When Stars Explode

1.A supernova is the spectacular death of a star. The last time people saw a supernova in our galaxy was 1604. That was before astronomers were using telescopes. However, every year astronomers see supernova exploding in other galaxies. Astronomers can often observe such supernovae for months before they fade from view.

2.Most supernovae- that's the plural of supernova and pronounced SOO-per-Noo-vee- come from massive stars. Antares is a massive star. Such a star is born with more than either times the mass of the Sun.

What is the main idea of paragraphs 1 and 2 in the passage?

• In 1604, a supernova exploded in our galaxy.

• When a massive star dies, it explodes in a supernova.

• The invention of the telescope has helped astronomers see more supernova.

• Antares is a massive star, so that means it will become a supernova.

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Read this sentence from the passage:

Supernovae are violent, but we do not have to worry.

Which of the following key details from the passage best supports that idea?

• The nearest star that will explode is more than a hundred light-years away.

• Astronomers use powerful telescopes to watch for any supernovae that may put our galaxy in danger.

• A red super giant, such as Antares, makes energy by changing helium into heavier elements.

• A massive star must make lots of energy to fight the gravity of its own mass.

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Read these details from paragraph 11 of the passage:

Almost all oxygen came from massive stars, like Antares. During their lives, massive stars cause helium nuclei to join together to make oxygen.

Which main idea of the passage do these key details support?

• We would be in trouble if supernova exploded near Earth.

• Supernovae are violent and potentially dangerous to our galaxy.

• When massive stars are young they are hot, bight, and blue.

• Supernovae are helpful to our life on Earth

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Part A: Go back and to the passage and read paragraphs 5-8.

Which of the following best explains the main idea of paragraphs 5-8?

• When a massive star uses all of its energy, it eventually explodes.

• The massive star turns into a red super giant.

• The massive star is in big trouble.

• The massive star shines so brightly that it uses up its fuel within millions of years.

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Part B: Which of the following best supports your answer to Part A in the previous question.

• "The red super giant makes energy by changing helium and other elements into still heavier elements."

• "As a result, we can easily see the star across hundreds of light-years of space."

• "Meanwhile, the star's outer layer shoots into space at millions of miles per hour."

• "The star expands and cools, turning into a big red star like Antares."

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Choose three key details to include in a summary of the section Our Sun Won't Blow Up.

• Supernovae explosions are violent, but we don't have to worry about them.

• In fact, without them (Supernovae) Earth would not exist.

• The Sun will never explode.

• When the universe began, it had only the three lightest elements: hydrogen, helium, and a little lithium.

• Earth is made mostly of oxygen, silicon, and iron.

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