Reading comprehension worksheet about comets with questions and a descriptive paragraph.

I'll help you solve this reading comprehension worksheet about comets. Let me work through each question step by step.

Question 1: What is another word for "short term comet"?

Looking at the passage, I need to find where it talks about short term comets and see what other name is given.

The passage states: "Comets can be either short term (also called periodic) or long term."

So "periodic" is another word for "short term comet."

Answer: B. periodic comet

Question 2: How did comets get their name?

I need to find the part of the passage that explains the origin of the word "comet."

The passage says: "Comets were named by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, who thought comets were 'stars with hair'. The word 'comet' comes from a Greek word meaning 'hair of the head'."

So comets got their name from the Greek philosopher Aristotle, and the word comes from a Greek word meaning "hair of the head."

Question 3: When was the last time Halley's Comet was visible?

I need to find information about when Halley's Comet last appeared.

The passage states: "The last time it appeared was in 1986."

Answer: 1986

Question 4: When will Halley's Comet be visible again?

I need to find when Halley's Comet will next be visible.

The passage says: "It won't be visible to us again until 2061."

Answer: 2061

Question 5: What is a comet and how is it formed?

I need to explain what a comet is and describe its formation based on the passage.

From the passage:
- "A comet is a fairly small object that orbits the sun."
- "Comets are made up of ice, dust, and small rocky particles."
- "When they get close enough to the Sun they get a fuzzy outline because the water, carbon dioxide and other compounds on their surface quickly change form solids to gases. This outline is called a coma."

So a comet is a small object orbiting the sun, made of ice, dust, and rocky particles. When it gets close to the sun, the heat causes the frozen materials to turn into gas, creating a fuzzy outline called a coma.

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Final Answer:

1. B. periodic comet

2. Comets got their name from the Greek philosopher Aristotle, who thought they were "stars with hair." The word "comet" comes from a Greek word meaning "hair of the head."

3. 1986

4. 2061

5. A comet is a small object that orbits the sun, made up of ice, dust, and small rocky particles. When a comet gets close to the sun, the heat causes the ice and other frozen compounds on its surface to quickly change from solids to gases, creating a fuzzy outline called a coma.