Sunspots and Their Influence

Which detail conveys the central idea of the text?

• “Certainly they seem to be great whirling streams of glowing gases with vapors above them and immense upward and downward currents within them.”

• “Around the edges of the sunspots rise great tongues of flame.”

• “Blue, green, yellow, red, and white combine to give a glorious display of color.”

• “It is from the study of sunspots that we have learned that the sun’s surface does not appear to rotate all at the same speed.”

How do details in the first paragraph convey a central idea about sunspots?

• by explaining the cause of sunspots on the sun’s surface

• by providing an explanation of the function of sunspots

• by describing the size and appearance of sunspots

• by comparing the gases and flames in sunspots

Which statement summarizes the central idea of the text?

• Sunspots are proof that the sun is unsolid.

• Sunspots cause many different phenomena to occur on Earth.

• Sunspots can create magnetic storms that cause destruction on Earth.

• Sunspots are mysterious storms having many negative effects on the

  planet.

How do the details in paragraph 4 convey the central idea?

• A. They describe the location of auroras, which suggests sunspots affect certain areas.

• B. They describe the possible effects of sunspots, which suggest sunspots have an influence on Earth.

• They describe the possible causes of sunspots, which convey the idea

  that sunspots have an influence on Earth.

• They describe the possible causes for color differences in auroras,

  which suggest sunspots affect their appearances.

Which quote from the text conveys a central idea about sunspots?

• Around the edges of the sunspots rise great tongues of flame.

• Perhaps the most popularly known fact about sunspots is that they are somehow connected with what we call magnetic storms on Earth.

• A surprising fact about sunspots is that they show definite periodic variations in number.

• A point forty-five degrees from the equator seems to take about two and one-half days longer to complete one rotation than a point on the equator.

What is the significance of sunspots as discussed in the passage?

• Sunspots are merely dark spots on the sun's surface without any significant effects.

• Sunspots are linked to various phenomena on Earth and reveal important information about the sun's structure.

• Sunspots indicate the sun's surface is solid and unchanging.

• Sunspots only impact communication systems on Earth.