Read the text Meteorites: Messages from Space.
Meteorites: Messages from Space
Meteorites are more than stones; they are messages from space, carrying secrets from a time before the Earth was born. When they enter the atmosphere, they race faster than bullets, glowing like fiery arrows across the night sky. Because of the intense heat, they often break into fragments before reaching the ground. Watching a meteorite fall reminds us how small our planet is in the endless universe.
Scientists study meteorites because they are like time machines, giving us information about the early solar system. An ordinary stone from the Earth might tell us nothing, but a meteorite can reveal what materials existed billions of years ago. Many are older than the Earth itself, which is why they are sometimes called the cosmic grandparents of our world.
Finding meteorites is often compared to searching for a needle in a haystack, but modern technology helps. Cameras record fireballs, and experts calculate where fragments may land. Once collected, they are treated as treasures. In laboratories, scientists cut them carefully, study their minerals with microscopes, and analyse their chemical elements with special machines. Each meteorite is like a locked diary, waiting to be read.
History gives us striking examples. In 1492, a stone crashed near Ensisheim in France. People believed it was a sign from heaven, and pieces were kept as holy relics. In 1954, Ann Hodges from Alabama became the first known person injured by a meteorite when one struck her home. Another key case was the Allende meteorite in Mexico in 1969, which contained materials older than the Earth. In 1992, the Peekskill meteorite fell in New York, smashing into a parked car. Because it was filmed by many cameras, it became one of the best-documented meteorite falls in history.
One of the leading institutions that studies meteorites is the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. It holds over 35,000 specimens, some on public display, others reserved for research. By studying these rocks – their minerals, metals, and even tiny trapped gases – scientists can unlock secrets of the solar system’s birth.
Studying meteorites is not only about the past. By learning from them, scientists prepare for the future, because one day a larger rock could threaten the Earth. Meteorites may look small, but their stories – like their lessons – are truly enormous.
Decide if each statement is True (T), False (F), or Not Mentioned (NM).
1. The word “grandparents” suggests meteorites are old and keep memories that Earth rocks cannot. —
2. The story of Ann Hodges is used as proof that every falling meteorite hurts people. —
3. The Peekskill fall shows how cameras can make a meteorite event more famous than older ones. —
4. The text says the Allende fall was less important than the Ensisheim fall because people did not pray to it. —
5. Meteorites are no longer studied by scientists, only displayed for tourists. —
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