What's Going on in Outer Space

PART A: Which statement expresses the central idea of the text?

• A.

  Scientists' goal in exploring space is to find planets that can support human life.

• B.

  Cassini and SOFIA have provided everything scientists need to know about space.

• C.

  Scientists are uncovering new information and making new advances in space.

• D.

  Growing cabbage and lettuce in space means that astronauts can harvest almost any vegetable.

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PART B: Which TWO details from the text best support the answer to Part A?

• A.

  "This was an exciting discovery! But perhaps what was even more exciting was that three of the seven planets could be habitable." ( Paragraph 1)

• B.

  "Before you get too excited and start packing your bags, we're talking habitable in the sense that these planets are rocky and have the potential for containing liquid water." ( Paragraph 2)

• C.

  "The Cassini spacecraft, which was sent into outer space almost 20 years ago, is going to complete its final data-collecting mission by September 2017." ( Paragraph 4)

• D.

  "What happens when Cassini has completed its mission? It won't come back to Earth. Instead, it'll destroy itself and dissolve into Saturn's atmosphere." ( Paragraph 5)

• F.

  "Recently, NASA astronaut Jack Fischer harvested a crop of Chinese cabbage. The crew ate some of it and packaged up the rest for further research and testing on Earth." ( Paragraph 7)

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Which of the following describes the author's main purpose in the text?

• A.

  to show how little scientists truly know about space

• B.

  to describe some of the recent discoveries and advances made in space

• C.

  to emphasize the importance of finding another planet that can support life

• D.

  to prove that scientists are close to sending astronauts on long missions in space

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How does the section "Farming in space" contribute to the development of ideas in the text? (Paragraphs 7-9)

• A.

  It questions whether the food grown in space is safe for people to eat.

• B.

  It emphasizes how scientists are still very limited in what they can grow in space.

• C.

  It highlights the recent progress scientists have made in growing food in space.

• D.

  It reveals that this is the first time scientists have been able to grow food in space.

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How have the spacecrafts discussed in the text contributed to the discoveries made in space?

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