Educational worksheet about the planet Mercury, featuring a reading passage, questions, and a solar system diagram.

Explanation:
Let’s read the passage carefully and answer each question one by one.

Question 1: *The main idea of the paragraph is*
Options:
A. the lack of water on Mercury
B. the planets in the solar system
C. what the planet Mercury is like

The paragraph is titled “Meet Mercury” and talks about:
- Mercury being the closest planet to the Sun
- Its speed (87,000 mph)
- Its day/night temperature extremes
- No water or oxygen
All these details describe what Mercury is like — its features, conditions, and characteristics.
Option A is too narrow (only mentions water).
Option B is too broad (talks about all planets, but the paragraph focuses only on Mercury).
So, C is correct.

Question 2: *A detail that tells more about the main idea is*
Options:
A. the speed at which Mercury travels around the Sun
B. the names of the other planets in the solar system
C. how fast other planets in the solar system travel

The main idea is “what Mercury is like.” So we need a detail *about Mercury*, not other planets.
Option A gives a specific fact about Mercury (speed = ~87,000 mph), which supports the main idea.
Option B and C talk about *other* planets — not relevant to describing Mercury.
So, A is correct.

Question 3: *Write one way that Mercury differs from other planets.*
From the passage:
- “Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun.”
- “It speeds along at about 87,000 miles an hour.”
- “In day it is very hot, and in night are very cold.”
- “There is no water on Mercury.”
Any one of these is acceptable. The most unique and clearly stated difference is:
→ Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.
(Other planets are farther away.)

Final Answer:
1. C
2. A
3. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.