the following best describes the sequence of stages that the Sun will probably pass through?

• (A) Yellow dwarf, white dwarf, red giant, black giant

• (B) Red giant, white dwarf, red dwarf, nova explosion

• (C) Yellow dwarf, red giant, white dwarf, black dwarf

• (D) White dwarf, red giant, black dwarf, yellow dwarf

The phrase "throw off" in line 17 is closest in meaning to ...

• (A) eject

• (B) burn up

• (C) convert

• (D) let in

The word "there" in line 23 refers to ...

• (A) our own planet

• (B) the outer surface ofthe Sun

• (C) the core of a black dwarf

• (D) the planet Mercury