Structure
Where in the text is the claim represented?
In the second paragraph the author, Stephen Whitt, makes the claim that the Gakkel Ridge is one of the most difficult places on earth to explore.
What is the main idea of paragraph 3?
The Gakkel Ridge is incredibly difficult to explore due to multiple obstacles that come from its being at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. It is under “two miles of very cold water,” is pitch-black, and there is a wall of ice on the surface of the water.
What does the word “frontier” mean in paragraph 3?
“Frontier” means a new, uncharted place that has not been explored before, like the Gakkel Ridge.
Why does the author compare a submarine to an eggshell in paragraph 3?
The author compares the submarine to an eggshell to show how extreme the water pressure is two miles below the surface of the ocean.
or
The author wants the reader to understand the extreme pressure. If a submarine (something so strong) could be crushed like an eggshell (something fragile), then it proves the pressure is extreme.
Read the first three paragraphs of the text. Why do you think the author has chosen to begin the article in this way?
The author might have chosen to start by asking and answering a question in order to engage readers with a surprising fact. (Most readers would probably not think about a mountain chain at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean.)
or
The author may have chosen to begin with the list of facts about the difficulties of exploring the area in order to get readers to be amazed by the challenges of water pressure, darkness, and thick ice.
The text says, “Robots work with little direction from scientists.” Why is this critical to the robot’s mission?
The robots must work with little direction from scientists because of the conditions of the environment. The robots are able to go two miles below the frozen surface in freezing water. The water also makes it difficult to communicate because “water absorbs radio waves.”
What words in paragraph 4 help you understand the meaning of the robot’s name: “Plume Mapper” (PUMA)?
Words that help me to understand the meaning are: the robot spots “underwater volcanic plumes (black smoke that rises from volcanoes)”. This shows that the robot looks for plumes from underwater volcanoes, so is called a plume mapper.
The author wrote this text for what reason?
To show the reader that scientists fight obstacles and challenges to learn new things about our world.
Evidence
•Obstacles: had to use robots because of two miles of cold water, pitch blackness, and a thick block of ice – still difficult to keep track of them due to shifting holes in the ice.
•Discoveries: because of the robots we were able to discover a new kind of Dumbo Octopus and glass left on the floor from hot underwater volcanoes
How is the information in this article organized?
Whitt chose to organize the information in a problem-solution structure. He begins by explaining the problems with exploration of the Gakkel Ridge in paragraph three (pressure, darkness, and ice). Then, he describes the solution to these problems: the robots that are used to explore the underwater mountain chain.
or
Whitt organized the information in a cause-effect structure. He began by listing the causes (reasons) exploration of the Gakkel Ridge is so difficult (pressure, darkness, and ice). Then he described the effects of this in terms of the use of robots (PUMA and JAGUAR0 to explore the region and the discoveries of the animals that have never been seen before.
Compare and contrast PUMA and JAGUAR’s roles in the exploration of the Gakkel Ridge. Use details and examples from the text to support your answer.
Both the PUMA and JAGUAR robots help scientists learn about the mountain chain at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. They work together to find underwater volcanoes but their jobs are very different. The PUMA robot uses “sound, lasers, and chemical sensors to spot underwater volcanic plumes.” The JAGUAR robot “hovers over the plume, gathering images and information.”
In paragraph 4, the author most likely uses the word “hovers” instead of “moves” to emphasize?
The author, Stephen Whitt, uses the word hovers to show that the JAGUAR is lingering, or hanging over something important taking pictures. The Jaguar first travels to the spot and then it hovers, it stops and stays there for awhile.
Why did the author use capital letters for PUMA?
The word PUMA means plume mapper, so author used the capital letters in PUMA to show that the letters stand for parts of other words.
How has the author chosen to organize the first four paragraphs and why?
The author has chosen problem/solution. This was likely chosen to emphasize the intense obstacles to exploring the Gakkel Ridge and to make the solution more impressive.
Evidence
•Obstacles: two miles of cold water and pressure, pitch blackness and a thick block of ice
•Solution: scientists still found a way to explore using robots.
What is the central message of this article?
The central message is that although it is difficult to explore deep below the ocean, it is worth the effort. For example, the conditions to get to the mountain chain at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean are extreme. However, scientists are learning about new ocean species such as a new kind of Dumbo octopus and an animal that looks “like a sea cucumber with a fish’s tail.”
“The scientist say it is easier to operate a robot on Mars than to keep track of their robots below the ocean.” What does the author mean by this?
The author means that it is very hard to keep track and monitor robots at the Gakkel Ridge – even harder than it would be to control and monitor a robot on Mars. This is because it is so difficult to communicate through water. Plus the robots must return to the hole in the ice that they entered the water from. This ice hole can change shape, shift in location, or close up.
This text is written in which point of view, and how do you know?
This text is written in the second person because the author comments on the topic and talks to the reader directly. He asks a question such as, “What is the most isolated place on Earth?” and then answers that question the way a possible reader might. Then when the author says, “Think about the obstacles” he is addressing the reader directly again. Addressing the reader directly means that this piece is written in the second person