The Mighty Mars Rovers: Author's Purpose and Vocabulary

What is the author’s main purpose for writing this passage?

• A. To persuade readers to send a rover to Mars

• B. To inform readers about how the Mars rovers were built and used

• C. To entertain readers with a fictional story about space travel

• 1. D. To describe the history of NASA’s moon missions

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

Which detail from the passage best supports the author’s purpose?

• “The rovers could only travel about 100 feet each day.”

• "The mission was over before it had even begun.”

• “In 2004, two rovers named Spirit and Opportunity landed on Mars.”

• 2. D. “They were designed to search for signs of water and study rocks and soil.”

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

How does the author make the reader feel the suspense of the rover’s landing?

• By giving exact measurements of the rover’s wheels

• By describing the landing as ‘ten minutes of terror’

• By explaining the cost of the mission

• By showing pictures of the Martian surfaceBy showing pictures of the Martian surface

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

Which sentence from the text shows the author’s purpose is not only to inform, but also to make the reader feel excitement?

• "NASA engineers worked in shifts around the clock."

• "With a screaming descent, the craft hurtled toward the surface."

• "Spirit and Opportunity were solar-powered.”

• “Both rovers were built in California.”

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

Which of the following best describes the author’s purpose in the first two paragraphs?

• To describe how Mars got its name

• To persuade readers to become scientists

• To compare Mars to other planets

• To explain the challenges of getting to Mars

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

What does international mean?

• Only related to one city or state

• A special event held for astronauts

• Something that involves more than one country

• The name of a famous Mars rover

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

What does the word terrain most likely mean in this sentence?

The rover carefully moved across the rocky terrain to reach its target.

• A piece of equipment used to explore

• The surface features of an area of land

• A special type of rock found on Mars

• A tool used to collect samples

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

What does the word resembled most likely mean in this sentence?

From a distance, the rover resembled a large metal insect moving slowly across the surface of Mars.

• Looked similar to

• Moved faster than

• Was larger than

• Changed into

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

After months of planning, the scientists began the deployment of the rover. The word deployment means —

• removal of something from service

• act of moving equipment into position

• careful examination of data

• design of a new invention

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

What does the word ailing most likely mean in this sentence?

After years of hard work on the Martian surface, the ailing rover began sending weaker signals back to Earth.

• Very powerful

• In poor health or condition

• Moving quickly

• Brand new

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4