A. Multiple choice questions.
1. Copernicus gave a new and a very strange—
a. theory
b. explanation
c. result
d. none of these
2. Galileo was the son of a—
a. musician
b. astronomer
c. scientist
d. none of these
3. Galileo was given a big raise in—
a. amount
b. world
c. salary
d. none of these
B. Find out one word for the following sentences.
(Helping Corner: Equator, Its ruler and the senate, Penitent, Obscurity, Astronomer, Moth, Observer, Physicist, Cardinals, Astronomy)
1. One who studies about stars, the Sun, the Moon, planets, etc. __________
Astronomer
2. The scientific study of stars, the Sun, the Moon, etc. __________
Astronomy
3. An imaginary line around the Earth with equal distance from the North and South Poles. __________
Equator
4. A scientist who studies physics. __________
Physicist
5. The governor and the members of his government. __________
Its ruler and the senate
6. A person who watches something. __________
Observer
7. A state of not being clear or not understood. __________
Obscurity
8. An insect like a butterfly, without bright colours, which flies at night. __________
Moth
9. The priests of the highest rank in the Roman Catholic Church, who elect and advise the Pope. __________
Cardinals
10. A person who admits to a serious mistake, especially about religion. __________
Penitent
C. Underline the correct word(s) from the brackets so as to make the statements true.
1. The speed of the Earth’s (revolution, rotation) about the Sun is higher than the speed of its (revolution, rotation) around its own axis.
2. A telescope (magnifies, reduces) the details of the sky for the viewer.
3. (Ancient, Modern) astronomers believed that the Earth was at the centre of the universe, but (ancient, modern) ones do not.
4. If you (toss up, fall back) a ball in a moving train, it will (toss up, fall back) into your hands.
5. The question whether the Earth stands (still, moves) or (still, moves) kept the people confused for long.
6. Ptolemy said that the Sun, the Moon, the planets and the stars spin in (perfect, imperfect) circles around the Earth.
D. Answer the following questions.
1. What was a new and very strange explanation given by Copernicus? Why did the people find it very hard to believe?
Ans. Copernicus said that the Sun is at the centre, not the Earth, and that the Earth spins like a top. People found it hard to believe because it seemed obvious to them that the Earth does not move.
2. Why did the people find it difficult to believe that the Earth moves? What experiment did Galileo suggest to answer these objections?
Ans. People wondered why birds didn't lose their way or why a ball thrown up didn't fall far away if the Earth was moving so fast. Galileo suggested observing fish in a bowl or flies in a cabin on a moving ship; they move the same way whether the ship is still or moving uniformly.
3. How did Galileo think of making telescopes? How did he improve them and what did he do with them?
Ans. Galileo heard about a Dutch "spyglass" and figured out the ideal shape and placement of lenses to make his own. He improved them to magnify objects up to 20 times and used them to study the stars and planets.
4. What various facts did Galileo find out when he made himself a better telescope?
Ans. Galileo found that the Milky Way is packed with stars, Jupiter has four moons, and the surface of our Moon has mountains and valleys rather than being smooth.
5. Why was Galileo tried by an Inquisition? How was he punished?
Ans. Galileo was tried by an Inquisition because he published a book supporting the idea that the Earth moves, which went against the Church's teachings at the time. He was forced to publicly say he was wrong, his book was banned, and he was imprisoned (house arrest) for the rest of his life.
6. What fact did Galileo find out about the Moon at the last?
Ans. Galileo discovered that the Moon always keeps the same face turned toward the Earth because its period of rotation matches its period of revolution.
Think and Answer
E. Marco Polo is indeed one of the greatest explorers of all times. It was he who first made a route across Asia to China and who first told Europeans about the court at Peking. Marco Polo was the first European to describe Burma, Tibet and India and told others of the customs and manners of the people. He talked of the Christians living in Abyssinia in Africa and described the cold Arctic countries of the white bear, where people rode on reindeers.
Answer:
Pioneer of Trade Routes: He was the first to establish a route across Asia to China.
Cultural Reporter: He introduced Europeans to the court at Peking and was the first to describe the customs of Burma, Tibet, and India.
Global Reach: He provided early accounts of Christians in Abyssinia (Africa) and the Arctic regions, including details about polar bears and reindeer.
