Searching for a Future Home
Which detail from the selection is best supported by the chart titled “3704 Confirmed Exoplanets”?
A. But several other discovered exoplanets—planets outside our solar system that orbit a star—are also nearly as close in their similarity to Earth.” (paragraph 3)
B. “With current technology, it would take millions of years for an expedition to reach these planets.” (paragraph 6)
C. “Earth is the only planet in our solar system known to hold life.” (paragraph 1)
D. “However, some people believe that humanity’s future is in space and that it’s time to start looking for our future home.” (paragraph 1)
A. But several other discovered exoplanets—planets outside our solar system that orbit a star—are also nearly as close in their similarity to Earth.” (paragraph 3)
Read the information about the origin of the word detected.
from Latin detegere, meaning “uncover, expose”
Based on this information, what does the word detected mean in paragraph 4?
A. developed
B. introduced
C. sensed
D. discovered
D. discovered
Which sentence from paragraph 1 best states the central idea?
A. “Somehow, you have to navigate your way to your destination.” (paragraph 1)
B. “How do you stay on course and avoid losing your way during the night?” (paragraph 1)
C. “Luckily, the ancient Chinese had developed a tool called a South Pointer that indicated 24 directions including north, south, east, and west.” (paragraph 1)
D. “This tool, now called a compass, became a critical instrument for ocean navigation and is still used today.” (paragraph 1)
D. “This tool, now called a compass, became a critical instrument for ocean navigation and is still used today.” (paragraph 1)
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A (This question). Then, answer Part B (Down one for 200).
What is the meaning of the word containers in paragraph 4?
A. clocks used on ocean vessels
B. structures that hold compasses
C. structures that hold ships
D. adjustments to compasses
B. structures that hold compasses
Which detail problem was encountered using early magnetic compasses when the sailors needed to locate true north?
A. Instead of leading ships directly north, magnetic north led them too far east or west.
B. The early compasses did not function well on rolling ships.
C. The iron used in the ships interacted with the compasses and caused false readings.
A. Instead of leading ships directly north, magnetic north led them too far east or west.
How does the organization of paragraph 2 contribute to the passage?
A. It explains in sequential order the steps scientists have taken to discover potentially habitable planets.
B. It compares the findings about habitable planets with data about temperatures.
C. It presents reasons and data to show that potentially habitable planets might exist.
D. It describes the problems and solutions that astronomers have encountered trying to find habitable planets.
C. It presents reasons and data to show that potentially habitable planets might exist.
What is the central idea of paragraph 6?
A. “But from a research perspective, they provide an exciting opportunity to search for life beyond Earth and our solar system.” (paragraph 6)
B. "Finding these exoplanets is a giant leap forward in our search for life beyond Earth and other planets where humans might be able to live,” (paragraph 6)
C. “All of the things that life on Earth needs to survive are provided—sunlight, air, and water.” (paragraph 1)
D. “Not too long ago, no one, not even astronomers, could tell you whether any planets that might be like Earth existed, but today is a different story.” (paragraph 2)
B. "Finding these exoplanets is a giant leap forward in our search for life beyond Earth and other planets where humans might be able to live,” (paragraph 6)
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A (This question). Then, answer Part B (Down one for 300).
Read this sentence from the passage.
Somehow, you have to navigate your way to your destination. (paragraph 1)
What is the meaning of the technical phrase “navigate your way to your destination”?
A. float along in the ocean
B. find the way to where you want to go
C. find out what time it is
D. figure out the shape of the stars
B. find the way to where you want to go
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A (Up one for 100). Then, answer Part B (This question).
Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “Lastly, early compasses needed steady surfaces to function well, and a rolling ship did not offer such a surface.” (paragraph 3)
B. “One great solution solved the problems with the magnetic compass.” (paragraph 4)
C. “The structures also allowed users to make occasional adjustments to the compasses to point them to true north rather than magnetic north.” (paragraph 4)
D. “In the 1700s, builders created structures to hold compasses.” (paragraph 4)
D. “In the 1700s, builders created structures to hold compasses.” (paragraph 4)
Which detail problem was encountered using early magnetic compasses because ships were made of metal?
A. Instead of leading ships directly north, magnetic north led them too far east or west.
B. The early compasses did not function well on rolling ships.
C. The iron used in the ships interacted with the compasses and caused false readings.
C. The iron used in the ships interacted with the compasses and caused false readings.
Read this sentence from the passage.
Not too long ago, no one, not even astronomers, could tell you whether any planets that might be like Earth existed, but today is a different story. (paragraph 2)
Which statement from the article best supports the idea in this sentence?
A. “All of the things that life on Earth needs to survive are provided—sunlight, air, and water.” (paragraph 1)
B. “Recently, seven Earth-sized planets were discovered orbiting a nearby star—known as TRAPPEST-1—39 light-years away.” (paragraph 4)
C. “TRAPPIST-1 is an ultra-cool dwarf star, which means it is much smaller than our sun, and only about half as hot.” (paragraph 4)
D. “Three are close to the star and may be a little too hot to hold much liquid water.” (paragraph 4)
B. “Recently, seven Earth-sized planets were discovered orbiting a nearby star—known as TRAPPEST-1—39 light-years away.” (paragraph 4)
What is the central idea of the passage? Write your answer in the space below.
This question you MUST use TEXTUAL EVIDENCE for your answer.
"Earth is the only planet in our solar system known to hold life."
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A (Up one for 200). Then, answer Part B (This question).
Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “How do you stay on course and avoid losing your way during the night?” (paragraph 1)
B. “It’s very dark, with only the moon and stars glowing far above you.” (paragraph 1)
C. “They used this knowledge to create the South Pointer, which dates back to sometime around 200 B.C.” (paragraph 2)
D. “In time, the South Pointer was replaced by a new kind of compass.” (paragraph 2)
A. “How do you stay on course and avoid losing your way during the night?” (paragraph 1)
According to paragraph 7, what was the importance of John Harrison’s clock?
A. It identified magnetic south.
B. It established the official time of day.
C. It worked onboard ships.
D. It noted distance to the shore.
C. It worked onboard ships.
Which section includes information that supports the idea that time has brought great changes to the tools used by sailors? Write your answer in the space below, using details from the passage to support your answer.
Your answer should include the name of the section that the information is in AND you MUST CITE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE to show the information.
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A (This question). Then, answer Part B (Go down one, for 500).
What does the word habitable mean as it is used in the passage?
A. good for humans to live on or in
B. good for humans to live on or in
C. far from Earth
D. close to the rest of the planets
B. good for humans to live on or in
What animal is the goat's closest relative?
Sheep
According to paragraph 2, what was the primary use of the South Pointer?
A. navigating ships to the North Pole
B. decorative display only
C. planning for Chinese cultural events
D. making future magnetic compasses
C. planning for Chinese cultural events
Which detail problem was encountered using early magnetic compasses when the compasses needed to be on steady surfaces?
A. Instead of leading ships directly north, magnetic north led them too far east or west.
B. The early compasses did not function well on rolling ships.
C. The iron used in the ships interacted with the compasses and caused false readings.
B. The early compasses did not function well on rolling ships.
Why did the author likely choose “Where Am I?” as the title to the passage? Write your answer in the space below, using details from the passage to support your answer.
Your answer MUST include a reason AND you MUST CITE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE to support your answer.
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A (Up one for 400). Then, answer Part B (This question).
Which sentence from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “Earth is the only planet in our solar system known to hold life.” (paragraph 1)
B. “Just like in the Goldilocks story, it might be ‘just right’ for humans to live on it.” (paragraph 2)
C. “The planet also has a good chance of being rocky, like Earth.” (paragraph 3)
D. “All seven of these Earth-sized exoplanets are thought to be mostly made up of rock and could possibly support liquid water on their surfaces.” (paragraph 4)
B. “Just like in the Goldilocks story, it might be ‘just right’ for humans to live on it.” (paragraph 2)
For how long will the average Giant Tortoise live?
150 years
How many insects could a bat eat in one hour?
1000
What do the headings “Earliest Compass” and “Modern Inventions” suggest about the structure of the passage?
A. It is organized to show the compass through time.
B. It is organized to focus on size.
C. It is organized to show the order of importance.
D. It is organized to explain geography.
A. It is organized to show the compass through time.
Which statement best describes the conclusion of the passage in paragraph 9?
A. The paragraph directly restates the introduction’s thesis statement.
B. The paragraph responds to the opening sentences in the introduction.
C. The paragraph offers all new information not mentioned in the introduction.
D. The paragraph argues against the information in the introduction.
B. The paragraph responds to the opening sentences in the introduction.