Pluto: The Planet that Wasn't

Pluto used to be considered a planet. Today, what is it considered to be?

• It is considered to be a dwarf planet.

• It is considered to be a star.

• It is considered to be a comet.

• It is considered to be an asteroid.

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​ ​ (a)   _ happened after Eris was discovered? ​

• Scientists had to decide.
• Pluto was the ninth planet.
• Eris was considered a dwarf planet.
• Nothing.

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How does the text describe Pluto?

• Pluto is made up entirely of ice, and it is bigger than Venus.

• Pluto is made up entirely of rock and ice, and it is bigger than Earth's moon.

• Pluto is made up entirely of gas, and it is bigger than Earth's moon.

• Pluto is made up entirely of rock and ice, and it is smaller than Earth's moon.

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Read the sentences from the text:

After Eris was discovered, scientists had to make a decision. Either Eris was the 10th planet in the solar system or it was not a planet at all! And if Eris weren't a planet, could Pluto be considered one?

Scientists made new rules for what is counted as a planet, and decided that neither Pluto, nor Eris qualified.

Based on this information, what did the discovery of Eris make scientists do?

• The discovery of Eris made scientists rethink the rules for what is counted as a star.

• The discovery of Eris made scientists rethink the rules for what is counted as a dwarf planet

• The discovery of Eris made scientists rethink what was counted as a planet.

• The discovery of Eris made scientists add more planets to the group of planets.

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What is the main idea of the text?

• Pluto was no longer considered a planet after the discovery of Eris made scientists come up with new rules for what is counted as a planet.

• Pluto is so far away from Earth that Nasa New Horizons space craft took almost 10 years to get very close to it.

• Eris is about the same size as Pluto, and like Pluto, it is part of a ring of objects that circle the outer edge of the solar system.

• Scientists come up with rules for what is counted as a planet and what is not.

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After scientists made new rules for what is counted as a planet, Pluto was no longer considered a planet. ​ (a)   , the official list of planets in the solar system went from 9 to 8.

• Therefore
• Although
• On the other hand
• Especially

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What is this text feature called?

• caption

• subheading

• illustration

• photograph

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Reorder the following into the correct sequence.

• Planets go from 9 to 8.

• Eris is discovered.

• Scientists decide new planet qualifications.

• Pluto and Eris are both named dwarf planets.

• Pluto is the 9th planet.

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