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.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

2.

RI.1

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)

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

3.

RI.6

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

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

4.

RI.5

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.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

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

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5