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By: National Geographic Kids (Adapted by Have Fun Teaching) Many people are saying that Pluto is no longer a planet. Are they right? Is Pluto no longer a planet? There's debate in the scientific world about this issue. National Geographic News says that, according to the International Astronomical Union, a full-fledged planet is an object that orbits the sun and is large enough to have become round due to the force of its own gravity. Because Pluto doesn't meet these standards, the IAU classifies Pluto as a dwarf planet. Not everyone agrees that this is a good way to decide, though. Andy Cheng, a planetary scientist at Johns Hopkins University, says that the new rules aren't clear enough and asks the question "how round is round? ...I'll still continue to maintain that Pluto is a planet," he said. Owen Gingerich is an astronomer and historian at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and head of the IAU committee proposing the definition. He favored a special distinction for Pluto. Gingerich supported a proposal to call the big eight planets classical planetsas opposed to just plain "planets"and Pluto and the others dwarf planets, so there would be two classes of planets. He believes that reclassifying Pluto as a dwarf planet is not "sensitive to the historical and cultural role that Pluto has played." The argument continues. In the meantime, however, many people are correctnew textbooks will list Pluto as being a dwarf planet. What do you think it is?
Is Pluto a Planet?
By: National Geographic Kids (Adapted by Have Fun Teaching) Read the story. Use the information in the story to answer the questions below. 1. According to the IAU, what classifies Pluto as a dwarf planet? A. It is smaller than the other planets B. It does not orbit the sun C. It is not large enough to become round due to the force of its own gravity D. Both B and C 2. What does IAU stand for? A. International Association of the Universe B. Intergalactic Association Union C. International Astronomical Union D. International House of Pancakes 3. What does Andy Cheng think about the IAUs definition of a planet? A. He thinks the IAU is not clear enough about the roundness of a planet B. He thinks that Pluto is not a planet C. He thinks that Pluto is not round enough to be considered a planet D. He thinks the IAU gives a clear definition of a planet 4. What did Owen Gingerich support? A. A proposal to call the eight planets planets B. A proposal to call the eight planets dwarf planets C. A proposal to call the eight planets classical planets D. A proposal to call Pluto a classical planet
5. What is the Authors Purpose of this article? A. To inform the reader B. To tell a story C. To persuade the reader D. To expose the beliefs of the author
That night Pigsel had a disturbing dream. He was all alone in his pen surrounded by beautiful photographs that he made. He was admiring them when he heard noises outside. He looked out one of his windows and saw all the other farm animals playing. The Duck family was playing hoofball with the Cow family... the Farmer's dog, Bob, was showing the young eaglet, Samson, how to tie a boyscout knotand the sheep were showing their new dance routine to the horses while they laughed and neighed laying in a wool blanket the sheep had given them. He suddenly lost his excitement about his photographs and was terribly sad he wasn't invited in the afternoon fun. Just then, a terrible bright white light filled his pen and in a moment all his photographs were gone. Over his morning cappuccino, he thought, Maybe I should spend a little less time on my work. I could be more open to criticism as well. He walked on his front stoop to finish his coffee. Curly Sheep was practicing her dance routine by herself while wearing a pair of headphones. She twirled around and was very light on her hoofs. "Nice job!" he yelled. "What? Oh thanks Mr. Pigsel. I just thank God everyday for the talents he bestows on me. It really is a miracle I can even dance because my left hoof is a little bigger than its supposed to be. I am just an undeserving receiver, really." "Hmmm" I never thought of it that way. Pigsel walked away with his shoulders slumped. That night he spread word around that he wanted to have a party with everyone at his pen. He decorated his front stoop with moonflowers and tiki torches and all the animals came. As they were all having fun he took beautiful star lit shots of all the animals. Before they all went home he showed the gang the proofs. There were pictures of the ducks waddling with the big harvest moon sitting behind them, the horses gave their big smiles while star light reflected off their fantastic teeth, the cow family took a family portrait along the pasture's fence and many more. "Wow. You did it again Pigsel!" hollered Mr. Cow "Well all our talents are a gift," Pigsel quietly replied. "Besides you guys were the amazing subjects!" Mr. Cow and many of the other animals' eyes grew very wide. Was that really Pigsel being humble? "Well I really must turn in." Pigsel politely informed. "Good night all!" The animals thanked him politely and trotted back to their quarters. The next week some of the photos were posted in the New Pork Times and the Goat family offered $200 for each photo. Pigsel didn't brag about it once and was extremely grateful!
3. How did Pigsel solve his problem of feeling bad after realizing that he had been wrong and possibly rude to others? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________.
4. What does the prefix "dis" mean in disapproving? A. Before B. Always C. Against D. Not 5. What three or four events led to Pigsels change of heart/mind? 1. ___________________________________________________ 2. ___________________________________________________ 3. ___________________________________________________ 4. ___________________________________________________