🌌 Reading 1: Our Solar System

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Our solar system is made up of the Sun and eight planets that orbit around it. The planets closest to the Sun are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. These are called the inner planets and are made mostly of rock. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These are much larger and are made mostly of gas. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, while Mercury is the smallest. Each planet takes a different amount of time to orbit the Sun - Earth takes 365 days (one year), but Neptune takes 165 Earth years to complete one orbit!

🚀 Reading 2: Life of an Astronaut

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Sarah woke up floating in her sleeping bag aboard the International Space Station. Without gravity, everything floated around her - her toothbrush, her breakfast, even her hair! She carefully pushed herself towards the window and gazed down at Earth spinning slowly below. The blue oceans and white clouds looked magnificent from 400 kilometres above. After breakfast, Sarah conducted scientific experiments, checking how plants grow in space. She also exercised for two hours on special equipment to keep her muscles strong. Before bed, she video-called her family back on Earth, sharing the incredible view of the aurora dancing across the planet's atmosphere.

🌙 Reading 3: The Moon's Phases

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Have you ever noticed that the Moon looks different on different nights? Sometimes it's a thin crescent, sometimes it's completely round, and sometimes you can't see it at all! This happens because of the Moon's position relative to Earth and the Sun. The Moon doesn't produce its own light - it reflects sunlight. As the Moon orbits Earth every 29.5 days, different parts of it are lit up by the Sun. When the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, we see a new moon (completely dark). When Earth is between the Moon and the Sun, we see a full moon (completely bright). The changing shapes we see are called lunar phases.

The Moon doesn't produce its own __________, it reflects __________. The changing shapes we see are called __________ __________.

🔴 Reading 4: Exploring Mars

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Mars exploration should be humanity's next great adventure! Known as the "Red Planet" because of its rusty colour, Mars is the most Earth-like planet in our solar system. Scientists believe Mars once had flowing water and might have supported life millions of years ago. Today, robotic rovers like Perseverance are searching for signs of ancient life and collecting samples. I believe we must send humans to Mars within the next 20 years. This mission would advance our scientific knowledge, inspire young people to pursue careers in science, and ensure humanity's survival by establishing a backup planet. Critics argue it's too expensive and dangerous, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. Mars exploration represents hope, discovery, and human achievement at its finest!

🌟 Reflection & Vocabulary