Main Idea Multiple Choice High Interest Worksheets - 3rd Grade - Free Printable

Let’s go through each question one by one and find the best answer based on what you’d learn from reading a passage about stars, telescopes, and space.

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Left Side: “How I Wonder What You Are”

Question 1: How can you determine if something is a star or planet?
Stars twinkle because their light gets scattered by Earth’s atmosphere. Planets don’t twinkle as much — they shine with a steady light. So the key clue is twinkling.
→ Best answer: A. By looking for a twinkle.

Question 2: Why do stars appear to twinkle?
It’s not because they’re dying or moving fast. It’s because when starlight travels through our atmosphere, it bumps into air molecules and gets bent around — that makes them look like they’re flickering.
→ Best answer: D. By the time their light reaches us, the atmosphere scatters the light.

Question 3: What color do stars appear to be in the sky?
Most stars we see at night look white to our eyes — even though they can actually be different colors (like blue, red, yellow), from far away and with our naked eye, they mostly look white.
→ Best answer: C. White

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Right Side: “Searching the Night Sky”

Question 1: What was the first telescope called?
The very first telescope wasn’t named “Galileo” or “Lippershey” — those are people. The first simple telescope was just called a “looker” or “spyglass.” But historically, Hans Lippershey is credited with inventing it, and he called it a “kijker” (Dutch for “looker”). In English, it’s often referred to as a “looker” in basic texts.
→ Best answer: B. A Looker

*(Note: Some might say “magnifying glass,” but that’s not a telescope — it doesn’t have two lenses. Galileo improved it later.)*

Question 2: How did Galileo improve the telescope?
Galileo didn’t launch anything into space or patent it. He made the lens better so it could magnify things more — up to about 20 times stronger than before! That let him see moons around Jupiter and craters on the Moon.
→ Best answer: C. He increased the magnification by 20.

Question 3: What does the Hubble Space Telescope do?
Hubble orbits Earth and takes super clear pictures of space — galaxies, nebulae, planets — without interference from Earth’s atmosphere. It doesn’t take pics of volcanoes or help astronauts talk from the Moon.
→ Best answer: B. Orbits the Earth and takes pictures of the Earth. ← Wait — this says “pictures of the Earth”? That’s wrong!

Hold on — let’s double-check that.

Actually, Hubble takes pictures of *space*, not Earth. Let’s read the options again:

A. Look down volcanoes in Hawaii. → No, that’s satellites like Landsat.
B. Orbits the Earth and takes pictures of the Earth. → Nope, Hubble looks OUT into space.
C. Uses a telescope to take pictures of Mars. → Sometimes, but not its main job.
D. Allows astronauts to communicate from the Moon to the Earth. → That’s radio systems, not Hubble.

Wait — none seem perfect? But in many school passages, they simplify and say Hubble “orbits Earth and takes pictures of space.” Option B says “pictures of the Earth” — that’s incorrect.

But maybe there’s a typo in the worksheet? Or perhaps in the original passage, it said “takes pictures of space” and here it got miswritten?

Looking back — option C says “Uses a telescope to take pictures of Mars.” That’s too narrow.

Actually, the most accurate among these — even if imperfect — is B, if we assume it meant “takes pictures [of space] while orbiting Earth.” But strictly speaking, it should say “takes pictures of space.”

However, since this is a text-dependent question, and assuming the passage said something like “Hubble orbits Earth and takes amazing photos of distant objects,” then B might be intended — even if poorly worded.

Alternatively… maybe the correct answer isn’t listed perfectly? But we have to pick the best available.

Wait — let me think again. Actually, Hubble DOES orbit Earth, and it DOES take pictures — just not of Earth. So if the option said “takes pictures of space,” it would be right. Since it says “of the Earth,” it’s technically wrong.

But among all choices, C is also partially true — Hubble has taken pictures of Mars. But that’s not its main purpose.

This is tricky. Let’s consider common curriculum content.

In most elementary/middle school materials, they say:
> “The Hubble Space Telescope orbits Earth and sends back beautiful images of stars, galaxies, and planets.”

So if option B had said “takes pictures of space,” it would be correct. As written, it’s misleading.

But perhaps in the context of the passage the student read, it said something like “takes pictures of the universe from orbit” — and the test writer abbreviated it poorly.

Given that, and since no other option fits better, I’ll go with B — assuming it’s a wording error and they meant “takes pictures [while orbiting Earth].”

Actually — wait! Let me check online quickly (in my knowledge base):

Hubble’s mission: “to observe the universe from low Earth orbit.” It does NOT photograph Earth — it points away from Earth.

So option B is factually incorrect.

Option C: “Uses a telescope to take pictures of Mars.” — True, but limited.

Option D: Communication? No.

Option A: Volcanoes? No.

Hmm. This suggests there may be an error in the worksheet.

But since this is a text-dependent question, the answer must come from the passage the student read. If the passage said “Hubble orbits Earth and takes pictures,” and didn’t specify “of what,” then B might be accepted.

Alternatively — perhaps the correct answer is C, if the passage focused on planetary imaging.

But realistically, Hubble is famous for deep-space images, not just Mars.

I think the best choice — despite the flaw — is still B, because it captures the orbiting part, and maybe “pictures of the Earth” is a mistake for “pictures from Earth’s orbit.”

To avoid confusion, let’s stick with standard educational material: Hubble orbits Earth and takes pictures of space → so if forced to choose, B is closest, even if misworded.

Actually — let’s look again at the exact wording of B:
“Orbits the Earth and takes pictures of the Earth.”

That’s definitely wrong. Hubble does NOT take pictures of Earth.

Then maybe the answer is none, but we have to pick one.

Perhaps in the passage, it said something like “takes pictures of celestial bodies” — and the test maker messed up.

Given that, and since this is likely a grade-school level quiz, I suspect the intended answer is B, overlooking the “of the Earth” part.

Alternatively — maybe it’s C? But Hubble doesn’t only take pictures of Mars.

Wait — another thought: sometimes worksheets have tricks. Let’s see option D: “Allows astronauts to communicate...” — no, that’s not Hubble.

I think the least wrong answer is B, assuming a typo.

But to be precise — if we’re being strict — none are fully correct. However, since this is a multiple-choice test, and B includes “orbits the Earth” which is true, and “takes pictures” which is true (just not of Earth), it’s the best match.

Final decision for Q3: B

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Now compiling all answers:

Left side:
1. A
2. D
3. C

Right side:
1. B
2. C
3. B

Wait — for right side Q1: “What was the first telescope called?”

Historical fact: Hans Lippershey applied for a patent in 1608 for a device he called a “kijker” (looker). Galileo heard about it and built his own. So “Looker” is a reasonable translation.

Some sources say “spyglass,” but “Looker” is acceptable in simplified texts.

So yes, B. A Looker is fine.

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Final Answer:
1. A
2. D
3. C
4. B
5. C
6. B