( / Let’s Go! Pluto! $ Pre-Reading Look at the picture below and answer the questions. I. The rocket is being . a,launched —_b. cleaned 2. The weather is . a, cloudy b. sunny wy New Words launch to send something into the air or into space 0 spacecraft a rocket or machine that can travel through space O planet a large round object that moves around a star O solar of the sun 1 analyze to study very closely Clatmosphere the air or gases around a planet 0 otherwise if notNew Exploring| ib ¥ ok, Reading n January 19,2006, NASA* launched O anew spacecraft called New Horizons into outer space. New Horizons is expected to travel about 3 billion miles for 10 years at around 50,000 kilometers per hour and take pictures of Pluto (the last planet in the solar system*), its moons, and the Kuiper (pronounced KY-purr) Belt. It will also analyze Pluto’s atmosphere and temperature. Scientists say that now is our last chance to send a spacecraft to Pluto, Otherwise Pluto will become too far from Earth and it will be more difficult to get near the planet. The New Horizons mission is important because no spacecraft has ever been sent that far before. The information collected during this mission will help to explain what the outer edges of the solar system look like and how the solar system was formed 45 billion years ago. * NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration % the Solar System: the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto Understanding Pronouns A 7. The word "its" (line 7) refers to 2. The word "It" (line 8) refers to2 Understanding the Main Idea Circle the best answer. 7. The main idea of this passage is that a, the Kuiper Belt is near Pluto b. New Horizons will visit and study Pluto c. the solar system was formed 4.5 billion years ago 2. The best title for this passage would be a. The Solar System and Pluto b. Pluto and the Kuiper Belt c. New Horizons goes to Pluto &, Understanding Details Circle the best answer. 7. How far is Pluto from Earth? a.3 billion miles b. 50,000 kilometers c. 4.5 billion years Ss Now is the best time to send a spacecraft to Pluto because Pluto will a. be near the Kuiper Belt b. be analyzed by New Horizons c. become too far from Earth 2. The New Horizons mission is important because __ a. no spacecraft has ever been sent that far before b. Pluto is the last planet in the solar system ¢. New Horizons will travel a long way 45-Now Exploring| es Vocabulary Practice Fill in each blank with one of the words in the list below. Albert Einstein was the greatest of the 20th century. Jupiter is the largest in the solar system. a rocket into outer space. 4, 2. &,. Japan will _ . Mars has a very thin 5 We will _____the information that New Horizons sends back tous. planet analyze launch _ scientist. atmosphere ® New Phrases wy ‘We ate sandwiches and cookies as well. She owns a computer and an MP3 player as well. My hobby is playing computer games and watching TV as well. Ci help to : be useful in doing something The new roof will help to stop the rain from coming into the house. Drinking milk will help you to become more strong. Reading lots of books will help us to broaden our mind. 46 -dime This is a summary of the passage. Fill in the blanks with the right words. ig a Summary isimportant because anew spacecraft _help to explain study its moons atmosphere and temperature NASA launched __ called New Horizons. It will travel to Pluto to take pictures and analyze its It will also _ _and the Kuiper Belt. New Horizons __ no spacecraft has ever been sent that far before. The mission will what the solar system looked like 4.5 billion years ago.ss Listening Practice Listen to each sentence and fill in the blank: 7. NASA New Horizons on 4 2. Pluto is in the Bf a spacecraft____, Pluto__ become ent, 5 .No has to Pluto before. é S. The solar system ____ 45 billion years. Homework - Writing Pra: Write a short paragraph about spac: Use the following questions as a guide. What are the nine planets in the solar system? Which is your favorite planet? Why do you like that planet? The nine planets of the solar system are My favorite planet is Tlike it because