A STUDENT reads a tablet. Off screen another STUDENT playfully throws a hair tie at her before coming to join her.


STUDENT 2: Ow!
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STUDENT 1: What are you reading over there?

STUDENT 2: My favorite science site.

STUDENT 1: Anything interesting?

STUDENT 2: Yeah, this article is about colonizing Mars.

STUDENT 1: That’s pretty cool.

STUDENT 2: It is. I really wish I could write like this writer. I’m just kind of jealous.

STUDENT 1: Why, what’s so good about it?

STUDENT 2: Well, I think she has really good organizational structure. The first section talks about why some people want to colonize Mars and all the benefits.

STUDENT 1: I suppose having another planet could really come in handy if something goes wrong with this one.

STUDENT 2: Right. Then, she goes on to talk about all the technical challenges. Sounds like it’ll be really expensive to go there and cost even more to make it possible to live there.

STUDENT 1: So, I shouldn’t book my ticket to Mars?

STUDENT 2: Probably not. She ends the article by talking about all the other things we could do to solve the problems we had at the beginning. It’d be easier just to take care of the planet we have, rather than trying to go and change Mars so we can live there. It might be cool to go to Mars someday but for now we should focus on preserving the planet we have.

STUDENT 1: Sounds like good advice and it sounds like she really presented the information with clarity.

STUDENT 2: Yes, this lady really knows how to write a good article.

STUDENT 1: Guess we won't be seeing any Martians anytime soon!

STUDENT 2: No.

Fade to black and a copyright notice appears on screen, which reads:

Copyright 2020 Pearson Online and Blended Learning K–12 USA. All rights reserved.

THE END.

Copyright 2020 Pearson Online & Blended Learning K–12 USA. All rights reserved Summarize this in three short sentences.

Two students engage in a conversation about an article on colonizing Mars. One student admires the writer's organization and clarity in presenting the information. They both agree that it is more important to focus on preserving and taking care of the planet we have rather than trying to colonize a new one.