04 Our Irreplaceable Planet, Earth
/04 Our Irreplaceable Planet, Earth
*Terry is a eight-year-old boy who loves stories about stars and space.
/*Terry is a eight-year-old boy who loves stories about stars and space.
One night, while looking up at the sky, he asked his father,
/One night, while looking up at the sky, he asked his father,
“Dad, there are so many stars, so why can we only live on Earth?”
/“Dad, there are so many stars, so why can we only live on Earth?”
His father gently replied,
/His father gently replied,
“*Terry, that’s because Earth has a very special environment.
/“*Terry, that’s because Earth has a very special environment.
There are many stars and planets in space,
/There are many stars and planets in space,
but Earth is the only one that meets all the conditions for humans to live.”
/but Earth is the only one that meets all the conditions for humans to live.”
“For example, Earth has air,” his father continued.
/“For example, Earth has air,” his father continued.
“Because of air with oxygen, we can breathe.
/“Because of air with oxygen, we can breathe.
There’s also plenty of water, which is essential for plants, animals, and us humans.”
/There’s also plenty of water, which is essential for plants, animals, and us humans.”
*Terry became even more curious and asked,
/*Terry became even more curious and asked,
“Then, do other planets not have air or water?”
/“Then, do other planets not have air or water?”
“That’s right.
/“That’s right.
Most planets don’t have air or water.
/Most planets don’t have air or water.
Even if they do, it’s not in the form we need,
/Even if they do, it’s not in the form we need,
and the surface might be extremely hot or cold, making it impossible to live there.”
/and the surface might be extremely hot or cold, making it impossible to live there.”
His father looked into *Terry’s eyes and said,
/His father looked into *Terry’s eyes and said,
“That’s why Earth is so precious and special.”
/“That’s why Earth is so precious and special.”
After thinking for a while, *Terry quietly said,
/After thinking for a while, *Terry quietly said,
“Then we have to take care of Earth.
/“Then we have to take care of Earth.
It’s the only place we can live.”
/It’s the only place we can live.”
His father nodded and replied,
/His father nodded and replied,
“That’s exactly right, *Terry.
/“That’s exactly right, *Terry.
It’s important for each of us to take action to protect Earth.
/It’s important for each of us to take action to protect Earth.
For example, we can start by cleaning up trash and not wasting water.”
/For example, we can start by cleaning up trash and not wasting water.”
That night, *Terry looked up at the stars and thought,
/That night, *Terry looked up at the stars and thought,
“Earth is the only planet where we can live.
/“Earth is the only planet where we can live.
We must always take good care of it.”
/We must always take good care of it.”
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
Why is Earth special?
/Why is Earth special?
a. Because it has air and water, and a livable environment for humans
/a. Because it has air and water, and a livable environment for humans
b. Because Earth is bigger than other planets
/b. Because Earth is bigger than other planets
c. Because Earth shines the brightest in space
/c. Because Earth shines the brightest in space
What did *Terry learn he can do to help protect Earth?
/What did *Terry learn he can do to help protect Earth?
a. Clean up trash and not waste water
/a. Clean up trash and not waste water
b. Build rockets to live in space
/b. Build rockets to live in space
c. Prepare to move to another planet
/c. Prepare to move to another planet
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
How do you think *Terry felt when he thought about Earth?
/How do you think *Terry felt when he thought about Earth?
And how do you think Earth is special?
/And how do you think Earth is special?
What small actions can you take starting today to help protect Earth? Talk about it with your family and friends.
/What small actions can you take starting today to help protect Earth? Talk about it with your family and friends.
