Lunar Eclipses and Solar Eclipses

Read the sentence from paragraph 12.

The change in its shadow is based on where it is in its orbit .

Based on the evidence in paragraph 12, what is the meaning of the word orbit ?

• Cycle

• eclipse

• path

• phase

Part A Read the sentence from paragraph 13.

As the moon continues along its path, however, it enters what’s called the umbra , where all direct light from the Sun is blocked.

What is the meaning of the word umbra as it is used in the sentence?

• layer

• light

• phase

• shade

Part B Which quotation from paragraph 13 provides support for the answer to Part A?

• “As the moon continues along its path. . . .”

• “ . . . direct light from the Sun is blocked.”

• “ . . . it passes through a long and thick layer of Earth’s atmosphere.”

• D “Shorter wavelengths of sunlight, like blue, are scattered by the atmosphere. . . .”

The passage states that lunar and solar eclipses are different. Select two statements which state the differences between the two types of eclipses.

• In a lunar eclipse, the moon appears darker

• In a solar eclipse, the sun appears bigger.

• In a lunar eclipse, the moon appears bigger

• In a solar eclipse, the sun appears darker.

• In a solar eclipse, the sun appears brighter

Which quotation from the passage best supports the main idea of the section “Why don’t we have a lunar eclipse every month?”

• “It’s true that the moon goes around Earth every month, but it doesn’t always get in Earth’s shadow.” (paragraph 9)

• “The moon’s path around Earth is tilted compared to Earth’s orbit around the sun.” (paragraph 9)

• “Because they don’t happen every month, a lunar eclipse is a special event.” (paragraph 10)

• “If you live on the nighttime half of Earth when the eclipse happens, you’ll be able to see it.” (paragraph 10)

What is the author’s reason for including paragraph 12 in the passage?

• to show how a new moon becomes a full moon

• to compare a total lunar eclipse with a full moon

• to show how the moon changes during a lunar eclipse

• to compare the phases of the moon and a lunar eclipse

Select two sentences that express a main idea in the passage

• A total solar eclipse does not happen very often.

• Lunar eclipses do not occur on a monthly basis.

• The moon is a shade of red during a lunar eclipse

• The moon’s shadow is seen in small places on Earth.

• Both solar and lunar eclipses can be viewed from Earth.