Should We Live on Mars?
Should We Live on Mars?
Imagine living on Mars! It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but some people think it's a great idea. Others aren't so sure. Should we really try to live on the Red Planet?
Why Mars is Awesome
One big reason to go to Mars is for discovery. Scientists believe Mars might hold secrets about the beginning of our solar system. It's also possible that Mars once had life, or maybe even still does! Exploring Mars could help us answer some big questions about the universe.
Another reason is to have a backup plan for humanity. Earth faces many challenges, like climate change and overpopulation. If something terrible happened to Earth, having a colony on Mars could save us from extinction. It's like having a second home, just in case!
The Challenges of Mars
However, living on Mars wouldn't be easy. The biggest problem is the environment. Mars is very cold, with an average temperature of about -80 degrees Fahrenheit! The air is thin and doesn't have much oxygen, so we couldn't breathe without special suits and habitats. There's also lots of radiation from the sun because Mars doesn't have a strong magnetic field like Earth does. Radiation can be dangerous to our health.
- Extinction:
- When all members of a species die out.
- Colony:
- A group of people living in a new place, often far from their home country.
- Radiation:
- Energy that comes from a source and travels through space.
- humanity:
- All of the people living on Earth.
- environment:
- The natural surroundings, including the air, weather, and land, in which living things exist.
- habitats:
- Places or shelters designed for people or animals to live in safely.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Fact & Opinion
Distinguish verifiable statements from judgments, beliefs, and preferences in context.
Claims & Evidence
Trace and evaluate how claims are supported by reasons and evidence.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What are some reasons people want to go to Mars?
- 2What challenges would we face if we tried to live on Mars?
Where this passage belongs
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About this opinion / argumentative passage for Upper Elementary
“Should We Live on Mars?” is a opinion / argumentative reading passage about Space Colonization, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (348 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.