You may already be familiar with the Big Dipper, an asterism in Ursa M

You may already be familiar with the Big Dipper, an asterism in Ursa Major. An asterism is a named star pattern that’s not identical to one of the 88 recognized constellations. An asterism may be wholly within a single constellation or may include stars from more than one constellation. For example, the four corners of the Great Square of Pegasus, a large asterism, are marked by three stars of the Pegasus constellation and a fourth from Andromeda.

1. Which of the following statements would be the most accurate title for the passage?

(A) The Big Dipper Is an Asterism!
(B) Learn About the Great Square of Pegasus
(C) Stars Are Unknowable
(D) What Is an Asterism?
(E) Astronomy Is the Study of the Sky


2. The first sentence plays what role in this passage?

(A) It provides an example so that readers can relate to the main idea of the passage.
(B) It reveals a cultural truism before revoking its status.
(C) It reminds readers that they are all already aware of the information that will be explained in the passage.
(D) It provides the thesis that will be proved by the rest of the passage.
(E) It debunks a commonly held belief about the night sky.


3. According to the passage, what is an asterism?

(A) It’s another name for a constellation.
(B) It’s part of the four corners of the Great Square of Pegasus.
(C) The author suggests that it is a type of comet.
(D) No clear definition is provided.
(E) It is a named star pattern.


4. Which of the following statements is most correct?

(A) An asterism can be part of a constellation, but a constellation cannot be part of an asterism.
(B) An asterism may straddle several different constellations.
(C) Most constellations also contain an asterism.
(D) There are at least 88 asterisms.
(E) Asterisms are not as easy to pick out of the sky with an unaided eye as a constellation is.