As viewed from space, Earth’s distinguishing characteristics are its blue waters and white clouds. Enveloped by an ocean of air consisting of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, the planet is the only one in our solar system known to harbor life. Circling the Sun at an average distance of 149 million kilometers (93 million miles), Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the fifth largest planet in the solar system.

   Our planet’s rapid spin and molten nickel-iron core give rise to an extensive magnetic field which, coupled the atmosphere, shields us from nearly all of the harmful radiation coming from the Sun and other stars. Earth’s atmosphere protects us from meteors as well, most of which burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere before they can strike the surface. The planet active geological processes have left no evidence of the ancient pelting it almost certainly received soon after it formed about 4.6 billion years ago. The Earth has a single natural satellite – the moon.

The main idea of this passage is that ________.

According to the reading passage, why did Joseph Pulitzer invent the Pulitzer Prize?

What is the passage mainly about?

Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

According to the passage, a regional university rector in Germany is elected by _____.

It can be inferred from the passage that the author ....

Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?

How did children feel when viewing a special series of 15-minute program at school?

What does the passage mainly discuss?

Why did people name Cambridge the “city of Cambridge”?

The word “urgent” in the last paragraph probably means .............

Why does the author believe that the Mandans were skilled farmers?

What can the word invokes be best replaced by?

Sixty years ago, most women ..............

The word "origins" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.

What is the main topic of the passage?

 In line 3, the words pays heed to are closest in meaning to ………………...

The expression “is based on” in the first paragraph could be best replaced by ..............

In the passage, the author’s attitude towards “mixed-ability teaching” is_____.

The author mentions the “ shoesbox under the bed” in order to ................

The word “derived” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.