Chapter 2: Shooting Stars

a) Questions and Answers

1. Define meteors?
Meteors are small pieces of rock or dust from space that burn brightly
when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere, appearing as streaks of light in
the sky.

2. When do the biggest meteor showers occur?

The biggest meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through a dense
trail of comet dust, usually at the same time every year.

3. Describe the most unusual meteor shower ever reported.

The most unusual meteor shower was reported in 1833, when thousands
of meteors lit up the entire sky, making it look as if stars were falling from
heaven.

4. Give the reason of attributing so much value to meteorites.

Meteorites are valued because they are rare, come from outer space, and
may contain scientific information about the origin of the solar system.

5. Explain the effect of the largest meteorite that fell to earth?

The largest meteorite caused great damage when it struck the Earth,
creating a crater and spreading fear among people.

6. Why do you think scientists collect meteorites? What is it about

meteors that stirs the imagination?
Scientists collect meteorites to study their composition and to learn more
about space and the history of the solar system. Meteors stir the
imagination because they are mysterious visitors from the sky and are
connected with dreams and legends.

7. Describe the difference between a scientific explanation and an

explanation offered by a legend or myth?
A scientific explanation is based on facts, research, and evidence. A
legend or myth is based on imagination, stories, and beliefs passed down
through generations.

8. Can scientists learn something from legends or myths?

Yes, scientists can sometimes learn from legends or myths, because old
stories may contain hidden observations of real natural events.
b) Fill in the blanks with the correct option
1. There are two dozen meteor showers each year. ✅

2. There are points of light that suddenly appear in the sky. ✅

3. A meteor reaches the earth occasionally. ✅

4. One can see a shooting star in dark nights. ✅

5. The most remarkable meteor was seen by a distinguished

astronomer. ✅

6. The largest meteor fell in Arizona. ✅

📘 What are Acronyms? (Simple English Explanation)

 Acronyms are short forms made by using the first letters of a
group of words.

 The letters are joined to make a new word that can be spoken as
a word.

 Example: SUPARCO → Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere

Research Commission.

 Acronyms are different from abbreviations because abbreviations

are pronounced letter by letter, while acronyms are read as a
single word.

📌 Examples

 Acronym Example:

o SUPARCO → can be read as one word.

o NASA → National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(spoken as “Nasa”).

 Abbreviation Example:

o P.O.W. → Prisoner of War (spoken letter by letter).

o Q.A.P. → Old Age Pensioner (spoken letter by letter).

✨ Activity Answers
Q1: What do the following abbreviations stand for?

 U.K → United Kingdom

 W.H.O → World Health Organization

Q2: What do the following acronyms stand for?

 NASA → National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 RADAR → Radio Detection And Ranging

 LASER → Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

✅ So:

 Acronyms = short forms read as a word.

 Abbreviations = short forms read letter by letter.

Part 2: Vocabulary & Grammar - Silent Letters

 A silent letter is a letter in a word that you do not pronounce.

 You just have to remember them. Here are the examples from your
paper:

o psychiatry: The 'p' is silent. You say "sy-kai-a-tree".

o write: The 'w' is silent. You say "rite".

o mnemonic: The 'm' is silent. You say "ne-mon-ic".

o vehicle: The 'h' is silent. You say "vee-i-kl".

Definition of a Dictionary:
A dictionary is a book that lists words in alphabetical order and
explains their meanings, uses, and pronunciations.

Key Features of a Dictionary:

1. Meanings: The definitions of a word.

2. Pronunciation: How to say the word, shown with special symbols

(phonetic symbols).
 3. Part of Speech: What kind of word it is (noun, verb, adjective,
etc.).

4. Grammar Info: Shows the plural form of nouns or the past tense of
verbs.

5. Synonyms/Antonyms: Words that mean the same thing or the

opposite.

6. Examples: Sentences showing how the word is used.

Main Uses of a Dictionary:

You use a dictionary to:

 Find the meaning of a word.

 Translate a word to or from your language.

 Check the spelling of a word.

 Learn how to pronounce a word correctly.

 Find synonyms (similar words) and antonyms (opposite words).

 Learn grammar rules, like plurals or verb tenses.

 See examples of how the word is used in a sentence.

Phonetic Symbols / Letters

 What they are: A special alphabet of symbols used in the

dictionary to show you exactly how to pronounce a word. They
tell you what sounds to make.

 Where to find them: You can usually see the full list of these
symbols at the beginning or end of the dictionary. Your page
mentions the Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English as a
good example.

 Why they are important: Because English spelling is often not

phonetic (words aren't always spelled how they sound), these
symbols are the key to saying a word correctly.

Example from your page:

The abbreviation "us" next to a pronunciation tells you that it is
the American way to say the word.

So, to add to the dictionary's features:

A dictionary uses phonetic symbols to provide a pronunciation
guide for each word.
Why the Dictionary Shows "adj.", "n.", "v.", etc.

Think of a word like "light." It can be used in different ways:

1. Turn on the light. (Here, "light" is a noun (n.)—it's a thing.)

2. The bag is very light. (Here, "light" is an adjective (adj.)—it

describes the bag.)

3. Light the candle. (Here, "light" is a verb (v.)—it's an action.)

If the dictionary just gave you the meaning without telling you the part of
speech, you might use the word incorrectly in a sentence.

Summary of Common Abbreviations:

Abbreviati Stands
What It Means Example
on For

A person, place, thing, or

n. Noun cat, city, love
idea

An action or state of
v. Verb run, is, think
being

Adjecti happy, big, blu

adj. Describes a noun
ve e

Describes a verb,
quickly, very,
adv. Adverb adjective, or another
well
adverb (often ends in -ly)

So, in short: The dictionary shows "adj." to tell you that the word
is an adjective, which helps you understand how to use it
correctly in a sentence. It's one of the most important features for
learning grammar!

Activity 1: Dictionary & Parts of Speech

Task: Find the given words in a dictionary and also write which part of
speech they belong to.

Words: welfare, potential, intimate, argue, ethnicity, diverse

Here are the answers. (You can confirm these in a dictionary).

 Part of
Word Simple Meaning
Speech

welfar The health, happiness, and safety of a

noun
e person or group.

potenti
adjective Possible or likely to happen or become.
al

intimat
adjective Very close and personal.
e

argue verb To disagree or give reasons for your opinion.

ethnici
noun A person's cultural background or identity.
ty

divers Including many different types of people or

adjective
e things.

Activity 2: Punctuation

What is Punctuation?

One-Line Definition: Punctuation is the use of symbols (like commas,

periods, etc.) in writing to separate sentences and their parts to make the
meaning clear.

Example: "Let's eat, grandma!" (This means you are talking to your
grandma.)
vs.
"Let's eat grandma!" (This means you want to eat your grandma!
Punctuation saves lives!)

Task: Punctuate the given line.

Unpunctuated Line:
he was watching the Leonids which seem to come from directly overhead
and race downward toward the horizon in all directions he reported that
meteors fell like flakes of snow
Punctuated Line:
He was watching the Leonids, which seem to come from directly overhead
and race downward toward the horizon in all directions. He reported that
meteors fell like flakes of snow.

 Why? We start a sentence with a capital letter (He). We use a

comma (,) after "Leonids" to separate the descriptive clause. We
use a period (.) after "directions" to end the first complete thought
and start the next sentence.

Activity 3: Phrasal Verbs

What are Phrasal Verbs?

Simplified Definition: A phrasal verb is a phrase that is made up of

a verb + a preposition (like on, in, at) or verb + an adverb (like away,
out, up). Together, they create a new meaning that is different from the
original verb's meaning.

Example:

 Verb: look (to direct your eyes)

 Phrasal Verb: look after (to take care of someone)

Task: Use the following phrasal verbs in sentences.

1. get along

o Meaning: To have a friendly relationship with someone.

o Sentence: Even though they are siblings, they get

along very well.

2. cross out

o Meaning: To draw a line through something to show it is

wrong or to delete it.

o Sentence: I made a mistake on my list, so I had

to cross it out.

3. see to

o Meaning: To deal with or take care of something.

o Sentence: Could you see to the guests while I finish cooking

dinner?
 4. break down

o Meaning: To stop working (for machines) or to become very

upset (for people).

o Sentence (Machine): My car broke down on the way to

work this morning.

o Sentence (Person): She broke down in tears after hearing

the sad news.

5. look after

o Meaning: To take care of someone or something.

o Sentence: My older sister has to look after me when our

parents are at work.

1. Abstract Nouns with Suffixes

What is an Abstract Noun?
An abstract noun is a word for something you cannot see, touch, or hold.
It names an idea, feeling, quality, or concept.

 Examples: love, time, sadness, freedom, happiness.

How are they made?

We often create them by adding a suffix (a letter or group of letters at the
end of a word) to an adjective or a verb.

Your Example Explained:

 determined (adjective): This describes a person's quality. E.g., "She

is a determined student."

 determination (abstract noun): By adding the suffix -tion, we turn

the adjective into a noun that names the idea or quality of being
determined. E.g., "Her determination helped her succeed."

More Examples with Suffixes:

Adjective/ + = Abstract
Sentence
Verb Suffix Noun

+- = Money does not always

happy (adj)
ness happiness bring happiness.
Adjective/ + = Abstract
Sentence
Verb Suffix Noun

+- = The punishment for

punish (v)
ment punishment cheating was severe.

+- = Her leadership inspired the

leader (n)
ship leadership whole team.

+- Regular physical activity is

active (adj) = activity
ity good for health.

+- = After the marathon, he felt

exhaust (v)
tion exhaustion total exhaustion.

2. Nouns: Types and Examples

Here is a simple reminder and three examples for each type of noun you
asked for.

Type of
Simple Definition 3 Examples
Noun

The specific name of a

Proper person, place, or thing. Quaid-e-Azam, Pakistan
Noun Always starts with a capital , Mount Everest
letter.

The general name for any

Common
person, place, or thing. Does city, man, mountain
Noun
not need a capital letter.

school
Compoun A noun made up of two or
bus, football, swimming
d Noun more words put together.
pool
Type of
Simple Definition 3 Examples
Noun

Collective A word that names team, family, flock (of

Noun a group of people or things. birds)

Something you can

Concrete experience with your
apple, music, perfume
Noun five senses (see, hear,
smell, taste, touch).

Something you cannot see

Abstract
or touch. It's an idea, feeling, love, bravery, freedom
Noun
or quality.

3. Transition Words

Simple Definition: Transition words are like bridges or road signs for
your writing. They connect your ideas and show the reader how your
sentences and paragraphs fit together. They make your writing smooth
and easy to follow.

5 Examples in Phrases/Sentences:

1. For example:

o Use: To introduce an example.

o Sentence: "Space exploration has led to many useful

inventions. For example, satellite technology helps us
forecast the weather."

2. However:

o Use: To show a contrast or opposite idea.

o Sentence: "Exploring space is very expensive. However, the

knowledge we gain is priceless."

3. Moreover / Furthermore:

o Use: To add more information to a point.

 o Sentence: "Space exploration expands our knowledge of the
universe. Moreover, it inspires young people to study
science."

4. As a result:

o Use: To show the consequence or result of something.

o Sentence: "Scientists developed new materials for

spaceships. As a result, we now have stronger and lighter
materials for use on Earth."

5. Finally:

o Use: To introduce a last point or to conclude.

o Sentence: "We explore to find new resources, to make

scientific discoveries, and to ensure the future of
humanity. Finally, we explore because it is in our nature to be
curious."

4. Paragraph: "Benefits of Exploration of Universe"

Here is a paragraph using transition words (in bold).

The exploration of the universe offers countless benefits for

humanity. First of all, it drives the development of new technologies. For
example, inventions like satellite TV, GPS, and advanced medical
scanners were all created for space missions. Furthermore, space
science helps us understand our own planet better, such as monitoring
climate change and managing Earth's resources. Moreover, the quest to
explore inspires millions of people to become scientists, engineers, and
dreamers. However, the greatest benefit might be for our future. As a
result of exploration, we may one day find new resources or even a new
home for humanity. Therefore, investing in space is ultimately an
investment in ourselves and our future.

Note: Nouns and Types of noun definitions are not completely

included in these notes, because they were earlier explained in
the overview video, however, learn the definitions from the book.