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LE A R N I NG OUTCOM ES

> Infer degrees of difficulty > Use infinitives of purpose

> Mark a text > Use parallel structure
> Scan for details > Write a pro and con paragraph

Go to MyEnglishLab to check what you know.

50 UNIT 3
 U N IT

3
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Exploring
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the Red
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Planet
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1 FOCUS ON THE TOPIC

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1. Exploring space costs a tremendous amount of money. Do you think what is learned from
space exploration is worth the cost?
2. What do you know about Mars? How have scientists learned about Mars in the past? What do
scientists hope to learn in the future?

Exploring the Red Planet 51

 2 FOCUS ON READING

READING ONE Mars: Our New Home?

VOCABULARY

1 Read the article about a family living on Mars time. Pay attention to the boldfaced words.
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ONE FAMILY’S “VACATION” TO MARS
When the Curiosity rover1 landed on Mars in August of
2012, many of the mission’s scientists on Earth decided
to live on Mars time for the first 90 days of the mission.
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They had learned from earlier Mars missions that it is
upsetting to their ability to sleep well when they are on
Earth time at home and on Mars time at work. And they
know that lack of sleep can lead to depression. Such
stress does not allow them to keep working. In addition, by
changing their schedules to Mars time and simulating
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Martian days on Earth, they were able to control the
Curiosity exploring Mars
actions of Curiosity when the rover was facing Earth.
The Earth takes 24 hours to spin around once, but Mars
takes 24 hours and 40 minutes. Mars time quickly becomes different from an Earth day. For
example, in two-and-a-half weeks, noon on Mars becomes 4:00 A.M. on Earth. The NASA
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scientists knew it would be a challenge to live and work on Mars time for 90 days. In fact, some
of them didn’t succeed in making the difficult change in their schedules. They had to go back to
a normal Earth schedule due to the difficulties that an additional 40 minutes brought to their
daily routine. Those scientists that didn’t survive the 90 days said they felt isolated from their
families because they rarely saw them.
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David Oh, the Curiosity mission’s head scientist, knew being separated from his family would be
difficult for him. He knew that he would miss them very much even though they would be living
in the same house. He was counting on three months of loneliness, but his family surprised
him. For a month before school started, his wife and three children lived on Mars time with him.
At first, he and his family thought that they would have a month of boredom because there
would be nothing to do. Their artificial 24-hour-and-40-minute day would not offer a lot of
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activities for a young family of five. But soon they found a lot to do: bowling, eating at all-night
diners, walking on the beach in moonlight, and seeing meteors2 when the moon was not bright.
They also cooked together, ate together, and watched movies together. David and his wife Bryn
were most surprised by their children’s reaction: they loved it and want to have another
“vacation” to Mars during their next break from school!

1 rover: a vehicle for exploring the surface of a moon or planet

2 meteor: a small piece of rock that produces a bright line in the sky when it falls from space

52 UNIT 3
2 Match the words on the left with the definitions on the right.
1. depression a. feeling alone and unable to meet or speak to other people
2. simulate b. to make something look, sound, or feel like something else
3. spin c. to expect something to be true
4. survive d. to turn around and around
5. isolated e. tired and impatient because you have nothing to do
6. count on f. not real or natural, but made by people
7. boredom g. something that you feel or do because of something that has
happened or been said
8. artificial
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h. to continue to live normally in spite of dangers and difficulties
9. reaction
i. being so sad and upset that you are unable to do anything

Go to the Pearson Practice English App or MyEnglishLab for more vocabulary practice.
m
PREVIEW

Look at the title of the reading and the photo. Make a list of questions that you think will
be answered in this reading.
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1.
2.
3.
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READ

Read the article about Mars on the next page. Create a chart like the one below to take
notes. On the left, put the main ideas. On the right, put the details.
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TAKE NOTES

Main Ideas Details

Mars One — looking for Dutch Co.
colonists
need skills
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Go to MyEnglishLab to view example notes.

Exploring the Red Planet 53

 MARS: OUR NEW HOME?
If you think you’d like to blood in the body gets thicker, and it becomes more
live on Mars, you may difficult for the heart to push blood through the
have that possibility by body. In space, spinning the spaceship can create
2031. A Dutch company artificial gravity which can help these problems. On
a design for a colony on Mars called Mars One is looking Mars, colonists would need to exercise and take
for people interested in medications to stay healthy.
colonizing1 Mars. If you have
It will also be difficult for Mars colonists to be
all the necessary skills— and
isolated, far from home, living in small spaces, and
there are a lot—you could be one
seeing the same people over and over. It is
of the first colonists to Mars. Are you ready for
important to come up with solutions to possible
the challenge?
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problems before anyone actually goes on a Mars
Luckily, you won’t have to find the money to pay mission. For instance, Mars One could make plans
for a mission to Mars because it would cost for colonists to communicate with friends and family
billions of dollars. Mars One has already received on Earth. Also, people interested in the mission could
money from companies and some private donors2. be evaluated to make sure they have the emotional
It is also counting on getting money from strength to survive. Colonists with depression could
everyday people who become interested in the put the mission in danger. Fortunately, a few years
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Mars One TV show. On this show, colonists will ago, a joint Russian and European project called the
be selected as people around the world watch. Mars500 Mission took place. It studied people’s
The show will follow teams of four applicants as reactions to long-term space travel by following six
they complete difficult jobs in difficult situations. astronauts in a Mars-like environment. The
The audience will vote for the best six teams. The astronauts spent 520 days in this environment and
show will be seen worldwide both on television only had contact with their bosses and their
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and online. Mars One is hoping that people will families. The six astronauts “returned” to Earth in
become so interested in the mission that they will good physical condition—and they were still
give large and small amounts of money . . . or at speaking nicely to each other, which is astonishing
least buy a T-shirt or coffee mug—which are when you think about their difficult experience.
already available on Mars One’s website. Scientists viewed the Mars500 Mission as a great
success because they were able to see how the
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As a future colonist in one of the six teams, you
will go through years of training. If your team is astronauts handle emotional and physical stresses.
the first team to travel to Mars, your main Surprisingly, the greatest emotional problem was
responsibility when you get there will be to build a boredom. The greatest physical problems were not
place where humans can live. The atmosphere on getting enough sleep and gaining too much weight.
Mars does not have enough oxygen3 for humans,
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Recent polls show that 7 percent of people would
and the land is not good enough to grow food. want to go on such an adventure. Mars One has
Colonists will have to create an artificial already started accepting applications for colonists.
environment on Mars where there is air to breathe Applicants do not have to have any specific training,
and land to farm. Scientists know Earth-like but they must be interested in learning new things
conditions can be simulated on Mars because and capable of solving problems. They also should
something similar has already been done in be able to trust others and complete an assignment
Antarctica, where humans cannot survive outside without stopping. Interested?
the created environment.
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Humans may have another problem in space as
1 colonize: to control an area and send your own
well. It takes nearly a year to get to Mars, so
travelers would be without the Earth’s gravity4 for people there to live
2 donor: someone who gives something, especially
a long time. In addition, Mars One astronauts will
not return to Earth. Their mission is to start a money, to an organization
colony that can support itself. So, the colonists 3 oxygen: a gas in the air that has no color, smell, or

will live the rest of their lives there. When a human taste. People, animals, and plants need it to live.
lives in an environment without gravity or with 4 gravity: Earth’s gravity is what keeps you on the

low gravity5 for a long time, the systems in the ground and what causes things to fall
body weaken. For example, muscles and bones 5 low gravity: the gravity on Mars is only 38 percent
lose strength. The heart also gets weaker. The of Earth’s gravity

54 UNIT 3
MAIN IDEAS

Read the statements and check (✓) the four main ideas. Use your notes to help you.
Compare the main ideas to your notes and put the number of the paragraph next to
the letter.
a. Colonists could experience feelings of isolation, depression, and boredom.
b. Mars One has already started accepting applications for colonists.
c. Colonists will have to make Mars a place where they can live.
d. A TV show will help raise money for the mission.
e. Mars One has a website that sells products.
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f. The human body needs gravity to stay strong.

DETAILS

1 Choose the correct answer. Use your notes to help you.

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1. Which step is NOT part of the application process?
a. Choose your team of four.
b. Participate in challenging activities.
c. Be on worldwide television.
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2. How many teams of colonists will be trained to go to Mars?
a. four
b. five
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c. six
3. What body parts get weaker in lower gravity?
a. brain
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b. bones
c. lungs
4. When the Mars500 astronauts returned to Earth, they were .
a. angry at each other
b. heavier than they were before they left
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c. bored and tired
5. What can colonists expect when they move to Mars?
a. to be without Earth’s gravity
b. to have an emotional breakdown
c. to pay a lot of money for the trip

2 Look at your notes and at your answers in Preview. How did they help you understand
the article?

Exploring the Red Planet 55

 MAKE INFERENCES

Inferring Degrees of Difficulty

An inference is an educated guess about something that is not directly stated in a text. Writers
sometimes suggest degrees of difficulty without stating them explicitly. A strong reader can infer
these degrees of difficulty by reading the text closely.

Look at the example and read the explanation.

Considering the cost, how difficult will it be for people to join the mission to Mars?

Choose the best answer. Write an X on the best place on the scale.
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Very easy Very difficult
1 2 3 4 5
(The best answer is toward the left side / easy.)
In paragraph 2, we learn that colonists will not have to pay for their trip. Companies and private
donors will supply the money for this mission. There may be other financial implications, including
having to give up your job, for example.
m
After reading the text closely, we can infer that, in terms of cost, joining the mission won’t be so
difficult since people won’t have to pay anything.

1 Choose the best answer for each challenge the colonists will face on the Mars mission.
pl
Look at the paragraphs in parentheses.
1. How difficult will it be to create an artificial environment? (paragraph 3)
Very easy Very difficult
1 2 3 4 5
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2. How difficult will it be to live without or with low gravity? (paragraph 4)
Very easy Very difficult
1 2 3 4 5
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3. How difficult will it be to deal with feelings of isolation? (paragraph 5)
Very easy Very difficult
1 2 3 4 5
4. How difficult will it be to prevent boredom? (paragraph 5)
Very easy Very difficult
1 2 3 4 5
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2 Now discuss your answers with a partner. Point out words, phrases, or statements in the
paragraphs that helped you find the answers.

56 UNIT 3
DISCUSS

Work in small groups. Choose one of the questions. USE YOUR NOTES
Discuss your ideas. Then choose one person in your
group to report the ideas to the class. Use your notes to support
your answers with information
1. Scientists believe that the information they learned
from the reading.
from the Mars 500 project was valuable in understanding
what colonists to Mars might have to face. Do you agree?
Why or why not?
2. Mars One is a very complex project. What kinds of problems will make it difficult? What kinds
of people, in terms of professions or areas of expertise, will be critical to the project?
3. What kinds of emotional or physical issues might the colonists have? Will these issues be
Sa
difficult to deal with? Why or why not?

Go to MyEnglishLab to give your opinion about another question.

m
pl
e
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Exploring the Red Planet 57

 READING TWO Timeline for a Mission to Mars
PREVIEW

1 Look at the title and the photo below. Read the first paragraph. Write two questions
that you think will be answered in this reading.

2 Look at the boldfaced words in the reading. Which words do you know the meaning of?
Sa
READ

1 Read the online article about a timeline for going to Mars. As you read, guess the meanings
of the words that are new to you. Remember to take notes on main ideas and details.

Timeline for a Mission to Mars

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NASA currently has five spaceships orbiting1 Mars and one rover
on the planet, but they don’t have plans to send colonists there
like Mars One does. Sending anyone to Mars—colonists for the
rest of their lives or astronauts for two months—takes a lot of
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planning. Space researchers have suggested plans for sending
people to Mars, and their plans are based on real facts. But since
no one has ever gone to Mars, their plans are only speculations.
For example, the people at Discovery Channel made a movie
called Race to Mars, which follows a realistic timeline. The
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magazine Popular Science has also written about the steps
needed to go to Mars. What kinds of events might scientists An artist’s drawing of the Mars Reconnaissance
agree on? Here is a plan that might be proposed. Orbiter, which is studying Mars

Days 1–97 Launching2 Spaceships

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Parts for the three supply ships and one passenger ship are launched and begin
to orbit the Earth. Spaceship builders put the ships together. After that, the
three supply ships leave for Mars. The passenger ship waits in orbit until the
astronauts arrive.

Days 98–112 Checking the Health of the Astronauts

The astronauts stay away from other people for two weeks before leaving Earth
to avoid getting sick. Doctors make sure they are in good health.
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Days 113–115 Launching the Astronauts
The astronauts leave Earth in the fifth ship and meet the passenger ship already
in orbit. The ship connects to the passenger ship. The astronauts enter the
passenger ship and make sure everything is in good working order.

Day 116 Leaving Earth

The engines fire to help the passenger ship leave the Earth’s gravity. When the
ship is in space, it begins to spin around. The spinning creates artificial gravity.

1 orbit: to move around a planet such as the Earth while in space

2 launch: to send a spaceship into the sky or into space
Continued on next page

58 UNIT 3
 Days 116–356 Traveling to Mars
The trip to Mars takes 240 days. The schedule for each day is similar to a typical
Earth day. (See Daily Schedule for Trip to Mars)

Day 342 Reaching Mars: Supply Ships

The supply ships arrive almost two weeks before the passenger ship does. After
these ships are in orbit around Mars, two of the ships land on the surface.
Because they were programmed on Earth, the ships begin to work
automatically. One of the supply ships is the artificial habitat, and it needs to be
established in an appropriate area. The area needs to be large enough for the
astronauts to do their research and prepare their experiments. The third supply
ship waits in orbit for the passenger ship to arrive.
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Day 356 Reaching Mars: Passenger Ship
After the passenger ship stops spinning, it enters orbit around Mars. It connects
to the third supply ship. Then the astronauts land on Mars. The passenger ship
stays in orbit.

Day 357 Beginning Mission

The astronauts move into the artificial habitat, which supplies oxygen but not
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full gravity. They begin their exploration of Mars, which includes drilling for
water, collecting rocks, and doing experiments to determine if there was ever
life on Mars.

Day 417 Leaving Mars

The astronauts take off from Mars and connect to the passenger ship. They
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check the ship, get it ready, and begin their return to Earth.

Day 657 Landing on Earth

The astronauts get into the small ship and land on Earth in the ocean.
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Daily Schedule for Trip to Mars
07:00 Artificial light comes on slowly to simulate sunrise
07:30 Breakfast
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08:00–12:00 Work period (maintaining ship’s systems)
12:15 Lunch
12:45–14:30 Free time (exercise, read, contact people on Earth,
practice hobbies)
14:30–17:30 Work period
17:30–18:30 Exercise period
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18:45 Dinner
19:30–22:00 Free time
22:30 Artificial light turns off slowly to simulate sunset
23:00 Lights out

2 Compare your notes on main ideas and details with a partner’s. How can you improve
your notes next time?

Go to the Pearson Practice English App or MyEnglishLab for more vocabulary practice.

Exploring the Red Planet 59

 NOTE-TAKING SKILL

Marking a Text

When you mark a text, you identify important information. This helps you read more carefully. You
can look back at the information you marked to help you study for tests and complete assignments.
There are several ways to mark a text.

Underline Draw a line under the information.

Circle Circle the information.

Highlight Highlight the information with a colored highlighter pen.

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Only mark the important information you want to find later. For example, these marks focus on the
types of missions NASA has on Mars:

NASA currently has five spaceships orbiting Mars and one rover on the planet, but they don’t
have plans to send colonists there like Mars One does.
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Don’t mark too much information. If you mark too much information, you will not be able to find
the important information later.

NASA currently has five spaceships orbiting Mars and one rover on the planet, but they don’t
have plans to send colonists there like Mars One does.
pl
1 Find the information in the text that helps you answer the questions. Choose a method
to mark the text. Share your answers with a partner.
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a. Who will pay for the Mars One mission?

Luckily, you won’t have to find the money to pay for a mission to Mars because it would cost
billions of dollars. Mars One has already received money from companies and some private
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donors. It is also counting on getting money from everyday people who become interested in the
Mars One TV show.

b. What will the first colonists need to do on Mars?

As a future colonist in one of the six teams, you will go through years of training. If your team
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is the first team to travel to Mars, your main responsibility when you get there will be to build
a place where humans can live. The atmosphere on Mars does not have enough oxygen for
humans, and the land is not good enough to grow food. Colonists will have to create an artificial
environment on Mars where there is air to breathe and land to farm.

2 Look at Reading Two again. Mark the information you think is the most important.

Go to MyEnglishLab for more note-taking practice.

60 UNIT 3
COMPREHENSION

1 Answer the questions. Use your notes from Reading Two to help you. Discuss your
answers with a partner.
1. According to the proposed timeline, how long would it take to reach Mars, complete the
mission, and return to Earth?
2. Five spaceships are used for the mission. What is the purpose of each ship?
3. How do the astronauts survive on Mars with no oxygen?
4. How many work hours are there in the daily schedule during the trip to Mars?

2 Review the boldfaced words from the reading with a partner. Use a dictionary or ask
your teacher for any meanings you still do not know.
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READING SKILL

1 Look at Reading Two again. When you looked for the boldfaced words in Preview, did
m
you read quickly or carefully? Why did you read the way you did?

Scanning for Details

Scanning allows you to find information quickly without having to read the entire text. Before you
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read Reading Two, you were asked to look at the boldfaced words. That was scanning.
In addition to boldfaced words, you can scan for key words, names, numbers, places, and dates.
Key words are words that are often repeated. Look for capital letters when you want to find a name.
Numbers are easy to find.
Scanning is very useful when taking tests with a reading. First read the questions, and then scan the
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reading for the answers.
When you find specific information by scanning, you can mark it in the text by underlining, circling,
or highlighting the information so that you can find it again later. You can also add the scanned
information as details to your notes.
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Examples:

Question: Who made the movie Race to Mars?

Answer: The Discovery Channel
(SCAN: Find the title of the movie in italics and read around it. MARK: Underline or
circle the title.)
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Question: What happens on Day 417?
Answer: The astronauts leave Mars.
(SCAN: Find that number on the list and just read what happens that day. MARK:
Underline the key words.)

Exploring the Red Planet 61

 2 Work with a partner. Scan Reading Two for answers to the questions. When you find an
answer, mark it in the text. The information in parentheses tells you where to scan.
1. How many NASA rovers are on Mars? How many ships orbit the planet? (paragraph 1)
2. What do astronauts do during their free time? (daily schedule)
3. What do the astronauts do between 17:30–18:30? (daily schedule)
4. What is created when the spaceship spins around? (Day 116)
5. The artificial habitat supplies something important for life. What is it? (Day 357)

Go to MyEnglishLab for more skill practice.

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CONNECT THE READINGS USE YOUR NOTES

ORGANIZE Review your notes from

Reading One and Two. Use
Reading One (R1) and Reading Two (R2) contain the information in your
notes to complete the chart.
information about Mars missions. Complete the
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chart with information from the readings.

PROBLEM SOLUTION
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1. No oxygen in Mars atmosphere

2. Low gravity ➞ weak muscles, bones, and

heart
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3. Feel isolated ➞ far from home
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4. Boredom Keep busy ➞ don’t get bored

5. Keep busy ➞ feel tired, sleep better

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6. Required exercise periods

62 UNIT 3
SYNTHESIZE

Work with a partner. Complete the sentences with information from the chart.

There are several problems we must solve before people can live on Mars. The

first problem is that people cannot live in the environment on Mars. For example,

. In addition,

. The solution to this

problem is .
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Another problem is psychological. Colonists may feel

and experience
m
. To solve these problems, colonists can

. They can also

.
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Finally, the colonists on Mars may have physical problems, such as

or
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. They can avoid these problems if they

and

. This will help them

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.

Go to MyEnglishLab to check what you learned.

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Exploring the Red Planet 63

 3 FOCUS ON WRITING

VOCABULARY

REVIEW

Complete the crossword puzzle. Read the clues and choose words from the box.

artificial depression isolated simulate spin

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automatically engines reaction speculation survive
boredom establish research
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1

2 3

4
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5

6
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7 8

10
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11

12
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13

64 UNIT 3
Across Down

2. Small cells deep in the rock on Mars have 1. What would your be if life were
been found, but they must be from discovered on Mars?
the rock in order to study them.
3. Without enough sleep, the astronauts may
5. When there is a problem with Curiosity, a develop .
message is sent to Earth.
4. Without , rovers cannot move
8. There has been about life on Mars around on the surface of Mars.
for a long time.
6. suggests that life on Mars may have
9. For any living thing to on Mars, been possible thousands of years ago.
there needs to be water.
7. isn’t a problem if you are studying
10. Mars One will develop habitats on Mars the possibility of life on Mars.
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that the habitats in Antarctica.
10. Planets around much more slowly
13. As in previous Mars missions, scientists than spaceships do.
the rovers to collect rocks.
11. habitats must be built on Mars in
order for colonists to live there.
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12. Scientists hope to a Mars base in
the future.

EXPAND
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1 Complete the sentences with one of the words from the box. The missing word and the
boldfaced word make up a common expression.

artificial automatic establish isolated simulator

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1. intelligence is the science that allows computers to think and
make decisions.
2. A flight is a machine that makes you feel like you are flying, but you’re
really on the ground. It is used for training.
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3. An incident is an event that usually does not happen often or that
happened only once.
4. An pilot system allows airplanes to fly themselves.
5. To yourself is to do something that makes people notice you and take
your skills seriously.
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2 Write the five expressions. You will need them for the next activity.

Exploring the Red Planet 65

 CREATE

Complete the journal entry by one of the future Mars colonists. Use three of the
APPLY
expressions from Expand and at least five new words from this unit.

5:57 PM 80%

Year 3, Day 1
I am just starting my third year of training to be a colonist on Mars,
and I am really tired. Sometimes, I don’t know why I wanted to do this.

_____________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________

But, when I think about everything, ______________________________

_____________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________
Lights out! I must go to bed now.
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Go to the Pearson Practice English App or MyEnglishLab for more vocabulary practice.

GRAMMAR FOR WRITING

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1 Read the sentences. Underline the verbs that have the form to + verb. What questions do
these verbs answer?
• The engines fire to leave orbit.
• The mission was started to build a colony.
• The ship is spinning to create artificial gravity.

66 UNIT 3
Infinitives of Purpose

Questions Answers
Why do the engines fire? They fire to leave Earth’s orbit.
Why was the mission started? It was started to build a colony on Mars.
Why is the ship spinning? It is spinning to create artificial gravity.
1. Infinitives (to + verb) that are used to The engines fire to leave Earth’s orbit.
explain the purpose of an action are called
The mission was started to build a colony
infinitives of purpose. They answer the
on Mars.
question Why?
The ship is spinning to create artificial gravity.
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2. You can also use the longer form in order to The engines fire in order to leave Earth’s orbit.
+ verb.
The mission was started in order to build a
colony on Mars.
The ship is spinning in order to create
artificial gravity.
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3. Use in order not to + verb to express a The ship is spinning in order not to cause
negative purpose. bones and muscles to weaken.

2 Match the questions on the left with the answers on the right.
pl
Questions Answers
1. Why does Mars One need money? a. in order not to get sick
2. Why do the colonists use the radio? b. to go to Mars
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3. Why are the astronauts isolated before c. in order to talk to their families on Earth
leaving on a trip to Mars?
d. to strengthen muscles and bones
4. Why does Mars One have a selection
e. to choose four astronauts
committee?
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5. Why will colonists exercise a lot?

3 Combine the questions and answers from Exercise Two to make sentences that answer
the question “Why?”
1. Mars One needs money to go to Mars.
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2.
3.
4.
5.

Go to the Pearson Practice English App or MyEnglishLab for more grammar practice.
Check what you learned in MyEnglishLab.

Exploring the Red Planet 67

 FINAL WRITING TASK: A Pro and Con Paragraph APPLY

In this unit, you read about a plan to build a colony on Mars. The job of a colonist is open to
anyone. What are the pros and cons of accepting this position? Would you go on a Mars mission?
Why or why not?
You are going to write a paragraph answering this question and giving reasons for your
decision.
What are the pros and cons of deciding one way or the other? Evaluate your own abilities.
For an alternative writing topic, see page 73.
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PREPARE TO WRITE: Evaluating Pros and Cons

Complete the chart with the pros and cons of going to Mars. Don’t think too much. Quickly
list any ideas that come to mind.

PROS CONS
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WRITE
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Creating a Paragraph Outline

An outline is a plan for how you will write a text. The outline here is an example of a paragraph
outline. An outline will help you to organize the main idea and details that you want to include, as
well as your topic sentence, supporting points, supporting details, and concluding sentence.
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I. Topic Sentence
II. Supporting Point
A. Supporting Detail
B. Supporting Detail
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III. Supporting Point
A. Supporting Detail
B. Supporting Detail
IV. Supporting Point
A. Supporting Detail
B. Supporting Detail
V. Concluding Sentence

68 UNIT 3
1 Read the paragraph about a difficult decision. Then discuss the questions with a partner.

WHY PEOPLE JOIN MARS ONE

After graduating, some very accomplished students choose to apply to Mars One
instead of working for a company or university. Why would someone make this choice?
One reason is the unthinkable challenge of going into space without a chance to
return. Some people like this kind of challenge because they want to avoid the
boredom of an ordinary life. Secondly, these men and women want to travel in space
Sa
in order to learn more about our astonishing universe. Perhaps they would see
amazing things like asteroids and stars on the way. The last reason is to enjoy the
excitement of going to a completely new place where no humans have ever gone
before. This is a very risky decision. Although the choice to join Mars One is difficult,
many people believe that developing a community on Mars is a critical way for humans
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to survive, as well as being the adventure of a lifetime.

1. What choice did the writer face?

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2. How many reasons did the writer give for the decision?
3. What were the reasons? State each reason using an infi nitive of purpose.

2 Complete the outline with information from the paragraph.

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I. Topic Sentence: After graduating, some very accomplished students choose to apply to
Mars One instead of working for a company or university.
II. Supporting Point (Reason #1): the unthinkable challenge of going into space
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Supporting Details: to avoid the boredom of an ordinary life

III. Supporting Point (Reason #2):

Supporting Details:
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IV. Supporting Point (Reason #3):
Supporting Details:

Exploring the Red Planet 69

 3 Look at your chart from Prepare to Write on page 68. Organize your ideas into an
outline. Use your outline to write the first draft of your paragraph.
• Make sure you have a strong topic sentence.
• Include two or three supporting points. Each one should focus on the reasons for
your opinion. Use an infinitive of purpose for each reason. Include details to explain each
supporting point.
• Write a concluding sentence that summarizes your reasons.

REVISE: Using Parallel Structure

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1 Read the sentences about jobs at NASA. Label the subjects and the verbs.
• Most people think you have to have an advanced degree to work at NASA, but many jobs do
not require engineering or science degrees.
• NASA has locations in California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Maryland.
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Parallel Structure

Writers use parallel structure when writing sentences with two or three words or phrases of
the same part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb), allowing them to express several ideas
in one sentence.
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• NASA employees plan space missions, study weather patterns, fix computers, and
type letters.
• NASA is looking for intelligent and educated college graduates to work for them.
Two ideas can be expressed in one sentence:
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• When I went online, I found the NASA job openings.
• When I went online, I read about the types of jobs I could do.
• When I went online, I found the NASA job openings and read about the types of jobs I
could do.
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A third idea can be added:
• When I went online, I applied for a job.
• When I went online, I found the NASA job openings, read about the types of jobs I could do,
and applied for a job.
(Notice that found, read, and applied are all in the past form.)
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Look at two more examples:
[ADV] [V] [ADV] [V]
• I easily filled out the application and successfully submitted it.
(The phrases are parallel because they both contain an adverb and a verb.)
[ADJ] [N] [ADJ] [N]
• I hope the job has a good environment and friendly colleagues.
(The phrases are parallel because they both contain an adjective and a noun.)

70 UNIT 3
2 Combine each pair of sentences using parallel structure.
1. NASA treats its employees well.
NASA pays its employees well.

2. NASA carefully reviews each candidate.

NASA fairly reviews each candidate.
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3. In college, I studied astronomy.
In college, I studied geology.
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4. On my first day at my new job, the boss was very helpful.
On my first day at my new job, my co-workers were very helpful.
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5. When the Curiosity rover landed on Mars, I went on Mars time.
When the Curiosity rover landed on Mars, I didn’t see my family very much.
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6. NASA has safely launched many spaceships.
NASA has proudly launched many spaceships.
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7. I learned a lot during my first year at NASA.
I made many friends during my first year at NASA.
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Exploring the Red Planet 71

 3 Describe the dream job of people who are interested in space. Complete the paragraph.
Use parallel structure.

Jobs in Space

People who are interested in space would like to work there. The jobs they want are

______________________, ______________________, and ______________________. People

(ADJ) (ADJ) (ADJ)
who get these jobs are talented because they can ______________________ and
(V)
______________________. Workers in space are respected because they do their jobs so
(V)
______________________ and ______________________. They love their jobs in space
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(ADV) (ADV)
because of ______________________ ______________________ and _____________________
(ADJ) (N) (ADJ)
______________________ .
(N)
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4 Now go back to the first draft of your paragraph.
• Rewrite at least three or four sentences using parallel structure.
• Try to use the grammar and some of the vocabulary from the unit.
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Go to MyEnglishLab for more skill practice.
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72 UNIT 3
EDIT: Writing the Final Draft
APPLY Write the final draft of your paragraph and submit it to your teacher. Carefully edit
it for grammatical and mechanical errors, such as spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
Consider how to apply the vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and writing skills from the
unit. Use the checklist to help you.

FINAL DRAFT CHECKLIST

Does your paragraph clearly explain the reasons for your decision?
Does it contain a topic sentence, two or three supporting points, and a concluding sentence?
Does each supporting point focus clearly on one reason?
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Are there details to explain each supporting point?
Does the concluding sentence summarize the supporting points (the reasons)?
Are there at least three infinitives of purpose, and are they used correctly?
Does your paragraph use parallel structure?
Do you use new vocabulary from the unit?
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ALTERNATIVE WRITING TOPIC
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APPLY Mars One is privately funded, but other space programs, like those in the United
States, are funded by taxpayer money. Do you think spending money on space programs is
worth the money that is spent? Why or why not?
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CHECK WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED

Check (✔) the outcomes you’ve met and vocabulary you’ve learned. Put an X next to the
skills and vocabulary you still need to practice.
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Learning Outcomes Vocabulary Multi-word Units
Infer degrees of artificial reaction AWL count on
difficulty automatically AWL research (n.) AWL
Mark a text boredom simulate AWL
Scan for details depression AWL speculation
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Use infinitives of engine spin (v.)
purpose
establish AWL survive AWL
Use parallel structure
isolated (adj.) AWL
Write a pro and con
paragraph

Go to MyEnglishLab to watch a video about space, access the Unit Project, and take the Unit 3
Achievement Test.

Exploring the Red Planet 73