When Stars Explode

Part A

What are two main ideas of the article by Ken Croswell?

• Supernovae are violent explosions of stars.

• Astronomers did not always use telescopes.

• Astronomers can see supernovae for months.

• Stars make energy through nuclear reactions.

• Stars produce light that travels across the universe.

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CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Part B

Which two sentences from the article best support the answer to part A?

• "Its center makes energy the same way the Sun does: by changing hydrogen, the lightest element, into helium, the second-lightest elment."

• "The last time people saw a supernova in our galaxy was 1604."

• "That was before astronomers were using telescopes."

• "If a supernova occurred within a few dozen light-years of Earth, we would be in trouble."

• "Such a star is born with more than eight times the mass of the Sun."

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CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Read the sentence from the text.

But as long as the star can make energy, it can fight the force of gravity and survive.

Which dictionary entry best defines energy?

• Physical strength

• hydrogen and helium gas

• heavy metals that increase weight

• power that comes from heat

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CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

What are two possible main ideas?

• Supernovae make important elements.

• Only some stars will become supernovae.

• Hydrogen is the lightest element.

• Astronomers did not always use telescopes.

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CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

What are the two possible supporting details?

• "And the explosions themselves produce iron."

• "The last time people saw a supernova in our galaxy was 1604."

• "The Sun will never explode."

• "However, every year astronomers see supernovae exploding in other galaxies."

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.1