Communications Satellites Comprehension Questions

The central idea of this text is that communications satellites are important for modern communication.

• A British science-fiction writer named Arthur C. Clarke is credited with inventing communications satellites.

• Early communications satellites were built to carry long-distance telephone calls.

• Because a satellite is high above Earth, it can direct radio waves to any location within a large region, allowing transmissions to reach far beyond the horizon.

• Satellite TV subscribers use dish-shaped antennas to receive hundreds of TV channels.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

How does the information about satellites providing telephone service to ships at sea support the importance of these satellites?

• It explains how satellites were first invented.

• It shows that satellites can help people communicate in places where traditional communication methods are difficult or impossible.

• It describes the different types of signals that satellites can receive.

• It highlights the role of satellites in television broadcasting.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

How does the image of the communications satellite and microwave towers contribute to the meaning of the text?

• It shows the different types of satellites that are used for communication.

• It provides a visual representation of how a communications satellite receives and relays signals between locations on Earth.

• It illustrates the historical timeline of satellite development.

• It presents a problem with communication and the satellite as a solution.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.7

CCSS.RI.4.7

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RL.3.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

The primary text structure used in this passage to explain communications satellites is:

• Problem/Solution

• Sequence

• Description

• Compare/Contrast

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

The text states that satellites "relay (sends) them back to Earth." The word "relay" in this context means:

• To keep something a secret.

• To receive and then send something onward.

• To create a new signal.

• To block a signal from reaching its destination.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

In the second paragraph, Arthur C. Clarke's idea is described as one of the "greatest advances in modern communication." In this context, "advances" most likely means:

• Setbacks or problems.

• Movements backward in technology.

• Improvements or progress.

• Things that stay the same.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

The text mentions that without satellites, most radio transmissions could not reach far beyond the "horizon." Based on the context clue in the parentheses, the "horizon" is:

• A type of satellite dish.

• The curved path that satellites follow in space.

• The distant, curved line where the land and sky appear to meet.

• A powerful radio tower on Earth.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.3.4

What is the author's likely perspective on communications satellites in this text?

• The author views them as a dangerous technology that could harm the Earth.

• The author sees them as a helpful and significant advancement in how people communicate.

• The author presents them as a complicated technology that is difficult for most people to understand.

• The author believes they are only useful for television broadcasting and not other forms of communication.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.6

CCSS.RL.3.6

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RI.6.6

Which phrase from the text best reveals the author's positive perspective on communications satellites?

• A type of satellite that receives radio, television, and other signals in space...

• ...credited with inventing communications satellites.

• This idea would turn out to be one of the greatest advances in modern communication.

• Without satellites, most radio transmissions could not reach far beyond the horizon...

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.6

CCSS.RL.3.6

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

The word "transmissions" is used in the text to describe how radio waves travel. The prefix "trans-" often means "across" or "through," and the root "miss" relates to "send." Based on this knowledge, "transmissions" most likely means:

• Signals that stay in one place.

• The act of sending signals across distances.

• Sounds that are difficult to hear.

• Written messages.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.3.4