The Moon is approximately 384,400 kilometers from the Earth. Its diameter is 3,479 kilometers, about 1/4 the diameter of Earth. The average temperature on the surface of the Moon during the day is 107°C, hot enough to boil water on Earth. During the night, the average temperature drops to -153°C.

Because of its smaller size and mass, the gravity of the Moon is about 1/6 the gravity on the Earth. That means that a person who weighs 180 pounds on Earth would only weigh 30 pounds if measured on the Moon.

The force of gravity from the Moon affects Earth. Its gravity reaches Earth and pulls the oceans toward the Moon, causing the tides. The gravity from the Sun also affects the tides. The highest tides will always occur when the Moon and Sun are aligned. That is when there is a New Moon or a Full Moon.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about? 

A. A comparison between the Moon and Earth 

B. Physical characteristics of the Moon 

C. The effect of the Moon on Earth

2. The word “its” in paragraph 2 refers to which of the following? 

A. the Moon’s B. Earth’s C. gravity’s 

3. According to the passage, which of the following is true? 

A. A person would lose 5/6 of their weight if they were on the Moon.

B. A person would weigh much less on the Moon than on Earth. 

C. The Earth weighs six times as much as the Moon.

4. What can we learn about the tides?

A. They happen twice a month at New Moon and Full Moon.

B. The Sun causes higher tides on Earth than the Moon does.

C. They are caused by both the Sun and the Moon.

5. The word “aligned” is closest in meaning to which of the following? 

A. combined together B. arranged in a line C. affected by the other