Evidence of Life on Mars

What is the main idea of this passage?

When deciding on the main idea of an entire passage, the title is always a clue.

• ALH84001 was discovered in 1984 in Antarctica.

• Scientists all agree about the source of the molecules inside ALH84001.

• Scientists are now looking on Mars for evidence of underground water.

• AlH84001 is the center of debate about whether there was life on Mars.

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What was MOST LIKELY the author's purpose for talking about the things that scientists agree on?

Think about the different reasons author's write, and what is the purpose of this article. Is it to entertain, to inform, to persuade,...?

• to create a sense of suspense.

• to provide background about the meteorite.

• to give evidence that supports his or her own opinion.

• to make readers feel comfortanble reading about science.

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According to the selection, which piece of information do scientists agree on?

Note: NO ONE should get this answer wrong. It says, "according to the text." Therefore, go to the text to find and prove your answer.

• The meteorite is 13,000 years old.

• The meteorite is the size of a potato.

• The meteorite contains molecules from earth.

• The meteorite contains evidence that life once existed on Mars.

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Which of the following BEST describes the author's perspective about life on Mars?

Read the article again. Pay attention to the concluding paragraph. Then look in the article to prove your answer choice.

• The author argues that life once existed on Mars.

• The author argues that there has never been life on Mars.

• The author argues that there is no clear answer to the question about life on Mars.

• The author argues that the idea of life on Mars is absurd and not worth discussing.

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What was MOST LIKELY the author's purpose for writing this selection?

We come to another author's purpose question. Think about the main idea of the article.

• to entertain the reader with funny stories about NASA.

• to persuade the government to give more money to NASA.

• to persuade children to become scientists when they grow up

• to explain the debate about whether or not ALH84001 proves there was once life on Mars.

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Based on the selection, what will MOST LIKELY happen next?

I would read the last paragraph to see what the author believes will happen next.

• Scientists will continue to run tests on ALH84001.

• Scientists and researchers will continue to search for clues to life on Mars.

• ALH84001 will end up in a museum where the public can see it.

• ALH84001 will finally give scientists the answer they are looking for.

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Which of the following BEST describe why the scientists continue to debate whether or not ALH84001 really show evidence of life on Mars.

Read the entire section carefully. Check all the answer choices and cross off the ones that are incorrect.

• They do not all believe that ALH84001 came from Mars.

• They do not all believe that carbon molecules are a sign of life.

• They do not all agree that the carbon molecules are from Mars.

• They do not all agree that it contains molecules with carbon.

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Based on the selection, rocks from living planets are MOST LIKELY to have which of the following characteristics?

This question is worded a bit weirdly. "Living planets" means, planets that have life. Read the article to check and cross off the wrong answer.

• These rocks have molecules that contain water.

• These rocks have the shape and size of a potato.

• These rocks have molecules that contain carbon.

• These rocks have evidence of having been formed at high tempretures.

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Which of the following provides evidence of living things?

Read carefully and cross off wrong answers.

• carbon molecules

• water molecules

• ALH84001

• meteorites

Which of the following is the an argument from scientists who disagreed that ALH84001 contains evidence of Martian Life?

Read carefully and cross off wrong answers.

• The carbon molecules were formed by living things breaking down substances for food.

• The carbon molecules came from

  Antartic water that seeped into the ALH84001 meteoritte.

• The meteorite did not come from Mars.

• The meteorite is strong evidence that tiny organisms lived on Mars.

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