Passage:

The sun is a star that is located at the center of our solar system. It is a huge ball of hot, glowing gases. The sun is so big that about one million Earths could fit inside it! It provides us with light and heat, and without it, life on Earth would not be possible.

The sun is made up of different layers. The outermost layer is called the corona, which is the part that we see during a solar eclipse. Below the corona is the chromosphere, which is a layer of hot gases. The next layer is the photosphere, which is the visible surface of the sun. It is the layer that gives off light and heat. The innermost layer is the core, where nuclear reactions occur and release a tremendous amount of energy.

The sun is constantly changing and going through cycles. One of the most well-known cycles is the sunspot cycle. Sunspots are dark spots that appear on the surface of the sun. They are cooler than the surrounding areas and can last for weeks or even months. The number of sunspots varies over time, and this cycle usually lasts for about 11 years.

The sun is also responsible for creating solar flares and solar storms. Solar flares are explosions that occur on the surface of the sun and release a burst of energy. They can cause disruptions in communication systems on Earth. Solar storms, on the other hand, are large eruptions of gas and charged particles from the sun’s corona. They can create beautiful displays of light called auroras, but they can also interfere with satellites and power grids.

Overall, the sun is a fascinating and powerful star that plays a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth.

Sample Questions:

1. What is the sun? A) A planet B) A star C) A moon D) A comet

2. How many Earths could fit inside the sun? A) 100,000 B) 1 million C) 10 million D) 100 million

3. Which layer of the sun is the visible surface? A) Corona B) Chromosphere C) Photosphere D) Core

4. What occurs in the core of the sun? A) Nuclear reactions B) Solar flares C) Sunspot cycles D) Solar storms

5. How long does the sunspot cycle usually last? A) 1 year B) 5 years C) 11 years D) 20 years

6. What are sunspots? A) Bright spots on the sun’s surface B) Dark spots on the sun’s surface C) Explosions on the sun’s surface D) Eruptions from the sun’s corona

7. What can solar flares cause on Earth? A) Disruptions in communication systems B) Beautiful displays of light C) Interference with satellites D) Power outages

8. What are solar storms? A) Explosions on the sun’s surface B) Eruptions from the sun’s corona C) Dark spots on the sun’s surface D) Large eruptions of gas and charged particles

9. What do solar storms interfere with? A) Communication systems B) Power grids C) Satellites D) All of the above

10. What is the main role of the sun? A) Providing light and heat B) Creating solar flares C) Generating solar storms D) Sustaining life on other planets