Plot
Expository Elements
Main Idea
Vocabulary
Grammar
100
Why is living in space like "living in a different world"?
Living without gravity is hard to get used to
100
What effect does weightlessness have on the blood?
It causes blood to flow to the head
100
True or false: Skimming a text is a strategy to help find the main idea
True
100
Definition of "blander"
More tasteless
100
True or false: This sentence contains a conjunction. In microgravity, you have to learn new ways to eat.
False
200
What happens if you pour milk in space?
It forms into globules
200
What is the cause of nausea in space?
An upset in the sense of balance
200
Which sentence is the topic sentence of this paragraph from “Life Without Gravity"? Worst of all is how their stomachs feel. During the first few days in space, the inner ear –which gives people their sense of balance – gets confused. Many astronauts become nauseous.They lose their appetites. Many throw up. Many throw up a lot!
Worst of all is how their stomachs feel
200
The definition of "manned"
Having human operators on board
200
True or false: This sentence contains a conjunction. The heart and spine adjust.
True
300
Why does the author disagree that "everything is fun and nothing is hard"?
Weightlessness has negative effects on the body
300
Why did an astronaut's body feel like a "500 pound barbell"?
His muscles were weak and not used to gravity
300
What supports the idea that gravity weakens bones?
Astronauts lose 10% of their bone tissue after several months
300
The definition of globules
Drops of liquid
300
How many conjunctions are there in the following sentence? These men and women faced the discomforts of weightlessness and overcame them.
2 (and, and)
400
When does weightlessness become "fun"?
When your heart and spine adjust
400
What happens if you do not have a clamp on the straw you are drinking through in space?
Liquid keeps flowing out when you're done drinking
400
What is the topic sentence of this paragraph? And yet, Linenger recovered quickly. In fact, almost two dozen astronauts have lived in space for more than six months, and four have stayed in orbit for more than a year. These men and women faced the discomforts of weightlessness and overcame them. And they all readapted to Earth’s gravity without problems, proving that voyages to Mars are possible….Even if it feels like you are hanging upside down the whole time!
In fact, almost two dozen astronauts...
400
The definition of "readapted"
Gradually adjusted again
400
How many conjunctions are there in this sentence from “Life Without Gravity”? Some meals on the space station are eaten with forks and knives, but scooping food with a spoon doesn’t work.
2 (and, but)
500
The author of our story? (spelling counts!)
Robert Zimmerman
500
Why is "Life Without Gravity" an expository essay?
It is a short work of nonfiction that explains the effects of weightlessness on astronauts.
500
What is the main idea of "Life Without Gravity"?
Weightlessness has both advantages and disadvantages
500
The definition of "feeble"
Weak
500
How many conjunctions are there in this sentence from “Life Without Gravity”? If astronauts don’t force themselves to exercise, their muscles become so feeble that when they return to Earth they can’t even walk.
ZERO
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