UNIT 12: LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS

LESSON 5: SKILLS 1
Mini test | Name: | Class: | Score:

READING
Read the passage and choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to indicate the correct answer to each of the
following questions.
The system made of the Sun and everything orbiting or traveling around it is (1) _______ the solar system.
There are eight planets and their moons, dwarf planets, and unlimited asteroids along with small, icy
objects, but (2) _______ the solar system is empty. The solar system appears (3) _______ very big to us.
However, it is only a small element of an enormous system of stars and other objects named the Milky
Way Galaxy. The orbit of the solar system around the center of the galaxy lasts about 225 million years.
More (4) _______, the Milky Way Galaxy is only one among billions of galaxies which form the universe.
The Sun is the largest star located at the center of the solar system. It not only has a great diameter of
65,000 miles (5) _______ stores over 99 percent of all the existing material in the solar system. The Sun is
very hot with the temperature at its core of more than 28,080,000° F (15,600,000° C), so the hydrogen in
its core is constantly changed into helium. That’s (6) _______ the Sun can produce a huge amount of
energy for living things on Earth to exist and develop.
1. A. called B. calling C. calls D. call
2. A. all B. almost C. most D. most of
3. A. to be B. being C. be D. is
4. A. surprise B. surprisingly C. surprising D. surprised
5. A. as well B. and C. but also D. but
6. A. who B. why C. what D. which
Read the passage about UFOs and tick () T (True) or F (False) for each sentence.
An unidentified flying object (UFO) is any light or object seen in the sky that can't be explained. Hundreds
of UFO sightings are reported every year. More than nine-tenths of them are later identified as ordinary
objects. They turn out to be planes, satellites, or planets. Others are later identified as balloons, kites,
clouds, or birds. But some are deliberate fakes.
UFOs have been reported since ancient times. Modern reports of UFO sightings began in 1947. Some
observers reported seeing saucer-like shapes in the sky. Since then, UFOs of any shape are often called
flying saucers.
The United States Air Force took these reports seriously. Air Force officials did not necessarily believe in
visitors from outer space. They wanted to be sure that UFOs were not a threat to America. A UFO might,
for example, be an enemy airplane.
Project Blue Book was the Air Force's program for investigating UFOs. It ran from 1947 through 1969. The
Air Force investigated 12,618 UFO sightings. All but 701 were identified.
The Air Force concluded that UFOs were no threat. All sightings could be explained by science. There was
no evidence that UFOs came from other planets.
T F
1. All of the UFO sightings were later identified as ordinary objects like planes, satellites, etc.

2. People also call UFOs of any shape flying saucers.

3. The Air Force took the reports of UFO sightings seriously because they believed in visitors
from outer space.
4. Project Blue Book was one of the Air Force's programs.

5. The Air Force concluded that UFOs were not a threat to the US.
Read the passage and choose the best answer to each of the following questions.
The existence of aliens has always been a mysterious topic concerning a lot of humans on Earth for
decades. As found out by recent reports, there are several reasons why they might exist. First of all, the
universe is so gigantic that a large spaceship can’t be sent between stars. The best thing we can do is
sending radio waves at the speed of light to the outer space. Therefore, life might exist somewhere else in
the universe that we can’t see or reach. In addition, hundreds of planets which contain the same kind of
substances as in the Earth’s atmosphere have already been discovered. Even though there aren’t clear
traces of life, such discovery seems to be a good hint for humans on Earth. Last but not least, the methods
used to send signals to other planets or receive signals from extraterrestrial civilisations might not be
suitable. If the civilisations on other planets and on Earth don’t coexist, technological advances might not
be similar and compatible. What are used on Earth might not make sense to aliens, and vice versa. As a
result, humans might miss extraterrestrial signals, or they might appear in the future when human life has
come to an end.
1. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Reasons why aliens might exist
B. Existence of aliens
C. Methods to send and receive extraterrestrial signals
D. Discovery of Earth’s substances on other planets
2. The word “gigantic” in the paragraph probably means ______________.
A. very deep
B. quite crowded
C. extremely large
D. totally dark
3. Which of the following statements is true?
A. Sending normal radio waves to other planets is the best thing we can do.
B. One hundred planets containing the same kind of substances as in the Earth’s atmosphere have been
discovered.
C. Three reasons for the possible existence of aliens are mentioned.
D. Methods used to send signals to the outer space might be suitable.
4. What is a good hint for humans on Earth?
A. Discovery of planets with the same substances as in the Earth’s atmosphere.
B. Discovery of similar substances in the Earth’s atmosphere
C. Discovery of signals from extraterrestrial civilisations
D. Discovery of hundreds of planets
5. Extraterrestrial signals might be missed because _______________
A. the civilisations on Earth and on other planets exist together at the same time.
B. there aren’t clear traces of life.
C. other planets can’t be seen or reached.
D. technological advances on Earth and on other planets might not be compatible.
6. The word “they” in the sentence refers to _____________.
A. humans B. extraterrestrial signals C. aliens D. civilisations
Read the passage about life on other planets and choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to each of the
questions.
Most scientists believe that for another planet to have life on it, it must be similar to Earth in several ways.
It is likely to need an atmosphere (air) and water. It also must orbit a star, like the Sun, at a good distance.
This star would provide the right amount of light and heat for life to exist.
Scientists have studied planets and moons in our solar system to see if they can support life. Space probes
have searched for traces of bacteria or other tiny living things on Mars. Some scientists are also looking for
the possibility of life outside our solar system. Using radio telescopes, they hope to capture signals from
intelligent aliens.
So far, no evidence of extraterrestrial life has been found. However, scientists have discovered hundreds of
planets that orbit distant stars. Some of these planets are an ideal distance from their stars, and some are
roughly the size of Earth. It may be possible that life has developed on one or more of them.
1. The best title for the passage could be ______.
A. "The Search for Alien Life"
B. "The Search for a New Planet"
C. "A Promising Planet Supporting Life"
D. "Evidence of Life on Other Planets"
2. Most scientists believe that a life supporting planet must be ______.
A. somewhat similar to Earth
B. exactly the same Earth
C. in our solar systems
D. at a good distance from Earth
3. The phrase "Space probes" most likely means ______.
A. "vehicles that travel in space, carrying spacecraft"
B. "spacecraft that collect information about the conditions of the Sun"
C. "vehicles that travel in space, carrying people"
D. "spacecraft without people on them that collect information about a planet"
4. The scientists use radio telescopes in order to ______.
A. search for traces of bacteria or other tiny living things
B. catch signals from creatures on other planets
C. search for planets that are an ideal distance from their suns
D. discover planets that are roughly the size of Earth
5. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Planets need water and air to support life.
B. If a sun is the right distance from a planet, the planet could support life.
C. Scientists have looked at the possibility of life only in our solar system.
D. Space probes capture signals from intelligent aliens.

SPEAKING
Talk about the planet.
You can use the following questions as cues:
- What planet do you want to talk about?
- What is the size of that planet?
- What is the planet's climate?
- How is that planet different from other planets?
Useful language:
Useful vocabulary Useful structures
- alien, commander, crater, creature, galaxy, - Today, I would like to tell you about……
gravity, possibility, rocket, telescope, trace, UFO, … - In my talk, I’ll tell you about…..
- Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, - Today I’m going to talk about…..
Venus, … - What I’d like to present to you today is…..
- habitable, promising, … - It is the smallest planet. It is the closest planet to
- oppose, … the sun, and it doesn’t have any moons.
- It is hot in the daytime but very cold at night.
Complete the notes:
Structures of the talk Your notes
What planet do you want to talk about?

What is the size of that planet?

What is the planet's climate?

How is that planet different from other planets?

ANSWER KEYS
Read the passage and choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to indicate the correct answer to each of the
following questions.
The system made of the Sun and everything orbiting or traveling around it is (1) _______ the solar system.
There are eight planets and their moons, dwarf planets, and unlimited asteroids along with small, icy
objects, but (2) _______ the solar system is empty. The solar system appears (3) _______ very big to us.
However, it is only a small element of an enormous system of stars and other objects named the Milky
Way Galaxy. The orbit of the solar system around the center of the galaxy lasts about 225 million years.
More (4) _______, the Milky Way Galaxy is only one among billions of galaxies which form the universe.
The Sun is the largest star located at the center of the solar system. It not only has a great diameter of
65,000 miles (5) _______ stores over 99 percent of all the existing material in the solar system. The Sun is
very hot with the temperature at its core of more than 28,080,000° F (15,600,000° C), so the hydrogen in
its core is constantly changed into helium. That’s (6) _______ the Sun can produce a huge amount of
energy for living things on Earth to exist and develop.
1. A. called B. calling C. calls D. call
Giải thích: Be called: được gọi là
2. A. all B. almost C. most D. most of
Giải thích: Most of + the + N (most of + danh từ xác định): hầu hết
3. A. to be B. being C. be D. is
Giải thích: Appears + to V: dường như
4. A. surprise B. surprisingly C. surprising D. surprised
Giải thích: More surprisingly: một cách ngạc nhiên là …
5. A. as well B. and C. but also D. but
Giải thích: Not only … but also: không những mà còn
6. A. who B. why C. what D. which
Giải thích: That’s why + MĐ: đó là lý do tại sao….
Read the passage about UFOs and tick (v) T (True) or F (False) for each sentence.
An unidentified flying object (UFO) is any light or object seen in the sky that can't be explained. Hundreds
of UFO sightings are reported every year. More than nine-tenths of them are later identified as ordinary
objects. They turn out to be planes, satellites, or planets. Others are later identified as balloons, kites,
clouds, or birds. But some are deliberate fakes.
UFOs have been reported since ancient times. Modern reports of UFO sightings began in 1947. Some
observers reported seeing saucer-like shapes in the sky. Since then, UFOs of any shape are often called
flying saucers.
The United States Air Force took these reports seriously. Air Force officials did not necessarily believe in
visitors from outer space. They wanted to be sure that UFOs were not a threat to America. A UFO might,
for example, be an enemy airplane.
Project Blue Book was the Air Force's program for investigating UFOs. It ran from 1947 through 1969. The
Air Force investigated 12,618 UFO sightings. All but 701 were identified.
The Air Force concluded that UFOs were no threat. All sightings could be explained by science. There was
no evidence that UFOs came from other planets.
T F
1. All of the UFO sightings were later identified as ordinary objects like planes, satellites, etc. v

2. People also call UFOs of any shape flying saucers. v

3. The Air Force took the reports of UFO sightings seriously because they believed in visitors
v
from outer space.
4. Project Blue Book was one of the Air Force's programs. v

5. The Air Force concluded that UFOs were not a threat to the US. v
Giải thích:
1. “Others are later identified as balloons, kites, clouds, or birds. But some are deliberate fakes.”  F
2. “Some observers reported seeing saucer-like shapes in the sky.”  T
3. The United States Air Force took these reports seriously. Air Force officials did not necessarily believe in
visitors from outer space.  F
4. Project Blue Book was the Air Force's program for investigating UFOs.  T
5. The Air Force concluded that UFOs were no threat.  T
Read the passage and choose the best answer to each of the following questions.
The existence of aliens has always been a mysterious topic concerning a lot of humans on Earth for
decades. As found out by recent reports, there are several reasons why they might exist. First of all, the
universe is so gigantic that a large spaceship can’t be sent between stars. The best thing we can do is
sending radio waves at the speed of light to the outer space. Therefore, life might exist somewhere else in
the universe that we can’t see or reach. In addition, hundreds of planets which contain the same kind of
substances as in the Earth’s atmosphere have already been discovered. Even though there aren’t clear
traces of life, such discovery seems to be a good hint for humans on Earth. Last but not least, the methods
used to send signals to other planets or receive signals from extraterrestrial civilisations might not be
suitable. If the civilisations on other planets and on Earth don’t coexist, technological advances might not
be similar and compatible. What are used on Earth might not make sense to aliens, and vice versa. As a
result, humans might miss extraterrestrial signals, or they might appear in the future when human life has
come to an end.
1. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Reasons why aliens might exist
B. Existence of aliens
C. Methods to send and receive extraterrestrial signals
D. Discovery of Earth’s substances on other planets
Giải thích: “The existence of aliens has always been a mysterious topic concerning a lot of humans on Earth
for decades. As found out by recent reports, there are several reasons why they might exist.”
2. The word “gigantic” in the paragraph probably means ______________.
A. very deep
B. quite crowded
C. extremely large
D. totally dark
Giải thích: gigantic: khổng lồ  extremely large: vô cùng to lớn
3. Which of the following statements is true?
A. Sending normal radio waves to other planets is the best thing we can do.
B. One hundred planets containing the same kind of substances as in the Earth’s atmosphere have been
discovered.
C. Three reasons for the possible existence of aliens are mentioned.
D. Methods used to send signals to the outer space might be suitable.
Giải thích:
First reason: First of all, the universe is so gigantic that a large spaceship can’t be sent between stars.
Second reason: Therefore, life might exist somewhere else in the universe that we can’t see or reach.
Third reason: In addition, hundreds of planets which contain the same kind of substances as in the Earth’s
atmosphere have already been discovered.
4. What is a good hint for humans on Earth?
A. Discovery of planets with the same substances as in the Earth’s atmosphere.
B. Discovery of similar substances in the Earth’s atmosphere
C. Discovery of signals from extraterrestrial civilisations
D. Discovery of hundreds of planets
Giải thích: “Even though there aren’t clear traces of life, such discovery seems to be a good hint for humans
on Earth.”
5. Extraterrestrial signals might be missed because _______________
A. the civilisations on Earth and on other planets exist together at the same time.
B. there aren’t clear traces of life.
C. other planets can’t be seen or reached.
D. technological advances on Earth and on other planets might not be compatible.
Giải thích: “If the civilisations on other planets and on Earth don’t coexist, technological advances might
not be similar and compatible.”
6. The word “they” in the sentence refers to _____________.
A. humans B. extraterrestrial signals C. aliens D. civilisations
Giải thích: “As a result, humans might miss extraterrestrial signals, or they might appear in the future when
human life has come to an end.”
Read the passage about life on other planets and choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to each of the
questions.
Most scientists believe that for another planet to have life on it, it must be similar to Earth in several ways.
It is likely to need an atmosphere (air) and water. It also must orbit a star, like the Sun, at a good distance.
This star would provide the right amount of light and heat for life to exist.
Scientists have studied planets and moons in our solar system to see if they can support life. Space probes
have searched for traces of bacteria or other tiny living things on Mars. Some scientists are also looking for
the possibility of life outside our solar system. Using radio telescopes, they hope to capture signals from
intelligent aliens.
So far, no evidence of extraterrestrial life has been found. However, scientists have discovered hundreds of
planets that orbit distant stars. Some of these planets are an ideal distance from their stars, and some are
roughly the size of Earth. It may be possible that life has developed on one or more of them.
1. The best title for the passage could be ______.
A. "The Search for Alien Life"
B. "The Search for a New Planet"
C. "A Promising Planet Supporting Life"
D. "Evidence of Life on Other Planets"
Giải thích: Mở đầu: “Most scientists believe that for another planet to have life on it, it must be similar to
Earth in several ways.” Kết thúc: “So far, no evidence of extraterrestrial life has been found.”  A
2. Most scientists believe that a life supporting planet must be ______.
A. somewhat similar to Earth
B. exactly the same Earth
C. in our solar systems
D. at a good distance from Earth
Giải thích: “Most scientists believe that for another planet to have life on it, it must be similar to Earth in
several ways.”
3. The phrase "Space probes" most likely means ______.
A. "vehicles that travel in space, carrying spacecraft"
B. "spacecraft that collect information about the conditions of the Sun"
C. "vehicles that travel in space, carrying people"
D. "spacecraft without people on them that collect information about a planet"
Giải thích: “Space probes”: tàu thăm dò không gian
4. The scientists use radio telescopes in order to ______.
A. search for traces of bacteria or other tiny living things
B. catch signals from creatures on other planets
C. search for planets that are an ideal distance from their suns
D. discover planets that are roughly the size of Earth
Giải thích: “Using radio telescopes, they hope to capture signals from intelligent aliens.”
5. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Planets need water and air to support life.
B. If a sun is the right distance from a planet, the planet could support life.
C. Scientists have looked at the possibility of life only in our solar system.
D. Space probes capture signals from intelligent aliens.
Giải thích: “Space probes have searched for traces of bacteria or other tiny living things on Mars”