TCAP ELA

What's the most likely reason the author includes paragraph 5 in the section "Rocks from Space"?

• To explain why scientists are interested in studying meteorites

• To demonstrate how technology used can help robots find meteorites

• To show that few people hunt for meteorites every summer

• To describe how a meteorite falls from space onto an ice field

The author structures paragraphs 9 and 10 so that they -

• show that Nomad has been searching for meteorites for a long time

• explain the changes that were made to Nomad before it could be used at the South Pole

• report early successes Nomad had while meteorite hunting in South America

• emphasize the difficulties Nomad might encounter while being used in Antartica

Antartica is a good place to search for meteorites because...

• natural events in Antartica make it possible for meteorites to be noticed easily

• the weather conditions in Antartica keep poeple from visiting the area

• meteorites land in Antartica mroe often than in other areas

• a robot can easily travel on the ice-covered land in Antartica

Look at the dictionary entry below:

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

The reader can conclude that conditions in Antartica make it important for both Nomad and the researchers to...

• search for buried meteorites

• stay inside heated tents

• look for ordinary rocks

• be prepared for the climate

Which evidence does Tyree give to support the claim that Nomad is a unique robot?

• Nomad is equipped with a way to communicate with humans

• Nomad has the ability to differentiate objects that appear identical

• Nomad needs to be assembled after reaching it destination

• Nomad is used to help scientists do their work

What is the best summary of the selection?

• Meteorites are important to NASA because they hold clues about planets and the origin of the solar system. Seven scientists journeyed to the Antarctic Plateau to find meteorites for NASA. They experienced freezing temperatures and set up tents immediately.

• A group of scientists went to Antartica as a part of a project for NASA. The scientists worked to reassemble Nomad, an advanced robot, after it had been flown in by helicopter from the coast. With the robot's help, the scientists researched for and identified several meteorites on the ice fields.

• A robot named Nomad traveled long distances over rough and slippery ground in Antartica. Nomad had already been used to explore a South America desert. Heaters were added to keep the robot's equipment warm, and studs were added to its tires so that it could move on ice without slipping.

• Several scientists in Antartica used a robot named Nomad. The scientists got the robot to start searching for meteorites in the ice fields. Antartica was different from Pennsylvania, where Nomad was first tested, and changes needed to be made to the robot's software and sensors.

The photograph after paragraph 17 helps readers...

• understand how Nomad is controlled

• see the process Nomad uses to locate meteorites

• gain perspective about Nomad's size

• see how Nomad was programmed to relay information