The Solar system

Unit Quiz
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
Directions: Read each question and choose the best answer.

1. Which of these is the best way 3. Moon is to planet as planet

to describe our solar system? is to _________.
a It is a group of stars a orbit c star
revolving around a b Neptune d dwarf planet

single object.
4. Which of these phrases would
b It is a group of objects
be a useful way to remember
revolving around a
the names and order of the
single star.
eight planets, listed from
c It is a single star revolving nearest the Sun to farthest
around a group of objects. from the Sun?
d It is a single object revolving a My Very Energetic Mother
around a group of stars. Just Served Us Nachos
© iStockphoto.com/George Argyropoulos

2. Which of these b My Excellent New Violin

facts about the Usually Sounds Mighty Jazzy
Sun is not true? c Neighbors Using Spicy

a It is much larger Juice Might Enjoy
than most other stars. Vegetable Mixtures
b It provides energy in the d Every Jar Under My Nose
form of light. Smells Very Moldy
c Gravity holds the planets © iStockphoto.com/George Argyropoulos

in orbit around the Sun.

d It is about 150 million
kilometers (93 million
miles) from Earth.

Unit Quiz continued on following page

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ASSESSMENT The Solar System—Unit Quiz
continued

Name________________________________________ Date_____________

5. Which planets are the largest 9. Which statement about planets

ones in our solar system? and their moons is true?
a Venus and Earth a Every planet in our solar
b Saturn and Jupiter
system has at least one moon.

c Mars and Mercury b The Sun’s size is the reason

that moons orbit planets.
d Neptune and Uranus
c Every moon in our solar
6. Which of these system revolves around,

Corporation
© Jupiterimages
planets would or orbits, its planet.
probably be safest
d All the moons in our solar
to land on because
system are covered with
of its solid surface?
oceans and clouds.
a Neptune c Jupiter

b Uranus d Mars
7. Which planets are the

© Jupiterimages Corporation
gas giants?
a Saturn and Venus

b Mars, Earth, Venus,

and Mercury
c Neptune, Uranus, 10. What makes Earth different

Saturn, and Jupiter from any other planet?

d All of the above a It is the only planet known

to have living things on it.
8. If you passed between Mars
b It is the only planet known
and Jupiter, and saw an area
to have liquid water on its
with rocks of different sizes
surface.
floating through space
together, what would they c It is the only planet known
most likely be? to have air that is safe for
a comets c planets animals to breathe.

d All of the above
b asteroids d moons
Unit Quiz continued on following page
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 ASSESSMENT The Solar System—Unit Quiz
continued

Name________________________________________ Date_____________

Directions: Use the table to answer questions 11–13. ( The planets are listed in alphabetical order.)
FAST FACTS ABOUT THE PLANETS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

Diameter Number of
Planet Period of rotation Period of revolution
(km) known moons
23.96 Earth hours 365.24 Earth days
Earth 12,756 1
(1 Earth day) (1 Earth year)
Jupiter 142,984 9.9 Earth hours 11.9 Earth years 63

Mars 6,794 24.6 Earth hours 687 Earth days 2

© iStockphoto.com/George Argyropoulos

Mercury 4,879 59 Earth days 88 Earth days 0

Neptune 49,528 16.1 Earth hours 164.8 Earth years

Saturn 120,536 10.7 Earth hours 29.4 Earth years 60

Uranus 51,118 17.24 Earth hours 84 Earth years 27

Venus 12,104 243 Earth days 225 Earth days 0

11. Using the diameter information 13. Which planets rotate faster
from the table, which of these than Earth does?
lists places planets in the correct a Jupiter, Neptune,

order, from largest to smallest? Saturn, and Uranus
a Venus, Jupiter, Mercury
b Mars, Mercury, and Venus
b Neptune, Uranus, Mars c All of the other planets

c Mercury, Venus, Earth rotate faster than Earth does.
d Saturn, Uranus, Earth d None of the other planets
rotate faster than Earth does.
12. What belongs in the blank box?
a the diameter of Venus 14. Extended Response: Choose a

planet in our solar system other
b Saturn’s period of revolution than Earth. First, describe how
c the number of known it is different from Earth. Then
moons that Neptune has explain whether or not you
would want to visit it and why.
d the number of known
moons that Mercury has

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 The Solar system

Unit Quiz Answer Sheet

I=inferential V=vocabulary L=literal/recall D=data analysis

14. Extended Response: Responses will

1. b L
vary but must address both parts of
2. a L the question.

3. c V For the first part of the response,

4. a I students should select a planet other
than Earth and describe one or more
5. b L ways it differs from Earth. These
differences may include: facts from the
6. d I
data table in this quiz, descriptions of
7. c L each planet’s appearance, the fact that
the other planet is not known to sustain
8. b V life or to have surface water, or other
9. c I accurate information that contrasts the
two planets.
10. d L
For the second part of the response,
11. d D
students should explain whether or
12. c D not they would want to visit the planet
they chose and why. Responses will
13. a D vary. Reasons should support the choice
to visit or not visit and may include:
an interest in learning more about
the planet; an eagerness to see special
features up close; concerns about the
time it would take to travel there and
back; concerns about the availability
of air, food, water, shelter, family, and
friends; or any other valid reasons.

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