The following passage is titled "Where Do Old Satellites Go When They Die?" by NASA. Like every other machine, satellites do not last forever. Whether their job is to observe weather, measure greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, or point away from Earth to study the stars, eventually all satellites grow old, wear out, and die, just like old washing machines and vacuum cleaners. So what happens when a trusty satellite's time has come? These days there are two choices, depending on how high the satellite is. For the closer satellites, engineers will use its last bit of fuel to slow it down. That way, it will fall out of orbit and burn up in the atmosphere. The second choice is to send the satellite even farther away from Earth. It can take a lot of fuel for a satellite to slow down enough to fall back into the atmosphere. That is especially true if a satellite is in a very high orbit. For many of these high satellites, it takes less fuel to blast it farther into space than to send it back to Earth.
Which of the following statements expresses a main idea of the entire passage?
- A. When satellites stop working, they have to be moved from orbit.
- B. Satellites are sent to orbit Earth for many different purposes.
- C. After satellites are slowed down, they burn up in the atmosphere.
- D. Satellites are designed to work for only a limited amount of time.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A effectively captures the main idea by emphasizing the necessity of relocating non-functional satellites, highlighting a critical aspect of their lifecycle. Option B, while relevant, only addresses the initial purpose of satellites rather than their entire operational journey. Option C discusses a specific consequence of satellites slowing down, which is too narrow to represent the overall theme. Option D mentions the limited lifespan of satellites but does not encompass the broader implications of their eventual decommissioning and the need for orbital management.
Option A effectively captures the main idea by emphasizing the necessity of relocating non-functional satellites, highlighting a critical aspect of their lifecycle. Option B, while relevant, only addresses the initial purpose of satellites rather than their entire operational journey. Option C discusses a specific consequence of satellites slowing down, which is too narrow to represent the overall theme. Option D mentions the limited lifespan of satellites but does not encompass the broader implications of their eventual decommissioning and the need for orbital management.
Other Related Questions
Which of the following statements is true?
- A. In sentence 1, the word "knew" is functioning as an adverb.
- B. In sentence 1, the word "knew" is functioning as a verb.
- C. In sentence 3, the word "really" is functioning as an adjective.
- D. In sentence 3, the word "really" is functioning as a noun.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
In sentence 1, "knew" serves as a verb, indicating an action or state of being related to knowledge. This aligns with its grammatical role as a past tense verb, which expresses what someone understood or was aware of. Option A is incorrect as "knew" cannot function as an adverb; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, not serve as the main verb in a sentence. Option C misinterprets "really," which typically acts as an adverb to modify verbs or adjectives, not as an adjective itself. Option D is also incorrect since "really" does not function as a noun; it does not represent a person, place, thing, or idea.
In sentence 1, "knew" serves as a verb, indicating an action or state of being related to knowledge. This aligns with its grammatical role as a past tense verb, which expresses what someone understood or was aware of. Option A is incorrect as "knew" cannot function as an adverb; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, not serve as the main verb in a sentence. Option C misinterprets "really," which typically acts as an adverb to modify verbs or adjectives, not as an adjective itself. Option D is also incorrect since "really" does not function as a noun; it does not represent a person, place, thing, or idea.
Which of the following sentences contains an example of personification?
- A. It is raining cats and dogs.
- B. I can hear the wind whispering to me.
- C. I felt as brave as a lion prowling the jungle.
- D. My friend spent ten years on one math problem.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Personification attributes human qualities to non-human entities. Option B, "I can hear the wind whispering to me," exemplifies this by giving the wind the human ability to whisper, creating a vivid image. Option A, "It is raining cats and dogs," is an idiomatic expression and does not attribute human traits to animals or objects. Option C, "I felt as brave as a lion prowling the jungle," uses a simile to compare feelings to a lion's bravery, but does not personify the lion itself. Option D, "My friend spent ten years on one math problem," describes a human experience without personifying any non-human element.
Personification attributes human qualities to non-human entities. Option B, "I can hear the wind whispering to me," exemplifies this by giving the wind the human ability to whisper, creating a vivid image. Option A, "It is raining cats and dogs," is an idiomatic expression and does not attribute human traits to animals or objects. Option C, "I felt as brave as a lion prowling the jungle," uses a simile to compare feelings to a lion's bravery, but does not personify the lion itself. Option D, "My friend spent ten years on one math problem," describes a human experience without personifying any non-human element.
The author supports the claim that satellites do not last forever through the use of which of the following?
- A. An anecdote about why satellites stop working when they do
- B. Examples of the ways satellites stop working over time
- C. A comparison of satellites to other common machines that stop working
- D. Suggestions for ways to keep satellites working over time
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The author effectively demonstrates that satellites do not last forever by comparing them to other common machines that also have limited lifespans. This comparison highlights the inevitability of wear and tear in technology, providing a relatable context for readers. Option A, an anecdote, may illustrate a specific instance but lacks the broader applicability needed to support the claim. Option B provides examples of satellite failures but does not frame them within a comparative context that strengthens the argument. Option D suggests preventive measures but does not address the inherent limitations of satellites, which is central to the claim.
The author effectively demonstrates that satellites do not last forever by comparing them to other common machines that also have limited lifespans. This comparison highlights the inevitability of wear and tear in technology, providing a relatable context for readers. Option A, an anecdote, may illustrate a specific instance but lacks the broader applicability needed to support the claim. Option B provides examples of satellite failures but does not frame them within a comparative context that strengthens the argument. Option D suggests preventive measures but does not address the inherent limitations of satellites, which is central to the claim.
During writing, a student draws a picture and underneath creates a long line of forms and occasional numbers to approximate words. The writing described best exemplifies the emergence of which of the following writing stages?
- A. Scribbling
- B. Letter-like symbols
- C. Strings of letters
- D. Beginning sounds
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The writing described showcases the use of forms and numbers that resemble letters, indicative of the letter-like symbols stage. This stage is characterized by students experimenting with shapes that mimic letters, though not yet forming recognizable words. Option A, scribbling, involves random marks without any letter-like features. Option C, strings of letters, would show a sequence of actual letters, which is not evident here. Option D, beginning sounds, implies an understanding of phonetic spelling, which is absent in the student’s representation. Thus, the focus on forms and numbers aligns best with letter-like symbols.
The writing described showcases the use of forms and numbers that resemble letters, indicative of the letter-like symbols stage. This stage is characterized by students experimenting with shapes that mimic letters, though not yet forming recognizable words. Option A, scribbling, involves random marks without any letter-like features. Option C, strings of letters, would show a sequence of actual letters, which is not evident here. Option D, beginning sounds, implies an understanding of phonetic spelling, which is absent in the student’s representation. Thus, the focus on forms and numbers aligns best with letter-like symbols.