POLIEDRO RESOLVE 2021 TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 km/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that 5 showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small 10 object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the 15 meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small 20 for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million 25 years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen 30 Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. 35 The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous 40 comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. 45 Types of space rocks * Comet — a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. * Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in 50 diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. ¢ Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. ¢ Meteorite - what a meteoroid is called when it 55 hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens.britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 01 The damage caused by the Russian meteorite a) could be impossible to calculate. b) was not as bad as the one in Siberia. c) was much worse than the one in Siberia. d) had its impact reduced by the early warning system. GABARITO: B Como se lé no trecho: “Aithough many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago”.POLIEDRO RESOLVE 2021 TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 knv/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that 5 showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small 10 object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the 15 meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small 20 for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million 25 years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen 30 Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. 35 The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous 40 comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. 45 Types of space rocks * Comet - a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. e Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in 50 diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. e Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. e Meteorite —- what a meteoroid is called when it 55 hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens. britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 02 Without changing the meaning, the word “although” (line 6) could be substituted for: a) However. b) Therefore. c) Despite. d) Once. GABARITO: SIA “Although” e “despite” so conectivos de oposig¢ao e podem ter a mesma tradugao. Porém jamais podem substituir um ao outro. “Although” so pode ser seguido por frases (Suj. — V. - Comp.) “Although many people were injured by falling glass”, ao passo que “despite” so pode ser seguido por substantivos. Por exemplo: Despite the damage, people suffered only minor injuries. Asubstituigao proposta pela banca: “Despite many people were injured...” € completamente errada. Esta quest&o deve ser anulada.POLIEDRO RESOLVE 2021 TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 knv/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that 5 showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small 10 object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the 15 meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small 20 for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million 25 years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen 30 Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. 35 The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous 40 comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. 45 Types of space rocks * Comet - a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. e Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in 50 diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. e Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. ¢ Meteorite - what a meteoroid is called when it 55 hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens. britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 03 The statement “many people were injured by falling glass’ (line 7) stands for Falling glass many people. a) have injured b) has injured c) had injured d) injured GABARITO: D “Falling glass injured many people” é a voz ativa equivalente ao trecho mencio- nado no enunciado da questo.POLIEDRO RESOLVE 2021 TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 knv/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that 5 showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small 10 object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the 15 meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small 20 for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million 25 years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen 30 Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. 35 The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous 40 comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. 45 Types of space rocks * Comet - a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. e Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in 50 diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. e Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. ¢ Meteorite - what a meteoroid is called when it 55 hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens. britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 04 The passage “the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago’ (lines 7 to 9) states that the incident occurred a century ago. a) actually b) precisely Cc) approximately d) exactly GABARITO: C O trecho mencionado afirma que o incidente ocorreu ha aproximadamente um século atras. “Nearly” é equivalente a “approximately”.POLIEDRO RESOLVE 2021 TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 km/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that 5 showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small 10 object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the 15 meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small 20 for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million 25 years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen 30 Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. 35 The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous 40 comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. 45 Types of space rocks * Comet — a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. » Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in 50 diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. e Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. e Meteorite — what a meteoroid is called when it 55 hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens..britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 05 The Siberian meteorite a) damaged trees when it exploded. b) caused glass to shower over people. c) has the destructive power of a nuclear bomb. d) exploded over a big city. GABARITO: C O meteorito siberiano danificou arvores quando explodiu. Como se lé no trecho: “what had happened in Siberia... when a relatively small object... exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees’.POLIEDRO RESOLVE 2021 TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 km/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that 5 showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small 10 object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the 15 meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small 20 for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million 25 years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen 30 Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. 35 The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous 40 comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. 45 Types of space rocks * Comet — a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. * Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in 50 diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. ¢ Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. ¢ Meteorite - what a meteoroid is called when it 55 hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens.britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 06 “If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed” (lines 12 and 13). We can conclude from the information in this passage that a) because of an explosion, millions of people died. b) experts managed to save people from an explosion. c) an explosion will hit both cities killing millions of people. d) the explosion and the millions of deaths are hypothetical. GABARITO: S/A A sentenc¢a condicional mencionada no enunciado: “If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed” representa uma situacdo hipotética baseada num fato real ocorrido no passado. O problema é que a alternativa sugerida como correta pela banca (D) afirma que “a explosdo e as milhées de mortes s&o hipotéticas”. Errado, a explosao ocorreu de fato, nado é hipotética. As mortes decorrentes da suposigdo de a explosao ter ocorrido sobre cidades tais como Moscou e Londres é que sao hipotéticas. A quest&o foi mal redigida. A explosdo ocorreu de fato, a suposi¢ao de ela ter ocorrido sobre essas grandes cidades é que é hipotética.POLIEDRO Laon aa 2021 TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 knv/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that 5 showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small 10 object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the 15 meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small 20 for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million 25 years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen 30 Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. 35 The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous 40 comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. 45 Types of space rocks * Comet — a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. * Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in 50 diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. ¢ Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. ¢ Meteorite - what a meteoroid is called when it 55 hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens.britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 07 On the same day as the meteorite exploded over Chelyabinsk, a) scientists were terrified. b) experts issued a warning for 2046. c) another linked asteroid incident happened. d) there was another, unrelated, asteroid event. GABARITO: D No mesmo dia em que o meteorito explodiu sobre Chelyabinsk houve outro evento com um asteroide. Como se [é no trecho: “the same day that the meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth”.POLIEDRO RESOLVE 2021 TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 km/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that 5 showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small 10 object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the 15 meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small 20 for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million 25 years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen 30 Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. 35 The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous 40 comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. 45 Types of space rocks * Comet — a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. ° Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in 50 diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. ¢ Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. « Meteorite — what a meteoroid is called when it 55 hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens. britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 08 In “scientists were expecting that visit” (line 17), the underlined word has the same use as in a) the meteorite that showered pieces of rock (lines 4 and 5). b) the same day that the meteorite (lines 14 and 15). c) that is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb (line 27). d) any cometor asteroid [...] that hits Earth (lines 30 and 31). GABARITO: S/A O enunciado da quest&o pede que se assinale a alternativa na qual o uso da palavra “that” é o mesmo do que se [é na frase “scientists were expecting that visit”. A banca oferece como correta a alternativa C. Pois bem, todas as outras alter- nativas propostas estdo claramente erradas, o que levaria o candidato a, no minimo por exclusao, marcar a da letra C. O problema é que as formas sao as mesmas, mas as fungGes (usos em contexto) sao diferentes. Na frase do texto “scientists were expecting that visit’, a palavra “that” exerce a fungdo de ‘determiner’ e atua como adjetivo que modifica o substantivo “visit”: os cientistas estavam esperando aquela visita. Na frase da letra C, retirando-se o contexto maior no qual se insere, temos o seguinte: “An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb...”. Nesse contexto a palavra “thaf’ refere-se de volta a uma oragao “the force of 100 megatons” e é um pronome, fazendo a fun¢do de sujeito (vem imediata- mente antes do verbo principal da frase subsequente). Nao se pode afirmar que ambos tém o mesmo uso, como visto no enunciado. Sugerimos a anulacdo da quest&o.10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 POLIEDRO RESOLVE TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 km/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. Types of space rocks * Comet — a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. * Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. e Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. e Meteorite — what a meteoroid is called when it hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens.britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 09 The Russian meteorite a) will come close to Earth again. b) was too small to cause damage. c) had been predicted by scientists. d) was not noticed before exploding. GABARITO: D 2021 O meteorito russo nao foi notado antes de explodir. Como se |é no trecho “but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small for anyone to spot’.POLIEDRO RESOLVE 2021 TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 km/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that 5 showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small 10 object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the 15 meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small 20 for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million 25 years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen 30 Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. 35 The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous 40 comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. 45 Types of space rocks * Comet — a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. e Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in 50 diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. ¢ Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. ¢ Meteorite - what a meteoroid is called when it 55 hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens. britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 10 Experts maintain that comets and asteroids could a) wipe out only animal life. b) put an end to both animal and great part of plant life. c) cause as much damage as the Hiroshima bomb. d) kill a significant proportion of the human population. GABARITO: S/A A afirmativa dada como correta pela banca diz: “Experts maintain that comets and asteroids could put an end to both animal and great part of plant life”. Isso é uma imprecisdo. O texto diz: “Many scientists, including the late Stephen Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20 km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants’. Ou seja, a referéncia é feita a cometas e asteroides que tenham mais do que 20 km de diametro. A questdo da banca afirma que: “Especialistas sustentam que cometas e asteroides podem pér um fim tanto a vida animal quanto a de grande parte das plantas”. E uma afirmagao genérica e que contradiz o proprio texto que, mais adiante, afirma que a maioria dos asteroides 6 pequena demais para causar qualquer dano. A questao foi mal formulada e deve ser anulada.POLIEDRO RESOLVE 2021 TEXT The end of life on Earth? It weighted about 10,000 tons, entered the atmosphere at a speed of 64,000 knv/h and exploded over a city with a blast of 500 kilotons. But on 15 February 2013, we were lucky. The metereorite that 5 showered pieces of rock over Chelyabinsk, Russia, was relatively small, at only about 17 metres wide. Although many people were injured by falling glass, the damage was nothing compared to what had happened in Siberia nearly one hundred years ago, when a relatively small 10 object (approximately 50 metres in diameter) exploded in mid-air over a forest region, flattening about 80 million trees. If it had exploded over a city such as Moscow or London, millions of people would have been killed. By a strange coincidence, the same day that the 15 meteorite terrified the people of Chelyabinsk, another 50m-wide asteroid passed relatively close to Earth. Scientists were expecting that visit and know that the asteroid will return to fly close by us in 2046, but the Russian meteorite earlier in the day had been too small 20 for anyone to spot. Most scientists agree that comets and asteroids pose the biggest natural threat to human existence. It was probably a large asteroid or comet colliding with Earth which wiped out the dinosaurs about 65 million 25 years ago. An enormous object, 10 to 16 km in diameter, struck the Yucatan region in Mexico with the force of 100 megatons. That is the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb for every person alive on Earth today. Many scientists, including the late Stephen 30 Hawking, say that any comet or asteroid greater than 20km in diameter that hits Earth will result in the complete destruction of complex life, including all animals and most plants. As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage. 35 The Earth has been kept fairly safe for the last 65 million years by good fortune and the massive gravitational field of the planet Jupiter. Our cosmic guardian, with its stable circular orbit far from the sun, sweeps up and scatters away most of the dangerous 40 comets and asteroids which might cross Earth’s orbit. After the Chelyabinsk meteorite, scientists are now monitoring potential hazards even more carefully but, as far as they know, there is no danger in the foreseeable future. 45 Types of space rocks * Comet — a ball of rock and ice that sends out a tail of gas and dust behind it. Bright comets only appear in our visible night sky about once every ten years. ° Asteroid — a rock a few feet to several kms in 50 diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids have no tail. Most are to small to cause any damage and burn up in the atmosphere. e Meteoroid — part of an asteroid or comet. e Meteorite — what a meteoroid is called when it 55 hits Earth. Taken from: http://learningenglishteens.britishcouncil.org - Access on 29/06/2020 QUESTAO 11 A relatively small asteroid a) is not a problem if seen early. b) can still cause a lot of damage. c) cannot cause any significant harm. d) is in fact more dangerous than a large one. GABARITO: S/A O enunciado diz: “Um asteroide relativamente pequeno’ e a alternativa dada como correta pela banca diz “pode ainda assim causar muitos danos”. Certamente a banca tomou como base o trecho que diz: “As we have seen even a much smaller asteroid can cause great damage”. O problema é que, mais uma vez, nado contextualizaram a frase. Ela vem logo apés o trecho em que se afirma que “qualquer cometa ou asteroide com mais de 20 km de diametro que atinja a Terra pode resultar na completa destrui¢ao da vida complexa...” E logo em seguida completam dizendo: “Como ja vimos, mesmo um asteroide muito menor pode provocar um grande dano”, frase na qual a banca deve ter se baseado. A questo é que, mais uma vez, o enunciado foi mal elaborado, ge- neralizando algo que, no contexto, foi bastante especifico: um asteroide muito menor (do que os com mais de 20 km de didmetro). Sendo assim, afirmar que: “Um asteroide relativamente pequeno pode ainda assim causar muitos danos” é uma enorme imprecisdo, foge do contexto geral da matéria. A questao deve ser anulada.