TEACHER’S EDITION
Evaluating Claims Based on Evidence from the Text
The Process
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Read the text and organize the factual information into a graphic organizer.
Read each claim, and decide if the claim is true or false based on the evidence from the text in
your graphic organizer.
Support the true/false answer with evidence taken directly from the text.
Graphic Organizer
Astronomical
Body
Earth
The Moon
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Description
Our planet
Comfortable atmosphere
consisting mainly of
nitrogen and oxygen
Smaller than Earth
Smallest planet
Closest to the Sun
Very hot (430°C)
Thin atmosphere
Cold nights (-170°C)
Second closest to the
Sun
Thick atmosphere
consisting of mainly
carbon dioxide, nitrogen,
and droplets of sulfuric
acid
Atmosphere traps heat
and results in high
temperatures
Fourth planet
Thin atmosphere
consisting of carbon
dioxide, nitrogen, and
argon
Temperatures vary from
20°C to -153°C
Distance from
the Sun
Weight of Astronaut
and Spacesuit
93 million miles
360 pounds
N/A – satellite of
Earth
60 pounds
36 million miles
136 pounds
Similar distance
to Earth
327 pounds
142 million miles
1
136 pounds
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Neptune
Pluto
Eighth planet
Chilly surface
temperature (-214°C)
Atmosphere of helium,
hydrogen, and methane
Blue color
Dwarf planet
Nitrogen atmosphere
Surface temperature of 233°C
3 billion miles
400 pounds
4.6 billion miles
26 pounds
How it should look – Example Claim
Claim: An astronaut would weigh more on Mars than he does on the Earth.
Answer: This statement is false.
Evidence from the Text: According to the text, an astronaut with a spacesuit would have a combined
weight of 360 pounds on Earth. On Mars, our astronaut would weigh about 136 pounds. So, the
astronaut would weigh less on Mars than he does on Earth.
Claim #1 – With Your Partner
Claim: Mercury is the second closest planet to the Sun.
Answer: This statement is false.
Evidence from the Text: According to the text, Venus is the second closest planet to the Sun, while
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.
Claim #2 – On Your Own
Claim: Venus has a very thick atmosphere consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and sulfuric acid.
Answer: This statement is true.
Evidence from the Text: According to the text, Venus has a thick, atmosphere that consists mainly of
carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and droplets of sulfuric acid..
Claim #3 – On Your Own
Claim: The astronomical body on which an astronaut in a spacesuit would weigh the least is the Moon.
Answer: This statement is false.
Evidence from the Text: According to the text, an astronaut in a spacesuit would weigh 60 pounds on the
Moon, while he would only weight 26 pounds on Pluto. So, Pluto is the astronomical body on which an
astronaut in a spacesuit would weigh the least.
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