UNIT 5 WEEK 4 Read the article Voyage to the Planets before answering Numbers 1 through 5. Voyage to the Planets A voyage to Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, takes years. Saturn and Uranus are even farther away. A voyage to Neptune, in the farthest reaches of the solar system, takes decades. How are scientists able to learn about these planets? They developed unmanned space probes that can safely travel to Jupiter and Saturn. These probes collect information using sophisticated scientific instruments. With their superior technology, they can send data and photos back to Earth. Two unmanned space probes, Voyager I and Voyager II, began missions in 1977. Both were launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Voyager II was launched first in August of 1977. One month later, Voyager I was launched. But its flight path would get it to Jupiter sooner than Voyager II. In March of 1979, Voyager I reached the first destination, passing by the planet Jupiter. Voyager II flew by Jupiter in July, four months later. The space probes sent back incredible pictures of the solar system s largest planet. Scientists got a close look at Jupiter s famous Great Red Spot. They also learned about Io, one of Jupiter s moons. Voyager I discovered turbulent, or violent, volcanic activity on Io, which was causing great disturbances on its surface. In November of 1980, a year and a half after its exploration of Jupiter, Voyager I flew by Saturn. Voyager II followed in August of 1981. Both space probes sent photos of Saturn s magnificent ring system, one of the solar system s most stunning sights. Scientists also received data about Titan, Saturn s largest moon. The original mission of the Voyager space probes was to collect data about Jupiter and Saturn. But after the probes passed Saturn, NASA scientists made a remarkable discovery. Voyager II s flight would continue unexpectedly, and it would travel past both Uranus and Neptune! For the first time ever, scientists on Earth would get a close glimpse of the distant planets. In January of 1986, nearly 10 years after its launch, Voyager II flew by Uranus. The space probe collected information about the atmosphere that surrounds the planet. It also sent back data about Uranus s mysterious dark rings. Then in August of 1989, Voyager II made its closest approach to Neptune. It was the space probe s last visit to a planet in our solar system, but it was not done yet. Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 5, Week 4 Grade 6 245
UNIT 5 WEEK 4 As Voyager II passed Neptune, Voyager I was heading towards the outer edges of the solar system. Finally, after more than three decades in space, Voyager I left the solar system. It continues to transmit what it learns in deep space back to Earth. Voyager II followed its own route into deep space as well. The probes are expected to transmit messages until 2020. After more than forty years of travel, they will no longer be able to generate the electrical power needed to send transmissions back to Earth. Until then, who knows what wondrous discoveries await! 246 Grade 6 Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 5, Week 4
Now answer Numbers 1 through 5. Base your answers on Voyage to the Planets. 1 How does the author organize the text? A by giving causes and effects B by telling events in sequence C by describing a problem and its solution D by comparing and contrasting two things 2 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B. Part A: Read the sentences from the text. These probes collect information using sophisticated scientific instruments. With their superior technology, they can send data and photos back to Earth. What does sophisticated mean in the sentences? A advanced B beautiful C new D small Part B: Which phrase from the sentences best helps to show what sophisticated means? A collect information B scientific instruments C superior technology D back to Earth Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 5, Week 4 Grade 6 247
3 Circle the word in the sentence that restates what turbulent means. Voyager I discovered turbulent, or violent, volcanic activity on Io, which was causing great disturbances on its surface. 4 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B. Part A: Why does the author describe the sequence of Voyager II s journey after it passed Saturn? A to show how Voyager II s mission changed B to show how far away Uranus and Neptune are C to show that Voyager II discovered new planets D to show what scientists know about deep space Part B: Which sentence from the text best supports your answer in part A? A Both space probes sent photos of Saturn s magnificent ring system, one of the solar system s most stunning sights. B Scientists also received data about Titan, Saturn s largest moon. C The original mission of the Voyager space probes was to collect data about Jupiter and Saturn. D Voyager II s flight would continue unexpectedly, and it would travel past both Uranus and Neptune! 5 What is one result of Voyager II s journey beyond Saturn? A photographs of Saturn s rings B data about temperatures on the Sun C data about the atmosphere around Uranus D information about Jupiter s Great Red Spot 248 Grade 6 Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 5, Week 4
UNIT 5 WEEK 4 Read the article A Planet No More before answering Numbers 6 through 10. A Planet No More Some of the planets reveal themselves in the night sky. But the distant planets were more difficult to find. The planet Uranus was first identified in 1781, and Neptune followed in 1846. Scientists searched for a ninth planet for years. Then in 1930, a 24-year old Kansas astronomer named Clyde Tombaugh discovered an object at the outer edge of the solar system. The tiny body was given the name Pluto. Was Pluto the long-expected ninth planet? Based on what they learned from the other discoveries, scientists decided that it met the requirements to be a planet. Pluto was introduced as a new addition to the solar system. For the next 76 years, Pluto was considered the solar system s ninth planet, but Pluto was very different from the gas giants, or huge planets made up primarily of gases. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are at least ten times the size of Earth and made of mostly gases, rather than rock. Pluto, on the other hand, is much smaller than Earth, solid, and very icy. In 1978, scientists detected another body near Pluto that they named Charon. They determined that Charon was a moon of Pluto. However, many scientists referred to Charon and Pluto as a double planet system because the two bodies are so close in size. In 2005, scientists discovered two additional moons orbiting Pluto. They named these moons Nix and Hydra. Around the time Nix and Hydra were first identified, scientists were using powerful new telescopes to discover other bodies in the Kuiper Belt. This is a region of space beyond the orbit of Neptune, where Pluto orbits. Many of the bodies found there were very similar to Pluto. One of the objects found in the belt, an icy body named Eris, was about the same size as Pluto. The discovery of more and more bodies in the Kuiper Belt raised questions. Could Eris possibly be a tenth planet? If not, how could Pluto which Eris closely resembled hold the title of planet? Scientists began to rethink Pluto s status as a planet. Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 5, Week 4 Grade 6 249
UNIT 5 WEEK 4 In 2006, a group of scientists from the International Astronomical Union met to answer these questions. They decided that a new system was needed to classify planets. To be a planet, scientists said, a body must travel in an orbit around the sun. It must have enough mass to clear objects out of its path in space. And it must have enough gravity to pull itself into a sphere. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are all planets. Pluto and Eris would now belong to a new category, a type of body called dwarf planets. Dwarf planets orbit the sun, traveling in regions such as the Kuiper Belt. But they do not have the gravity or mass that planets have. After much debate, scientists concluded that Pluto was not the ninth planet after all. 250 Grade 6 Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 5, Week 4
Now answer Numbers 6 through 10. Base your answers on A Planet No More. 6 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B. Part A: Why does the author tell the order in which Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were discovered? A to show how planets are different from stars B to show how Pluto is different from other planets C to show why there are planets in the solar system D to show why Pluto was thought to be the ninth planet Part B: Which sentence from the text supports your answer in part A? A The planet Uranus was first identified in 1781, and Neptune followed in 1846. B Scientists searched for a ninth planet for years. C Then in 1930, a 24-year old Kansas astronomer named Clyde Tombaugh discovered an object at the outer edge of the solar system. D Based on what they learned from the other discoveries, scientists decided that it met the requirements to be a planet. 7 Read the paragraph from the text. For the next 76 years, Pluto was considered the solar system s ninth planet, but Pluto was very different from the gas giants, or huge planets made up primarily of gases. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are at least ten times the size of Earth and made of mostly gases, rather than rock. Pluto, on the other hand, is much smaller than Earth, solid, and very icy. Which word from the paragraph restates what primarily means? A very B least C mostly D smaller Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 5, Week 4 Grade 6 251
8 Read the paragraph from the text. In 1978, scientists detected another body near Pluto that they named Charon. They determined that Charon was a moon of Pluto. However, many scientists referred to Charon and Pluto as a double planet system because the two bodies are so close in size. In 2005, scientists discovered two additional moons orbiting Pluto. They named these moons Nix and Hydra. How does the author explain the discovery of new bodies near Pluto? A by describing how the discoveries compare to Earth B by describing the discoveries in the order they occurred C by telling what caused scientists to make the discoveries D by telling how the discoveries solved a problem for scientists 9 Read the paragraph from the text. The discovery of more and more bodies in the Kuiper Belt raised questions. Could Eris possibly be a tenth planet? If not, how could Pluto which Eris closely resembled hold the title of planet? Scientists began to rethink Pluto s status as a planet. Which word from the paragraph restates what status means? A discovery B questions C planet D title 252 Grade 6 Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 5, Week 4
10 Put the events from the text in the correct order by numbering them from 1 to 5. Neptune is identified. Eris is discovered in the Kuiper Belt. Pluto is categorized as a dwarf planet. Charon, a moon of Pluto, is discovered. Scientists begin to rethink Pluto s status as a planet. STOP Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 5, Week 4 Grade 6 253